Prescription medication · Typical Antipsychotic
haloperidol
Also sold as Haldol. Haloperidol is used to manage symptoms of psychotic disorders.
Data updated 2026-05-15
- 23,495
- FDA reportsModerately reported
- 14
- InteractionsSeveral interactions
- In shortage
- FDA status
What the data shows
haloperidol (Haldol) is a prescription Typical Antipsychotic, reported at a middle-of-the-pack volume (23,495 FDA reports), with 14 documented drug interactions.
Reporting volume reflects how widely a drug is used and studied, not how dangerous it is, a FAERS report documents a temporal association, never proof of cause.
haloperidol (Haldol) is a prescription Typical Antipsychotic. Haloperidol is used to manage symptoms of psychotic disorders.
Haloperidol is a medicine used to treat mental disorders. It can help reduce symptoms like hallucinations and confused thinking.
Verify with FDA → · CMS NADAC pricing →
Drug Shortage Alert
haloperidol is currently listed as to be discontinued by the FDA. Affected manufacturer: Janssen Pharmaceuticals.
View all drug shortages →Drug Pricing (NADAC)
Generic Price
$0.13/unit
Generic Available
Yes (25 manufacturers)
Pricing data from NADAC (CMS), effective December 18, 2024. Compare all drug costs →
NADAC price trail: HALOPERIDOL 0.5 MG TABLET
Same CMS presentation as the headline generic unit price above (2 effective dates). Adjacent % compares consecutive NADAC releases for this description only, not a patient out-of-pocket quote. Latest step: -21.4% vs prior release.
| Effective | NADAC / unit | vs prior | NDCs |
|---|---|---|---|
| April 17, 2024 | $0.1704/EA | - | 1 |
| December 18, 2024 | $0.1340/EA | -21.4% | 12 |
What it does
Haloperidol is used to manage symptoms of psychotic disorders.
Common side effects
Muscle stiffness, Shaking, Slow movement
Key warnings
Haloperidol may increase the risk of death in elderly patients with dementia-related psychosis.
The sections below are summarized in plain English from haloperidol's FDA-approved prescribing information. They describe what the official label says, and are not personal medical advice.
How It Works
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.
Side Effects (from patient reports)
Based on 23,495 FDA adverse event reports.
Most-reported reactions
Adverse reactions in FAERS for haloperidol, by number of reports
- Drug Interaction
Drug Interaction
1,663 reports
- Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome
Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome
1,577 reports
- Weight Increased
Weight Increased
1,216 reports
- Extrapyramidal Disorder
Extrapyramidal Disorder
1,201 reports
- Toxicity To Various Agents
Toxicity To Various Agents
999 reports
- Agitation
Agitation
839 reports
- Somnolence
Somnolence
802 reports
- Pyrexia
Pyrexia
794 reports
- Condition Aggravated
Condition Aggravated
783 reports
- Delirium
Delirium
754 reports
What this shows Bars show how often each reaction was reported, not how likely it is to happen, a report records a temporal association, never proof that the drug caused it.
Reports over time
Adverse-event reports filed for haloperidol each year to the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS).
Year-to-year volume tracks usage, prescribing, and scrutiny, not a change in per-patient risk. Source: FDA FAERS.
Where haloperidol sits
haloperidol has more FDA adverse-event reports than 58% of the drugs FAERS tracks. A high position reflects how widely a drug is used and watched, not how dangerous it is.
Percentile across all drugs PlainMeds tracks by FAERS report volume. The dot is haloperidol; the line is the median (50th percentile).
FDA Adverse Event Report Analysis
Detailed analysis of 23,495 reports from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Reports span 1999–2025.
Total Reports
23,495
Reports Mentioning Death
3,896
16.6% of reports — not proof of cause
Hospitalization Reports
11,669
Top Indication
Product Used For Unknown Indication
Gender Distribution
Age Distribution
Most Reported Adverse Reactions (FAERS)
| # | Reaction | Reports |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | DRUG INTERACTION | 1,663 |
| 3 | NEUROLEPTIC MALIGNANT SYNDROME | 1,577 |
| 5 | WEIGHT INCREASED | 1,216 |
| 6 | EXTRAPYRAMIDAL DISORDER | 1,201 |
| 7 | TOXICITY TO VARIOUS AGENTS | 999 |
| 8 | AGITATION | 839 |
| 9 | SOMNOLENCE | 802 |
| 10 | PYREXIA | 794 |
| 11 | CONDITION AGGRAVATED | 783 |
| 12 | DELIRIUM | 754 |
| 13 | CONFUSIONAL STATE | 729 |
| 14 | VOMITING | 702 |
| 15 | DEATH | 701 |
| 16 | TREMOR | 678 |
| 17 | NAUSEA | 648 |
Reactions in Death Reports
Reactions in Hospitalization Reports
Source: FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) Reports are voluntary and do not establish causation
Serious Warnings
Haloperidol may increase the risk of death in elderly patients with dementia-related psychosis. Haloperidol is not approved to treat dementia-related psychosis.
