<p><strong><a href="http://www.medicinenet.com/haloperidol/article.htm#what_is_haldol_(haloperidol)?" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Haldol</a></strong> (haloperidol) is mainly known for its antipsychotic properties to treat schizophrenia. It's an aged antipsychotic with a lot of side effects. Because of this, haloperidol is nowadays mostly replaced by the <a href="https://www.drugs.com/drug-class/atypical-antipsychotics.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">atypical antipsychotics</a>, such as clozapine as first-line treatment.</p>
<p>Haloperidol's primary mechanism of action is believed to be related to its antagonistic effects on the <a href="https://psychopharmacologyinstitute.com/cns-receptors/d2-receptors/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">dopamine D2 receptor</a> <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11873706" rel="nofollow noreferrer">(Seeman, 2002)</a>. However, it indeed also finds use in controlling tics and vocal utterances that are part of <strong><a href="http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/tourette-syndrome/diagnosis-treatment/treatment/txc-20163628" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Tourette's syndrome</a></strong> <a href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/002432057190110X" rel="nofollow noreferrer">(Messiha <em>et al</em>., 1971)</a>.</p>
<p>Given that it may take several weeks before haloperidol's effects become apparent, it should be taken continuously. But perhaps even more importantly,  sudden termination of taking haloperidol can lead to unpleasant <strong><a href="https://www.alternativetomeds.com/antipsychotic/haldol-withdrawal.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">withdrawal symptoms</a></strong>, including</p>
<ul>
<li>Delusions, hallucinations and psychotic episodes;</li>
<li>Breathing problems</li>
<li>Tremors, tightening of the muscles;</li>
<li>Dry mouth, loss of control of your tongue;</li>
<li>Blurry vision;</li>
<li>Restlessness.</li>
</ul>
<p>In all, haloperidol looks like a medicine that should be taken regularly.</p>
<p>However, I couldn't find evidence that it is in any way <em>dangerous</em> to take it on an irregular regimen.</p>
<p><sub><strong>References</strong><br />
<strong>-</strong> <a href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/002432057190110X" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Messiha <em>et al</em>., <em>Life Sciences</em> (1971); <strong>10</strong>(8-1): 449-57</a><br />
<strong>-</strong> <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11873706" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Seeman, <em>Can J Psychiatry</em> (2002); <strong>47</strong>(1): 27-38</a></sub></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-08-24T14:10:27.513Z
2017-08-24T22:21:52.280Z
2020-06-17T09:55:31.633Z
AliceD
<p>I've read the case of <a href="https://www.webofstories.com/play/oliver.sacks/143;jsessionid=48D97245FC33122ACCE8A7EA814051E" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Witty Ticcy Ray</a>: a 24 years old man with disabling Tourette’s syndrome. 
The first <a href="http://medhum.med.nyu.edu/view/12034" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Dr. Sacks's treatment</a>, with Haldol, provokes a strong change in Ray's behavior: from tics and excitement to a catatonic state. Ray didn't like this.</p>

<p>They had a period of three months of therapy in which Ray could express himself, he said that he couldn't live without his disease.</p>

<p>Finally they found a compromise: <em>During the week, Ray took Haldol, on weekends, he <strong>stopped it</strong> and he was again ’witty ticcy Ray’</em>. This therapy was accepted by the patient and was succesful.</p>

<p><strong>Is it in any way dangerous to take an antipsychotic drug with that discontinuity?</strong></p>

<neuroscience><psychiatry><psychopharmacology><therapy><drugs>
Is it dangerous to take an antipsychotic drug irregularly?
Fil
# Is it dangerous to take an antipsychotic drug irregularly?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2017-08-24)

I've read the case of [Witty Ticcy Ray](https://www.webofstories.com/play/oliver.sacks/143;jsessionid=48D97245FC33122ACCE8A7EA814051E): a 24 years old man with disabling Tourette’s syndrome.
The first [Dr. Sacks's treatment](http://medhum.med.nyu.edu/view/12034), with Haldol, provokes a strong change in Ray's behavior: from tics and excitement to a catatonic state. Ray didn't like this.

They had a period of three months of therapy in which Ray could express himself, he said that he couldn't live without his disease.

Finally they found a compromise: *During the week, Ray took Haldol, on weekends, he **stopped it** and he was again ’witty ticcy Ray’*. This therapy was accepted by the patient and was succesful.

**Is it in any way dangerous to take an antipsychotic drug with that discontinuity?**

**Tags:** neuroscience, psychiatry, psychopharmacology, therapy, drugs


---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2017-08-24. Score: 8 | Accepted answer

**[Haldol](http://www.medicinenet.com/haloperidol/article.htm#what_is_haldol_(haloperidol)?)** (haloperidol) is mainly known for its antipsychotic properties to treat schizophrenia. It's an aged antipsychotic with a lot of side effects. Because of this, haloperidol is nowadays mostly replaced by the [atypical antipsychotics](https://www.drugs.com/drug-class/atypical-antipsychotics.html), such as clozapine as first-line treatment.

Haloperidol's primary mechanism of action is believed to be related to its antagonistic effects on the [dopamine D2 receptor](https://psychopharmacologyinstitute.com/cns-receptors/d2-receptors/) [(Seeman, 2002)](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11873706). However, it indeed also finds use in controlling tics and vocal utterances that are part of **[Tourette's syndrome](http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/tourette-syndrome/diagnosis-treatment/treatment/txc-20163628)** [(Messiha *et al*., 1971)](http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/002432057190110X).

Given that it may take several weeks before haloperidol's effects become apparent, it should be taken continuously. But perhaps even more importantly, sudden termination of taking haloperidol can lead to unpleasant **[withdrawal symptoms](https://www.alternativetomeds.com/antipsychotic/haldol-withdrawal.html)**, including

* Delusions, hallucinations and psychotic episodes;
* Breathing problems
* Tremors, tightening of the muscles;
* Dry mouth, loss of control of your tongue;
* Blurry vision;
* Restlessness.

In all, haloperidol looks like a medicine that should be taken regularly.

However, I couldn't find evidence that it is in any way *dangerous* to take it on an irregular regimen.

**References**  
**-** [Messiha *et al*., *Life Sciences* (1971); **10**(8-1): 449-57](http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/002432057190110X)  
**-** [Seeman, *Can J Psychiatry* (2002); **47**(1): 27-38](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11873706)


---

