Haloperidol and Weight Gain: What Users Say

• Kaz...
• July 5, 2011

Haloperidol 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

Haloperidol 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

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."

• 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."

• Pas...
• November 5, 2020

For Psychosis "There's a lot of bad reviews on this medication, haloperidol, however, I have found it so useful. At first, I was on risperidone, and I HATED it. I gained so much weight and was so drowsy, however, haloperidol was prescribed for voices, and it worked instantly. It calms my voices and makes me feel so relaxed, and I've not had any increase in my appetite or weight. This drug has helped save my life. I take 2 mg up to 4 times a day as PRN, but it has helped a lot, and I don't experience any other side effects."

• hal...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 16, 2017

For Psychosis "I feel great so far. I have been taking the medicine for 2 months. At first, I felt overheated, hungry for carbs, and very sleepy, but after about a week, that wore off. I have a lot less anxiety and have not felt irritable. I was dwelling on negative/paranoid thoughts before taking the medicine. Now, I have those thoughts much less often, and it is easier to switch gears and think of something else. I did gain 10 pounds the first 2 weeks, but have since lost that weight by walking and not snacking between meals. I feel like I am less stressed out, so I eat better now."

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

Haloperidol 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."

• Jes...
• April 20, 2018

For Psychosis "I have psychotic depression but have also been diagnosed as schizoaffective. I was put on Haldol the last time I was put in the psych ward. It worked for my anxiety and delusions, didn't make them worse like most antipsychotics, but I did sleep pretty much constantly the next week while hospitalized. I'm not sure why that wasn't concerning to the doctors. I took it for the next 11 months, and even with exercise and attempts at dieting, could only manage to go up and down 10 lbs. I had gained 120 lbs on Risperdal that I wanted to get off. After 11 months, my weight just started shooting up, and I just kept gaining until I took myself off Haldol. I stopped gaining off and managed to lose weight. It also messed with my cholesterol, and I slept over 10 hours a day on it, closer to 14. I never felt like myself either, but was the most functional that I have been on psych meds. All these symptoms have gone away since I stopped the drugs. I also took Wellbutrin and Lexapro."

• 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."

• Daw...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 26, 2025

For Psychosis "I have been on a few meds: risperidone, amisulpride, Abilify, Invega, and currently haloperidol. They all made me put on weight (especially Invega), except for haloperidol, which kept me the same weight. They all also made me really lazy and gave various other side effects. I know when I come completely off them, I feel fantastic and motivated and take off the weight as I am not eating as much and exercising, but I relapse. So, I found a couple of articles saying that once on a maintenance dose, some people can go on antipsychotics every other day to avoid some side effects. I have been doing this for about two weeks. I was on 3 mg every day, but now I am on 3 mg every other day. Before I started this, I spent most of my time sitting on the sofa with my husband, doing everything and not showering often. Now I feel awake and conscious. I realize I need less food. I see the place is a mess and have been tidying up. I hope I won’t relapse."

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

Haloperidol 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."

• Ano...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 24, 2024

For Psychosis "I find haloperidol to feel like a warm cuddle. I transitioned from olanzapine, which I hated and caused me to gain 50 kg. I have lost 40 of those kgs since starting haloperidol a few years ago. I take a low dose of 1.5 mg/day, and this quiets my voices significantly - they are only there if I reach for them. It is more effective for psychosis for me than olanzapine, feels nicer, and will not cause metabolic syndrome."

• eli...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 10, 2017

For Psychosis "I was given this medication for bipolar to replace all atypical antipsychotics that cause weight gain. I heard typical antipsychotics don't cause weight gain. So I told my doctor to give me a typical antipsychotic, and she gave me haloperidol 2 mg. The good news is that my psychosis or my depression or whatever got much, much better. The bad news is that I can't stop moving around. If I sit down, I can only stay down for 5 to 10 minutes, then I have to get up, and when I'm sitting down, I move around a lot. My psychiatrist told me to live with it. It's either weight gain or unstoppable moving. What a witch. But eventually, the shaking stopped for some reason, and I don't move around anymore. Go figure. I also didn't gain weight, so that's good."

• Gor...
• April 23, 2015

For Psychosis "Except for a little weight gain, I feel less nervous, yet I still experience delusional thoughts, kind of OCD type. I am also only on 1 mg, which is very low, and I plan to ask the doctor to take me off the Zyprexa and increase my Haldol to at least 5 mg daily."

• Heh...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• December 15, 2016

For Tourette's Syndrome "Been on Haldol since '74, age 17. Side effects were mostly weight gain and dry mouth. Was at one point taking more than prescribed (on my own, no intent of ODing), which made me lethargic, certainly not up to my usual level. The increase didn't increase or decrease my tics. Seems to have 0 effect. I'm still on Haldol currently (Dec '16) and naturally under Dr.'s care. My physicians in my past, although newer meds are available, keep me on Haldol and monitored, if it's not broke, don't fix it. Honestly, since TS tics wax and wane, I'm not fully aware that the drug at current dosage is helping. I don't try to go without ever, because if tics get worse (my understanding is out of the system in a matter of days), I'm just not willing to endure tics."

• Bri...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 27, 2019

For Psychosis "I take this for psychotic features from bipolar 2. This hasn't been too bad. I take the concentrated liquid as the pills are not available to order in my area. I can say the only thing I don't like is the sedation part (mild; I try to fight it but can't after a while). Also, I've seen a small, very small difference in my weight even though I still work out and eat correctly (could very well be my depression and missing those pills). Everyone's body reacts differently; it's worth a shot."

• Lis...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 26, 2015

For Psychosis "Weight gain but not as bad as Seroquel and Zyprexa. Just been on it for 10 days but I wouldn't want to prejudge this med just yet. If your doctor has prescribed this med, then take it as he stated, otherwise, tell them it's not for you."

• res...
• June 4, 2011

Haloperidol 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

Haloperidol 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."