I’ll Say It Again: Here’s Why PD and Haldol / Haloperidol DON’T MIX
I am not trying to be ‘smart’, but rather, trying to get your attention. They say a good title will do that, so I’m trying.
A few days ago, I received a note from a gentleman who had just lost his father in-law to negligence within the medical community. I say negligence, because basically, that’s what it comes down to. Before a person goes in for any type of surgery, it is my understanding that the medical staff involved in whatever prodedure will take place have a decent understanding regarding the patients medical history. For example, if they have Parkinson’s disease. Yet, not all medical personnel are up to date on certain things in terms of how a drug, for example, will affect someone with PD.
A few months ago, I wrote an article on a drug called Haldol, a.k.a. Haloperidol, and how anyone with PD should steer clear of it as it is life threatening to a PD patient. I’d like to share this man’s story with you:
Hi everyone – My father in law lived by himself and was doing fine, alone with PD. He passed away 5/10/10 after entering the hospital 4/28/10, after he tripped going out to his car, to make the 2 hour drive to come and see me, his son in law and his daughter (my wife) and our children.
A simple 45 minute hip surgery had taken place 4/29/10. They kept covering him with blankets and he always complained he was hot from the shaking, so he would take the blankets off, so they started giving him HALDOL. Why, I don’t know. A day later he was in ICU for 4 days on complete life support. He somehow managed to snap back from ICU and make it back to a regular room, after we found out what Haldol was and told them to stop giving it to him. Even their pharmacist at that point said “Yeah, don’t give him Haldol.” He still had to be on a respirator. I guess the haldol in pill form was aspirating him also. A few days later he died. They said the cause of death was advanced PD. How does someone with advanced PD live on their own, sharp as a tack (this man launched rockets for Nasa and designed aircraft for Boeing, could drive a car fine, talked fine on the phone), but after the haldol, he became a vegetable and mumbled and didn’t know who anyone was? At least I was there when he died I am sure glad my wife did not have to see her father dead as she was there with him through the whole thing but had went home for a few hours to rest. His name was John and he is probably the finest, most caring, loving man I will ever have the pleasure of knowing. He was involved in the MJF foundation, as well donating money to help others like him with PD. Thanks for letting me share his story…
My response:
Thank you so much for sharing your story. My sincerest sympathies for the loss of your father in-law. What a tragedy. About six months ago I ran across an article re: Haldol/Haloperidol and the warning for PD patients to be alert in situations much like yours with your father in-law. Thank you for sharing your heartbreaking story so that others will understand how serious it is for PD patients to stay clear of the drug. For those who are not aware of the dangers of this drug for people with PD, you can read about it here.
Today I received this response from him:
Thank you Sherri. It was your post here that alerted me when my wife phoned from the hospital and asked me to find out what Haldol was. She could not understand the state John was in from a simple 45 minute surgery so she inquired as to what they were giving him.
I have now been doing my homework. This is what we experienced with John and it amazed me how he could one day be perfectly fine (minus some shaking that his meds controlled fairly well) one day to be basically out of his mind the next day. I found a blog where an RN stated “Haldol will make an insane person sane and a sane person insane” I searched ‘can PD kill you’ and found this:
Thank you again Sherri and God Bless you and yours.
All to say, please please please… take someone with you if you’re having a procedure done – someone who can speak for you if you’re not able to. Make sure the medical personnel know your allergies, and any other vital information like YOU HAVE PD AND CANNOT TAKE HALDOL. Get a medical ID bracelet with that information on it and/or carry a PD card (I have some I can mail, if you request one and send me your address). Be proactive in your care as best you can. Your life literally depends on it.
Thank you again, Jim, for sharing your story and I can speak for all our readers that we are saddened by your loss and pray for you and your family for the emptiness felt in the days to come.
