CHEESE
Veteran
Reged: 01/02/02
Posts: 569
Loc: U.S.A.
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I received a script for 2mg Haldol tablets for my sleep problem (I'm having a hard time sleeping at night.)My doctor said it was better than ambien and not addictive like valium or xanax - Is this a good sleep med.? I have not tried it yet? I got some midazolam from a IOP, so I have not got the script filled.Any info. would be great? THANKS, CHEESE 
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rla76
Member
Reged: 09/20/02
Posts: 156
Loc: San Francisco,CA
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CHEESE, Be Carefrul! Haldol is an anti-phycotic and is known for having many severe side affects. I would ask your pharmacist about this medication before taking it. Take Care.
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rla76
Member
Reged: 09/20/02
Posts: 156
Loc: San Francisco,CA
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Here's some info I got from Walgreens.com. Hope this helps answer your question... 
Drug Information For: HALDOL 2MG/ML CONCENTRATE 15ML
Generic Name: E: HALOPERIDOL (ha-loe-PER-i-dole)
Drug Manufacturer: MCNEIL
Common Uses: This medicine is an antipsychotic agent used to treat schizophrenia. It is also used to control certain symptoms associated with Tourette's disorder. It may also be used to treat other conditions as determined by your doctor.
How to use this Medicine: Follow the directions for using this medicine provided by your doctor. Use a measuring device marked for medicine dosing. Ask your pharmacist for help if you are unsure of how to measure this dose. MIX YOUR DOSE in water or fruit juice before taking it. STORE THIS MEDICINE at room temperature in a tightly-closed container, away from heat and light. IF YOU MISS A DOSE OF THIS MEDICINE, take it as soon as possible. Take the remaining doses for the day at evenly spaced intervals. Do not take 2 doses at once.
Cautions: BEFORE YOU HAVE ANY MEDICAL OR DENTAL TREATMENTS, EMERGENCY CARE, OR SURGERY, tell the doctor or dentist that you are using this medicine. THIS MEDICINE MAY CAUSE drowsiness or dizziness. DO NOT DRIVE, operate machinery, or do anything else that could be dangerous until you know how you react to this medicine. THIS MEDICINE WILL ADD TO THE EFFECTS of other depressants or alcohol. Ask your pharmacist if you have questions about which medicines are depressants. DO NOT STOP TAKING THIS MEDICINE without contacting your doctor. THIS MEDICINE MAY CAUSE increased sensitivity to the sun. Avoid exposure to the sun or sunlamps until you know how you react to this medicine. Use a sunscreen or protective clothing if you must be outside for a prolonged period. DO NOT BECOME OVERHEATED in hot weather or during exercise or other activities since heat stroke may occur while you are taking this medicine. BEFORE YOU BEGIN TAKING ANY NEW MEDICINE, either prescription or over-the-counter, check with your doctor or pharmacist. FOR WOMEN: IF YOU PLAN ON BECOMING PREGNANT, discuss with your doctor the benefits and risks of using this medicine during pregnancy. THIS MEDICINE IS EXCRETED IN BREAST MILK. DO NOT BREAST-FEED while taking this medicine.
Possible Side Effects: SIDE EFFECTS, that may go away during treatment, include mild drowsiness, dizziness, changes in menstrual cycle, or swelling or pain in breasts. If they continue or are bothersome, check with your doctor. CHECK WITH YOUR DOCTOR AS SOON AS POSSIBLE if you experience severe drowsiness or sleepiness, drooling, difficulty speaking or swallowing, muscle stiffness, fever, restless body movements, mild hand or leg tremors, or other unusual body movements or muscle twitching. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist.
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Opie_Yates
Old Hand
Reged: 08/11/03
Posts: 481
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Quote:
I received a script for 2mg Haldol tablets for my sleep problem (I'm having a hard time sleeping at night.)My doctor said it was better than ambien and not addictive like valium or xanax - Is this a good sleep med.? I have not tried it yet? I got some midazolam from a IOP, so I have not got the script filled.Any info. would be great? THANKS, CHEESE
CHEESE...STEP AWAY FROM THE HALDOL. Bad, bad mojo.
