Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug, and may not reflect the rates observed in practice.
- 284 patients who participated in 3 double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials with haloperidol (oral formulation, 2 to 20 mg/day); two trials were in the treatment of schizophrenia and one in the treatment of bipolar disorder.
- 1295 patients who participated in 16 double-blind, active comparator-controlled clinical trials with haloperidol (injection or oral formulation, 1 to 45 mg/day) in the treatment of schizophrenia.
Based on the pooled safety data, the most common adverse reactions in haloperidol-treated patients from these double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trials (≥5%) were: extrapyramidal disorder, hyperkinesia, tremor, hypertonia, dystonia, and somnolence.
Adverse Reactions Reported at ≥1% Incidence in Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trials with Oral Haloperidol
Adverse reactions occurring in ≥1% of haloperidol-treated patients and at higher rate than placebo in 3 double-blind, parallel, placebo-controlled, clinical trials with the oral formulation are shown in Table 1.
Table 1. Adverse Reactions Occurring in ≥1% of Haloperidol-Treated Patients in Double-Blind, Parallel Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trials (Oral Haloperidol)
System/Organ Class Adverse Reaction | Haloperidol (n=284) % | Placebo (n=282) % |
Gastrointestinal Disorders | | |
Constipation | 4.2 | 1.8 |
Dry mouth | 1.8 | 0.4 |
Salivary hypersecretion | 1.2 | 0.7 |
Nervous System Disorders | | |
Extrapyramidal disordera | 50.7 | 16.0 |
Hyperkinesia | 10.2 | 2.5 |
Tremor | 8.1 | 3.6 |
Hypertonia | 7.4 | 0.7 |
Dystonia | 6.7 | 0.4 |
Bradykinesia | 4.2 | 0.4 |
Somnolence | 5.3 | 1.1 |
a Represents the total reporting rate for extrapyramidal disorder (reported term) and individual
symptoms of extrapyramidal disorder, including events that did not meet the threshold of ≥1%
for inclusion in this table.
Additional Adverse Reactions Reported in Double-Blind, Placebo-or Active Comparator-Controlled Clinical Trials with Injectable or Oral Haloperidol.
Additional adverse reactions that are listed below were reported by haloperidol-treated patients in double-blind, active comparator-controlled clinical trials with the injectable or oral formulation, or at <1% incidence in double-blind, parallel, placebo-controlled, clinical trials with the oral formulation.
Cardiac Disorders: Tachycardia
Endocrine Disorders: Hyperprolactinemia
Eye Disorders: Vision blurred
Investigations: Weight increased
Musculoskeletal and Connective Tissue Disorders: Torticollis, Trismus, Muscle rigidity, Muscle twitching
Nervous System Disorders: Akathisia, Dizziness, Dyskinesia, Hypokinesia, Neuroleptic malignant syndrome, Nystagmus, Oculogyric crisis, Parkinsonism, Sedation, Tardive dyskinesia
Psychiatric Disorders: Loss of libido, Restlessness
Reproductive System and Breast Disorders: Amenorrhea, Galactorrhea, Dysmenorrhea, Erectile dysfunction, Menorrhagia, Breast discomfort
Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue Disorders: Acneiform skin reactions
Vascular Disorders: Hypotension, Orthostatic hypotension
Postmarketing Experience
The following adverse reactions relating to the active moiety haloperidol have been identified during postapproval use of haloperidol or haloperidol decanoate. Because these reactions are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not always possible to reliably estimate their frequency or establish a causal relationship to drug exposure.
Blood and Lymphatic System Disorders: Pancytopenia, Agranulocytosis, Thrombocytopenia, Leukopenia, Neutropenia
Cardiac Disorders: Ventricular fibrillation, Torsade de pointes, Ventricular tachycardia, Extrasystoles
Endocrine Disorders: Inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion
Gastrointestinal Disorders: Vomiting, Nausea
General Disorders and Administration Site Conditions: Sudden death, Face edema, Edema, Hyperthermia, Hypothermia
Hepatobiliary Disorders: Acute hepatic failure, Hepatitis, Cholestasis, Jaundice, Liver function test abnormal
Immune System Disorders: Anaphylactic reaction, Hypersensitivity
Investigations: Electrocardiogram QT-prolonged, Weight decreased
Metabolic and Nutritional Disorders: Hypoglycemia
Musculoskeletal and Connective Tissue Disorders: Rhabdomyolysis
Nervous System Disorders: Convulsion, Headache, Opisthotonus, Tardive dystonia
Pregnancy, Puerperium and Perinatal Conditions: Drug withdrawal syndrome neonatal
Psychiatric Disorders: Agitation, Confusional state, Depression, Insomnia
Renal and Urinary Disorders: Urinary retention
Reproductive System and Breast Disorders: Priapism, Gynecomastia
Respiratory, Thoracic and Mediastinal Disorders: Laryngeal edema, Bronchospasm, Laryngospasm, Dyspnea
Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue Disorders: Dermatitis exfoliative, Hypersensitivity vasculitis, Photosensitivity reaction, Urticaria, Pruritis, Rash, Hyperhidrosis