Haloperidol: Psychopharmacology and Common Uses in Clinical Practice

Course overview

Haloperidol is a first-generation or typical antipsychotic. The typical antipsychotics are also called conventional antipsychotics, major tranquilizers, or neuroleptics. Haloperidol is used to treat the primary symptoms of psychosis, mood disorder, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, dementia and motor and verbal tics in patients with Tourettes syndrome. Psychosis is typically characterized by agitation, delusions, hallucinations, and disorganization of thoughts, but the clinical presentation can vary. The three primary causes of psychosis are mental illness, substance-induced psychosis, and psychosis caused by medical or neurological conditions. Treatment for psychosis depends on the underlying cause. Antipsychotic drugs are often recommended to reduce the symptoms of agitation, delusions, and hallucinations and for patient safety.