Known Drug Interactions
Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs): ( 2.9 , 2.10 , 4.1 , 5.2 ) Drugs Metabolized by CYP2D6: Fluoxetine is a potent inhibitor of CYP2D6 enzyme pathway ( 7.7 ) Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCAs): Monitor TCA levels during coadministration with fluoxetine or when fluoxetine has been recently discontinued ( 5.2 , 7.7 ) CNS Acting Drugs: Caution should be used when taken in combination with other centrally acting drugs ( 7.2 ) Benzodiazepines: Diazepam – increased t½, alprazolam - further psychomotor performance decrement due to increased levels ( 7.7 ) Antipsychotics: Potential for elevation...
Mechanism: Fluoxetine slows down the process that clears haloperidol from your system. This can cause the level of the antipsychotic drug to rise in your blood.
7.5 Drugs That Cause QTc Prolongation Tetrabenazine causes a small prolongation of QTc (about 8 msec), concomitant use with other drugs that are known to cause QTc prolongation should be avoided, these including antipsychotic medications (e.g., chlorpromazine, haloperidol, thioridazine, ziprasidone), antibiotics (e.g., moxifloxacin), Class 1A (e.g., quinidine, procainamide) and Class III (e.g., amiodarone, sotalol) antiarrhythmic medications or any other medications known to prolong the QTc interval. 7.6 Neuroleptic Drugs The risk for Parkinsonism, NMS, and akathisia may be increased by...
Mechanism: Combining these drugs increases the risk of heart rhythm changes and severe movement disorders like Parkinsonism.
Compounds in these categories result in a decreased efficacy of bromocriptine mesylate: phenothiazines, haloperidol, metoclopramide, and pimozide.
Mechanism: Haloperidol blocks the effects of bromocriptine in the body. This prevents the medicine from working correctly.
( 7.1 ) Drugs metabolized by CYP2D6: Bupropion inhibits CYP2D6 and can increase concentrations of: antidepressants (e.g., venlafaxine, nortriptyline, imipramine, desipramine, paroxetine, fluoxetine, sertraline), antipsychotics (e.g., haloperidol, risperidone, thioridazine), beta-blockers (e.g., metoprolol), and Type 1C antiarrhythmics (e.g., propafenone, flecainide). Such drugs include certain antidepressants (e.g., venlafaxine, nortriptyline, imipramine, desipramine, paroxetine, fluoxetine, and sertraline), antipsychotics (e.g., haloperidol, risperidone, and thioridazine), beta-blockers...
Mechanism: Bupropion stops a liver enzyme from breaking down haloperidol, which can cause haloperidol levels to build up in your body.
In addition, carbamazepine causes, or would be expected to cause, decreased levels of the following drugs, for which monitoring of concentrations or dosage adjustment may be necessary: acetaminophen, albendazole, alprazolam, aprepitant, buprenorphone, bupropion, citalopram, clonazepam, clozapine, corticosteroids (e.g., prednisolone, dexamethasone), cyclosporine, dicumarol, dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers (e.g., felodipine), doxycycline, ethosuximide, everolimus, haloperidol, imatinib, itraconazole, lamotrigine, levothyroxine, methadone, methsuximide, mianserin, midazolam,...
Mechanism: Carbamazepine causes your body to break down haloperidol faster, which lowers the amount of medicine in your system.
This is a plain-language summary of FDA-label interaction records and does not provide individual medication-combination directions.
Common Questions
Can I stop taking haloperidol suddenly?
Will haloperidol cure my condition?
How long does it take for haloperidol to work?
Can I drink alcohol while taking haloperidol?
Does haloperidol have any effect on my heart?
Can haloperidol cause weight gain?
What should I do if I experience muscle stiffness?
Can I take haloperidol if I have Parkinson's disease?
Is haloperidol safe for children?
What should I do if I have trouble swallowing the tablet?
What are the common side effects of haloperidol?
Does haloperidol interact with other medications?
What drug class is haloperidol?
What pregnancy or breastfeeding source fields are listed for haloperidol?
Has haloperidol been recalled?
Is haloperidol currently in shortage?
Active Recalls
Labeling: Not Elsewhere Classified:Incorrect RFID tag labels applied to product by repackaging firm.
Safecor Health, LLC
Lack of assurance of sterility. Bacterial contamination detected in some media fill units
Amerisource Health Services LLC
Lack of assurance of sterility. Bacterial contamination detected in some media fill units
Amerisource Health Services LLC
Lack of Assurance of Sterility: Media fill with bacterial contamination
Somerset Therapeutics Private Limited
Presence of Foreign Substance: This oil based product may contain trace amounts of water for injection (WFI).
