Is haldol helpful? or not? I think not, but im not sure...

if haldol causes my mother a cardiac arrest or stroke in a matter of weeks im saying it will be a comfortable few weeks for her. noone can live for long in a constant state of paranoid schitzophrenia. she will be given monthly injections of time release haldol and so far i have seen no ill side effects aside from maybe losing some muscle tone. she probably doesnt have long to live and this is one comfort measure that was nothing short of a miracle for her. you have to understand that she was seeing a torrent of water coming down the yard from a broken water main, there were a crew of men in the home cutting holes thru the walls, i was an imposter, trying to kill her and stealing her money. the saddest event was the night she believed if her couple of missing pills werent located she only had 10 to 15 minutes to live. she went to lie in bed crying cause she was going to die in 10 minutes. very heartbreaking for both of us. haldol in gentle amounts is miraculous. she doesnt appear overly sedated just sane.. in fact she realizes the horror that haldol pulled her out of and is grateful for it..

My mother was given Haldol by her family doctor because, in her dementia, she was throwing dishes and breaking them. He then sent her to a psychiatrist because he did not feel comfortable prescribing such a medication. The psychiatrist doubled her medication and it turned her into a zombie. Then the psychiatrist said to return in three months. Mom was becoming quieter and more rigid. The family doctor could see that mom was getting worse, but he was afraid to say to not go back to the psychiatrist "in case he would need her in the future". At the three month and final appt since I stopped taking her, she could see what was happening, took her off Haldol, and prescribed an anti-depressant to counter-act it. I don't know if mom was depressed, mom couldn't say. But it did bring her around. She remained on that anti-depressant, which, thankfully, had no side effects, until she died. Since that time, I have attended Alz support group meetings and other support group meetings and said that I would never prescribe Haldol to a senior. In a small dose for a younger person, it might be OK. But in the increased dosage for an elderly person, it was wrong.

Haldol is a VERY dangerous drug (in my humble opinion). I truly believe it was the 'beginning of the end' for my mother. Rather than address the 'issues of agitation' that elders with Alzheimer's have, doctors give HALDOL, and it is the most destructive drug they could have put my mother on. But I didn't have MEDICAL power of attorney, so there was nothing I could do about it. I voiced my objections, again and again, but it did not make a difference. Even a single dose can take MONTHS to recover from, and unfortunately my mother never did.

Do some research on this drug. Avoid it if you can. "Behavioral changes" are to be expected, but if they are not addressed even HALDOL won't change the behavior.

Discuss OTHER options with the doctors. I am still waiting to read about GOOD experiences with HALDOL!!!

Haldol can possibly be of help in treating severe cases of psychosis-----but on the flip side can be danegrous for a person with dementia. You need to check with your physician or pharmacy tech-if this med is right for the person you have in mind, as everyone is different/ and there is no clear cut reply, in my estimation.
Best,
Hap

I lost my mother to Alzheimer's just over a month ago, and when my family received the prescription list (final bill) from the nursing home, Haldol was listed. We have no idea how often it was given, only that on the list it said 2milligrams. My mother, in her last 3-4 weeks, was almost in a comatose state. She didn't talk or even move on her own and slept almost all the time. The closest thing I ever saw to "agitation" was occasionally raising her arm up and down. If this drug is used to calm patients down, I can't for the life of me see why my mother would need that! The nurses at the nursing home only told us (after Mom's death...and us asking why she was prescribed Halodol) that they use it for anxiety in near death situations. And now after everything I've been reading about the drug, I'm afraid that it might have brought about an earlier death.

I'm tossed and torn too! My Moms dementia has vastly increased her decline in the past 2 mos. Mom was in a constant state of agitaion, worrying, getting up and falling several times a day. Memory meds, depression meds, checked UTI's, ripped out bed and chair alarms, redirection, music therapy, calm talking nothing was helping anymore I asked for restraints but its not allowed in TX but they did try a lap buddy and that cause her more anxiety. I asked for a low dosage of Haldol, we had tried a few others and they only increased her anxiety, shakes, and halucinations. The Haldol makes her drowsy but she's not getting up and falling, stressing herself, dad and her care givers out. When Mom is awake, dementia is there not her, when Mom is asleep, at least her body is resting. This is what I tell myslef to keep from crying and fending guilt off day and night. I'm beginning to think I am selfish for trying to keep her here no matter what.

I think it is wrong to think one thing that works for one person will not work on another. haldol was the only thing that help my Mother

NOT helpful. Ever.

It is damaging both short- and long-term.

It is classified as a 'chemical restraint' drug. So is Ativan.

Just Google 'chemical restraint haldol' and read what comes up from reputable sites.

"Under federal law, nursing home residents have the right to be free from any physical or chemical restraints imposed for purposes of discipline or convenience and not required to treat the resident’s medical symptoms.

Chemical restraints are defined as any drug that is used for discipline or convenience and not required to treat medical symptoms.

In some cases, as a result of understaffing, drugs such as Haldol, are used to control residents with a history of falls, psychosis, and dementia.

Use of chemical restraints for the convenience of the staff may result in a host of injuries, including depression, falls resulting in fractures, bedsores, constipation, contractions, loss of dignity and death."

That is from an online legal site and I know that it is true.

My spouse was taken to ER and was given haldol for his agitation, he was like a zombie when he returned to his memory care unit. He couldn't walk , feed himself. You have to be on top of things because I found out that is the first drug administered if they are agitated or agressive. Never again, he hasn't been the same since then. By all means, do not, do not let them give your loved one haldol!

There should ALWAYS be someone covering when the primary doctor is away. This sounds like a case for evaluation for drug-induced Parkinson's and Rx with Cogentin, versus new neurologic deficits, and I do not think they can rule out Haldol side effects without someone checking on her tone and tremor. Yes, especially in the elderly, a dose that small could well be the culprit. I have been amazed how easily some people miss this totally on exam though. The classic cogwheeling rigidity is easy to feel and find if you know what you are looking for. Maybe insist on a neurologist visit, ideally a geriatric one if you can't get help otherwise. That said, a request to "take her off all meds" may not be well received simply because there are probably legitimate needs for some treatment of troublesome symptoms or nothing would have been started in the first place.