Haloperidol and Restlessness: What Users Say

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

Haloperidol 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."

• Hai...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 23, 2021

For Borderline Personality Disorder "Please beware of this drug. After two doses of haloperidol, I woke up at 1 a.m. in complete restlessness. I couldn't lay down, I could sit down, I couldn't stand up. I kept having to switch positions because of this disturbing feeling of restlessness. I couldn't tell if I was hot or cold or if I was falling asleep or awake. I rang an after-hours line and was told to go to the hospital ASAP. When I got to the hospital, it progressed into a disabled epileptic seizure episode. My mouth/jaw was lopsided, my jaw was going one way, like Bell's palsy syndrome. I couldn't talk, only to make noises, and when I did try to talk, I sounded completely disabled. The seizures were scary, and I thought I was going to die. The hospital called it an adverse reaction to haloperidol. Please beware what it can do to people. I thought I was going to be stuck frozen in that disabled state and I wouldn't go back to normal. This drug terrified me and could have taken my life. I was prescribed this for depression."

• 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."

• Key...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 3, 2019

For Psychosis "I'm taking this med, haloperidol, for just 1 week and a dose of just 0.5 mg daily, but I decided to stop immediately. Why? Because I can't sleep at night, I'm restless and anxious. These side effects are really annoying, and they disturb my daily life balance. I don't know why a doctor would want to put this in someone's body. Don't take this drug if you can use other drugs and options. That's my opinion."

• D_D...
• January 8, 2018

Haloperidol for Nausea/Vomiting "Went to the ER for uncontrollable vomiting and stomach pain. Haldol was the second try (injection) to improve my symptoms. I am shocked reading all of these other experiences because of the similarity to my case. The Haldol helped with the nausea and vomiting, but oh my goodness, the body cramps and restlessness. My entire body was a giant charley horse contorting all over the table, and I couldn't stop it. Crying in pain. They finally gave me something else, which toned it down some, but no way would I ever want to go through that again. I'm sorry for those who have experienced it. It's horrendous :("

• Red...
• January 12, 2011

Haloperidol 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."

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

Haloperidol 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."

• Lad...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 8, 2018

For Psychosis "Saved me without a doubt from psychosis. Don’t know what I’d have done without it. It was also great for my extreme anxiety. I used to take 5 mg nightly, within 2 hours, I'd feel calm and relaxed, a bit sleepy. The only side effect: a bit restless, but nothing I could not deal with. I think the old drugs definitely still have use!"

• Noc...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 10, 2021

Haloperidol for Psychosis "Haldol gave me extreme akathisia that I couldn’t bear, so I had to go off of it. Wasn’t on it long enough to experience many other side effects that could come with it, but I will say it helped with my paranoid thoughts a bit, but also made me feel drunk and not myself."

• Il1...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 31, 2018

For Psychosis "I have been diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder, bipolar type, and after being on several different medications, am now taking haloperidol injection once a month. I have had extreme paranoia and hallucinations/delusions for the past 12 years. Have felt better and am more functional since taking haloperidol and Invega Sustenna. I feel akathisia a great deal almost daily and have struggled with the weight gain. I used to have a career before being diagnosed. Now, I find it difficult to hold down a job. I struggle to read at times too. Feel like it is affecting my cognitive abilities. Anyone care to share how they lost weight on this drug? Would be of great help."

• Tub...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 19, 2022

Haloperidol for Nausea/Vomiting "I was given Haldol for stomach pain. Why in the heck they gave me this drug I don't know why, I told the nurse it made me feel weird, and I did not like it at all, and she said, oh, it does that to some people. But reading on here, it sure as heck sounds like a lot of people are complaining of this drug with the same effects. Restlessness was the worst one, feeling like your skin is going to crawl out of you. This was the worst experience ever!! And like someone else said, this drug needs to be removed from hospitals, my god, it's horrible and should not be allowed to be given ever!"

• Dea...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 15, 2021

For Psychosis "This drug haloperidol is causing me to be extremely agitated. I can't stop moving around, the restlessness is intense. I don't sleep since I've started haloperidol, it's making me smoke so many cigarettes. I want to sleep all the time but can't because I am unable to stop moving my arms and legs. Since I've started haloperidol, I have an uncontrollable urge to smoke. I waste all my money now on cigarettes and can't escape, it's hard to describe how agitated I am when I take this drug."

• 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"

• fis...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 4, 2015

Haloperidol for Mania "Parent to son with psychotic experiences diagnosed bipolar mania by one doctor and schizoaffective disorder by another. Been on a 3-year roller coaster nightmare. Refusal to take sulpiride and risperidone orally for any time resulted in having depot injections, but our experience to date of the depot injections is more negative given the side effects. Like lost personality, tiredness, restlessness. Bouts of long sleeping followed by walking round and round the room. When standing, rocking from foot to foot. Inability to engage in conversations. Sense of hopelessness. We didn't really clue up on the drug and are concerned about the inability to come off/reduce them because a month's worth has been injected then topped up."

