Haloperidol is used to treat which of the following conditions?

• A. Depression and anxiety
• B. Migraine
• C. Diabetes
• D. Psychoses, schizophrenia, ADHD, Tourette's

Answer: (D)

Haloperidol is a potent dopamine D2 receptor antagonist, so it’s especially effective when excessive dopaminergic activity drives symptoms. In psychotic disorders like schizophrenia, blocking D2 receptors in the mesolimbic pathway helps reduce positive symptoms such as delusions and hallucinations. It also lowers motor and vocal tics in Tourette’s syndrome by dampening dopamine signaling in the basal ganglia. This mechanism explains why it’s not typically used for depression, anxiety, migraine, or diabetes—those conditions aren’t driven primarily by central dopamine excess that haloperidol targets. Keep in mind the strong D2 blockade can lead to extrapyramidal side effects (EPS) with long-term use, such as parkinsonism, dystonia, and akathisia.