17 Responses to “I’ll Say It Again: Here’s Why PD and Haldol / Haloperidol DON’T MIX”
parkinson's disease blogs on March 19, 2011
great resources – great help! thanks! this is wonderful what you’ve done to compile this list for others = A++++++!!!!
sherri on August 4, 2010
Hi again–
thanks – again – for sharing so much –
i truly hope others will benefit from your pain and experience. i know i have. my prayers for you and your family will continue…
-sherri
Jim on August 4, 2010
Thank You Sherri, Anne is trying to hang in there, I try to not burden her with to much of the info I gather, like pouring salt in her wound, so to speak, She was very close to her father and being adopted, John was the person in her life that made her feel very much loved and wanted. As we clean out his home, we find all the little things he saved that Anne made him as a child, as well as the things our children made for him, It is hard, but at the same time looking back at what a loving, caring man he was brings me some comfort. As I research Parkinson’s and it’s effects on the mind, I can clearly see John had allot of fight left in him, as his PD had not advanced to the end stages yet, John was a Scientist a “thinking man” if you will, I am glad the Lord rewarded him with the retention of his “whitt’s” till his end days, as he had told me before that was his biggest fear with the decease. He wanted to die with his “Boots on” as they say, and I believe he did, from the time he entered the hospital he was so drugged up, he unlike my wife did not know the things that were unfolding or what the outcome would be, For all those with PD or those with loved ones with PD, if you would like the research I have gathered please don’t hesitate to email me and I will send you all the links. things that will awaking your hospital and doctors, while you are signing their papers, they can sign yours, So after you tell them, what they will and will not do for you, then you explain to them what Intensional Tort is “In the most simple terms, an intentional tort, as the name implies, is a wrongful act intentionally committed by the wrongdoer. Rather than negligence, which is unintentional, an intentional tort involves committing the act knowingly and purposefully”.
Maybe after a Doctor is jailed for “experimenting” with a life, they will wake up, and take your concerns seriously, when doctors ignore FDA guidelines and do what they want to do, the people that suffer are you and you’re loved ones. So come armed with some facts about PD when visiting your doctor, remember he works for you and is bound by an oath to keep your best interests at hand. If he does not agree with your approach, find a different doctor, there are plenty of caring physicians who really did become doctors to help you when you need them.
Love and God Bless All
Jim
jimhahn98@yahoo.com
Sherri on August 2, 2010
Hi Jim – Thanks again for keeping us posted. That is incredible. The news just keeps coming… thanks for you diligence. How is your wife doing? Still praying for you all… -sherri
Jim on August 1, 2010
Hi all, Sherri, I just wanted to share some more interesting info with you all, at first John was receiving Haldol in pill form, then an injection, then intravenously……. The FDA does not approve Haldol to be administered intravenously here is why……… So all PD patients please be aware of this……..Jim
Torsades de Pointes and QT prolongation. Both of these syndromes are associated with sudden death due to either primary ventricular fibrillation or torsade that degenerates into ventricular fibrillation.
http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/PostmarketDrugSafetyInformationforPatientsandProviders/DrugSafetyInformationforHeathcareProfessionals/ucm085203.htm
Information for Healthcare Professionals: Haloperidol (marketed as Haldol, Haldol Decanoate and Haldol Lactate)
FDA ALERT [9/2007]: This Alert highlights revisions to the labeling for haloperidol (marketed as Haldol, Haldol Decanoate and Haldol Lactate). The updated labeling includes WARNINGS stating that Torsades de Pointes and QT prolongation have been observed in patients receiving haloperidol, especially when the drug is administered intravenously or in higher doses than recommended. Haloperidol is not approved for intravenous use.
