Haldol and Weight Gain: What Users Say

• Kaz...
• July 5, 2011

For Psychosis "This is going to be kind of long and full of detail. I've been using Haldol for about 3 years now. It basically started when hearing voices got really bad. The combination of Geodon and Abilify DID NOT work. I admitted myself inpatient and got my Haldol. I started on 10mg. It took all the nasty symptoms away. And still does to this day. This is one amazing medicine. I'm at the point with it now that I can barely take 2.5 mg (5mg cut in half) without feeling drugged up though. My body became very sensitive from it. You may gain some weight on this medicine. It does give you the munchies. However, I did Weight Watchers on this medicine and was able to take off some weight. Again, this medicine is downright amazing."

• eri...
• September 14, 2017

For Psychosis "I have been taking 50mg decanoate every 28 days, and 10mg/day orally for schizoaffective. This has been the most effective medicine I have ever used! (I have tried all the atypicals with no luck except olanzapine and lurasidone.) I have been taking it for over 10 years now. Absolutely no side effects for me, not even weight gain. When I get the shot, I usually take a nap in the afternoon because it makes me sleepy. If I don't take Haldol, I normally get very religious (but a twisted type of religious) and tortured with psychosis, and generally feel awful with bags under my eyes, acting weird, and not being able to sleep - usually landing me in the hospital. Haldol balances me almost exactly, and I am able to program computers, read, and be happy."

• Red...
• January 12, 2011

For Tourette's Syndrome "The Haldol worked great for controlling my Tourette's, but it came with too many side effects, so I had to switch. I gained ten pounds in the first week of use, which tapered off after around three weeks, but the restlessness was unbearable. I was put on Cogentin for it, but then my vision became blurry and could not see anything within eighteen inches. It was horrible."

• Rub...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• December 15, 2022

For Psychosis "I was on 150 mg of Haldol, and I gained weight. I stuttered, and I feel off-key and debilitated, as well as suffering from erectile dysfunction as a result of taking Haldol. It's got a catchall use for schizophrenia, and unfortunately, if you are labeled as something, it can be hard to shake the label. I am not actually schizophrenic, but I am treated like that and given Haldol, which in turn is something of a pointless med for me. It just slows everything down. I found myself chewing my tongue sometimes."

• Sue...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• July 4, 2024

For Mania "I was on Haldol for almost 3 years and gained 50 lbs. I was on this for bipolar. I didn’t like the weight gain. I was 137 when I started, and I’m 5’5, and just was weighed at the doctor at 186 lbs yesterday. It got to a point that I was gaining 5 lbs per month, and I wasn’t even eating that bad. Uncomfortable uncontrollable hunger. My body looks bloated, and I am the largest I’ve ever been. It worked great but too bad for the weight gain. I ended up switching to Vraylar."

• res...
• June 4, 2011

For ICU Agitation "Helps with anxiety and racing thoughts. Calms my mood down when angry and upset. Side effect is weight gain and being tired."

• CJa...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• July 29, 2018

For Tourette's Syndrome "I was on it for my Tourette’s, and yeah, it did work, but I gained over 100 lbs when I was on this medication, so I took myself off it because my doctors wouldn’t listen."