Wht are your views on Haldol?

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders » Anxiety Disorder » Wht are your views on Haldol?

Question:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – You have voiced my thoughts word for word Jackie. Maybe I am going too fast: yoga breathing, meditation, exercise, CBT. My CBT psychologist too has said that a spike in anxiety was expected and will pace it (though I am pushing for more sessions.) The side effects of antipsychotics are not worth it in my opinion. And why for anxiety got me surprised. Thanks, Sunil ::After my forward two steps backwards one after starting CBT by a nice ::therapist, my psychiatrist wants to add haloperidol aka Haldol to the ::imipramine and lorazepam I am already taking. ::I am not to keen on adding to the cocktail of drugs I am already on. ::Please advise. Dear Sunil, Only you can decide if you want to give Haldol a try. If this were me, there is no way I would take an anti-pyschotic for an anxiety disorder. In my opinion, what you are experiencing is normal at this stage of the game regarding CBT. Instead of adding another med, I suggest you pace yourself a bit slower when practicing desensitization. Maybe you’re going too fast. My CBT psychologist used to caution me to slow down, that I was trying to do too much. In my opinion, being patient, giving yourself some time to settle back down and being extra gentle with yourself will be far more effective than taking a med that carries a lot of side-effects with it. Jackie

Sunil, I kind of over did my CBT at one point, to the point it became obsessive with me (I was also quite ill at the time).. I had to back off a bit and not practice it continually, but only when I found myself getting anxious. Maybe you could try that and see if that works for you. You’ll find the right combination – remember, you are new to the CBT and it takes practice and don’t aim for a cure or perfection – which is a fundamental principal of CBT, you can’t be perfect. Just aim for "better" and just accept the fact that there is no 100% all the time cure for this stuff.. but the therapy is an excellent tool you can use, and you are just learning to use it. Cut yourself some slack, it takes time. I’m still learning too. Good luck. Sally — The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm

Response:

I agree Sally. My doc had no explanation for prescribing an antipsychotic. Hah! – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Sunil, I kind of over did my CBT at one point, to the point it became obsessive with me (I was also quite ill at the time).. I had to back off a bit and not practice it continually, but only when I found myself getting anxious. Maybe you could try that and see if that works for you. You’ll find the right combination – remember, you are new to the CBT and it takes practice and don’t aim for a cure or perfection – which is a fundamental principal of CBT, you can’t be perfect. Just aim for "better" and just accept the fact that there is no 100% all the time cure for this stuff.. but the therapy is an excellent tool you can use, and you are just learning to use it. Cut yourself some slack, it takes time. I’m still learning too. Good luck. Sally

– The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I agree Sally. My doc had no explanation for prescribing an antipsychotic. Hah! Sunil, I kind of over did my CBT at one point, to the point it became obsessive with me (I was also quite ill at the time).. I had to back off a bit and not practice it continually, but only when I found myself getting anxious. Maybe you could try that and see if that works for you. You’ll find the right combination – remember, you are new to the CBT and it takes practice and don’t aim for a cure or perfection – which is a fundamental principal of CBT, you can’t be perfect. Just aim for "better" and just accept the fact that there is no 100% all the time cure for this stuff.. but the therapy is an excellent tool you can use, and you are just learning to use it. Cut yourself some slack, it takes time. I’m still learning too. Good luck. Sally

Sunil, My explanation is he may need some himself <eg I am kidding, but I’m glad you confronted him and asked him for an explanation. He owes you that much if he wants to put you on a med like Haldol. There is value in being proactive about your health, informed, and genuinely wanting to know why a doctor wants to follow some course of treatment – I just doubt any benefit could come from taking Haldol for anxiety. I took a very high dose of the stuff and would still panic, even with CBT. It’s not a good med for anxiety at all, but it helped me with other symptoms in the past that were not anxiety. Sally — The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm

Response:

