JoJo asked
I have an order for Haldol 5 mg/ml. Give 0.5 mg IM q 2 hours prn. How many ml to give?
Answer
The strength of the Haldol injection is 5 miligrams (mg) per 1 milliliter (mL). If the doctor has instructed you to give or inject 0.5 mg intramuscularly every 2 hours as needed, then you would need to inject 0.1 ml.
Below you can find more information regarding intramuscular (IM) injections and Haldol.
IM Injection
It is important to choose the correct size needle when selecting syringe. The needle need to be long enough to reach the muscle, without leaking to other areas of body.
The recommended gauge of the syringe is between 22 to 25, but the selection for needle length is based upon the muscle mass and age of the patient. Some experts suggest a ⅝-inch needle in the skin is stretch flat, but if the tissue or muscle is bunch and chances of striking bone are low, use a 1-inch needle to make sure the intramuscular injection is successful.
The CDC has listed there recommendations based upon weight here.
| Adults (19 or older) | Needle Length |
| Men and Women 130 lbs ( less than 60 kg) | 1 inch |
| Men and Women 130-152 lbs (60-70 kg) | 1 inch |
| Men 152-260 lbs (70-118 kg) | 1-1.5 inches |
| Women 152-200 lbs (70-90 kg) | 1-1.5 inches |
| Men over 260 lbs (118kg) | 1.5 inches |
| Women over 200 lbs (90 kg) | 1.5 inches |
Inject at 90 degree angle to the deltoid muscle of the arm for adults. Recommendations for children can be found here.
Haldol (haloperidal) is an antipsychotic medication commonly used to treat psychosis, tourette syndrome, and agitation. Do not use Haldol to treat psychosis related to dementia. This medication could cause dizziness and sedation so be careful not to drive while taking Haldol. Also be careful not to stand up too quickly from sitting to prevent from falling.
