IV Haldol?

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Can Haldol be given IV? Ive given it that way, per order before. But the other night a doc gave me an order as IM, saying that you can NOT give it IV. Ive looked in the drug book at work and it doesnt list IV as a route. Anyone know?

We give Haldol IV all the time...thanks for the information re: long versus short acting Haldol...I will have to make a point of checking out whether it is the lactate version.

I always give Haldol IV, as prescribed by the MD. In our vials is written IV or IM (the same to 2mg or 5mg). Never used it as IM. never seen it prescribed as IM. Never had problems. Hi! First time here.

Specializes in Neuro ICU, Neuro/Trauma stepdown.
I always give Haldol IV, as prescribed by the MD. In our vials is written IV or IM (the same to 2mg or 5mg). Never used it as IM. never seen it prescribed as IM. Never had problems. Hi! First time here.

Welcome!!

our vials also read for IV or IM and i've never had to give it IM, always IV. i remember checking it out after discussing it here!

Specializes in ICU, CCU, ER, PACU, tele, PSYCH.

Im looking at my PDA and it says iv adults 0.5-5mg may be repeated q30 min (unlabled)

According to our hospital policy and procedures, we are not allowed to give Haldol IV on our med/surg/telemetry unit. However, the RN's in PCU and ICU do give it IV. Check your hospital procedures.

Specializes in ER, Outpatient PACU and School Nursing.

I have only given it IM but we really use Geodon IM more so nowadays.

We only give haldol IV, If you need it, you don't have the time for the IM to work. Additionally, we have an aggressive IV haldol protocol for ICU psychosis. We have tried Geodon IM when the haldol either doesn't work, or has too many hypertensive or cardiac risk factors for the haldol.

Specializes in Psychiatric.

I've given it both IM and IV with no problems.

haldol is not approved for IV administration, and can cause prolonged QT intervals, more so when given IV. Many of our cardiologists NEVER order haldol IV because of this.

I've worked psych consultation-liaison in the past, and our ICU and ED docs loved to give Haldol IV and the psychiatrists all thought that was a horrible idea and we were always trying to get them to quit ... (I also had several ICU residents (who were giving their client huge quantities of IV Haldol) tell me that they "didn't believe" in EPS and TD ... :uhoh21:)

Specializes in ICU, ER, EP,.

Haldol IV is approved by the FDA.... it has new warnings for the IV label as of last Nov.

we have haldol drip protocols in the cardiac surgery unit. Our QT intervals are monitored frequently. Now the torsades rare from Haldol but can happen... well we keep a tight mag level to discourage it.

It is however FDA approved and safe in the tightly monitored ICU setting.

Specializes in neuro,renal,tele.
Can Haldol be given IV? Ive given it that way, per order before. But the other night a doc gave me an order as IM, saying that you can NOT give it IV. Ive looked in the drug book at work and it doesnt list IV as a route. Anyone know?

HOLY CRAP!!!!!! The only time we give it IM is when we are dodging chairs and sneaking up behind someone with a needle!!! We are always giving it IV. I just googled it and found some of the sites other people were citing, including one from the FDA saying that Haldol hasn't been approved for IV use and doing so has shown a large increase in adverse affects i.e. torsades, prolonged QT. EEEK!!! Guess I need to start bringing that to the attention of the doc writing the order. Thanks ladies:bow:

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