Drug Name

Dosage
GENERIC NAME:
Haloperidol
BRAND NAMES:
Haldol
Apo-Haloperidol
DOSAGE
5mg IM

Classification /
Preg. Category /
Drug
Interactions
PREGNANCY
CATEGORY C

Indications
Contraindications

Classification:

Antipsychotic
Dopaminergic blocker

Drug-drug Interaction
Additive anticholinergic
effects and possibly

decreased
antipsychotic
efficacy with
anticholinergic drugs
Increased risk of toxic
side effects with
lithium

Decreased
effectiveness with
carbamazepine
image Drug-lab test

False-positive
pregnancy tests
(less likely if serum
test is used)
Increase in PBI, not
attributable to an
increase in thyroxine

image Drug-alternative
therapy

INDICATIONS
Management of manifestations of
psychotic disorders
Control of tics and vocalizations in
Tourettes syndrome in adults and
children
Behavioral problems in children with
combative, explosive hyperexcitability
that cannot be attributed to immediate
provocation
Short-term treatment of hyperactive
children with excessive motor activity,
mood lability
Haloperidol decanoate: Prolonged
parenteral therapy of chronic
schizophrenia
Unlabeled uses: Control of nausea and
vomiting, control of acute psychiatric
situations (IV use), treatment of
intractable hiccoughs, agitation,
hyperkinesia, infantile autism
CONTRAINDICATIONS:
Contraindicated with hypersensitivity to
typical antipsychotics, coma or severe
CNS depression, bone marrow
depression, blood dyscrasia, circulatory
collapse, subcortical brain damage,
Parkinsons disease, liver damage,
cerebral arteriosclerosis, coronary
disease, severe hypotension or
hypertension.
Use cautiously with pregnancy; lactation;
respiratory disorders (silent
pneumonia); glaucoma, prostatic

Action

Adverse Reactions

Mechanism not
fully understood;
antipsychotics
block
postsynaptic
dopamine
receptors in the
brain, depress the
RAS, including
those parts of the
brain involved
with wakefulness
and emesis;
chemically
resembles the
phenothiazines.

Not all effects have been reported

with haloperidol; however,
because haloperidol has certain
pharmacologic similarities to the
phenothiazine class of
antipsychotic drugs, all adverse
effects associated with
phenothiazine therapy should be
kept in mind when haloperidol is
used.
Autonomic: Dry mouth,
salivation, nasal congestion,
nausea, vomiting, anorexia,
fever, pallor, flushed facies,
sweating, constipation, paralytic
ileus, urinary retention,
incontinence, polyuria,
enuresis, priapism, ejaculation
inhibition
CNS: Drowsiness, insomnia,
vertigo, headache, weakness,
tremor, ataxia, slurring, cerebral
edema, seizures, exacerbation
of psychotic symptoms,
extrapyramidal syndromes
pseudoparkinsonism;
dystonias; akathisia, tardive
dyskinesias, potentially
irreversible (no known
treatment), neuroleptic
malignant syndrome
extrapyramidal symptoms,
hyperthermia, autonomic
disturbances

Nursing Responsibilities

Nursing considerations

Do not give children IM injections.

Do not use haloperidol decanoate for
IV injections.

Warning

Gradually withdraw drug when patient

has been on maintenance therapy to
avoid withdrawal-emergent
dyskinesias.

Discontinue drug if serum creatinine

or BUN become abnormal or if WBC
count is depressed.

Monitor elderly patients for

dehydration; institute remedial
measures promptly; sedation and
decreased thirst related to CNS
effects can lead to severe
dehydration.

Consult physician regarding

appropriate warning of patient or
patients guardian about tardive
dyskinesias.
Consult physician about reducing
dosage and using anticholinergic
antiparkinsonians (controversial) if
extrapyramidal effects occur.

Teaching points

Take this drug exactly as prescribed.

Avoid driving or engaging in other
dangerous activities if dizziness or

 With ginkgo biloba,

increased drug
effectiveness and
decreased
extrapyramidal
effects of haloperidol

hypertrophy (anticholinergic effects may

exacerbate glaucoma and urinary
retention); epilepsy or history of
epilepsy (drug lowers seizure
threshold); tardive dyskinesia; NMS;
breast cancer (elevations in prolactin
may stimulate a prolactin-dependent
tumor); thyrotoxicosis; peptic ulcer;
decreased renal function; myelography
within previous 24 hr or scheduled
within 48 hr; exposure to heat or
phosphorous insecticides; children
younger than 12 yr, especially those
with chickenpox, CNS infections
(children are especially susceptible to
dystonias that may confound the
diagnosis of Reyes syndrome); allergy
to aspirin if giving the 1-, 2-, 5-, and 10mg tablets (these tablets contain
tartrazine).

