clonidine vs haloperidol
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Side-by-side comparison of clonidine and haloperidol. Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
minor Known Drug Interaction
Based on observations in patients in a state of alcoholic delirium it has been suggested that high intravenous doses of clonidine may increase the arrhythmogenic potential (QT-prolongation, ventricular fibrillation) of high intravenous doses of haloperidol.
Catapres
Haldol
Clonidine (Catapres) is a medicine used to treat high blood pressure. It can be used alone or with other blood pressure medicines.
Haloperidol is a medicine used to treat mental disorders. It can help reduce symptoms like hallucinations and confused thinking.
Clonidine is used to treat high blood pressure. High blood pressure can lead to heart disease, stroke, and kidney problems. This medicine helps to lower your blood pressure to a safer level.
Haloperidol is used to manage symptoms of psychotic disorders. It can also control tics and vocal sounds in people with Tourette's Disorder. In children, it can treat severe behavior problems like being combative or overly excitable when other treatments haven't worked. It can also be used short-term for hyperactive children with impulsivity and difficulty paying attention.
Clonidine works in the brain to lower blood pressure. It tells your blood vessels to relax and widen. This makes it easier for blood to flow through your body, which lowers blood pressure.
Haloperidol works by changing the effect of certain natural chemicals in the brain. These chemicals, called neurotransmitters, affect mood and behavior. By blocking dopamine, haloperidol helps to reduce psychotic symptoms.
- • Dry mouth (occurs in about 40 out of 100 people)
- • Drowsiness (occurs in about 33 out of 100 people)
- • Dizziness (occurs in about 16 out of 100 people)
- • Constipation (occurs in about 10 out of 100 people)
- • Feeling sleepy or sedated (occurs in about 10 out of 100 people)
- • Muscle stiffness
- • Shaking
- • Slow movement
- • Restlessness
- • Changes in heart rhythm
- Pain 3,038
- Fatigue 2,925
- Nausea 2,920
- Headache 2,798
- Hypertension 2,595
- Drug Interaction 1,663
- Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome 1,577
- Weight Increased 1,216
- Extrapyramidal Disorder 1,201
- Toxicity To Various Agents 999
If you suddenly stop taking clonidine, your blood pressure may increase. This can cause serious problems. Talk to your doctor before stopping this medicine.
Haloperidol may increase the risk of death in elderly patients with dementia-related psychosis. Haloperidol is not approved to treat dementia-related psychosis.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if clonidine will harm your unborn baby. Talk to your doctor if you are breastfeeding.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Haloperidol may cause side effects in newborns if taken during pregnancy. Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of taking haloperidol while breastfeeding.
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How to Read This clonidine vs haloperidol Comparison
clonidine is classified in the Central Alpha-2 Agonist drug class, while haloperidol sits within the Typical Antipsychotic class. Drugs from different classes work through distinct mechanisms, so a head-to-head comparison illustrates trade-offs rather than equivalence. Both drugs are prescription-only, so a licensed provider must authorize use.
Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, clonidine has 14,276 submissions while haloperidol has 6,656. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume, not per-patient risk, so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. These two drugs have a known minor interaction flagged in FDA labeling, attributed to high doses of these drugs can cause the heart to beat in an irregular and dangerous way.. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.
A table cannot represent individual circumstances. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This registry does not provide medical, treatment, substitution, or medication-change directions for clonidine or haloperidol.
Registry boundary: This comparison displays source-record fields and does not provide individualized medical direction.