Thanks Sally! Haldol or Serenace as it is called here is an antipsychotic so why is being given for my anxiety? My condition does not warrant it. Plus my gut says enough of meds. I will take more opnions and read your post too. Thanks, Sunil – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi, After my forward two steps backwards one after starting CBT by a nice therapist, my psychiatrist wants to add haloperidol aka Haldol to the imipramine and lorazepam I am already taking. I am not to keen on adding to the cocktail of drugs I am already on. Please advise. Thnaks in advance. Sunil Sunil, Haldol is a good drug, but I can’t compare you to me. I have other dx’s and don’t know that you do or do not have anything akin to what I have. I can vouch for Haldol being effective. For years, it was the only thing that did help me, but not in regards to anxiety. You need a doctor’s opinion on this one, not mine. Haldol is a good drug, but it would only be a good drug if your condition warrants an antipsychotic, it’s not gonna do a thing for anxiety only. There seems to be an influx of doctors prescribing antipsychotics for conditions that the drugs aren’t meant to be used for – OTOH, if you have voices and delusions etc, then Haldol is good for that, but not for anxiety. If you only have anxiety, I’d get another doctor or simply not comply with that. Read my post to alex – about the TD, which started with me from taking Haldol. Don’t want to scare you, but it’s not a drug I would take without a real condition that I needed Haldol for. Take care, Sally — The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm

– The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm

Response:

newnimproved schreef: Hi, After my forward two steps backwards one after starting CBT by a nice therapist, my psychiatrist wants to add haloperidol aka Haldol to the imipramine and lorazepam I am already taking. I am not to keen on adding to the cocktail of drugs I am already on. Please advise. Thnaks in advance. Sunil

If there is a reason to prescribe an antipsychotic the pdoc should tell you why he thinks so. And if you think that’s a valid reason (which is rarely the case with a garden-variety anxiety disorder as opposed to double diagnoses, psychotic anxiety & treatment reistant anxiety/panic) a newer *atypical* one (Seroquel, Risperdal, Abilify, Zyprexa) is much to be prefered. It’s important that a pdoc works *with* you and explains in clear terms why he prescibes whatever he prescribes and if you don’t feel good about it, don;t take it. It’s your life and he is the hired help Philip — The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm

Response:

::After my forward two steps backwards one after starting CBT by a nice ::therapist, my psychiatrist wants to add haloperidol aka Haldol to the ::imipramine and lorazepam I am already taking. ::I am not to keen on adding to the cocktail of drugs I am already on. ::Please advise. Dear Sunil, Only you can decide if you want to give Haldol a try. If this were me, there is no way I would take an anti-pyschotic for an anxiety disorder. In my opinion, what you are experiencing is normal at this stage of the game regarding CBT. Instead of adding another med, I suggest you pace yourself a bit slower when practicing desensitization. Maybe you’re going too fast. My CBT psychologist used to caution me to slow down, that I was trying to do too much. In my opinion, being patient, giving yourself some time to settle back down and being extra gentle with yourself will be far more effective than taking a med that carries a lot of side-effects with it. Jackie ~*~I have not ceased being fearful, but I have ceased to let fear control me… I have gone ahead despite the pounding in my heart that says: turn back, turn back, you’ll die if you venture too far~*~ — The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi Philip, The shrinks here believe in carpet bombing with meds and never counsel. There was no reason given for this addition. My reading is that since beginning CBT I have to *finally* face my fears which is causing an increase in general anxiety. Naturally there will be a spike. Also my yoga breathing and more exercise has helped me tremendously. I was pass on the Haldol. Thanks for being there. Sunil newnimproved schreef: Hi, After my forward two steps backwards one after starting CBT by a nice therapist, my psychiatrist wants to add haloperidol aka Haldol to the imipramine and lorazepam I am already taking. I am not to keen on adding to the cocktail of drugs I am already on. Please advise. Thnaks in advance. Sunil If there is a reason to prescribe an antipsychotic the pdoc should tell you why he thinks so. And if you think that’s a valid reason (which is rarely the case with a garden-variety anxiety disorder as opposed to double diagnoses, psychotic anxiety & treatment reistant anxiety/panic) a newer *atypical* one (Seroquel, Risperdal, Abilify, Zyprexa) is much to be prefered. It’s important that a pdoc works *with* you and explains in clear terms why he prescibes whatever he prescribes and if you don’t feel good about it, don;t take it. It’s your life and he is the hired help Philip

