Haldol and Anxiety: What Users Say

• Pet...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 16, 2019

For Psychosis "My side effects of Haldol are restlessness and anxiety. The need to move is coupled with the desire not to. Muscle tension and tremors combined with the inability to walk correctly, heavy drooling at the mouth, nausea, and terrible constipation amounting to the inability to have a bowel movement, as well as the inability to urinate without sitting down. In addition, there is the inability to ejaculate."

• Mic...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 29, 2020

For Nausea/Vomiting "Sometime after my same-day surgery to treat a cancer tumor, I was given some unspecified amount of Haldol through my IV line. I was shocked when I heard I was given Haldol since it is known as an antipsychotic drug with very severe side effects. I had no idea it was ever used for the prevention of nausea and vomiting over all standards such as Zofran. Since I had the same procedure several weeks earlier, I was amazed to define the effects of what I thought was just the anesthesia were so much more severe. I had disorientation, restlessness, anxiety, memory problems, tiredness, sleepiness, constipation, and even some depression. I can only attribute the difference in my reaction to the use of Haldol. It's been about 48 hours since I was discharged from the hospital, and I still don't feel right. My advice to any patient who may be given this drug to treat/prevent nausea and vomiting is to request something else that's much safer. I would certainly never take this again."

• Fra...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 4, 2021

For Nausea/Vomiting "I was given IV Haldol in the ER yesterday along with Zofran, Decadron, and Benadryl for a migraine with nausea. I react terribly to Compazine and Reglan (I feel like I can’t stand being in my own skin, want to climb the walls, etc. Indescribable, really, but awful)! I specifically asked if there was any chance Haldol would cause a similar reaction and was assured it would not. It did. I’m still agitated, unable to sleep, and anxious this morning. I cannot wait until it wears off. Definitely not worth it."

• Bea...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 27, 2019

For Nausea/Vomiting "Take this medicine if you want the worst experience of your life! This caused extreme restlessness and anxiety. I felt like I couldn't move, and it was hard to talk. IV causes a more severe adverse reaction than IM or oral form. If you get these meds, make sure you are also given Benadryl, Cogentin, or a benzo to prevent these side effects! I was given Benadryl and Ativan, but they had to give me an extra dose of each because it wasn't helping enough."

• Man...
• January 23, 2019

For Nausea/Vomiting "I went to the ED for kidney pain and nausea. I have allergies to IV anti-nausea meds but can take them orally. They decided to give me 0.5 of Haldol intravenously. Something inside me was telling me NOT to allow this, but I was so nauseated, and they said it would help. I can take oral anti-nauseous meds, so I was confused as to why I was getting Haldol. The FDA hasn’t approved the intravenous use of Haldol in ER settings. Unfortunately, I found all of this out after the fact. Five minutes after being injected, I got hot flashes and a huge panic attack. Benadryl helped, but my pulse went to 180 bpm and slowly tapered down to 100 bpm-that’s where it stayed until this evening when I’m finally at a normal 86 bpm. It’s been two days, and I’m still feeling agitated and anxious. My advice to anyone being offered Haldol: if an ER doc wants to try to see if it works for you-say no, ask for something safer!"

• Lys...
• May 25, 2017

For Nausea/Vomiting "Was given this in the ER for nausea. It killed the nausea, sure, but I was so anxious! I felt as though if I stayed in that hospital bed another second, I was going to go crazy. When I was released, I raced home and took Xanax to try and combat the anxiety. It's been about 26 hours since I was injected, and I still have the urge to move and run around, like restless leg syndrome. I'd rather just be nauseous!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 13, 2017

For Nausea/Vomiting "Went to the ER after experiencing chest pain following advice from my surgery nurse. While being there, I mentioned being slightly nauseous. I am extremely allergic to most anti-nausea medications, going into anaphylactic shock, so I was given Haldol. Immediately after injection, my heart began beating faster and my anxiety level flew off the chart. Every muscle in my body wanted to move and spasm, I was practically vibrating in the bed. Seeing as it was only days after having my abdomen cut into, it was pretty intense. It was the closest I have ever felt to being out of my mind. I had to be given another medication to counteract the effect of the Haldol in my system."

