Drug
Haloperidol Decanoate
Pronounced
"hal-oh-PAIR-ih-doll deck-ah-NO-ate"
Drug Interactions
Drug interactions may change how your medications work or increase your risk for serious side effects. This document does not contain all possible drug interactions. Keep a list of all the products you use (including prescription/nonprescription drugs and herbal products) and share it with your doctor and pharmacist. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicines without your doctor's approval.
Some products that may interact with this drug include: cabergoline, ketoconazole, lithium, methyldopa, paroxetine, pergolide.
Many drugs besides haloperidol decanoate may affect the heart rhythm (QT prolongation), including amiodarone, dofetilide, pimozide, quinidine, sotalol, procainamide, and macrolide antibiotics (such as erythromycin), among others. Before using haloperidol, report all medications you are currently using to your doctor or pharmacist.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking other products that cause drowsiness such as opioid pain or cough relievers (such as codeine, hydrocodone), alcohol, marijuana (cannabis), drugs for sleep or anxiety (such as alprazolam, lorazepam, zolpidem), muscle relaxants (such as carisoprodol, cyclobenzaprine), or antihistamines (such as cetirizine, diphenhydramine).
Check the labels on all your medicines (such as allergy or cough-and-cold products) because they may contain ingredients that cause drowsiness. Ask your pharmacist about using those products safely.
Negative Interactions
2- Reduces Effectiveness
Haloperidol
Coffee
Coffee and tea are reported to cause precipitation of haloperidol in the test tube. If this interaction happens in people, it would reduce the amount of haloperidol absorbed and the effectiveness of therapy. People taking haloperidol may avoid this possible interaction by taking haloperidol one hour before or two hours after drinking coffee or tea.
CoffeeHaloperidol- Lasswell WL Jr, Weber SS, Wilkins JM. In vitro interaction of neuroleptics and tricyclic antidepressants with coffee, tea, and gallotannic acid. J Pharm Sci 1984;73:1056-8.
- Reduces Effectiveness
Haloperidol
Tea
Coffee and tea are reported to cause precipitation of haloperidol in the test tube. If this interaction happens in people, it would reduce the amount of haloperidol absorbed and the effectiveness of therapy. People taking haloperidol may avoid this possible interaction by taking haloperidol one hour before or two hours after drinking coffee or tea.
TeaHaloperidol- Lasswell WL Jr, Weber SS, Wilkins JM. In vitro interaction of neuroleptics and tricyclic antidepressants with coffee, tea, and gallotannic acid. J Pharm Sci 1984;73:1056-8.
Supportive Interactions
7- Replenish Depleted Nutrients
Haloperidol
Iron
Haloperidol may cause decreased blood levels of iron. The importance of this interaction remains unclear. Iron should not be supplemented unless a deficiency is diagnosed.
IronHaloperidol- Threlkeld DS, ed. Central Nervous System Drugs, Antipsychotic Agents. In Facts and Comparisons Drug Information. St. Louis, MO: Facts and Comparisons, May 1998, 266k-6m.
- Replenish Depleted Nutrients
Haloperidol
Sodium
Haloperidol may cause hyponatremia (low blood levels of sodium). The incidence and severity of these changes remains unclear.
SodiumHaloperidol- Threlkeld DS, ed. Central Nervous System Drugs, Antipsychotic Agents. In Facts and Comparisons Drug Information. St. Louis, MO: Facts and Comparisons, May 1998, 266k-6m.
- Support Medicine
Haloperidol
Glycine
Two double-blind studies have found that 0.4–0.8 mg/kg body weight per day of glycine can reduce the so-called negative symptoms of schizophrenia when combined with haloperidol and related drugs. Negative symptoms include reduced emotional expression or general activity. The action of glycine in combination with the drugs was greater than the drugs alone, suggesting a synergistic action. Another double-blind study using approximately half the amount in the positive studies could not find any benefit from adding glycine to antipsychotic drug therapy. Patients with low blood levels of glycine appeared to improve the most when given glycine in addition to their antipsychotic drugs. No side effects were noticed in these studies, even when more than 30 grams of glycine were given daily.
GlycineHaloperidol- Heresco-Levy U, Javitt DC, Ermilov M, et al. Double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial of glycine adjuvant therapy for treatment-resistant schizophrenia. Br J Psychiatry 1996;169:610-7.