Back when we were in high school, some guys were using it recreationally and one of them had to be taken to the ER because all his facial muscles froze and his head got stuck facing to one side. He actually drove to the ER like that. I wouldn't touch that stuff with the proverbial 10 foot pole.
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I'm not a doctor, I just play one on a message forum!
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gottadoit
Enthusiast
Reged: 10/21/03
Posts: 269
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I am not a doctor, but I work in health care/human services and I can NOT believe that a doctor would prescribe haldol for a sleep problem. This is a VERY powerful anti-pyschotic medication that can have SERIOUS side effects. One of the side effects was just described by Opie - facial contortions/tics/ or "freezing" which is called tardiv-dyskinesia (medically defined as "a neuromuscular disorder characterised by involuntary movements of the face, mouth etc...believed to be caused by the use of certain tranquilizers...") In certain instances this condition can be PERMANENT.
Haldol SHOULD be prescribed along with congentin, a medication that is taken PRN immediately if the symptoms of TD occur to counter act the haldol.
This is an OLD medication (similar to Mellaril) and is not the "drug of choice" for ANY condition anymore. It is most often prescribed IM or PRN to subdue someone who is extremely agitated, aggressive, pyschotic, etc.
I can NOT get over the fact that any doctor would even CONSIDER this medication as a sleep aid! No one can tell you what to do, but PLEASE talk to your doctor again AFTER doing some research yourself on this medication.
I am stunned.
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PAIDFO
Member
Reged: 02/01/03
Posts: 150
Loc: southeast
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You have been given GREAT advice.I saw it used in a hospital many times while employed there.The nurses all joked about the Haldol shuffle.The folks taking it were like zombies.They walked taking small baby steps.I winessed one lady's toungue swell up pretty bad too.Don't step away RUN! The stuff is bad news unless you are in a locked down ward.If you do use it you might wind up on one.Good Luck..P
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"The difference between Ordinary and Extraordinary is the Little Extra"
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CHEESE
Veteran
Reged: 01/02/02
Posts: 569
Loc: U.S.A.
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I thank everyone for the GOOD INFO. on this DANGEROUS med. I had the script filled then I called my doctors answering service this morning and left a ANGERY message-stateing that I did some research and was asking for something like ambien instead of HALDOL! I most likely will get ambien or valium called in by my doctor? -But I'll keep the HALDOL JUST INCASE I EVER RUN INTO A CRAZY MADMAN OR SOMETHING?THANKS, CHEESE
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summer
Veteran
Reged: 05/21/02
Posts: 563
Loc: East Coast
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I wonder what in the this Dr was thinking when he prescribed this med for you for sleeping problems?!!!!!!
Definately tell him you want Ambien for sleep problems, not something that can potentially destoy you for life. Talk about Dr irresponsiblity. God forbid you were just one of those people who took the script, had it filled and took it b4 you went to bed. There's so many out there who would do just that. Who knows what condition you'd be in when you awoke this morning, if you even did. I know you called, but I'd be in that Dr's office tommorow ripping him to shreds.
Just my .02, I'm completely blown away by this........
Summer
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drewsmerdel
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 12/14/01
Posts: 1137
Loc: Nap Town
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did the doctor mention the possible nansty side effects, including irreiversible tardive dykinesia??? Can you SAY akathasia..
If not thats SCARY...
Drew
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Are you hungry?
Are you sick?
Are you begging for a break?
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qbird
material girl
Reged: 09/02/02
Posts: 844
Loc: USA
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I agree with the other posters. 2 mgs of Haldol is a huge amount, be careful. I would not take it either. It is rarely prescribed for sleeplessness. Take Ambien, it is much better and you don't need so much. But caution if taken on a long term basis, your tolerance increases and you may have a few side effects not at first though. If you need more info on Ambien pm me, I used to take it for three years. I am also surprised if he was going to give you a benzo for sleep he did not rx you Restoril or Ativan.