Sunil, Philip is so right about all of this – Your doctor needs to come out and explain exactly why he wants to treat you with an antipsychotic. Especially an older one like Haldol. They put me on Haldol when nothing else worked and I *do* have symptoms that warrant and antipsychotic. If you are not delusional, don’t have hallucinations, don’t hear voices.. all that stuff?? I don’t get why he would even go there. Sounds strange to me, Sunil. Take care, Sally — The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm

Response:

You have voiced my thoughts word for word Jackie. Maybe I am going too fast: yoga breathing, meditation, exercise, CBT. My CBT psychologist too has said that a spike in anxiety was expected and will pace it (though I am pushing for more sessions.) The side effects of antipsychotics are not worth it in my opinion. And why for anxiety got me surprised. Thanks, Sunil – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – ::After my forward two steps backwards one after starting CBT by a nice ::therapist, my psychiatrist wants to add haloperidol aka Haldol to the ::imipramine and lorazepam I am already taking. ::I am not to keen on adding to the cocktail of drugs I am already on. ::Please advise. Dear Sunil, Only you can decide if you want to give Haldol a try. If this were me, there is no way I would take an anti-pyschotic for an anxiety disorder. In my opinion, what you are experiencing is normal at this stage of the game regarding CBT. Instead of adding another med, I suggest you pace yourself a bit slower when practicing desensitization. Maybe you’re going too fast. My CBT psychologist used to caution me to slow down, that I was trying to do too much. In my opinion, being patient, giving yourself some time to settle back down and being extra gentle with yourself will be far more effective than taking a med that carries a lot of side-effects with it. Jackie ~*~I have not ceased being fearful, but I have ceased to let fear control me… I have gone ahead despite the pounding in my heart that says: turn back, turn back, you’ll die if you venture too far~*~

– The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm

Response:

Hi Philip, The shrinks here believe in carpet bombing with meds and never counsel. There was no reason given for this addition. My reading is that since beginning CBT I have to *finally* face my fears which is causing an increase in general anxiety. Naturally there will be a spike. Also my yoga breathing and more exercise has helped me tremendously. I was pass on the Haldol. Thanks for being there. Sunil – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – newnimproved schreef: Hi, After my forward two steps backwards one after starting CBT by a nice therapist, my psychiatrist wants to add haloperidol aka Haldol to the imipramine and lorazepam I am already taking. I am not to keen on adding to the cocktail of drugs I am already on. Please advise. Thnaks in advance. Sunil If there is a reason to prescribe an antipsychotic the pdoc should tell you why he thinks so. And if you think that’s a valid reason (which is rarely the case with a garden-variety anxiety disorder as opposed to double diagnoses, psychotic anxiety & treatment reistant anxiety/panic) a newer *atypical* one (Seroquel, Risperdal, Abilify, Zyprexa) is much to be prefered. It’s important that a pdoc works *with* you and explains in clear terms why he prescibes whatever he prescribes and if you don’t feel good about it, don;t take it. It’s your life and he is the hired help Philip

– The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm

Response:

Hi, After my forward two steps backwards one after starting CBT by a nice therapist, my psychiatrist wants to add haloperidol aka Haldol to the imipramine and lorazepam I am already taking. I am not to keen on adding to the cocktail of drugs I am already on. Please advise. Thnaks in advance. Sunil

Sunil, Haldol is a good drug, but I can’t compare you to me. I have other dx’s and don’t know that you do or do not have anything akin to what I have. I can vouch for Haldol being effective. For years, it was the only thing that did help me, but not in regards to anxiety. You need a doctor’s opinion on this one, not mine. Haldol is a good drug, but it would only be a good drug if your condition warrants an antipsychotic, it’s not gonna do a thing for anxiety only. There seems to be an influx of doctors prescribing antipsychotics for conditions that the drugs aren’t meant to be used for – OTOH, if you have voices and delusions etc, then Haldol is good for that, but not for anxiety. If you only have anxiety, I’d get another doctor or simply not comply with that. Read my post to alex – about the TD, which started with me from taking Haldol. Don’t want to scare you, but it’s not a drug I would take without a real condition that I needed Haldol for. Take care, Sally — The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm