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You are here: Experts > Health/Fitness > Pharmacology > Pharmacy > drug interaction
Expert: Mary E Scott, RPh, CGP
Date: 2/17/2008
Subject: drug interaction
Question
Hello- My Mom (72) years old was diagnosed with Alzheimer's & was given Haldol 5 MG for her symptoms of paranoia, delusional thoughts, hallucinations and hearing voices etc..she tried it for 5 days and it worked but refused to take it any longer she she was experiencing weakness, loss of appetite. I now have to mix it with her food by crushing the pill and putting it in her soda etc.. My question is I've read an article about not taking haldol with caffeinated drinks, tea and coffee. Does doing this lessen the effects of the drug and should I stop doing this? That is the only way I can get her to take haldol. Since she drinks soda everyday. She prepares her own meals so it's hard for me to add the drug in with her meals. Any suggestions? She is also taking Celebrex, Amlodipine, and Diclofenac. I'm not sure if there is any interactions with haldol. Are there other meds out there that will help with her symptons without giving her the side effects she is currently experiencing? Thanks.
Answer
Hi,Kelly,
Sorry it took so long for me to answer-went away for the weekend and didn't get back until today.
There are two drug interactions with Haldol and her other meds.
1) Diclofenac can increase the effects of haldol which may cause drowsiness,etc
2) Haldol can increase the effectiveness of amlopidine,causing a greater drop in blood pressure. This may be the cause of feelings of weakness,loss of appetite.Has she had her blood pressure checked recently?
I never heard of caffeine affecting haldol,and didn't find anything about it in my references.
Haldol is not the first choice for hallucinations,etc in the elderly because of its side-effects. The newer antipsychotics such as Risperdal, Zyprexa,Abilify,etc are much safer. Haldol is no longer used in the nursing facilities in which I consult.
If her doctor wants her to continue with Haldol, there is a liquid form that may be easier for you to put into her food/drink.
I question the use of Celebrex AND Diclofenac-they are both non steroidal antiinflammatory medications and if used continuously would be duplicating therapy and increasing side-effects without adding additional pain relief,as well as increasing the cost of her meds. Were these prescribed by 2 different doctors?
Show this to her doctor and see what he/she thinks. Hope this helps, and feel free to email me again. I would be interested in what her physician thinks/does. Mary
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