• ash...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 27, 2016

For Psychosis "I was prescribed Haldol when I went inpatient for borderline personality disorder. Though Haldol does help with my anger and agitation, as well as suspiciousness and paranoia, it makes me so restless that I'm crying and would rather die than suffer like that. It makes me pace around constantly, and I can't sleep because I HAVE to walk around and move my legs. I was also prescribed Trileptal while I was there, which, in conjunction with the Haldol, makes me get such blurred vision that I'm walking into things and can't function. I stopped taking Trileptal due to the side effects of taking it with the Haldol and was put on Lamictal, which had no side effects. My outpatient psychiatrist has since taken me off the Haldol due to the restlessness."

• Ash...
• December 22, 2016

For Psychosis "Was put on Haldol after being put on several atypicals: Abilify (no effect), Risperdal (high blood pressure/ heart arrhythmia), Geodon (panic attacks/ nightmares). Glad I was switched. Have noticed some side effects with Haldol (slight tremor/ restlessness), but nothing serious. Will definitely be sticking with this medication. Works better for me than the newer meds."

• Dir...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 15, 2013

For Psychosis "Only medicine that controls my psychotic symptoms. Does cause some akathisia. No other side effects noted. The atypical antipsychotics caused weight gain, rapid heart rate, and aggression. Glad I was prescribed an old school tried-and-true medicine."

• Roc...
• January 6, 2021

Haloperidol 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."

• Lol...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 15, 2020

For Nausea/Vomiting "My 19 y.o. son was admitted to the ER, he had been throwing up all day, and there was some blood in his vomit. Because of COVID-19, I was unable to go in with him, which was horrible because of this kind of situation. They gave him a few meds along with Haldol by IV. He came out after 9 hours doing better, but the next day he kept calling me at work saying he was so restless and couldn't stand being in his body, really struggling. I talked him through some meditation, and he took walks, but today (2 days after) he is still somewhat restless and agitated, not his personality at all. It made me look at what they gave him, Haldol. I was shocked when I read the discharge papers as I'd only known this to be given for severe dementia in elderly people who become basically zombies from it. After reading others' experiences, it confirms why he's been so off. If I'd been in there with him, there is no way I'd have said okay to Haldol being administered. Never again. Poor kid."

• Cam...
• July 19, 2020

For Aggressive Behavior "I was given this haloperidol with an injection of Ativan a few days ago for aggressive behavior due to my bipolar. I was so freaking angry and annoyed and was also crying my eyes out and throwing things, so at the crappy hospital I was at, they had several “nurses” screaming at me even though I was hysterical. They strapped me to the bed, and this dude said he was going to inject me with HALDOL and Ativan. And I freaked out and told him that I demanded only Ativan, and he said, “All patients who are hysterical have to take haldol, it doesn't matter if you are allergic or not,” so I got injected with both Haldol and Ativan. In 5 minutes, I started feeling unusually sleepy, and my legs were insanely restless at the same time. I slept for 15 hours that night, and the feeling in my legs was so extreme that I wanted to scream and launch out of my own body, but I massaged my legs with lotion to get rid of the feeling. The feeling wore off 17 hours later."

• haw...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 18, 2022

Haloperidol for Psychosis "I have taken Haldol multiple times for schizophrenia. I have also tried most of the atypical antipsychotics. Haldol has the least side effects for me and works the best. Depending on the dose, I can get restless, but I can control that by splitting the dose up throughout the day. Other than that, I have no side effects."

• Car...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 5, 2018

For Psychosis "Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking haloperidol: More common, difficulty with speaking or swallowing, inability to move the eyes, loss of balance, control, mask-like face, muscle spasms, especially of the neck and back, restlessness or need to keep moving (severe), shuffling walk, stiffness of the arms and legs, trembling and shaking of the fingers and hands, twisting movements of the body, weakness of the arms and legs."

• Cor...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 18, 2020

For Aggressive Behavior "I’m 22, and in July, I went to the hospital for extreme destructive and aggressive behavior due to my bipolar and schizophrenia. I stayed in the mental health unit for 8 days, and before I left, they injected me with Haldol, which I started feeling very calm, which is perfectly fine for me because Ativan makes me calm, and I thought Haldol was the same. But I had the WORST month of my life! I was insanely sleepy, I slept up to 9 times a day, was very anxious, very restless. I had extreme slurred speech where people couldn’t make out what I was saying, I was slobbering and drooling. Then one night, I had a panic attack so bad that I was hyperventilating, sweating, screaming, vomiting, hitting my head, so I went to the hospital again, and they gave me a shot of Benadryl and Ativan, and the side effects of Haldol slowly went away. When I got discharged in the morning, I felt like me again. I'm on Zyprexa, Zoloft, and Depakote now."

• Ano...
• July 10, 2018

For Nausea/Vomiting "Used for stomach pain in ER. It's been almost 24 hours since I've had the medication through an IV for severe stomach cramping, which sent me to the ER in the first place. I'm debating on whether or not to go back tonight since it's made me so restless and anxious. Awful medication, would not recommend this to anyone."

• eli...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 3, 2022

For Psychosis "I had to play around with the dosage, but I finally found the right dose. I took the 10 mg, and it worked, but I couldn't stop moving around and had restlessness. My psychiatrist gave me benztropine for the shaking, and it stopped. But for some reason, he took away the benztropine. So my psychiatrist gave me 5 mg, and I still had the moving around and restlessness. So finally, I was given the 2 mg, and for some reason, not only did it stop my psychosis, but the restlessness and moving around had stopped."