27 subjects, ages 18-65y, admitted to ED and Psychiatric Crisis Unit. Pts randomized to receive either 5mg IM droperidol or 5mg IM haloperidol. Pts assessed 15min after first injection and every 30min for 3 hours. One adverse event of dystonia in one pt in haloperidol group. A single 5mg IM dose of droperidol appears more likely to control agitation for as long as three hours than is single 5mg IM dose of haloperidol.
Selection bias exists by using judicious but arbitrary cut-off on BPRS subset.
Authors suggest that despite neuroleptic equivalency, droperidol may be more sedating than haloperidol thus possibly explaining its more rapid onset of action. Droperidol appears to be as safe and effective as haloperidol and might be faster acting for control of agitation. Overall, this is a flawed study that is only somewhat helpful in answering the above clinical question.