Has Dementia. Giving Haldol. Worried About Side Effects. Suggest An Alternative Drug?

Hi, thanks for using healthcare magic

Haldol is one of the older anti psychotic medications. As you correctly inferred it can be associated with side effects. Some of these side effects are increased heart rate and other problems with heart rhythm, altered blood pressure, inability to keep still (akathesia), dystonia (involuntary muscle contractions and movements).

The side effects may vary in severity from person to person, some persons may not experience significant problems.

There are newer anti psychotics that have a better side effect profile. They are sometimes referred to as atypical anti psychotics.
There are quite a few of them , examples are risperidone ( trade name risperdal), quetiapine (seroquel), olanzapine (zyprexa), aripiprazole (abilify) and clozapine (clozaril).

The choice would depend on what is available at your local pharmacy.

You can consider speaking to his doctors regarding your concerns re the side effects and the use of alternative medication.
Some doctors would refer the patients to the psychiatrists working at the hospital, they would be in a better position to start the atypical antipsychotic that would be treat him and would be readily available.

I hope this helps, feel free to ask any other questions

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Hi

Haldol or haloperidol can cause loss of appetite in some persons but is not known to be associated with incontinence.
If he is increasing confused because of the hospital setting, it would contribute to this incontinence. His doctors may also consider whether he has a symptoms of these infections.

Risperidone and the other atypical antipsychotics have a similiar side effect profile to haloperidol but a decreased chance of these side effects occuring. These medications (all antipsychotics including haloperidol) can also be associated with a decrease in white cells, platelets and red blood cells.

In terms of side effects that are particular to this family of drugs : (1) increased blood sugar and worse control of diabetes
(2)increase in cholesterol and triglycerides
(3) weight gain
(4)if risperidone in particular is given on a long term basis there can be an increase in a hormone called prolactin and a decrease in blood pressure on standing (orthostatic hypotension). The decrease in blood pressure can cause dizziness on standing.

Please feel free to ask any other questions

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