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Haloperidol (Haldol) for Treating Adolescent Mental Health

Author:
Hayley Snelling
Hayley Snelling
B.S. Psychology
Editor:
Emma Loker
Emma Loker
B.S.
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What do you do when therapy isn’t enough, and your teen’s mental health symptoms keep getting worse? For some families, a medication like Haloperidol – known by the brand name Haldol – becomes part of the answer.

Haloperidol is an antipsychotic that’s been used to help manage severe mental health conditions for decades. While it isn’t usually the first medication given to adolescents, it may be recommended when aggression, intense mood swings, or psychosis, make daily life unmanageable. Sometimes, it can help teens regain stability when nothing else has worked. 

This page will explore teen mental health treatment with Haldol  – what conditions it treats, how it works, and what you should know before starting or stopping the medication.

Whether you are a parent looking for clear and trustworthy information, or a teen trying to understand your treatment options, you’re not alone. Knowledge is power, and once you have read this page, you’ll be one step closer to getting the support you or your teen needs. 

Haloperidol (Haldol) for Treating Adolescent Mental Health

What Is Haloperidol?

Haloperidol (or Haldol), is a first-generation antipsychotic. This means it can treat conditions like psychosis – a condition that makes it difficult for you to distinguish what’s real from what isn’t. As part of psychosis, you may see or hear things that aren’t there (hallucinations), or believe things that aren’t true (delusions). 

Haldol is used to treat a variety of emotional and mental conditions, as well as behavioral problems. But how does it do this?

In your brain, many different chemicals do different jobs. One of these chemicals is dopamine, which acts like a messenger in your brain to control your mood, thoughts, and behavior. If you have too much dopamine activity in your brain, you might have hallucinations or delusions – this is what’s thought to occur in those diagnosed with schizophrenia. 

Haldol works by blocking the dopamine activity in the brain, which effectively reduces the psychotic symptoms.1 Think of it like this: Dopamine is usually shouting messages across your brain with the volume dialed right up. Haldol turns the volume back down to where it should be, which means you’re less likely to get the symptoms associated with it being so “loud.” Effectively, you can feel calmer. 

What Conditions Does It Treat in Teenagers?

Your doctor may prescribe you Haloperidol for several reasons. Let’s take a look at how it can be used to treat adolescents. 

Haldol for Treating Adolescent Schizophrenia

Just over 2 out of every 1,000 teens in the U.S. have schizophrenia.2 Haldol may be used to treat schizophrenia in children and teens. However, it isn’t typically the first choice of treatment. Instead, second-generation antipsychotics tend to be the go-to choice.3

Haloperidol and Emotional Regulation in Teens

Haldol can be used to treat combative and explosive hyperexcitability in children and teens, which is why your doctor may prescribe Haldol for aggression in teenagers. However, it is usually only considered after other methods – such as psychotherapeutic support services and non-antipsychotic medications – haven’t had the best results.1

Haloperidol for ADHD in Teens

According to the CDC, 7 million U.S. children aged between 3 and 17 years old have been diagnosed with ADHD.4 Haloperidol can be effective in calming impulsivity, attention difficulties, aggressiveness, mood fluctuations, and low frustration tolerance. However, like with emotion regulation difficulties, Haldol is only considered once other therapies and non-antipsychotic medicines haven’t had the desired effects.1

Haldol for Other Challenges in Teens

Haldol can be used as a form of treatment for teens with tics or Tourette’s syndrome. It can also help ease feelings of anxiety or agitation and make you feel calmer. However, again, using Haloperidol for teen anxiety is only considered once therapy approaches and antidepressants haven’t been effective.5 

Finally, your doctor may prescribe Haloperidol for mood disorders in teens, such as bipolar disorder, but again, this is only considered after other options have been tried and didn’t work.6

Haldol Dosage for Teenagers

How much Haldol you take will depend on why your doctor has prescribed it. Your dose may also change depending on how well it works for you and whether you get any side effects. 

You’ll usually start off on the lowest possible dose to minimize any side effects, and then your doctor will slowly increase it to the amount you need to get the best effects. 

Haldol usually comes as a tablet to be taken once or twice a day.7 If you forget to take a dose of Haloperidol, take it as soon as you remember, unless it is close to the time of your next dose. 

It’s important to have regular reviews with your doctor when starting Haldol so that they can make sure you are taking the right dose to help you the most. It may take a few weeks before your symptoms start to ease off, and it may be a couple of months before you feel the complete benefits. 

We recommend keeping a journal or diary while taking Haldol. This gives you the opportunity to write down how you feel each day when you are taking it. Ultimately, this gives a record which can help you see any improvements. Plus, it’s also a handy reminder for you when it comes to talking with your doctor about how things are going on the medication. 

Haloperidol Side Effects in Teenagers

When you take Haldol, there is the possibility of experiencing side effects, just as with all medications. However, not everyone will experience side effects. People react to medications like Haldol differently, and if side effects do occur, they may only be temporary. 

That said, it’s helpful to know what to expect when starting Haldol. Some of the most commonly reported side effects in teens include:8

  • Fast heartbeat
  • Blurry vision
  • Constipation
  • Dry mouth
  • Feeling drowsy
  • Dizziness
  • Feeling restless
  • Extrapyramidal symptoms (involuntary movements, tremors, muscle contractions, and stiff muscles)

The good news? Research looking into the side effects doesn’t show an association between Haloperidol and weight gain in teens or Haloperidol and appetite changes in teens. These side effects are more often associated with second-generation (atypical) antidepressants. 

