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Preparation. Administration. Evidence.

IV Dilution &
Medication Reference

Search 255 medications, read preserved historical references, and inspect separately reviewed preparation statements. Full monograph updates remain pending.

Version 6.4Release date 2026-11-04For healthcare professionals
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Haloperidol Lactate -Haldol ®

Historical source. Current clinical review is incomplete. This monograph will be updated in the future.

Haloperidol Lactate -Haldol ® (opens in a new tab)Original source URL: https://globalrph.com/dilution/haloperidol-lactate/ | Retrieved 2026-11-04

Source dates, location and integrity

This historical article is separate from the reviewed claim cards. Product formulations and source dates may differ.

Original source URL
https://globalrph.com/dilution/haloperidol-lactate/ (opens in a new tab)
Source date
Not established in the retrieved source
Retrieved
2026-11-04T19:46:27.794553+00:00
Source location
div.post-content
Packaged content SHA-256
df4ae94daa04a5d55f87db3590c1575564e0d3e703da399def708a7598ce0a8c
Original response SHA-256
191f64b1bf58267431b7d14f0a674b8b45424dd678e06608d16494a47e460efe
Source body SHA-256
6dff8467b20bd3482d4bc59c8abcc15855401f1faa9b52deb4ae81a5f6b04438

Haloperidol LACTATE (Haldol ®)
The authors make no claims of the accuracy of the information contained herein; and these suggested doses and/or guidelines are not a substitute for clinical judgment. Neither GlobalRPh Inc. nor any other party involved in the preparation of this document shall be liable for any special, consequential, or exemplary damages resulting in whole or part from any user's use of or reliance upon this material. PLEASE READ THE DISCLAIMER CAREFULLY BEFORE ACCESSING OR USING THIS SITE. BY ACCESSING OR USING THIS SITE, YOU AGREE TO BE BOUND BY THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS SET FORTH IN THE DISCLAIMER.

Usual Diluents
D5W

Standard Dilutions [Amount of drug] [Infusion volume] [Infusion rate]
[0 to 10 mg] [50 ml] [As directed]

HALDOL INJECTION IS NOT APPROVED FOR INTRAVENOUS ADMINISTRATION.

[See WARNING below]

Stability / Miscellaneous
EXP: 7 DAYS (RT)
Label: Do not Refrigerate. Protect from light.

Oral to IV conversion (approximate): oral dose x 0.625 = daily IV dose.

Package Insert - WARNING:

Cardiovascular Effects
Cases of sudden death, QT-prolongation, and Torsades de Pointes have been reported in patients receiving HALDOL. Higher than recommended doses of any formulation and intravenous administration of HALDOL appear to be associated with a higher risk of QT-prolongation and Torsades de Pointes. Although cases have been reported even in the absence of predisposing factors, particular caution is advised in treating patients with other QT-prolonging conditions (including electrolyte imbalance [particularly hypokalemia and hypomagnesemia], drugs known to prolong QT, underlying cardiac abnormalities, hypothyroidism, and familial long QT-syndrome). HALDOL INJECTION IS NOT APPROVED FOR INTRAVENOUS ADMINISTRATION. If HALDOL is administered intravenously, the ECG should be monitored for QT prolongation and arrhythmias.

DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION
There is considerable variation from patient to patient in the amount of medication required for treatment. As with all drugs used to treat schizophrenia, dosage should be individualized according to the needs and response of each patient. Dosage adjustments, either upward or downward, should be carried out as rapidly as practicable to achieve optimum therapeutic control.

To determine the initial dosage, consideration should be given to the patient's age, severity of illness, previous response to other antipsychotic drugs, and any concomitant medication or disease state. Debilitated or geriatric patients, as well as those with a history of adverse reactions to antipsychotic drugs, may require less HALDOL (haloperidol). The optimal response in such patients is usually obtained with more gradual dosage adjustments and at lower dosage levels.

Parenteral medication, administered intramuscularly in doses of 2 to 5 mg, is utilized for prompt control of the acutely agitated schizophrenic patient with moderately severe to very severe symptoms. Depending on the response of the patient, subsequent doses may be given, administered as often as every hour, although 4 to 8 hour intervals may be satisfactory.

Controlled trials to establish the safety and effectiveness of intramuscular administration in children have not been conducted.

Parenteral drug products should be inspected visually for particulate matter and discoloration prior to administration, whenever solution and container permit.

Elderly Patients: Patients over 65 years old generally should not receive >2 mg/24 hours. If higher doses are given, (ECG) monitoring is recommended. Usual starting doses are 0.25 - 0.5 mg given no more than twice a day.

Switchover Procedure
An oral form should supplant the injectable as soon as practicable. In the absence of bioavailability studies establishing bioequivalence between these two dosage forms the following guidelines for dosage are suggested. For an initial approximation of the total daily dose required, the parenteral dose administered in the preceding 24 hours may be used. Since this dose is only an initial estimate, it is recommended that careful monitoring of clinical signs and symptoms, including clinical efficacy, sedation, and adverse effects, be carried out periodically for the first several days following the initiation of switchover. In this way, dosage adjustments, either upward or downward, can be quickly accomplished. Depending on the patient's clinical status, the first oral dose should be given within 12-24 hours following the last parenteral dose.

Source: [package insert]

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