Haldol vs. Seroquel

Haldol (haloperidol) and Seroquel (quetiapine) are antipsychotic drugs used to treat schizophrenia.

Haldol is also used to control motor (movement) and verbal (for example, Tourette's syndrome) tics and is used to treat severe behavior problems in children.

Seroquel is also used in the treatment of major depression and bipolar disorder.

Side effects of Haldol and Seroquel that are similar include nausea, vomiting, dry mouth, headache, dizziness, drowsiness, sleep problems (insomnia), mood or behavior changes, breast swelling or discharge, and irregular or missed menstrual periods.

Side effects of Haldol that are different from Seroquel include diarrhea, nervousness, spinning sensation, restlessness, anxiety, skin rash, itching, spontaneous eye movements, loss of interest in sex, blurred vision, difficulty urinating or urinating less than usual, and occasional movement disorders.

Side effects of Seroquel that are different from Haldol include constipation, stomach pain, upset stomach, lightheadedness, tiredness, sore throat, increased appetite, or weight gain.

Both Haldol and Seroquel may interact with alcohol, other drugs that make you sleepy or slow your breathing (sleeping pills, narcotic pain medicines, prescription cough medicines, muscle relaxers, or medicines for anxiety or seizures), antidepressants, heart rhythm medicines, antipsychotic medicines, cancer medicines, and anti-malaria medications.

Seroquel may also interact with antibiotics, antifungal medicines, antiviral medicines to treat hepatitis or HIV/AIDS, heart or blood pressure medicine, medicines to treat mental illness, St. John's wort or tuberculosis medicines.

Do not stop using Haldol suddenly, or you could have unpleasant withdrawal symptoms.

Side effects of Haldol include:

• nausea,
• vomiting,
• diarrhea,
• dry mouth,
• nervousness,
• headache,
• dizziness,
• spinning sensation,
• drowsiness,
• sleep problems (insomnia),
• restlessness,
• anxiety,
• skin rash,
• itching,
• spontaneous eye movements,
• mood changes,
• breast enlargement,
• irregular menstrual periods,
• loss of interest in sex,
• blurred vision,
• difficulty urinating or urinating less than usual, and
• occasional movement disorders

Severe side effects of Haldol include:

• death in the elderly,
• prolongation of the QT heartbeat interval,
• tardive dyskinesia (involuntary movements), prolonged erection (hours),
• a symptom complex sometimes referred to as neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS) with fever,
• irregular heartbeats,
• mental status changes, and
• renal failure

Common side effects of Seroquel include:

• fever,
• hot flashes,
• sensitivity to heat,
• sweating,
• headache,
• nervousness,
• irritability,
• nausea,
• sleep problems (insomnia),
• changes in appetite or changes in weight,
• changes in menstrual perdiods,
• and temporary hair loss.

Haldol (haloperidol) is an antipsychotic drug that decreases excitement in the brain. Haldol is used to treat psychotic disorders like schizophrenia, to control motor (movement) and verbal (for example, Tourette's syndrome) tics and is used to treat severe behavior problems in children.

Haldol is also used to treat or manage:

• Schizophrenia
• manic or mixed episodes that happen with bipolar I disorder
• major depressive disorder (MDD) when ABILIFY is used with antidepressant medicines
• irritability associated with autistic disorder
• Tourette's disorder

Haldol Injection is a prescription medicine used to treat:

• agitation associated with schizophrenia or bipolar mania

It is not known if Haldol is safe or effective in children:

• under 13 years of age with schizophrenia
• under 10 years of age with bipolar I disorder
• under 6 years of age with irritability associated with autistic disorder
• under 6 years of age with Tourette's disorder

Seroquel (quetiapine) is a psychotropic medication used to treat schizophrenia in adults and children who are at least 13 years old. Seroquel is also used in the treatment of major depression and bipolar disorder.

Haldol may interact with other drugs so the patient needs close observation or monitoring to determine if other side effects develop.

Seroquel may interact with many different drugs. Tell your doctor all medications and supplements you use.

Haldol (ziprasidone HCl) is available as capsules and Haldol (ziprasidone mesylate) is available as an injection for intramuscular use.

Haldol Capsules should be administered at an initial daily dose of 20 mg twice daily with food. For intramuscular dosing, the recommended dose of Haldol is 10 mg to 20 mg administered as required up to a maximum dose of 40 mg per day.

Dosing preparations are 25, 50, 100, 200, 300, and 400 mg tablets.