is haldol an effective drug in alcohol detoxification

Prescribing Information

DESCRIPTION
Haloperidol decanoate is the decanoate ester of the butyrophenone, HALDOL (haloperidol) is haldol an effective drug in alcohol detoxification. It has a markedly extended duration of effect is haldol an effective drug in alcohol detoxification. It is available in sesame oilin sterile form for intramuscular (IM) injection is haldol an effective drug in alcohol detoxification. The structural formula ofhaloperidol decanoate, 4-(4-chlorophenyl)-1-[4-(4-fluorophenyl)-4-oxobutyl]-4piperidinyl decanoate, is:

Haloperidol decanoate is almost insoluble in water (0.01 mg/mL), but is solublein most organic solvents is haldol an effective drug in alcohol detoxification.

Each mL of HALDOL Decanoate 50 for IM injection contains 50 mg haloperidol(present as haloperidol decanoate 70.52 mg) in a sesame oil vehicle, with 1.2%(w/v) benzyl alcohol as a preservative is haldol an effective drug in alcohol detoxification.

Each mL of HALDOL Decanoate 100 for IM injection contains 100 mg haloperidol(present as haloperidol decanoate 141.04 mg) in a sesame oil vehicle, with 1.2%(w/v) benzyl alcohol as a preservative is haldol an effective drug in alcohol detoxification.

CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY
HALDOL Decanoate 50 and HALDOL Decanoate 100 are the long-acting forms of HALDOL(haloperidol) is haldol an effective drug in alcohol detoxification. The basic effects of haloperidol decanoate are no different fromthose of HALDOL with the exception of duration of action is haldol an effective drug in alcohol detoxification. Haloperidol blocksthe effects of dopamine and increases its turnover rate; however, the precisemechanism of action is unknown is haldol an effective drug in alcohol detoxification.

Administration of haloperidol decanoate in sesame oil results in slow and sustainedrelease of haloperidol is haldol an effective drug in alcohol detoxification. The plasma concentrations of haloperidol gradually rise,reaching a peak at about 6 days after the injection, and falling thereafter,with an apparent half-life of about 3 weeks is haldol an effective drug in alcohol detoxification. Steady state plasma concentrationsare achieved after the third or fourth dose is haldol an effective drug in alcohol detoxification. The relationship between dose ofhaloperidol decanoate and plasma haloperidol concentration is roughly linearfor doses below 450 mg is haldol an effective drug in alcohol detoxification. It should be noted, however, that the pharmacokineticsof haloperidol decanoate following intramuscular injections can be quite variablebetween subjects is haldol an effective drug in alcohol detoxification.

INDICATIONS AND USAGE
HALDOL Decanoate 50 and HALDOL Decanoate 100 are indicated for the treatmentof schizophrenic patients who require prolonged parenteral antipsychotic therapy is haldol an effective drug in alcohol detoxification.

CONTRAINDICATIONS
Since the pharmacologic and clinical actions of HALDOL Decanoate 50 and HALDOLDecanoate 100 are attributed to HALDOL (haloperidol) as the active medication,Contraindications, Warnings, and additional information are those of HALDOL,modified only to reflect the prolonged action is haldol an effective drug in alcohol detoxification.

HALDOL is contraindicated in severe toxic central nervous system depressionor comatose states from any cause and in individuals who are hypersensitiveto this drug or have Parkinson's disease is haldol an effective drug in alcohol detoxification.

WARNINGS
Tardive Dyskinesia-- A syndrome consisting of potentially irreversible, involuntary,dyskinetic movements may develop in patients treated with antipsychotic drugs is haldol an effective drug in alcohol detoxification. Although the prevalence of the syndrome appears to be highest among the elderly,especially elderly women, it is impossible to rely upon prevalence estimatesto predict, at the inception of antipsychotic treatment, which patients arelikely to develop the syndrome is haldol an effective drug in alcohol detoxification. Whether antipsychotic drug products differ intheir potential to cause tardive dyskinesia is unknown is haldol an effective drug in alcohol detoxification.

Both the risk of developing tardive dyskinesia and the likelihood that it willbecome irreversible are believed to increase as the duration of treatment andthe total cumulative dose of antipsychotic drugs administered to the patientincrease is haldol an effective drug in alcohol detoxification. However, the syndrome can develop, although much less commonly, afterrelatively brief treatment periods at low doses is haldol an effective drug in alcohol detoxification.

There is no known treatment for established cases of tardive dyskinesia, althoughthe syndrome may remit, partially or completely, if antipsychotic treatmentis withdrawn is haldol an effective drug in alcohol detoxification. Antipsychotic treatment, itself, however, may suppress (or partiallysuppress) the signs and symptoms of the syndrome and thereby may possibly maskthe underlying process is haldol an effective drug in alcohol detoxification. The effect that symptomatic suppression has upon thelong-term course of the syndrome is unknown is haldol an effective drug in alcohol detoxification.

Given these considerations, antipsychotic drugs should be prescribed in a mannerthat is most likely to minimize the occurrence of tardive dyskinesia is haldol an effective drug in alcohol detoxification. Chronicantipsychotic treatment should generally be reserved for patients who sufferfrom a chronic illness that 1) is known to respond to antipsychotic drugs, and2) for whom alternative, equally effective, but potentially less harmful treatmentsare not available or appropriate is haldol an effective drug in alcohol detoxification. In patients who do require chronic treatment,the smallest dose and the shortest duration of treatment producing a satisfactoryclinical response should be sought is haldol an effective drug in alcohol detoxification. The need for continued treatment shouldbe reassessed periodically is haldol an effective drug in alcohol detoxification.

