title: The comparative efficacy of intramuscular antipsychotics for the management of acute agitation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To review the current role and comparative efficacy of short-acting intramuscular (IM) antipsychotics in the management of acute agitation, in current clinical practice.
  
  
  METHODS
  The efficacy and tolerability of IM antipsychotics in the management of acute agitation in current clinical practice were reviewed in the Medline, PubMed, Cinahl Plus, Scopus-v.4 and PsycInfo databases.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The comparative efficacy of the rapidly-acting IM atypical antipsychotics (olanzapine, ziprasidone and aripiprazole) is similar to that of the typical antipsychotic, haloperidol. IM olanzapine and ziprasidone were associated with fewer extrapyramidal side-effects and had similar cardiac tolerability to IM haloperidol.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Further studies are required in the ongoing development of contemporary, evidence-based clinical guidelines in acute agitation, including head-to-head comparisons of currently utilized IM atypical antipsychotics, sequential treatment or combinations of medications.
authors.affiliation: Director, Clinical Services, St Vincent's Mental Health Service, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bosanac
authors.forename: Yitzchak
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hollander
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Castle
mesh_terms: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular; D011595:Psychomotor Agitation / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents
keywords: acute agitation; antipsychotics; atypical antipsychotics; efficacy; haloperidol; intramuscular