It’s important to attend regular check-ins with your doctor while taking Haldol. These appointments give you a chance to talk about how you’re feeling on the medication. If you’re experiencing unpleasant side effects, your doctor may be able to change your dosage to make the side effects more manageable. Alternatively, it may give you both a chance to talk about different options for treatment. 

If you’re feeling slightly overwhelmed by this list of side effects, we get it. If this is you right now, it’s important to remember two things:

  1. Not everyone will experience all of these side effects. It is just a collection of the most common side effects that people generally report. 
  2. Your doctor will have prescribed this medication after weighing up the risks and benefits of you taking it. If they recommend it, it’s because they believe it will help you. 

Stopping Haldol Safely for Adolescents

The time may come when you want to stop taking Haldol. If this is something you are thinking about, it’s important to plan how to stop your medication with your doctor’s guidance. If you suddenly stop taking Haloperidol, you risk getting unpleasant symptoms called withdrawal effects. Some of the most common Haloperidol withdrawal symptoms in adolescents are:9,10

  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Sleep problems
  • Feeling like you have the flu (fever, chills, aches)
  • Mood changes
  • Stomach problems
  • Restlessness, agitation, or irritability
  • Shaking

You are more likely to get withdrawal effects when you suddenly stop medication because your body and brain are trying to get used to functioning without the help of Haldol. However, if you reduce your dose slowly over time, with your doctor’s supervision, you are less likely to experience withdrawal effects. They’re also likely to be less severe if you do get them. 

This is another reason why it’s essential to have regular appointments with your doctor – they can help you to come off the medication as comfortably and safely as possible. 

Supporting Teen Mental Health During Treatment

As a parent, you want to help your child as much as you can, but do you know how to support your teen’s mental health? Here are a few ideas on ways you can support your teenager during their treatment:

  • Get Clued Up on Haldol: Take the time to learn about your teen’s condition so that you can understand them better, and can help to answer questions they might have.
  • Speak Only to Your Teen: Don’t just talk to your teen, talk with them. Ask them questions about how they feel, and really listen to their answers. Let them know that it is safe to talk to you about any concerns and that you’ll be there to listen and won’t judge them. 
  • Create a Stigma-Free Home: Make your home a stigma-free zone. Mental health is not a taboo subject anymore. Everyone has mental health, and some people have challenges to overcome in that area. Talk about mental health conditions respectfully, so that your teen will know they can talk to you about their mental health if they want to. 
  • Encourage Self-Care: Encourage your teen to nourish their mind, body, and soul. Getting regular exercise, having a varied and balanced diet, and getting enough sleep are so important for good mental health as well as physical health. Make sure they spend time doing activities they love, such as arts and crafts, sports, or spending time with good friends. 
  • Seek Professional Guidance and Support: If your teen is struggling, talking to a therapist or mental health professional can be beneficial. Therapy comes in different shapes and sizes, from sitting in a chair opposite a therapist to using art or music to express your emotions and understand yourself better. It can help them to understand their challenges and discover new ways of coping with their condition. 
Haloperidol (Haldol) for Treating Adolescent Mental Health

Support for You and Your Family

Everyone needs a little extra help sometimes – you don’t have to try and cope with everything on your own. With the right support, knowledge, and care, you can start to feel like yourself again. That’s what Mission Prep is here for. 

We are experts in working with teens and their families and know that everyone experiences mental health challenges differently. That’s why we will create a personalized treatment plan just for you, working with you to decide the best options available to help you achieve your goals. Whether you want a lot of support or just a little extra help, we’ve got you covered and can provide a range of treatments including:

If you’re ready to take the next step, give us a call today or reach out to us online here. Our team of professionals is here to help you on your road to recovery. 

References

  1. Rahman, S., & Marwaha, R. (2023, September 1). Haloperidol. StatPearls – NCBI Bookshelf. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK560892/
  2. Androutsos, C. (2012). [Schizophrenia in children and adolescents: relevance and differentiation from adult schizophrenia]. Psychiatrike = Psychiatriki. 23(1), 82-93.
  3. Mayo Clinic. (n.d.). Childhood schizophrenia – Diagnosis and treatment. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/childhood-schizophrenia/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20354489
  4. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024, November 19). Data and statistics on ADHD. https://www.cdc.gov/adhd/data/index.html
  5. NHS. (2024, October 30). About haloperidol. https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/haloperidol/about-haloperidol/
  6. Stahl, S. M. (2018, October 1). Haloperidol. In Prescriber’s guide: Children and adolescents (Cambridge University Press). https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/abs/prescribers-guide-children-and-adolescents/haloperidol/AF8FF5AD74B0A3BF975446CE21B41E7C
  7. National Alliance on Mental Illness. (2024, December 23). Haloperidol (Haldol). https://www.nami.org/about-mental-illness/treatments/mental-health-medications/types-of-medication/haloperidol-haldol/
  8. American Association of Psychiatric Pharmacists. (2023). Medication fact sheet: Haloperidol. https://www.nami.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Haloperidol.pdf
  9. NHS. (2025, April 17). Common questions about haloperidol. https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/haloperidol/common-questions-about-haloperidol/
  10. Mind. (n.d.). Coming off antipsychotics. https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/drugs-and-treatments/antipsychotics/coming-off-antipsychotics/

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