Haloperidol for Psychosis User Reviews (Page 2)

• tma...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 14, 2019

"I was given haloperidol by injection in the hospital for bipolar I on several occasions during 'emergencies' where I was agitated and/or confused and once for severe paranoia. I believe they gave it with Ativan each time. I know this drug has a lot of negative effects for some people, but it helped me every time, and I even took an injection voluntarily a couple of times because of how quickly it calms me down most of the time. I was given an injection one night after getting very agitated and trying to leave the locked unit. I hadn't eaten or drunk anything in days and hadn't showered. They were ready to give me IV fluids, but the day after I had the injection, I was able to think clearly enough to shower and eat. It's not for everyone, but I can say it has helped me as a PRN med."

• My...
• September 14, 2011

"My son had a severe acute psychosis and was put on haloperidol for about 2-3 days. He had quite a bad reaction of dystonia (muscle stiffness), which is more common in young people and males (he was 17). He had trouble swallowing, drooled, arched his back involuntarily, etc. It was awful. I do think it helped the psychosis somewhat, but he could not tolerate it."

• Lau...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 22, 2020

"Okay, I’m 24 years old, and I’m usually on Zoloft, Depakote, and Ativan (as needed), but in July, I had a psychotic episode where I had to get sent to the hospital for about a week. Before I left, they injected me with this, and I immediately felt unusually calm and relaxed, but the next day I started slobbering, drooling all over my shirt, stuttering, which I never do, not talking clearly, SLEEPING ALL DAY. I felt restless, anxious, hopeless, and depressed, and these side effects lasted for about 23 days. It felt like heaven when it wore off, and I felt like my normal self again. My mom wants me to get put on Haldol again, but I refused and told the doctor I’d rather be put on something else, and they agreed. Never again will I use this medication. Sure, being sleepy and slobbering is “better” than having a psychotic episode, but this medication sucks. 1/10"

• Ano...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• November 22, 2015

"Was on this med for about 30 years. This medication is supposed to only be a temporary fix for anger, paranoia, etc. I took it long term and have permanent damage to my brain and nervous system! It is an old drug first used in 1958! There are so many other options out there now. Don't get started on this drug. You will become dependent on it and will not be able to stop taking it. When I take it, I get really paranoid and have anxiety attacks. I can't sit still and pace all day. The worst thing about it is my mom remembers me taking it when I was 16, and it used to work well for me. Now I am 51 and don't need it anymore. I smoked some weed when I was 16 that was laced with PCP. The doctor said the PCP gets in your brain and could take decades."

• Dea...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 15, 2021

"This drug haloperidol is causing me to be extremely agitated. I can't stop moving around, the restlessness is intense. I don't sleep since I've started haloperidol, it's making me smoke so many cigarettes. I want to sleep all the time but can't because I am unable to stop moving my arms and legs. Since I've started haloperidol, I have an uncontrollable urge to smoke. I waste all my money now on cigarettes and can't escape, it's hard to describe how agitated I am when I take this drug."

• Pas...
• November 5, 2020

"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

"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."

• pjo...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 11, 2012

"Immediately felt a lot better taking this. After a couple of weeks now, I have been feeling some kinesia-related issues: sore joints, sore muscles, but I'm not exactly sure it correlates to this medicine because my activity level is varied also. It helps voices and conspiracies chill out. But maybe that's exactly what 'they' want! But I have felt immediately better, but am concerned about long-term effects considering the sudden onset of other symptoms. I have been nothing but tired lately too, while I've been getting more sleep and sleeping earlier also. This is something I need to address with my doctors, and it does seem like a medicine that does have a need for monitoring of the effects. I'd rather not be on it very long."

• Ama...
• June 13, 2017

"Was started on this in the hospital for psychotic bipolar disorder. Asked for a refill when I was released. Makes your mind quiet, sedated, calm. No hallucinations, no delusions. Glad I had a doctor that uses typical antipsychotics because the atypical never worked for me. Aside from the diarrhea, this drug is everything and more."

• ash...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 27, 2016

"I was prescribed Haldol when I went inpatient for borderline personality disorder. Though Haldol does help with my anger and agitation, as well as suspiciousness and paranoia, it makes me so restless that I'm crying and would rather die than suffer like that. It makes me pace around constantly, and I can't sleep because I HAVE to walk around and move my legs. I was also prescribed Trileptal while I was there, which, in conjunction with the Haldol, makes me get such blurred vision that I'm walking into things and can't function. I stopped taking Trileptal due to the side effects of taking it with the Haldol and was put on Lamictal, which had no side effects. My outpatient psychiatrist has since taken me off the Haldol due to the restlessness."

• its...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 8, 2020

"I have used haloperidol for almost a year now, since then, I've lost interest in many things, even life itself. It didn't really connect the dots with this medication. Reading some other reviews, some other people experience the same thing. Even though I got a care authorization and I am obligated to take this medicine, I'm going to quit it and see how it goes. But it did really help with my psychosis, so I hope I don't get a relapse."

