There is some evidence that haloperidol is an effective treatment for  acute mania .
From the limited data available , there was no difference in overall efficacy of treatment between haloperidol and olanzapine or risperidone .
Some evidence suggests that haloperidol could be less effective than aripiprazole .
BACKGROUND The main objectives in treating mania are to control dangerous behaviour , reduce suicide , produce appropriate acute sedation and shorten the episode of mood disturbance .
Among different drugs , haloperidol has for many years been used in treating psychotic patients , but it has a troublesome side effect profile .
OBJECTIVES To assess the effects of haloperidol for the treatment of mania in comparison with placebo or other active drugs , either as monotherapy or add-on treatment .
A Double-Blind, Randomized, Prospective Evaluation of the Efficacy and Safety of Risperidone Versus Haloperidol in the Treatment of Schizoaffective Disorder
The relative efficacy and safety of risperidone versus haloperidol in the treatment of schizoaffective disorder was studied . Sixty-two patients ( 29 depressed type ; 33 bipolar type ) entered a three-site , r and omized , double-blind , 6-week trial of risperidone ( up to 10 mg/day ) or haloperidol ( up to 20 mg/day ) . Trained raters assessed baseline , weekly , and end-of- study levels of psychopathology with the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale ( PANSS ) , the 24-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression ( HAM-D-24 ) and the Clinician-Administered Rating Scale for Mania ( CARS-M ) . The authors were unable to statistically distinguish between risperidone and haloperidol in the amelioration of psychotic and manic symptoms . In addition , there was no difference in worsening of mania between the two agents in either subgroup ( i.e. , depressed or bipolar subgroups ) . For the total PANSS , risperidone produced a mean decrease of 16 points from baseline compared with a 14-point decrease with haloperidol . For the total CARS-M scale , risperidone and haloperidol produced mean change scores of 5 and 8 points , respectively , and for the CARS-M Mania subscale , 3 and 7 points , respectively . Additionally , risperidone produced a mean decrease of 13 points from the baseline 24-item HAM-D , compared with an 8-point decrease with haloperidol . In those patients who had more severe depressive symptoms ( i.e. , HAM-D baseline score > 20 ) , risperidone produced at least a 50 % mean improvement in 12 ( 75 % ) of 16 patients in comparison to 8 ( 38 % ) of 21 patients receiving haloperidol . Haloperidol produced significantly more extrapyramidal side effects and result ed in more dropouts caused by any side effect . There was no difference between risperidone and haloperidol in reducing both psychotic and manic symptoms in this group of patients with schizoaffective disorder .  Risperidone did not demonstrate a propensity to precipitate mania and was better tolerated than haloperidol . In those subjects with higher baseline HAM-D scores ( i.e. , > 20 ) , risperidone produced a greater improvement in depressive symptoms than haloperidol
There is some evidence that haloperidol is an effective treatment for  acute mania .
From the limited data available , there was no difference in overall efficacy of treatment between haloperidol and olanzapine or risperidone .
Some evidence suggests that haloperidol could be less effective than aripiprazole .
BACKGROUND The main objectives in treating mania are to control dangerous behaviour , reduce suicide , produce appropriate acute sedation and shorten the episode of mood disturbance .
Among different drugs , haloperidol has for many years been used in treating psychotic patients , but it has a troublesome side effect profile .
OBJECTIVES To assess the effects of haloperidol for the treatment of mania in comparison with placebo or other active drugs , either as monotherapy or add-on treatment .