| Note |
Fragile, handle with haldol (haloperidol) tablets/concentrate/ injection. Controls disturbed behaviour usually without complicating side effects. Haldol haloperidol effectively controls psychotic symptoms, including disruptive behaviour, without undue sedation- permitting a better quality of life for many disturbed elderly patients. While some instances of drowsiness have been reported, marked sedation is rare. Minimizes likelihood of cardiovascular complications. Haldol is unlikely to cause hypotension which can result in dizziness and falls. Transient hypotension seldom occurs; severe orthostatic hypotension has not been reported. Few troublesome side effects. Blurred vision, dry mouth, constipation and urinary retention- which can be extremally upsetting to older persons suffering from dementia- are infrequent with haldol. Extrapyramidal symptoms, when seen, are generally dose-related and readily controllable; usually they do not occur at the very low doses of haldol used in treating the elderly. Tasteless, odorless, colourless concentrate. Haldol concentrate can be added to food, juices, or water to improve acceptability in patients unwilling or unable to swallow solid medication, it also permits the very small dosage adjustments sometimes needed for geriatric patients |