Formulary
Benperidol: Indications, Dosing, Side Effects and Interactions
Benperidol clinical drug profile including indications, dosing, side effects, cautions and interactions.
MedNext Academy | 4 min read
Benperidol: Indications, Dosing, Side Effects and Interactions
Benperidol clinical drug profile including indications, dosing, side effects, cautions and interactions.
Indications and dose
**Control of deviant antisocial sexual behaviour**
- **Adult** (By Mouth): 0.25-1.5 mg daily in divided doses, adjusted according to response, for debilitated patients, use elderly dose.
- **Elderly** (By Mouth): Initially 0.125-0.75 mg daily in divided doses, adjusted according to response.
Cautions
For all antipsychotic drugs Blood dyscrasias; cardiovascular disease; conditions predisposing to seizures; depression; diabetes (may raise blood glucose); epilepsy; history of jaundice; myasthenia gravis; Parkinson's disease (may be exacerbated); photosensitisation (may occur with higher dosages); prostatic hypertrophy; severe respiratory disease; susceptibility to angle-closure glaucoma Cautions, further information Cardiovascular disease An ECG may be required, particularly if physical examination identifies cardiovascular risk factors, personal history of cardiovascular disease, or if the patient is being admitted as an inpatient. Elderly Screening Tool of Older Persons' potentially inappropriate Prescriptions (STOPP) criteria to aid medication reviews (see Prescribing in the elderly for information). Potentially inappropriate: for all antipsychotics (other than quetiapine and clozapine) in patients with parkinsonism or Lewy Body Disease (risk of severe extrapyramidal symptoms) in behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD), unless symptoms are severe and other non-pharmacological treatments have failed (increased risk of stroke) for use as a hypnotic, unless sleep disorder is due to psychosis or dementia (risk of confusion, hypotension, extrapyramidal side-effects, and falls) in patients prone to falls (may cause gait dyspraxia, parkinsonism) if prescribed a phenothiazine (other than prochlorperazine for nausea, vomiting, or vertigo; chlorpromazine for relief of persistent hiccups; levomepromazine as an antiemetic in palliative care) as first-line treatment (sedative, significant antimuscarinic (anticholinergic) toxicity in older people, and safer and more efficacious alternatives exist) if prescribed an antipsychotic drug with moderate or marked antimuscarinic effects (e.g. chlorpromazine, clozapine, flupenthixol, fluphenazine, pipothiazine, promazine, and zuclopenthixol) in patients with a history of prostatism or urinary retention (high risk of urinary retention) Cautions For benperidol Risk factors for stroke
Contraindications
CNS depression; comatose states; phaeochromocytoma
Side effects
For all antipsychotic drugs Common or very common Agitation; amenorrhoea; arrhythmias; constipation; dizziness; drowsiness; dry mouth; erectile dysfunction; fatigue; galactorrhoea; gynaecomastia; hyperglycaemia; hyperprolactinaemia; hypersalivation; hypotension (dose-related); insomnia; leucopenia; movement disorders; muscle rigidity; neutropenia; parkinsonism; postural hypotension (dose-related); QT interval prolongation; rash; seizure; tremor; urinary retention; vomiting; weight increased Uncommon Agranulocytosis; confusion; neuroleptic malignant syndrome (discontinue-potentially fatal) Rare or very rare Sudden death; withdrawal syndrome neonatal Side-effects, further information For depot antipsychotics-side-effects may persist until the drug has been cleared from its depot site. Overdose Phenothiazines cause less depression of consciousness and respiration than other sedatives. Hypotension, hypothermia, sinus tachycardia, and arrhythmias may complicate poisoning. For details on the management of poisoning see Antipsychotics under Emergency treatment of poisoning . Side-effects For benperidol Frequency not known Appetite decreased; blood disorder; cardiac arrest; depression; dyspepsia; embolism and thrombosis; headache; hepatic disorders; hyperhidrosis; hypertension; nausea; oculogyric crisis; oedema; oligomenorrhoea; paradoxical drug reaction; pruritus; psychiatric disorder; temperature regulation disorders; weight change
Interactions
**Other interactions (13):**
- In common with all neuroleptics, Anquil can increase the CNS depression produced by other CNS- depressant drugs, including alcohol, hypnotics, sedatives, strong analgesics or sedating antihistamines...
- Fluoxetine, buspirone and ritonavir may cause an increase in the plasma concentration of Anquil necessitating a dose modification.
- The effect of Anquil may be reduced by concomitant antimuscarinic medications.
- Anquil may impair the anti-Parkinson effects of levodopa and other dopamine agonists.
- The use of Anquil with anticonvulsants such as barbiturates, carbamazepine, ethosuximide, oxcarbazepine, phenytoin, primidone and valproate may lower the seizure threshold, thereby necessitating a...
- The risk of hypotension with antihypertensive drugs, anaesthetics and opioid analgesics may be increased when Anquil is given concomitantly.
Pregnancy
For all antipsychotic drugs Extrapyramidal effects and withdrawal syndrome have been reported occasionally in the neonate when antipsychotic drugs are taken during the third trimester of pregnancy. Following maternal use of antipsychotic drugs in the third trimester, neonates should be monitored for symptoms including agitation, hypertonia, hypotonia, tremor, drowsiness, feeding problems, and respiratory distress. Pregnancy For benperidol Extrapyramidal effects and withdrawal syndrome have been reported occasionally in the neonate when antipsychotic drugs are taken during the third trimester of pregnancy. Following maternal use of antipsychotic drugs in the third trimester, neonates should be monitored for symptoms including agitation, hypertonia, hypotonia, tremor, drowsiness, feeding problems, and respiratory distress.
Breast feeding
For all antipsychotic drugs There is limited information available on the short- and long-term effects of antipsychotic drugs on the breast-fed infant. Animal studies indicate possible adverse effects of antipsychotic medicines on the developing nervous system. Chronic treatment with antipsychotic drugs whilst breast-feeding should be avoided unless absolutely necessary. Phenothiazine derivatives are sometimes used in breast-feeding women for short-term treatment of nausea and vomiting. Breast feeding For benperidol There is limited information available on the short- and long-term effects of antipsychotic drugs on the breast-fed infant. Animal studies indicate possible adverse effects of antipsychotic medicines on the developing nervous system. Chronic treatment with antipsychotic drugs whilst breast-feeding should be avoided unless absolutely necessary.
Hepatic impairment
Manufacturer advises caution.
Renal impairment
Caution in renal failure. M
Medicinal forms
Suspension
Clinical governance
**Author:** MedNext Clinical Team. **Clinical reviewer:** Dr Shameer Deen, MBBS, MS, MRCS. **Sources:** BNF, Indian Pharmacopoeia, CIMS India. **Correction:** Report errors at support@mednext.academy.
Inside MedNext for this topic
- 411 MedNext-authored chapters
- 80,000+ MCQ bank
- 15 study modes
- Growing visual cheat sheets
Study modes
- Notes
- MCQ
- Audio
- Video
- Visual
- 3D Anatomy
- Trace
- Flashcards
- Mnemonics
- Image Bank
- Clinical
- Microscopy
- Audio QBank
- Cadaver
- Book Match
Continue reading
Subject HubPharmacology Hub
All pharmacology resources in one place.
Drug SchedulesIndian Drug Schedules
Schedule H, H1, X and G classifications.
FormularyBrowse all drugs
Search 1,850+ drug profiles.
Study Benperidol in the MedNext app
Challenge yourself with targeted pharmacology MCQs on this drug class. Every explanation links back to the chapter that teaches the concept.
Start drug challengeExplore the full formulary

