Editing Haloperidol (section)

== Overdose ==
=== Symptoms ===
Symptoms are usually due to side effects. Most often encountered are:

* [[Anticholinergic]] side effects (dry mouth, constipation, paralytic [[ileus]], difficulties in urinating, decreased [[perspiration]])
* Coma in severe cases, accompanied by respiratory depression and massive hypotension, shock
* [[Hypotension]] or [[hypertension]]
* Rarely, serious ventricular arrhythmia (''torsades de pointes''), with or without prolonged [[QT-time]]
* [[Sedation]]
* Severe [[extrapyramidal symptoms|extrapyramidal]] side effects with muscle rigidity and tremors, [[akathisia]], etc.

=== Treatment ===
Treatment is mostly symptomatic and involves intensive care with stabilization of vital functions. In early detected cases of oral overdose, induction of [[emesis]], [[gastric lavage]], and the use of [[activated charcoal]] can be tried. In the case of a severe overdose, antidotes such as [[bromocriptine]] or [[ropinirole]] may be used to treat the extrapyramidal effects caused by haloperidol, acting as dopamine receptor agonists.{{Citation needed|date=April 2013}} ECG and vital signs should be monitored especially for QT prolongation and severe arrhythmias should be treated with antiarrhythmic measures.<ref name=FDA />

=== Prognosis ===
An overdose of haloperidol can be fatal,<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.drugs.com/mtm/haloperidol.html |title = Haloperidol at Drugs.com |url-status = live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20111122170902/http://www.drugs.com/mtm/haloperidol.html |archive-date = 22 November 2011 }}</ref> but in general the prognosis after overdose is good, provided the person has survived the initial phase.