Haloperidol in palliative care: Indications and risks

Individual response to medication depends on several factors (age, gender, body weight, general clinical condition, genetics, diet, hydration status, comorbidities, co-administered drugs and their mode of administration, smoking, alcohol overuse, environmental factors, e.g. sunlight) that may contri...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Iwona Zaporowska-Stachowiak, Katarzyna Stachowiak-Szymczak, Mary-Tiffany Oduah, Maciej Sopata
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2020-12-01
Series:Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0753332220309653
Description
Summary:Individual response to medication depends on several factors (age, gender, body weight, general clinical condition, genetics, diet, hydration status, comorbidities, co-administered drugs and their mode of administration, smoking, alcohol overuse, environmental factors, e.g. sunlight) that may contribute to adverse drug reactions even at therapeutic doses. Patients in palliative care are at increased risk of these reactions. Unwanted drug effects diminish the quality of life and may lead to a suboptimal dying process. Haloperidol is one of the three most commonly used drugs in palliative care and the most commonly employed typical antipsychotic. It has also been recommended for inclusion into the palliative care emergency kit of home care teams. As such, it is important to be fully conversant with the indications, benefits, and risks of haloperidol, especially in the context of palliative care.
ISSN:0753-3322