CV: Hypotension, orthostatic

hypotension, hypertension,
tachycardia, bradycardia,
cardiac arrest, cardiomegaly,
refractory arrhythmias,
pulmonary edema
Endocrine: Lactation, breast
engorgement in females,
galactorrhea; SIADH;
amenorrhea, menstrual
irregularities; gynecomastia in
males; changes in libido;
hyperglycemia or
hypoglycemia; glycosuria;
hyponatremia; pituitary tumor
with hyperprolactinemia;
inhibition of ovulation, infertility,
pseudopregnancy
Hematologic: Eosinophilia,
leukopenia, leukocytosis,
anemia; aplastic anemia;
hemolytic anemia;
thrombocytopenic or
nonthrombocytopenic purpura;
pancytopenia
Hypersensitivity: Jaundice,
urticaria, angioneurotic edema,
laryngeal edema,
photosensitivity, eczema,
asthma, anaphylactoid
reactions, exfoliative dermatitis
Respiratory: Bronchospasm,
laryngospasm, dyspnea;
suppression of cough reflex
and potential for aspiration

drowsiness or vision changes occur.

Avoid prolonged exposure to sun, or
use a sunscreen or covering
garments.
Maintain fluid intake, and use
precautions against heatstroke in hot
weather.
Report sore throat, fever, unusual
bleeding or bruising, rash, weakness,
tremors, impaired vision, dark-colored
urine (pink or reddish brown urine is
to be expected), pale stools, yellowing
of the skin or eyes.

Drug Name
Dosage
GENERIC NAME:
Diphenhydramine
HCl
BRAND NAMES:
Benadryl
DOSAGE
50mg OD PRN

Classification /
Preg. Category /
Drug
Interactions
PREGNANCY
CATEGORY B

Classification:
Antihistamine
Anti-motion-sickness
drug
Antiparkinsonian
Cough suppressant
Sedative-hypnotic
Drug-drug Interaction
Possible increased
and prolonged
anticholinergic
effects with MAOIs
Risk of increased
sedation with
alcohol, CNS
depressants; avoid
this combination

Indications
Contraindications

Action

Adverse Reactions

INDICATIONS
Relief of symptoms associated with
perennial and seasonal allergic rhinitis;
vasomotor rhinitis; allergic
conjunctivitis; mild, uncomplicated
urticaria and angioedema; amelioration
of allergic reactions to blood or plasma;
dermatographism; adjunctive therapy in
anaphylactic reactions
Active and prophylactic treatment of
motion sickness
Nighttime sleep aid
Parkinsonism (including drug-induced
parkinsonism and extrapyramidal
reactions), in the elderly intolerant of
more potent drugs, for milder forms of
the disorder in other age groups, and in
combination with centrally acting
anticholinergic antiparkinsonian drugs
Syrup formulation: Suppression of
cough due to colds or allergy

Competitively

blocks the effects

of histamine at
H1-receptor sites,
has atropine-like,
antipruritic, and
sedative effects.

CONTRAINDICATIONS:
Contraindicated with allergy to
antihistamines, third trimester of
pregnancy, lactation.
Use cautiously with narrow-angle
glaucoma, stenosing peptic ulcer,
symptomatic prostatic hypertrophy,
asthmatic attack, bladder neck
obstruction, pyloroduodenal obstruction,
pregnancy; elderly patients who may be
sensitive to anticholinergic effects.

CNS: Drowsiness, sedation,

dizziness, disturbed
coordination, fatigue,
confusion, restlessness,
excitation, nervousness,
tremor, headache, blurred
vision, diplopia
CV: Hypotension, palpitations,
bradycardia, tachycardia,
extrasystoles
GI: Epigastric distress,
anorexia, increased appetite
and weight gain, nausea,
vomiting, diarrhea or
constipation
GU: Urinary frequency, dysuria,
urinary retention, early menses,
decreased libido, impotence
Hematologic: Hemolytic
anemia, hypoplastic anemia,
thrombocytopenia, leukopenia,
agranulocytosis, pancytopenia
Respiratory: Thickening of
bronchial secretions, chest
tightness, wheezing, nasal
stuffiness, dry mouth, dry nose,
dry throat, sore throat
Other: Urticaria, rash,
anaphylactic shock,
photosensitivity, excessive
perspiration

Nursing Responsibilities

Nursing considerations
Administer with food if GI upset occurs.
Administer syrup form if patient is unable
to take tablets.
Monitor patient response, and arrange for
adjustment of dosage to lowest possible
effective dose.

Teaching points
Take as prescribed; avoid excessive
dosage.
Take with food if GI upset occurs.
Avoid alcohol; serious sedation could
occur.
These side effects may occur: Dizziness,
sedation, drowsiness (use caution
driving or performing tasks requiring
alertness); epigastric distress, diarrhea
or constipation (take drug with meals);
dry mouth (use frequent mouth care,
suck sugarless lozenges); thickening of
bronchial secretions, dryness of nasal
mucosa (use a humidifier).
Report difficulty breathing, hallucinations,
tremors, loss of coordination, unusual
bleeding or bruising, visual
disturbances, irregular heartbeat.