• Bip...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• February 21, 2016

For Psychosis "Very, very effective. Would recommend. Helpful medicine for psychosis and mania. Helps with delusions, paranoia, and voices, and all that comes with a psychotic episode. Only downside is a feeling of anxiety and having to move around and can't sit still for too long when on this med, but it is a very effective medication."

• Cya...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 9, 2021

For Mania "Was given this crappy drug last summer at the hospital in the psych ward, and everyone was terrified of me! I got an injection, so I had to go through a MONTH of this horror. I had insanely slurred speech, my voice sounded more high-pitched and tired, I slept ALL DAY, I had terrible akathisia, night terrors, nobody wanted me around, I was more anxious than usual, and I wanted to die for relief. The side effects wore off completely 20 days after I took it on the first of August 2020. Never taking this drug again. I’m on Zoloft and Valium right now, so much better. As for this crap, 0/10. Smh."

• 777...
• August 19, 2017

For Nausea/Vomiting "Still felt nauseous after being given this drug after surgery. I woke up extremely sick and vomiting. This was the third drug given to help combat these effects. I didn't know I'd been given it, but my heart started racing and concerned the nursing staff, and their concern made me anxious. I was so scared and paranoid about what was happening to me, which I later found out was all because of this drug. They ended up flushing it out of my system."

• 777...
• August 19, 2017

For Nausea/Vomiting "Still felt nauseous after being given this drug after surgery. I woke up extremely sick and vomiting. This was the third drug given to help combat these effects. I didn't know I'd been given it, but my heart started racing and concerned the nursing staff, and their concern made me anxious. I was so scared and paranoid about what was happening to me, which I later found out was all because of this drug. They ended up flushing it out of my system."

• Eri...
• March 27, 2022

For Nausea/Vomiting "Given an injection of this for nausea/vomiting. Caused pure terror. Wanted to crawl out of my skin. One of the worst feelings I’ve ever had. Felt like I was truly losing my mind. Would not recommend under any circumstance."

• Eri...
• March 27, 2022

For Nausea/Vomiting "Given an injection of this for nausea/vomiting. Caused pure terror. Wanted to crawl out of my skin. One of the worst feelings I’ve ever had. Felt like I was truly losing my mind. Would not recommend under any circumstance."

• mmm...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 15, 2023

For Nausea/Vomiting "Was given for nausea that didn’t respond to Zofran. Almost immediately after the IM injection, I became drowsy and agitated and had such bad anxiety I felt like I needed to leave the hospital. I was up all night with muscle twitches and anxiety, I couldn’t stop pacing. Ended up going back to the hospital for Ativan and Benadryl, and I was told my reaction was a common reaction to Haldol. It took me days to feel back to normal. I’d rather be sick than take this ever again!"

• Roc...
• January 6, 2021

For Nausea/Vomiting "Was in for laparoscopy procedure and was very nauseous after the surgery. Initial treatment with Zofran wasn’t helpful, so they then injected Haldol to relieve the emesis and nausea. It made me feel drowsy and restless at the same time. I can’t tell if I’m thankful it helped as an antiemetic or if I absolutely hate it because of the restless legs, anxious, crawling out of my skin feelings. It made resting and sleep very difficult after a really long day at the hospital. My advice: see if the doctor has exhausted all other medications/solutions first! The side effects may make you regret taking it."

• OMG...
• March 5, 2023

"I was given this in the ER for stomach pain. Right after, I was sent home. I could barely walk as they watched me leave. Soon as I got home, I started feeling weird, couldn't walk or stand. I had bad anxiety, and I felt really dizzy, and I felt like I was going crazy. Then started the restless legs on top of already having RLS. I ended up back in the ER. My reaction was so severe I ended up in the hospital for a week. This drug needs to be removed from ER use."

• Nat...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 3, 2018

"Given to me to 'calm anxiety' sent me into a mental hell, thoughts racing, weak body, no focus. I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy, it was a living hell."

• Waj...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 25, 2022

For Mania "The med made me dizzy and caused anhedonia, apathy, and depression. Also, stiff muscles and anxiety."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 19, 2022

For Nausea/Vomiting "Horrible! Helped my daughter's stomach pain, however, made her super jittery and anxious! She absolutely hated it!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 19, 2022

For Nausea/Vomiting "Horrible! Helped my daughter's stomach pain, however, made her super jittery and anxious! She absolutely hated it!"