haloperidol

noun

hal·​o·​per·​i·​dol ˌha-lō-ˈper-ə-ˌdȯl How to pronounce haloperidol (audio) -ˌdōl How to pronounce haloperidol (audio)
: a depressant C21H23ClFNO2 of the central nervous system used especially as an antipsychotic drug

Examples of haloperidol in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
But in the 1970s, the discovery of dopamine receptors in the brain led to an important realization: haloperidol binds to and blocks a certain type of dopamine receptor, suggesting that dopamine — specifically, having too much of it — plays a central role in schizophrenia. Celia Ford, Vox, 22 May 2024 Indeed, haloperidol and olanzapine countered the amphetamine’s effect on D2, as expected. WIRED, 7 Aug. 2023 The three most common in muscle tissue were opioid pain reliever tramadol, the heart medicine flecainide and haloperidol. Bill Kearney, Sun Sentinel, 4 Apr. 2023 Some common first-generation antipsychotics include chlorpromazine, haloperidol, perphenazine, and fluphenazine; second-generation drugs include olanzapine, risperidone, quetiapine, aripiprazole, ziprasidone, lurasidone, cariprazine, and paliperidone. Ashley Abramson, SELF, 11 Feb. 2022 Treated with haloperidol, a drug that blocks dopamine from acting on receptors, the man became calm and relatively normal, but his creative jazz drive left him. Sherry Baker, Discover Magazine, 25 Mar. 2019 Avidan read the Introduction, Methods, and Results of this paper, about a recent clinical trial of the drug haloperidol. Neuroskeptic, Discover Magazine, 20 Mar. 2019 Records show the woman was taking haloperidol, Trileptal and Zyprexa, all medications that have been found to be harmful to fetuses in animal tests. Meg Kissinger and Steve Schultze, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 23 Aug. 2021 Antipsychotic drugs such as haloperidol and aripiprazole are approved for use in Tourette, but have the potential to cause long-term side effects, such as the movement disorder tardive dyskinesia. Dr. Keith Roach, oregonlive, 31 May 2021

Word History

Etymology

hal- + piperidine + -ol entry 1

First Known Use

1960, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of haloperidol was in 1960

Dictionary Entries Near haloperidol

Cite this Entry

“Haloperidol.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/haloperidol. Accessed 8 Nov. 2024.

Medical Definition

haloperidol

noun
halo·​per·​i·​dol ˌhal-ō-ˈper-ə-ˌdȯl How to pronounce haloperidol (audio) -ˌdōl How to pronounce haloperidol (audio)
: a butyrophenone antipsychotic drug C21H23ClFNO2 used especially to treat schizophrenia and to control the involuntary tics and vocalizations of Tourette's syndrome see haldol

More from Merriam-Webster on haloperidol

Last Updated: - Definition revised
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!