Jim on July 19, 2010
Thank You Sherri, You’re efforts have not gone unnoticed, and have helped me greatly in handling my grief during this time, If collectively we help inform even one PD sufferer of the ramifications of this medication and their well being, then I am happy, as your efforts helped me (after the fact) maybe ours can save a future life. I am sorry my posts carry such distain, and I do realize what a great asset doctors and nurses are to our health and well being. I am deeply saddened knowing this could have been avoided, It’s so very ironic that my brother and I built this hospital in 1980, in 1993 my mother walked in for a lower artery in her leg to be bypassed and in surgery her organs were clamped off to long and she came out of surgery on full life support including dialysis and died there in ICU of a massive staff infection. In 2003 my father had a urinary tract infection and went in and died less than a week later of septic shock and now John’s circumstances. If you have not noticed Sherri, I am a very simple man in my thinking to me things appear pretty much black and white, the thought of knowingly giving a medication to someone that will advance the symptoms of their decease to merely “calm” them is irreproachable, lets say John did make it home, the ramifications of his simple hip surgery is stage 5 Parkinson’s?. Maybe my prayers should be giving thanks to our Lord that he did not have to suffer through that, and that this has all been a blessing, instead of suing the doctor so he won’t do this to another PD patient, I should send him a thank you card, there is no money in a case like this John was 81 and tort reform puts a cap on claims of med/mal, my goal is to protect the next man or woman’s baby girl from going through the grief my wife is suffering, to see my darling wife weep daily wondering if there was something she did not know or do to protect her father in his time of need as he did for her, her whole life is where most of my sorrow is. John was a great friend and mentor to me since I married his only daughter when she was 18, as well as a fantastic grandparent to my children.
He is dearly missed on a daily basis in my family.
God Bless you for you’re efforts Sherri…………
Jim
Sherri on July 18, 2010
Hi Jim -
Thanks for the follow-up… I am sure, that when all is said and done, the medical staff involved in these sorts of things, do indeed do their best. It doesn’t take the pain away, however, and as stated above, doesn’t make the situation any better. Hopefully it will serve a greater purpose in that, as a patient with any chronic illness, disease, sickness that requires medical attention, we will be as aware as possible in regards to our medical care and know as best we can what is safe practice when it comes to that care. Thanks for your continued help and concern.
I also wanted to thank you for commenting to begin with – your comments came at a time when I was wondering if the blog was actually making any difference to anyone and your comments came at a critical time. Thank you – I know what you commented on and the situation it involved was terribly hard, but it made an incredible difference in my life in regards to staying with this blog. All to say – thanks for taking the time to comment. It made a big difference.
I pray the days for you and your family are getting easier and the good memories abundant.
Sherri
Jim on July 18, 2010
Hi all I posted my concerns over at webmd.com and got a doctors response keep in mind when reading this that most doctors know of the dangers of Haldol, and in a compassionate attempt to protect you the PD patient from harm, and to calm you, will willingly advance your PD by 15 years, I assume full life support in ICU is about as “calm” as one can be…….
God Bless all, I thank the Lord I do not have PD, but rest assured I will do all I can to see that those that do, do not suffer the same fate as my father in law John did.
Jim
“I am so sorry to read about your father-in-law, and I do not have any thing to say that can make that any better. I hope some of my comments about PD will help you and your family to some closure.
Symptoms of PD are produced by a loss of a neurotransmitter in the brain. The neurotransmitter is dopamine. Haloperidol or Haldol, blocks this neurotransmitter, and because of this, can worsen symptoms of parkinsonism.
Surgical procedures are always associated with some risk. One of these risks is aspiration pneumonia, and because of this people are asked to not eat or take medications after midnight the day of surgery.
Haloperidol is indicated when a patient is exhibiting symptoms of psychosis – hallucinations or severe agitation. These symptoms can happen during any hospitalization, and are even more likely to occur in people with PD. Unfortunately, during these episodes of agitation, it may be difficult to give medication by mouth. Haloperidol is one of the few medications in this class, that can be given IV or injection into the muscle.
It is possible that your father-in-law had an episode of agitation during the procedure or later that day, and received the haloperidol in an effort to calm him down, and to protect him from harm.
In your father-in-law’s case, he may have not had any PD treatment the day of surgery. The lack of dopamine from being asked to hold his medication plus the blocking of the dopamine receptors with haloperidol, seems to have combined to produce severe symptoms of parkinsonism.
I would not be able to speculate about whether he developed other medical problems during his hospitalization. However, I am certain the nurses and the staff in the ICU were fully aware of the tragic circumstances that lead to his admission. Perhaps, because of this, and his severe symptoms of PD when they met him, assumed he had a severe form of the illness, and told you this in some effort to help with closure – for both the family and themselves.