Drew need a vocabulary lesson what is:
Quote:
did the doctor mention the possible nansty side effects, including irreiversible tardive dykinesia??? Can you SAY akathasia..
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zoe11
Journeyman
Reged: 11/04/03
Posts: 87
Loc: Other side of the moon
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I'm not a doc, but I am a psychotherapist, and what the h**l was you doc thinking. Haldol is an anti-psychotic. Holy cow!! Go to another doc. I'm stunned. You've been given wonderful advice. This is absurd.
z
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drewsmerdel
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 12/14/01
Posts: 1137
Loc: Nap Town
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Sorry I make posts like this and forget that at one time I was like AkaWho. Here is a brief, but to the point side effect list for anti-psychotic meds.
EPS(Extra-Pryamidal Syndrome)- Serious condition characterized by the following:
-Motor Restlessness: Constantly Moving, shifting, pacing, or shaking the body.
-Involuntary Muscle Tightening: neck & back muscles tighten, difficulty swallowing, eyes roll up or back.
-Parkinson-like Effects: tremors/shaking, shuffling walk, drooling. slowness, stiff face.
TD (Tardive Dyskinesia)
-Involuntary movements of tongue and mouth (tongue sticking out, licking smacking)
-Facial tics, tremors, jerky movements of the trunk
-These are irreversible, if not caught ASAP
NMS (Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome)- Potentially fatal side effect
-Muscle Rigidity- very rigid muscles, catatonic
-Elevated Temperature- high body temperatures
-Death
Sorry Im in the Psychological field, and my English is AwFULL!! Akathasia(spelling is probably wrong), also known as EPS(see above) is a Greek word that means "not to sit". If a doctor sees the side effect EPS he will write on the patients chart suffers from medication induced Akathasia. EPS or Akathasia, can be dealt with and will subside as the causing medication is removed. Tardive Dyskinesia, on the other hand is a side effect that we all have proabably seen, but might not have recognized. Body twitching, drowling, "fly catching", grimcing of the face, more or less it is involentary movements of any body part above the waist. This never goes away and the med field has no known cure, imagine being treated for sleep with Haldol and suffering from facial tics for the rest of your life. Or better yet the doc gives you Haldol for sleep, dosnt tell you about NMS and you dont wake up the next morning. I know all drugs have side effects, and all are dangerous, but it really makes you think when you see this in the population you work with EVERYDAY. Im still amazed that a general doc would so half hazardly perscribe a drug that could cause nurological damage or death. I would also bet that CHEESE'S doctor never warned him about the above side effects, and this is not something you wait for the kid at Wal-Greens to infom you of.
Drew
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Are you hungry?
Are you sick?
Are you begging for a break?
Are you sweet?
Are you fresh?
Are you strung up by the wrists?
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konagirl222
Newbie
Reged: 12/16/03
Posts: 34
Loc: Hawaii
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Just a thought....maybe the handwritting on the script is so bad (as often is the case in most pharmacy mistakes) that the script actually is for HALCION which is a sleep medication (hypnotic)? Would not be the first time this type of error was made?
Just a thought.
Konagirl
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Reel_X_4U
Enthusiast
Reged: 04/24/03
Posts: 255
Loc: Queens, New York City
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Cheese,
I would stay-away (far away) from Haldol. It's a strong "Neuroleptic", right up there with "Thorazine", and "Stelezine". And in fact, Haldol is usually not prescribed for insomnia, more like for severe mantal illness like schozenphria. I only took 5mg of it and it made me so drowsy (you find it hard to stand-up, cuz you feel very fatigued) and mentally incapacitated for two days. Never again and the doc give it to me for anxiety. If you ever seen that movie call "12 Monkeys", and Bruce Willis travels back into time and ends-up in a mental hospital and they gave him a anti-psychotic and he drools at the mouth and every physical movement is like the most "challenging project", you've ever done. That's exactly what's it like. It may not be as bad with 2mg, but if you take med on a regular basis, you will experience side-effects that will last forever. Take the script and tell the docor you don't want to a neuroleptic for insomnia. Just tell you want sleeping-med that is labled as a sleep-med like "Halcion" or Prosom". Good Luck.
