Pregnancy, breastfeeding and fertility while taking haloperidol - Brand names: Haldol, Serenace

Haloperidol and pregnancy

There's no good evidence that taking haloperidol in early pregnancy will affect your baby.

Taking it in the weeks before birth may sometimes cause withdrawal symptoms in the newborn baby. However, these symptoms do not last long. Your baby will be checked after they're born and given extra care if needed.

It's important that mental health conditions are well treated since these can affect both your and your baby's wellbeing. Good treatment is important because symptoms of a mental health condition can sometimes get worse during pregnancy and after your baby is born.

Speak to your doctor if you become pregnant. They'll help you decide on the best treatment for you and your baby.

Haloperidol and breastfeeding

If your doctor or health visitor says your baby is healthy, you can take haloperidol while breastfeeding.

It's important to keep taking haloperidol to keep you well. Breastfeeding will also benefit both you and your baby.

There's not much information about taking haloperidol while breastfeeding. It usually passes into breast milk in small amounts but occasionally it can pass into breast milk in larger amounts.

Taking a combination of antipsychotics can increase the risk of your baby getting side effects. Haloperidol has occasionally caused some side effects in breastfed babies when other medicines were taken at the same time.

Your doctor will advise you whether other medicines might be more suitable.

Talk to your health visitor, midwife, pharmacist or doctor as soon as possible if you have any concerns about your baby, including if:

• they're not feeding or putting on weight as normal
• they seem unusually sleepy or irritable
• they're having sudden or jerky movements
• they're being sick or have constipation

Haloperidol and fertility

Haloperidol can sometimes cause erectile dysfunction.

It can sometimes cause changes in your periods or stop you having periods.

Speak to your doctor if you get these side effects or you have any concerns about fertility while taking haloperidol.

For more information about how haloperidol can affect you and your baby during pregnancy, visit the Best Use of Medicines in Pregnancy (BUMPS) website.