The association of haloperidol with promethazine ( H + P ) promoted tranquilization and presented better safety profile , with moderate quality evidence .
Olanzapine demonstrated benefit towards tranquilization and good safety profile , but needed additional administration to keep tranquilization .
There was no benefit in the use of haloperidol alone or associated to another psychotropic to most outcomes evaluated .
Rapid tranquilization is an intervention used in control of agitation or aggression in patients with mental disorders .
This study synthesized the available evidence regarding efficacy and safety of drugs used for rapid tranquilization in psychiatric patients with psychomotor agitation .
Haloperidol, lorazepam, or both for psychotic agitation? A multicenter, prospective, double-blind, emergency department study.
Rapid tranquilization is a routinely practice d method of calming agitated psychotic patients by use of neuroleptics , benzodiazepines , or both in combination . Although several studies have examined the efficacy of the three approaches , none have compared these treatments in a prospect i ve , r and omized , double-blind , multicenter trial . Ninety-eight psychotic , agitated , and aggressive patients ( 73 men and 25 women ) were prospect ively enrolled during an 18-month period in emergency departments in five university or general hospitals . Patients were r and omly assigned to receive intramuscular injections of lorazepam ( 2 mg ) , haloperidol ( 5 mg ) , or both in combination . Patients in each treatment group received 1 to 6 injections of the same study drug within 12 hours , based on clinical need . They were evaluated hourly after the first injection until at least 12 hours after the last . Efficacy was assessed on the Agitated Behavior Scale ( ABS ) , a modified Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale ( MBPRS ) , Clinical Global impressions ( CGI ) scale , and an Alertness Scale . Effective symptom reduction was achieved in each treatment group with significant ( P < .01 ) mean decreases from baseline at every hourly ABS evaluation . Significant ( P < .05 ) mean differences on the ABS ( hour 1 ) and MBPRS ( hours 2 and 3 ) suggest that tranquilization was most rapid in patients receiving the combination treatment . Study event incidence ( side effects ) did not differ significantly between treatment groups , although patients receiving haloperidol alone tended to have more extrapyramidal system symptoms . The superior results produced by the combination treatment support the use of lorazepam plus haloperidol as the treatment of choice for acute psychotic agitation
The association of haloperidol with promethazine ( H + P ) promoted tranquilization and presented better safety profile , with moderate quality evidence .
Olanzapine demonstrated benefit towards tranquilization and good safety profile , but needed additional administration to keep tranquilization .
There was no benefit in the use of haloperidol alone or associated to another psychotropic to most outcomes evaluated .
Rapid tranquilization is an intervention used in control of agitation or aggression in patients with mental disorders .
This study synthesized the available evidence regarding efficacy and safety of drugs used for rapid tranquilization in psychiatric patients with psychomotor agitation .