Haldol as a Brand Name for an Antipsychotic Medication - Research Paper Example

Haldol Research paper consists of the several sections that are based on the specific information about the drug that is called Haldol or Haloperidol. The work contains proper description about the drug its manufacture, price and other points. Data about pharmacotheraputics, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of the drug is included to the paper. Clear information about toxicology of the drug and its effects on the human body is presented. The type of therapy that is appropriate for the patient together with drug effects and possible monitoring of the patient is introduced in the paper. The last section includes concluding response to this problem. The method used is particularized examination of the literature together with the critical summarizing and personal inferences on the topic. Keywords: Haloperidol, medication, drug. Haldol is a brand name of an antipsychotic medication that is used by people who suffer from severe physical or mental illness and helps normalize some difficulties occurred within the mental process (Ogbru, 2012). Its generic name is Haloperidol Lactate (AHFS, 2014). This preparation has been approved by the USA Food and Drug Administration in 1967 and after that it has come on the market (Ogbru, 2012). Haldol is manufactured in tablets with 0.5, 1, 2, 5, 10, and 20 mg of Haloperidol in each; according to this oral concentrate is 1 and 2 mg/ml. Injectable solution (lactate) is considered to be 5 mg/ml while injectable solution (decanoate) stands for 50 and 100 mg/ml (Ogbru, 2012). Storage conditions for this drug are remained to be 15-30 C (59-86 F) or it corresponds to normal room temperature (Ogbru, 2012). Information about pricing of this drug has been updated in Feb 2014 and the comparative data includes facts that “Haloperidol 0.5MG Tablets (SANDOZ): 90/$16.99 or 180/$22.97; Haloperidol 1MG Tablets (MYLAN): 90/$19.99 or 180/$27.98; Haloperidol 10MG Tablets (ZYDUS PHARMACEUTICALS (USA)): 60/$72.99 or 180/$202.98; Haloperidol 2MG Tablets (MYLAN): 90/$20.99 or 270/$40.96; Haloperidol 20MG Tablets (SANDOZ): 60/$124.99 or 180/$342.97; Haloperidol 5MG Tablets (MYLAN): 90/$25.99 or 270/$55.98” (AHFS, 2014). Therefore, it should be admitted that price depends on the quantity of the Haloperidol in one tablet and the number of tablets in the pack. Haloperidol is widely used for the treatment of schizophrenia concerning all stages of the disease “including acute psychotic episodes as well for long-term stabilization and to minimize risk of relapse” (AHFS, 2014). Also, prolonged antipsychotic therapy for people who suffer from schizophrenia comprises the usage of this medicine (AHFS, 2014). Doctors usually prescribe Haloperidol for people with Tourette’s syndrome as it helps to “control of tics and vocal utterances” (AHFS, 2014). Moreover, this medicine may be used simultaneously as “a stimulant for tic disorders” and concomitant attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (AHFS, 2014). Haloperidol is regarded as an appropriate treatment for some kinds of behavioral disorders especially in children. That may be hyperactive actions that go together with “impulsive behavior, difficulty sustaining attention, aggression, mood lability, and/or poor frustration tolerance” (AHFS, 2014). Antipsychotic agents such as Haloperidol are often remained to be the drugs of choice for delirium (AHFS, 2014). This medication is considered to be an appropriate choice for most patients with delirium “because of its relatively low risk of anticholinergic activity and of sedative and hypotensive effects” (AHFS, 2014). In addition, Haloperidol may be used for the prevention and control of severe nausea and vomiting, for example at the period of cancer chemotherapy-induced emesis (AHFS, 2014). Haloperidol is available “as an oral preparation as well as intravenous and intramuscular injections” (Mandal, 2014). It should be admitted that the drug has “a high protein binding capacity in humans, with around 90% bound to plasma in the blood” (Mandal, 2014). The free action is considered to be only 7.5% to 11.6% (Mandal, 2014). “Haloperidol undergoes extensive metabolism in the liver, with only around 1% of the drug originally administered being excreted in the urine unchanged” (Mandal, 2014). Mandal claims that “the main mode of hepatic clearance is through glucuronidation, reduction and oxidation mediated by CYP3A4” (2014). Also, it is mentioned that “excretion is biliary, meaning the drug leaves the body in the feces and urine” (Mandal, 2014). The period of pharmacokinetics of haloperidol is between 14 and 26 hours for intravenous preparations, 21 hours for intramuscular preparations and between 14 and 37 hours for oral preparations (Mandal, 2014). There are a number of effects that are fixed in patients who receive Haloperidol. The widely spread and most common side effects of this medication are extrapyramidal effects such as sudden, often jerky, involuntary motions of the head, neck, arms, body, or eyes; dizziness, hyperactivity, tiredness, and nausea; also it may be observed sedation, weight gain, erectile dysfunction, menstrual irregularities, insomnia, gynecomastia, dry mouth, nausea, vomiting, and constipation (Ogbru, 2012). Moreover, it should be admitted that Haloperidol may cause “orthostatic hypotension” that is considered to be a special condition according to which patients “become dizzy upon arising from a lying or sitting position because of a drop in blood pressure” (Ogbru, 2012). To side effects that are remained to be herder we mat count abnormal heart beats, sudden death, seizures, decreases in red and white blood cells, and withdrawal symptoms (Ogbru, 2012). Also, it is important to admit that elder patients that are treated with antipsychotic drugs are under the increased risk of death (Ogbru, 2012). Haloperidol should be prescribed for patients that are suffered from different types of mental diseases and psychic disorders such as schizophrenia. What is more it will be relevant to recommend this medication for patients with abnormal behavior and even delirium. The patient presentation of the effects of this drug usage may be completely different. It depends from the severity of disease and doses that are in need for the patient. The effects that are relevant lay from dizziness to lethal outcome. Therefore, it is highly important to monitor patient’s condition and to follow changes that may be caused by the medication. For an appropriate monitoring of the patient it is relevant to observe his/her analysis and changes in health regularly. Also, it is important to consult with the patient and to know what his feelings are according to the usage of this medication. In addition, doctor should know about previous treatment and about existence of other medications in the organism of a patient, as interactions of Haloperidol with other drugs are not simultaneous and without appropriate information doctor is not available to provide an effective treatment. It is important to mention that doctor may change the drug prescription or its doses according to the health of the patient. The doses may be reduced if the patient feels better or is cured; still, doctor may prescribe new doses for the prevention of disease. There may seem possible the situation then patient provides poor respond to the treatment and show a big number of side effects. In such a case it is relevant to stop the prescription of the medicine and to declare the reason of poor response. Taking all fact under consideration it should be mention that Haloperidol is a serious antipsychotic medication that may be prescribed for people with severe mental disorders and physical illnesses. This medication should be prescribed very carefully as it contains a number of unpleasant side effects that may appear within the treatment. Reference List: Mandal, A. (2014, Jul 24). Haloperidol Pharmacokinetics. News Medical. Retrieved From: http://www.news-medical.net/health/Haloperidol-Pharmacokinetics.aspx Ogbry, O. (2012, Feb 23). Haloperidol. MedicineNet. Retrieved From: http://www.drugs.com/monograph/haloperidol-lactate.html Haloperidol Lactate. (2014). AHFS. Retrieved From: http://www.medicinenet.com/haloperidol/article.htm Read More