Haloperidol and Depression: What Users Say

• Rob...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 30, 2020

For Aggressive Behavior "Haloperidol is the most horrible drug I have been given. Loss of personality, anhedonia, music doesn't bring me joy anymore, boredom, mask face, slow mental processes, loss of emotion, loss of care, chemical straightjacket, feeling like I'm not living. Don't be brainwashed by the good reviews of this medication. Stay away from haloperidol."

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

Haloperidol 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."

• IGo...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 2, 2022

For Aggressive Behavior "Blocks strongly dopamine in the brain. You will stop feeling joy and interest in anything. If you complain about this side effect, the doctor will just make up a psychiatric disease you have and lie that it is not from the drug. You develop anhedonia from this drug. You have been warned."

• Sun...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• January 24, 2020

For Psychosis "I've been on this drug, haloperidol, for over 10 years. I haven't really had problems with the drug apart from sleeping a lot. Also, I feel progressively less well now generally in my health than I was before, this could be a side effect. I have a fear of people, and this is family members and people outside. I have become withdrawn and socially awkward. I remain very quiet, talking only to select people. This is also a side effect of the drug. My advice is that if the drug suits you, stay on it. Reading the other reviews, I think the drug is not suiting the other users. It has suited me for over 10 years now."

• Lau...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 22, 2020

For Psychosis "Okay, I’m 24 years old, and I’m usually on Zoloft, Depakote, and Ativan (as needed), but in July, I had a psychotic episode where I had to get sent to the hospital for about a week. Before I left, they injected me with this, and I immediately felt unusually calm and relaxed, but the next day I started slobbering, drooling all over my shirt, stuttering, which I never do, not talking clearly, SLEEPING ALL DAY. I felt restless, anxious, hopeless, and depressed, and these side effects lasted for about 23 days. It felt like heaven when it wore off, and I felt like my normal self again. My mom wants me to get put on Haldol again, but I refused and told the doctor I’d rather be put on something else, and they agreed. Never again will I use this medication. Sure, being sleepy and slobbering is “better” than having a psychotic episode, but this medication sucks. 1/10"

• Lau...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 22, 2020

For Psychosis "Okay, I’m 24 years old, and I’m usually on Zoloft, Depakote, and Ativan (as needed), but in July, I had a psychotic episode where I had to get sent to the hospital for about a week. Before I left, they injected me with this, and I immediately felt unusually calm and relaxed, but the next day I started slobbering, drooling all over my shirt, stuttering, which I never do, not talking clearly, SLEEPING ALL DAY. I felt restless, anxious, hopeless, and depressed, and these side effects lasted for about 23 days. It felt like heaven when it wore off, and I felt like my normal self again. My mom wants me to get put on Haldol again, but I refused and told the doctor I’d rather be put on something else, and they agreed. Never again will I use this medication. Sure, being sleepy and slobbering is “better” than having a psychotic episode, but this medication sucks. 1/10"

• its...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 8, 2020

For Psychosis "I have used haloperidol for almost a year now, since then, I've lost interest in many things, even life itself. It didn't really connect the dots with this medication. Reading some other reviews, some other people experience the same thing. Even though I got a care authorization and I am obligated to take this medicine, I'm going to quit it and see how it goes. But it did really help with my psychosis, so I hope I don't get a relapse."

• Rol...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 22, 2014

For Mania "Caused muscle contraction in my neck. Very painful and frightening. Was given a shot of Cogentin and it subsided. Caused drowsiness, constipation, and marked sleepiness. Emotional flatness. It increased my depression."

• Rol...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 22, 2014

For Mania "Caused muscle contraction in my neck. Very painful and frightening. Was given a shot of Cogentin and it subsided. Caused drowsiness, constipation, and marked sleepiness. Emotional flatness. It increased my depression."

• Gou...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 10, 2021

For Psychosis "I've tried this drug, got side effects, like loss of overall happiness, severe depression, couldn't sit still in one place and lost joy of doing anything. I stopped it immediately... it doesn't feel like it provided anything positive."

• onl...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 3, 2019

For Borderline Personality Disorder "I took a small dose of haloperidol along with a myriad of strong medication I was overprescribed by a reputable, top psychiatrist about a year ago. It made me severely agitated, impulsive, and deepened my self-loathing to the point where I tried to commit suicide. It was my worst (and hopefully last) attempt. I lost consciousness and wouldn't be here had someone not found me... and I am now in a healthy enough place to say I'm so, so, so grateful to them. Please be careful with this one."

• Ter...
• March 20, 2019

"I witnessed a doctor recommend and give instructions to inject Haldol without a diagnosis. Experienced extreme agitation, pacing, tremors, insomnia, depression, weight loss, confusion, and overall poor quality of life. Nothing could really be done except give some beta blockers and wait 30 days. We even had to move to a more remote area for the time being to minimize contact with other people. This is because the behavior is alarming and uncontrollable. He also had trouble speaking during this time. He does not have Tourette's! My friend doesn't have anything that would need to be medicated for except now depression. I read a similar experience. This drug should not be used."

• Tro...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 23, 2017

For Psychosis "When I started this medication for my first psychotic episode two years ago, it really helped, delusions went away. I was taking a low dose for maintenance, around 10 drops (2 mg/ml), which is about 1 mg. I didn't have side effects other than a lack of motivation. Then, after 2 years, the doctor said it was safe to stop the treatment, but some months later I had yet another psychotic episode. This time I am taking 20 drops, and it is making me restless and a bit anxious in the stomach. My motivation is really low, so I find it difficult to start things on my own, my initiative is almost non-existent, so I only do the basics in my life. Probably I will have to take antidepressants too to help with the motivation/initiative, but I haven't started yet."

• Dis...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 25, 2021

For Psychosis "I was admitted at South Rand Hospital for abnormal behavior by my dad. When I was discharged, I was given haloperidol. Never knew what it was at the time. Took the medication for a month, then I smoked weed this one time. I couldn't sleep at night for a week, had to even buy sleeping pills to get rest. Now I have difficulty concentrating. I don't have energy anymore, all I do is sleep. Every time I lack motivation, I feel like a failure because I can't provide for my newborn baby. I have a low sex drive, I feel like a zombie. I wish I never mixed haloperidol with marijuana."

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

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

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

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

• GEd...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 20, 2022

For Psychosis "I was on 100 mg haloperidol depot, which was then reduced to 80 mg and then 75 mg. The drug has stopped all my psychotic symptoms but made me feel depressed, unmotivated, and now I have no libido."

• Tte...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 18, 2020

For Tourette's Syndrome "Miserable! Extreme depression as a side effect and claustrophobia! Didn't help tics at all."