When haloperidol and midazolam were compared with olanzapine , there was some evidence the combination was superior in terms of improvement , sedation and behaviour .
There were relatively little good data and most trials are too small to highlight differences in either positive or negative effects .
Adding a benzodiazepine to other drugs does not seem to confer clear advantage and has potential for adding unnecessary adverse effects .
Sole use of older antipsychotics unaccompanied by anticholinergic drugs seems difficult to justify .
BACKGROUND Acute psychotic illness , especially when associated with agitated or violent behaviour , can require urgent pharmacological tranquillisation or sedation .
In several countries , clinicians often use benzodiazepines ( either alone or in combination with antipsychotics ) for this outcome .
OBJECTIVES To estimate the effects of benzodiazepines , alone or in combination with antipsychotics , when compared with placebo or antipsychotics , alone or in combination with antihistamines , to control disturbed behaviour and reduce psychotic symptoms .
Acute high-dose parenteral haloperidol treatment of psychosis.
After 2 days of drug-free observation , 20 newly admitted psychotic patients received 20 - 35 mg of haloperidol intravenously and 20 patients received 30 - 40 mg of diazepam intravenously . Posttreatment ratings at 4 and 24 hours with the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale and the Clinical Global Impressions revealed significant improvement in both groups but no significant differences between the two treatments
When haloperidol and midazolam were compared with olanzapine , there was some evidence the combination was superior in terms of improvement , sedation and behaviour .
There were relatively little good data and most trials are too small to highlight differences in either positive or negative effects .
Adding a benzodiazepine to other drugs does not seem to confer clear advantage and has potential for adding unnecessary adverse effects .
Sole use of older antipsychotics unaccompanied by anticholinergic drugs seems difficult to justify .
BACKGROUND Acute psychotic illness , especially when associated with agitated or violent behaviour , can require urgent pharmacological tranquillisation or sedation .
In several countries , clinicians often use benzodiazepines ( either alone or in combination with antipsychotics ) for this outcome .
OBJECTIVES To estimate the effects of benzodiazepines , alone or in combination with antipsychotics , when compared with placebo or antipsychotics , alone or in combination with antihistamines , to control disturbed behaviour and reduce psychotic symptoms .