Haldol

newtus · Apr 02, 2012, 05:19 PM

Anyone on this? Or been on it? Have experience with the side effects?

I'm taking 5 meds and this is one of them.

I took it one day but i am scared of it. scared to give it a try i mean. my muscles stiffened up in my hands and back of neck. my knees...yea. my right hand literally curled..like my thumb and forefinger into a like an "O" and i COULDNT move it apart until the medicine wore off that night. it was like a painful cramp of the muscles.

im on 5mg.

-jimi- · Apr 05, 2012, 12:07 AM

It's called acute dystonia and you need to tell your doc so they can change your med.

newtus · Apr 05, 2012, 07:43 PM

thank you for this! i didnt know if this was bad or just common.

bipolarmedstudent · Apr 05, 2012, 07:58 PM

yeah....sounds like rigidity/parkinsonism to me. It's a possible side effect of anti-psychotics. Tell your doctor right away. They will switch you onto a different medication, and it will go away.

Apr 05, 2012, 10:57 PM

Oh yeah Dystonia...It's horrible! I've gotten it with almost every antipsychotic I've been on. I have tohave a standing order of IM Benadryl if I'm inpatient. That really helps the symptoms. Maybe pick up some Benadryl at the pharmacy in case you get this again. You shouldn't have to suffer with this.

newtus · Apr 06, 2012, 06:36 PM

what exactly does benadryl do? like how does it work with that? also do you just take the dose it says on the bottle? ill talk to my pdoc too.

Apr 06, 2012, 09:09 PM

Benadryl works like artane. It makes the side effects either go away or improve. For me, if I'm having a bad reaction, (head bent back, spastic , eyes rolled back, stiff as a board) I need to have a shot of Benadryl. At home, if I feel a little stiff, I take between 50 and 75 mgs capsules.
Please talk to your P doc. He'll know the best thing to do. There are so many other good meds besides Haldol. Talk to P doc about your options. Good luck!

bipolarmedstudent · Apr 07, 2012, 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by newtus

what exactly does benadryl do? like how does it work with that? also do you just take the dose it says on the bottle? ill talk to my pdoc too.

benadryl is an anti-cholinergic, and those are prescribed for movement disorders.

newtus · Apr 07, 2012, 08:33 PM

i have cogentin prescribed. that would work right? the stiffening of my muscles wasnt so much with that.

bipolarmedstudent · Apr 07, 2012, 08:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by newtus

i have cogentin prescribed. that would work right? the stiffening of my muscles wasnt so much with that.

Yes. Cogentin is an anti-cholinergic as well. I would take that instead of the benadryl (don't take both). But I still think you need to tell your pdoc about this side effect asap. He or she will most likely switch you to a different anti-psychotic med.

What meds/dosages are you on right now?

bipolarmedstudent · Apr 07, 2012, 09:10 PM

okay so I looked it up and haldol is one of the worst anti-psychotics for causing EPS/parkinsonism (which is what it sounds like you have). Often switching to a different anti-psychotic (especially zyprexa, clozaril, or seroquel) can really help, if not eliminate, the side effects.

On the other hand, if switching is not an option, you can stay on the haldol and take the cogentin. How well does the cogentin work? Does it eliminate all your symptoms?

The other thing I'm wondering is if it might help to switch from focalin to dexedrine (since dexedrine hits dopamine harder). That's just a guess though.

You are probably better off asking over at crazy meds. They know a whole lot more about this stuff than I do.

Also, again, tell your pdoc asap.

I have to say though, the haldol seems to be working for you. Your posts seem a lot more lucid and less paranoid than a few days ago. Are you feeling better?