Safety of Haloperidol in Older Patients

Recent research indicates that haloperidol is as safe as atypical antipsychotics when used in older patients following surgery. A study involving over 17,000 patients aged 65 and older assessed the adverse clinical outcomes associated with various oral antipsychotics, including haloperidol. Notably, the study found low rates of death and adverse events, with no significant differences between haloperidol and other agents like olanzapine and quetiapine. This challenges long-held beliefs regarding the safety of haloperidol, especially in the context of managing postoperative agitation and delirium.