Angioneurotic edema associated with haloperidol.

Area of Science:

• Medical Emergencies
• Pharmacology
• Allergy and Immunology

Background:

• Angioneurotic edema is a critical medical emergency demanding prompt diagnosis and intervention.
• Haloperidol, an antipsychotic from the butyrophenone class, has very rare reported cases of acute anaphylaxis.
• No prior literature has documented angioneurotic edema as a side effect of Haloperidol.

Purpose of the Study:

• To document the association between life-threatening angioneurotic edema and the administration of intramuscular Haloperidol.
• To raise awareness of this rare adverse drug reaction.

Main Methods:

• Case report detailing an adult patient with no prior allergy history.
• Observation of angioneurotic edema development, including tongue swelling and protrusion, post-intramuscular Haloperidol administration.

Main Results:

• The patient developed angioneurotic edema shortly after receiving a single intramuscular dose of Haloperidol.
• Symptoms included significant tongue swelling and protrusion, indicative of a severe allergic or pseudoallergic reaction.

Conclusions:

• Angioneurotic edema is proposed as a rare potential side effect of Haloperidol.
• Symptom onset is rapid, but resolution may take 12-36 hours, necessitating extended patient monitoring.