American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN) Practice Exam 2025 - Free ABPN Practice Questions and Study Guide

Haloperidol is an antipsychotic medication commonly used to treat schizophrenia and acute psychosis. One of the notable side effects associated with this drug includes sedation. This is particularly relevant in cases of acute agitation, where its sedative properties are beneficial in managing the patient's condition.

Additionally, hallucinations can occur as a side effect of haloperidol, especially in high doses or in predisposed individuals. This aligns with the typical profile of antipsychotics, where some patients may experience exacerbation of psychotic symptoms, particularly during initial treatment or dose adjustments.

In contrast, while other agents listed may have their own side effects, they do not typically present with both sedation and hallucinations to the same degree as haloperidol. For instance, quetiapine is also an antipsychotic and can cause sedation, but it is less likely than haloperidol to provoke hallucinations. Pergolide is primarily used for Parkinson's disease and does not have sedation or hallucinations as common side effects. Buspirone is an anxiolytic that does not typically cause sedation and is generally well-tolerated, without significant hallucinatory effects. Therefore, haloperidol stands out as the agent that characteristically causes both sedation and halluc