• its...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 25, 2025

Haloperidol "Haldol is a weird medication, it actually takes the psychosis away, and the sexual dysfunction that I got from olanzapine is gone once switching to Haldol. If you are on sedative medicine, switching to Haldol will make it possible to have sex again. Sixteen lost years on olanzapine without sex. With Haldol, however, we talk about a few months, and I had the ability to speak to females and actually have sex. If you read this, talk to your doctor for a switch. This medication is worth 10/10."

• Jes...
• April 20, 2018

"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."

• Ano...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• June 16, 2026

Haloperidol "My psychiatrists frequently try to sway me away from this medication, but it works so well. I don't have any side effects, and it helps me with agitation and insomnia, as well as any delusions. I've been on it for 4 years. Once, a psychiatrist stopped it cold turkey, and I had horrible withdrawal. This drug saves my life!"

• Gps...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 17, 2025

Haloperidol "Definitely am less violent on this medication, but feel mentally weak. Overall, it makes my emotions handleable and stops me from going to jail. I am diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder, PTSD, and ASPD."

• Dir...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 15, 2013

"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."

• Ash...
• December 22, 2016

"Was put on Haldol after being put on several atypicals: Abilify (no effect), Risperdal (high blood pressure/ heart arrhythmia), Geodon (panic attacks/ nightmares). Glad I was switched. Have noticed some side effects with Haldol (slight tremor/ restlessness), but nothing serious. Will definitely be sticking with this medication. Works better for me than the newer meds."

• Car...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 5, 2018

"Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking haloperidol: More common, difficulty with speaking or swallowing, inability to move the eyes, loss of balance, control, mask-like face, muscle spasms, especially of the neck and back, restlessness or need to keep moving (severe), shuffling walk, stiffness of the arms and legs, trembling and shaking of the fingers and hands, twisting movements of the body, weakness of the arms and legs."

• Ano...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 20, 2026

"This has been life-changing for my daughter. She is 15 with autism, conduct disorder, ADHD, and likely BPD but too young to diagnose. She seemed to be in a manic, angry state for years. Super aggressive, didn’t seem to be rooted in reality, talked so fast and refused to accept no or follow any simple direction. Completely obsessive and fixated on certain ideas or people or shopping. Hypersexual. We tried so many meds (like 50 plus) and combinations, and this is the only one that worked! The first couple of weeks were super scary, and I almost took her off the meds. She was zombie-like and so tired and weird. The doctor assured me to wait it out, and I’m so glad I did! Within a few weeks, she was back to her funny self but had time to think and process situations and conversations. It feels like I have my daughter back. After reading reviews, it looks like it doesn’t work for some but just here to say it worked for us!"

• Tye...
• September 14, 2014

"Out of all the neuroleptics I've been on, haloperidol helped my paranoia far better. I did not experience weight gain at all, but I take benztropine for muscle spasms, tremors in my hands, and muscle stiffness. All of these are side effects from the haloperidol."

• bea...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 13, 2016

"I had a very spiritual experience where I was having convos with spirits unseen. This was disturbing to my family members, and because they did not understand what was happening, I got upset at them. They called the doc, etc., and I was taken to the hospital for observation. After a few weeks being there, they forced Haldol on me. My consciousness got lower, and I eventually came down from those levels. I got 5 mg oral. They slowly got me off the meds, and I was sent home. When I stopped with the meds, I got a deep psychosis. But was protected by my ancestors. Side effects: lowers IQ, drooling, no happy moments for you. Bad medicine. Used on horses. Made in Belgium by docs who don't know how it feels to have a psychosis."

• Tjt...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 28, 2017

"I was prescribed handily in the psych ward, and after receiving a shot, I felt very relaxed. Unfortunately, the oral pill form isn't the same. I immediately get stiff and anxious to the point that my neck and shoulders were in complete spasms. The doctor had to order another shot to counteract that and also gave me a muscle relaxer. All in all, I felt like my heart was beating out of my chest, and I couldn't relax at all."

• hal...
• July 5, 2016

"I am doing good while on Haldol, still a bit of anxiety, but I can cope. It is way more controlled now. Not sure I will ever be not sick. I am taking 20 drops in the morning and 10 in the midday, 5 mg pill before night. My sleep is very good, no dreams. That is a huge step with controlling my PTSD. I feel good during the day and can function. Only downside, I'm a bit of a hermit, do not really want to leave my house. In all, I think a good drug for those who need it."

• Jc2...
• May 2, 2018

"I was extremely irritable, anxious, and delusional. I still have delusions but have only been taking it for 1 day. I feel better, much less obsessive about the odd thoughts I was having. My sleep is also back on track, as it was all over the place. Hopefully, the longer I take it, the better it gets, but so far, I'm feeling much better overnight."

• KC2...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• July 2, 2024

"I have been on this medication for a few years now and at a low 1.5 mg dose. When I got to this dose, it took away the auditory hallucinations. I had previously been on Seroquel, and they kept increasing the doses, but it just wasn’t helping. I looked up my symptoms and what medications worked. I found an article about haloperidol and sent it to my doctor and asked if we could try it. I’m so glad my doctor was willing to try it because it really helped me get back to living a life without having to hear the voices. I haven’t noticed any side effects."