Haloperidol is used for the management of acute and chronic psychosis, including schizophrenia and manic states. It can also be used for the management of agitated behaviour in some people and can control verbal outbursts of people with Tourette's Syndrome.

Haloperidol should not be used in comatose states and in the presence of sedation due to alcohol or other sedating drugs. It should not be used by people with severe depressive states, previous spastic diseases, lesions of the basal ganglia, and in Parkinson's syndrome, except in the case of involuntary movements due to levodopa treatment. It should not be used in people known to be sensitive to the drug, nor in senile patients with pre-existing Parkinson-like symptoms.

Children: Safety and effectiveness in young children have not been established; therefore, haloperidol should not be used in this age group.

Pregnancy and Breastfeeding: Haloperidol has shown no significant increase in birth defects in large population studies. There have been isolated case reports of birth defects following haloperidol use in combination with other drugs. It should, therefore, not be taken by women of childbearing potential or nursing mothers unless, in the opinion of the doctor, the expected benefits of the drug outweigh the potential hazard to the unborn child or infant. Haloperidol is excreted in breast milk.

In common with all neuroleptics, symptoms such as tremor, rigidity, hypersalivation, slowing of movement and anxiety may occur. Headache, loss of sense of balance and seizures have also been reported. These side effects usually occur at higher doses and, as a rule, tend to get better when the dose is reduced or the drug is temporarily discontinued.

As with all antipsychotic agents, tardive dyskinesia may appear in some patients on long-term therapy or may appear after drug therapy has been discontinued. The condition consists of rhythmical involuntary movements of the tongue, face, mouth or jaw (e.g., protrusion of tongue, puffing of cheeks, puckering of mouth, chewing movements). Sometimes these may be accompanied by involuntary movements of extremities. These effects may be permanent in some people.

Other Effects: Insomnia, depressive reactions, and confusional states are the more common effects encountered.

Involuntary movement of the facial muscles and tongue (tardive dyskinesia) is known to occur in people treated with neuroleptics with antipsychotic properties such as haloperidol and other drugs with substantial neuroleptic activity.

The risk of a patient developing tardive dyskinesia and of the syndrome becoming irreversible appear to increase with the duration of treatment and the total amount of drugs taken, although, in some instances, tardive dyskinesia may develop after relatively short periods of treatment at low doses.

Elderly or debilitated patients receiving the drug should be carefully observed for lethargy and a decreased sensation of thirst which might lead to dehydration and reduced lung ventilation and could result in complications, such as pneumonia.

Occupational Hazards: Although haloperidol is a relatively nonsedating neuroleptic, sedation may occur in some people taking the drug. Those taking the drug are warned about the danger of participating in activities requiring complete mental alertness, judgment and physical coordination, such as driving and operating dangerous machinery.

It has been reported that seizures can be triggered by haloperidol. Caution is advised in people suffering from epilepsy and in conditions that increase risk for convulsions such as alcohol withdrawal and brain damage.

As with other antipsychotic agents, haloperidol should be used cautiously by people with severe impairment of liver or kidney function, and to patients with known allergies, or history of allergies to other neuroleptic drugs.