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Some men see things as they are and say "WHY"!!
Some men see things as they are and say "WHY"!!
I've dreamt of things that never were, and say "WHY NOT"!!
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turcica
seeker
Reged: 12/21/03
Posts: 312
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Cheese, all of the posts before stated factual information on this drug. I used to work in the medical field and believe me this med was used in the hospital and only as a last resort. I am appalled that your doctor would prescribe this for sleep. Please, DO NOT TAKE IT. Have him prescribe something else. turcica
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turcica
The only failure is not knowing how to be happy
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qbird
material girl
Reged: 09/02/02
Posts: 844
Loc: USA
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Thanks Drew for the explaination. I am in a different field and med terms go right over my head, thanks for breaking it down. Wow that is some scary stuff. I tried Haldol once, a small dosage, .25 mgs that is not as much as Cheese was prescribed, and did not care for it, it did not help me sleep and I did not want to try more. Will Ambien cause some of those things you described over a long period of time like the tics? I was wondering because when I took it I had some tremors and tics. One reason I stopped taking it. I also have Parkinsons in my family and it was sort of scary.
To the other poster, I think they gave the patients in 12 monkeys thorazine. Once again I don't know much about it.
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drewsmerdel
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 12/14/01
Posts: 1137
Loc: Nap Town
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Anti-psychotic meds are the only psychotropic that I know of that are supposed to cause TD. Now there have been several cases where SSRIs appear to be causing TD like symptoms, this is a really unreported issue that needs more investigation.
Benzos all expect for Diazapam, have been known to cause forms of EPS. Again EPS is not perminant, and most people taking benzos are not even aware they are suffering from a mild from of EPS. It is rare that the EPS gets so bad that the person taking a benzo will report the side effect, or that it would even be bad enough to consider treating.
Ambien is stll a "new" benzo, but Im not aware of it causing tics. Did your negative side effects subside as you ceased the use of Ambien? (Maybe a PM topic)
Drew
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Are you hungry?
Are you sick?
Are you begging for a break?
Are you sweet?
Are you fresh?
Are you strung up by the wrists?
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gottadoit
Enthusiast
Reged: 10/21/03
Posts: 269
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Cheese,
Wow - looking over all of the posts on this topic I realize that we are all in complete agreement with this. I met with the psychiatrist at work today to go over treatment plans (I work in healthcare/human services) and casually mentioned that I knew of someone who was prescribed haldol for insomnia. Well, I thought her head was going to blow off her shoulders. She went on a complete tantrum saying things like "completely irresponsible" and "dangerous". IT was not a pretty site to hear this coming from a normally calm and mild mannered woman. She said that she has been practicing for over 20 years and has NEVER heard of this being prescribed for sleep disturbance. She stated that UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES would she prescribe haldol for this.
I'm so glad that you have decided not to take it.
You never said how bad your sleep problems are. Have you tried anything else. Even something OTC like tylenol pm? What other prescriptions have you tried? I can't imagine that a doc would prescribe haldol without first trying EVERYTHING else. You wrote that you were going to call him and tell him that you didn't want to take it. I'm curious what his response was to that.
I'm so glad that you made the safe choice and didn't fill this prescription.
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Opie_Yates
Old Hand
Reged: 08/11/03
Posts: 481
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After reading all this hubub, I think there's every possibility that CHEESE's doc meant to prescribe Halcion instead of Haldol...at least one would hope.
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I'm not a doctor, I just play one on a message forum!
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