1. Haldol Drips
 Haldol is an antipsychotic agent used to control acute
delirium especially in emergency situations
 Use only with physician order – see Haldol IV Drip standing
orders
 Use the IV pump and go through the drug list and select
Haldol to regulate drip
 Do not mix with other medications
 Protect from light
 Vital signs (B/P, HR, Respirations) are monitored every 15
minutes while titrating drip until stable and then every hour

2. Haldol Drips (continued)
 Spo2 is monitored continuously
 Monitor heart rhythm by telemetry including QT interval and have
telemetry arrhythmia standing orders on chart
 Only Haloperidol lactate can be used IV
 Patient must have a daily ECG while on the drip
 Avoid use in patients with prolonged QT interval
 Watch for increase side effects when given with other drugs that
prolong the QT interval
 Notify physician of any side effects

3. Haldol Drips (continued)
Follow standing orders for use
 Usual starting dose is 4mg/hr
 Do not exceed 15mg/hr without MD approval
 Assess response every 30 minutes using the Richmond-Agitation-
Sedation-Scale (RASS)
 Titrate by 4mg/hr to achieve a satisfactory response
 Once response is achieved, a gradual reduction to the lowest
effective dose is suggested
 Satisfactory response is considered 0 to +1 on the RASS scale

4. Haldol Drips (continued)
Richmond Agitation Sedation Scale (RASS)
 +4 Combative - Overtly combative, violent, immediate danger to
staff
 +3 Very agitated - Pulls or removes tube(s) or catheter(s);
aggressive
 +2 Agitated - Frequent non-purposeful movement, fights ventilator
 +1 Restless - Anxious but movements not aggressive or vigorous
 0 Alert and calm
Rass continued on next slide

5. Haldol Drips (continued)
 -1 Drowsy - Not fully alert, but has sustained awakening (eye-
opening/eye contact) to voice (>10 seconds)
 -2 Light sedation - Briefly awakens with eye contact to voice
(<10 seconds)
 -3 Moderate sedation - Movement or eye opening to voice
(but no eye contact)
 -4 Deep sedation - No response to voice, but movement or
eye opening to physical stimulation
 -5 Unarousable - No response to voice or physical stimulation