Haloperidol vomiting

Frequent symptoms of amphetamine withdrawal include excessive fatigue and depression. These may also occur nausea, vomiting, chills, cramps, headaches, and arrhythmia (a change in the rhythm of the heartbeat). A physician may prescribe antidepressants to help alleviate depression during amphetamine withdrawal. Also during withdrawal, if psychosis and/or hallucinations are experienced, treatment with chlorpromazine (Thorazine) or haloperidol (Haldol) may be necessary. Finally, ammonium chloride may be prescribed to more quickly remove amphetamines through the urine. 

The possibility of fatal intestinal dilatation, although very rare, warrants careful evaluation of persistent complaints of constipation, particularly in patients who also have vomiting and abdominal pain, distension, or tenderness (518). Acute intestinal pseudo-obstruction (Ogilvie s syndrome) has been reported in a patient taking haloperidol plus benzatropine (519). 

A 22-year-old man developed atypical neuroleptic malignant syndrome while taking clozapine (104). He vomited and was sweating and agitated but afebrile, with mild hypertension (maximum 156/96 mmHg) and a tachycardia, with marked increases in white blood cell count (32 x 109/1), neutrophils (25 x 109/1), and creatine kinase (1442 IU/1) a similar syndrome occurred while he was taking haloperidol. 

Antiemetics that act on the vomiting centre have antimuscarinic (their principal mode) and anti-histaminic action (hyoscine, promethazine) they alleviate vomiting from any cause. In contrast, drugs that act on the CTZ (haloperidol, ondansetron) are effective only for vomiting mediated by stimulation of the chemoreceptors (by morphine, digoxin, cytotoxics, uraemia). The most efficacious drugs act at more than one site (Table 31.1). 

Postoperative vomiting is related to the duration of anaesthesia and has many causes. Metoclopramide, a 5-HTj receptor antagonist, e.g. ondansetron or a butyrophenone, e.g. haloperidol or droperidol, may be used. The condition affects some 30% of patients... 

Critchley P, Plach N, Grantham M, et al. Efficacy of haloperidol in the treatment of nausea and vomiting in the palliative patient A systematic review. J Pain Symptom Manage 2001 22 631-634. 

An 80-year-old man taking haloperidol, procyclidine, clonazepam, aspirin, digoxin and lithium (serum levels between 0.5 and 0.7 mmol/L) was additionally given indometacin 100 mg daily for arthritis, which was replaced, after 13 days, by ketorolac 30 mg daily. The next day his serum-lithium level was 0.9 mmol/L and 6 days later 1.1 mmol/L. Subsequently the patient developed severe nausea and vomiting, and both drugs were stopped. ... 

---