Relative efficacy of parenteral haloperidol and thiothixene for the emergency treatment of acutely excited and agitated patients.
In this double-blind study, haloperidol (n = 15) and thiothixene (n = 15), administered parenterally in emergency rooms and outpatient facilities to 30 acutely excited, agitated psychotic patients in hourly doses of 4 mg. or 8 mg., as needed over a four-hour period (total dosage ranging from 4 to 32 mg.), achieved rapid tranquilization in 30 patients. Significant improvement was shown over a six-hour period on BPRS Total Score, the four factors--Thinking Disorder, Anergic state, Excitement and Disorientation, and Depression and also on hourly ratings of 17 symptoms of a Psychiatric Target Symptom Profile. No significant differences were found between the haloperidol-treated and thiothixene-treated groups. Few adverse reactions were noted, all of them mild, the most frequent being drowsiness in six patients.
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D004630:Emergencies; D005260:Female; D006220:Haloperidol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011595:Psychomotor Agitation / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013888:Thiothixene / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013997:Time Factors
D013888:Thiothixene; D006220:Haloperidol