- Javitt DC, Zylberman I, Zukin SR, et al. Amelioration of negative symptoms in schizophrenia by glycine. Am J Psychiatry 1994;151:1234-6.
- Potkin SG, Costa J, Roy S, et al. Glycine in treatment of schizophrenia—theory and preliminary results. In: Meltzer HY (ed). Novel Antipsychotic Drugs. New York: Raven Press, 1990:179-88.
- Reduce Side Effects
Haloperidol
Ginkgo
In a double-blind trial, supplementation of schizophrenic patients with Ginkgo biloba extract, in the amount of 250 mg per 2.2 pounds of body weight per day for 12 weeks, enhanced the effectiveness of haloperidol and also reduced the side effects of the drug.
GinkgoHaloperidol- Zhang XY, Zhou DF, Zhang PY, et al. A double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of extract of Ginkgo biloba added to haloperidol in treatment-resistant patients with schizophrenia. J Clin Psychiatry 2001;62:878-83.
- Reduce Side Effects
Haloperidol
Milk Thistle
Haloperidol may cause liver damage. A double-blind study in 60 women treated with drugs such as haloperidol were given 800 mg per day silymarin extract made from milk thistle (Silybum marianum). Test subjects who were given silymarin experienced a significant decrease in free radical levels, unlike those given placebo.
Milk ThistleHaloperidol- Palasciano G, Portinascasa P, Palmieri V, et al. The effect of silymarin on plasma levels of malondialdehyde in patients receiving long-term treatment with psychotropic drugs. Curr Ther Res 1994;S5:S37-45.
- Reduce Side Effects
Haloperidol
Omega-3 Fatty Acids, Vitamin E, and Vitamin C
In a preliminary trial, daily supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids (360 mg of eicosapentaenoic acid plus 240 mg of docosahexaenoic acid), 800 IU of vitamin E, and 1,000 mg of vitamin C for four months decreased the severity of abnormal movements (akathisia) caused by haloperidol.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids, Vitamin E, and Vitamin CHaloperidol- Sivrioglu EY, Kirli S, Sipahioglu D, et al. The impact of omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins E and C supplementation on treatment outcome and side effects in schizophrenia patients treated with haloperidol: an open-label pilot study. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2007;31:1493-9.
- Reduce Side Effects
Haloperidol
Vitamin E
Haloperidol and related antipsychotic drugs can cause a movement disorder called tardive dyskinesia. Several double-blind studies suggest that vitamin E may be beneficial for treatment of tardive dyskinesia. Taking the large amount of 1,600 IU per day of vitamin E simultaneously with antipsychotic drugs has also been shown to lessen symptoms of tardive dyskinesia. It is unknown if combining vitamin E with haloperidol could prevent tardive dyskinesia.
Vitamin EHaloperidol- Adler LA, Peselow E, Rotrosen J, et al. Vitamin E treatment of tardive dyskinesia. Am J Psychiatry 1993;150:1405-7.
- Adler LA, Edson R, Lavori P, et al. Long-term treatment effects of vitamin E for tardive dyskinesia. Biol Psychiatry 1998;43:868-72.
Explanation Required
2- Needs Explanation
Haloperidol
Potassium
This interaction is based on this drug belonging to a drug class. While this drug may differ from the text and references below, drugs within this class work in a similar way and this interaction is applicable to drugs within the same class.
Haloperidol may cause hyperkalemia (high blood levels of potassium) or hypokalemia (low blood levels of potassium). The incidence and severity of these changes remains unclear. Serum potassium can be measured by any doctor.
PotassiumHaloperidol- Threlkeld DS, ed. Central Nervous System Drugs, Antipsychotic Agents. In Facts and Comparisons Drug Information. St. Louis, MO: Facts and Comparisons, May 1998, 266k-6m.
- Needs Explanation
Haloperidol Decanoate
Potassium
This interaction is based on this drug belonging to a drug class. While this drug may differ from the text and references below, drugs within this class work in a similar way and this interaction is applicable to drugs within the same class.
Haloperidol may cause hyperkalemia (high blood levels of potassium) or hypokalemia (low blood levels of potassium). The incidence and severity of these changes remains unclear. Serum potassium can be measured by any doctor.
PotassiumHaloperidol Decanoate- Threlkeld DS, ed. Central Nervous System Drugs, Antipsychotic Agents. In Facts and Comparisons Drug Information. St. Louis, MO: Facts and Comparisons, May 1998, 266k-6m.