Droperidol vs. haloperidol in the initial management of acutely agitated patients.
In a double-blind clinical study, 27 acutely agitated patients were treated with an intramuscular injection of 5 mg of droperidol or 5 mg of haloperidol from identical appearing vials. At 30 minutes following treatment, 81% of the patients treated with haloperidol but only 36% treated with droperidol required a second injection (p less than .05). Thus, droperidol, a safe butyrophenone neuroleptic, appears to be a drug of choice for rapid and reliable control of acute agitation.
D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003134:Commitment of Persons with Psychiatric Disorders; D003617:Dangerous Behavior; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004329:Droperidol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004637:Emergency Services, Psychiatric; D006220:Haloperidol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular; D008875:Middle Aged; D011595:Psychomotor Agitation / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D011897:Random Allocation
D006220:Haloperidol; D004329:Droperidol