SOMERSET THERAPEUTICS LLC
Related Medications in Typical Antipsychotic
Other drugs grouped near haloperidol - same-class peers and common alternatives.
acamprosate
Campral
Acamprosate is a medicine that can help you stay away from alcohol if you are alcohol-dependent and have already stopped drinking.
Compare with haloperidol →
alprazolam
Xanax
Alprazolam (Xanax) is a medication that can help you with anxiety and panic disorders.
Compare with haloperidol →
amitriptyline
Elavil
Amitriptyline is a medicine used to treat depression.
Compare with haloperidol →
amphetamine/dextroamphetamine
Adderall, Adderall XR
Adderall XR is a stimulant medicine.
Compare with haloperidol →
aripiprazole
Abilify
Aripiprazole (Abilify) is a medicine used to treat certain mental disorders and mood problems.
Compare with haloperidol →
Compare beyond drug class
Nationwide peers by FAERS volume & death-report share
Two PlainMeds-derived comparison paths for haloperidol: nearest FDA FAERS report volume and nearest death-report share among drugs with at least 1,000 logged reports, excluding same-class neighbors listed above. Counts reflect reporting volume, not proven individual harm.
Similar FAERS report volume
Nearest drugs by total FAERS reports. This record: 23,495.
Similar death-report share
Nearest drugs by FAERS death-report share. This record: 16.58%.
- glucagon Δ 0.00 pts · 3,944 reports · Glucagon (Hypoglycemia Rescue) 16.58%death share
- aprepitant Δ 0.00 pts · 17,740 reports · NK1 Receptor Antagonist (Antiemetic) 16.58%death share
- piroxicam Δ 0.00 pts · 6,176 reports · Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug (NSAID) 16.58%death share
- octreotide Δ 0.05 pts · 5,230 reports · Somatostatin Analog 16.63%death share
Medication Guides
Understanding Drug Interactions
How CYP450 enzymes, inhibitors, and inducers affect your medications
Generic vs Brand Name Drugs
FDA requirements, cost savings, and when the difference matters
Narrow Therapeutic Index Drugs
FDA bioequivalence and label-record context for narrow therapeutic index medicines
Common Drug Interactions
Dangerous medication combinations and how to protect yourself
Save on haloperidol
Compare prices and find discounts at pharmacies near you. Free coupons can save up to 80% on prescriptions.
Disclosure: This link may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you. See our terms.
What the FDA Data Shows for haloperidol
The FDA label for haloperidol (sold under brand names such as Haldol) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the Typical Antipsychotic class. Haloperidol is used to manage symptoms of psychotic disorders. Official labeling lists 5 commonly reported side effects, including Muscle stiffness, Shaking, Slow movement.
Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. For this drug, FAERS contains 23,495 voluntary reports. The database also lists 14 documented drug interactions derived from FDA labeling, with the top-flagged interaction rated moderate severity. NADAC pricing from CMS shows a generic unit cost of $0.13.
Report counts do not establish causation, a FAERS entry documents a temporal association, not proof that the drug produced the outcome. Widely prescribed medications naturally accumulate more reports than niche therapies, so raw totals must be interpreted alongside total exposure. Shortage status, recall history (currently 5 recall records on file), and patent information are separate source-record fields. This page is a public FDA/CMS registry and does not provide medical, treatment, substitution, or medication-change directions.
Data Sources
Drug labeling: FDA Drug Labels (SPL/DailyMed). Adverse events: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Pricing: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC). Shortage status: FDA Drug Shortages Database.
FAERS reports are voluntary and do not establish causation. Drug interactions are derived from FDA labeling and clinical references. This registry does not provide medication decisions.
Last updated: November 15, 2024
PlainMeds is rendered directly from FDA openFDA/FAERS extracts, DailyMed labels, and CMS drug-pricing files, no number is typed in by an editor. FAERS counts, recalls, shortages, and price figures on this page are queried live from those federal extracts. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of 2026-05-15. Primary sources: openFDA / FAERS, DailyMed and CMS Part B ASP.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Data currency: FDA FAERS adverse-event reports through 2025, CMS NADAC acquisition-cost pricing effective December 2024, compiled from the source snapshot dated . See our methodology for per-source dates and refresh cadence. Spot a figure that looks wrong? Report a data issue.
All federal data sources used on this page
- FDA Orange Book - approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence. accessdata.fda.gov/cder/ob
- FDA DailyMed - NIH-hosted drug labeling for FDA-approved meds. dailymed.nlm.nih.gov
- FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) - post-marketing safety surveillance. fda.gov/drugs/faers
- NLM RxNorm - standardized clinical drug nomenclature. nlm.nih.gov/research/umls/rxnorm
- CMS Medicare Part B Drug Average Sales Price Files - federal drug pricing data. cms.gov/medicare/part-b-drugs/asp
- FDA Drug Shortages Database - current and resolved drug shortage tracking. accessdata.fda.gov/drugshortages