If signs and symptoms of tardive dyskinesia appear in a patient on antipsychotics,drug discontinuation should be considered is haldol an effective drug in alcohol detoxification. However, some patients may requiretreatment despite the presence of the syndrome is haldol an effective drug in alcohol detoxification. (For further information aboutthe description of tardive dyskinesia and its clinical detection, please referto ADVERSE REACTIONS .)

Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome (NMS)-- A potentially fatal symptom complexsometimes referred to as Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome (NMS) has been reportedin association with antipsychotic drugs is haldol an effective drug in alcohol detoxification. Clinical manifestations of NMS arehyperpyrexia, muscle rigidity, altered mental status (including catatonic signs)and evidence of autonomic instability (irregular pulse or blood pressure, tachycardia,diaphoresis, and cardiac dysrhythmias) is haldol an effective drug in alcohol detoxification. Additional signs may include elevatedcreatine phosphokinase, myoglobinuria (rhabdomyolysis) and acute renal failure is haldol an effective drug in alcohol detoxification.

The diagnostic evaluation of patients with this syndrome is complicated is haldol an effective drug in alcohol detoxification. Inarriving at a diagnosis, it is important to identify cases where the clinicalpresentation includes both serious medical illness (e.g., pneumonia, systemicinfection, etc.) and untreated or inadequately treated extrapyramidal signsand symptoms (EPS) is haldol an effective drug in alcohol detoxification. Other important considerations in the differential diagnosisinclude central anticholinergic toxicity, heat stroke, drug fever and primarycentral nervous system (CNS) pathology is haldol an effective drug in alcohol detoxification.

The management of NMS should include 1) immediate discontinuation of antipsychoticdrugs and other drugs not essential to concurrent therapy, 2) intensive symptomatictreatment and medical monitoring, and 3) treatment of any concomitant seriousmedical problems for which specific treatments are available is haldol an effective drug in alcohol detoxification. There is no generalagreement about specific pharmacological treatment regimens for uncomplicatedNMS is haldol an effective drug in alcohol detoxification.

If a patient requires antipsychotic drug treatment after recovery from NMS,the potential reintroduction of drug therapy should be carefully considered is haldol an effective drug in alcohol detoxification. The patient should be carefully monitored, since recurrences of NMS have beenreported is haldol an effective drug in alcohol detoxification.

Hyperpyrexia and heat stroke, not associated with the above symptom complex,have also been reported with HALDOL is haldol an effective drug in alcohol detoxification.

General-- A number of cases of bronchopneumonia, some fatal, have followedthe use of antipsychotic drugs, including HALDOL (haloperidol) is haldol an effective drug in alcohol detoxification. It has beenpostulated that lethargy and decreased sensation of thirst due to central inhibitionmay lead to dehydration, hemoconcentration and reduced pulmonary ventilation is haldol an effective drug in alcohol detoxification. Therefore, if the above signs and symptoms appear, especially in the elderly,the physician should institute remedial therapy promptly is haldol an effective drug in alcohol detoxification.

Although not reported with HALDOL, decreased serum cholesterol and/or cutaneousand ocular changes have been reported in patients receiving chemically-relateddrugs is haldol an effective drug in alcohol detoxification.

PRECAUTIONS
HALDOL Decanoate 50 and HALDOL Decanoate 100 should be administered cautiouslyto patients:

with severe cardiovascular disorders, because of the possibility of transienthypotension and/or precipitation of anginal pain is haldol an effective drug in alcohol detoxification. Should hypotension occur anda vasopressor be required, epinephrine should not be used since HALDOL (haloperidol)may block its vasopressor activity, and paradoxical further lowering of theblood pressure may occur is haldol an effective drug in alcohol detoxification. Instead, metaraminol, phenylephrine or norepinephrineshould be used is haldol an effective drug in alcohol detoxification.
receiving anticonvulsant medications, with a history of seizures, or with EEGabnormalities, because HALDOL may lower the convulsive threshold is haldol an effective drug in alcohol detoxification. If indicated,adequate anticonvulsant therapy should be concomitantly maintained is haldol an effective drug in alcohol detoxification.
with known allergies, or with a history of allergic reactions to drugs is haldol an effective drug in alcohol detoxification.
receiving anticoagulants, since an isolated instance of interference occurredwith the effects of one anticoagulant (phenindione) is haldol an effective drug in alcohol detoxification.

If concomitant antiparkinson medication is required, it may have to be continuedafter HALDOL Decanoate 50 or HALDOL Decanoate 100 is discontinued because ofthe prolonged action of haloperidol decanoate is haldol an effective drug in alcohol detoxification. If both drugs are discontinuedsimultaneously, extrapyramidal symptoms may occur is haldol an effective drug in alcohol detoxification. The physician should keepin mind the possible increase in intraocular pressure when anticholinergic drugs,including antiparkinson agents, are administered concomitantly with haloperidoldecanoate is haldol an effective drug in alcohol detoxification.

In patients with thyrotoxicosis who are also receiving antipsychotic medication,including haloperidol decanoate, severe neurotoxicity (rigidity, inability towalk or talk) may occur is haldol an effective drug in alcohol detoxification.

When HALDOL is used to control mania in bipolar disorders, there may be a rapidmood swing to depression is haldol an effective drug in alcohol detoxification.

Information for Patients
Haloperidol decanoate may impair the mental and/or physical abilities requiredfor the performance of hazardous tasks such as operating machinery or drivinga motor vehicle is haldol an effective drug in alcohol detoxification. The ambulatory patient should be warned accordingly is haldol an effective drug in alcohol detoxification.

The use of alcohol with this drug should be avoided due to possible additiveeffects and hypotension is haldol an effective drug in alcohol detoxification.

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