I also believe that everyone involved in your father-in-laws care did the best they could before, during and after the surgery. I am sorry I cannot provide you with any more definitive answers.”
Sherri on July 13, 2010
Jim,
Your anger is warranted and no need for an apology. I pray the best for you as you seek to bring resolution to this unnecessary consequence of incompetency. Hopefully, however, it will have served to warn other PD’ers and those who care for them the dangers that exist with taking certain medications as a patient with this disease. My prayers remain with you and your wife and family.
Sherri
Jim on July 3, 2010
Thank You all for your kind thoughts and Prayers for my father in law John and a great big hug for you Sherri for bringing this information to light.
Jennifer Thank You ever so much for you’re posting. I would bet when John “crashed” and his blood pressure was non existent, they took the liberty of pumping a few of the medications you mentioned into him as well.
We have requested John’s medical records, and are seeking legal counsel I checked with his primary care doctor and he said the hospital never contacted him, and he was surprised to hear of John’s passing as well.
We received the hospital bill of course, they only charged 144K to kill my father in law, and in the course of 12 days thoughtfully gave him 13k in drugs. He never complained of pain from the time they admitted him but they choose to give him Dilaudid as well.
I apologize if my post sounds angry, but I am the one who has to see my wife cry herself to sleep at night knowing her father could have had a simple out patient procedure. and lived a whole lot longer.
Thank You all again for allowing me to share my story and somewhat vent my frustration.
God Bless
Jim
Sherri on June 17, 2010
Jennifer -
Thanks for the great info – you’re a gem.
Sherri on June 10, 2010
Thanks Chad -
Sherri on June 10, 2010
Thanks for reading, Terry!
Terry on June 9, 2010
Knowledge is power. Thank you Sherri for sharing this story and alerting us of this danger. My prayers go out for his
family.
Jennifer Parkinson on June 9, 2010
Hi
I am an RN and I have had PD for 5 years.
It is unfortunate how misinformed and uneducated many healthcare professionals are regarding PD. Steps are being taken to improve this by developing continuing education for nurses.
It is so important that we as patients and caregivers arm ourselves with as much knowledge as possible because we are often the ones who must educate the staff who are caring for us or our loved ones.
It is important to note that while Haldol is contraindicated for PD so are many other antipsychotics as well as other commonly used medications. Below is a list of drugs contraindicated in PD. It is by no means a comprehensive list but the best one I have found online. It is from the pdasd.org website (PD Assoc of San Diego). APDA also has a nice pamphlet which also includes other drugs that interact with PD meds. Please obtain a copy from APDA or other PD organization or print this list and carry it with you.
ANTI-PSYCHOTIC
Haldol
Trilafon
Thorazine
Stelazine
Prolixin, Permitil
Navane
Mellaril (High-Dosage)
Loxitane
ANTI-DEPRESSANTS
Triavil Combination of Perphenazine & Amitriptyline
Ascendin
*Nardil
*Parnate
ANIT-VOMITING
Compazine
Reglan
Torecan
BLOOD PRESSURE; POST-OPPERATION
Serpasil
Raudixin
Rauverid
Wolfina
Harmony-1
Moderil
Rauwiloid
NARCOTIC/ANALGESIC
*Demerol
OTHER MEDICATIONS
Aldomet
Dilantin
Lithium
BuSpar
*Eldepryl should never be taken with Demerol or any other opiod, MAI, or elective
serotonin reuptake inhibitor such as Zoloft, Paxil, Prozac, or tricyclic antidepressants.
Chad English on June 9, 2010
Such a terrible thing….glad this story got out. We forget things like this happen.
My prayer’s go out to John’s family,
Chad
Michael J. Church on June 7, 2010
This is a real concern or should be for anyone with PD. Even EMS protocals throughout the country warn against their paramedics giving Haloperidol to patients suspected to have Parkinson’s. That is why more People with PD should carry medical alert information.