Drugs Used in Psychiatric Emergencies - Related Resources

Cochrane reviews

• The combination of haloperidol and promethazine is effective treatment for psychosis induced agitation/aggression. The use of this combination is justified in less resourced health care systems because of fewer potiential side-effects than benzodiazepine combinations or haloperidol alone, and less need of re-assessing than olanzapine Haloperidol Plus Promethazine for Psychosis Induced Aggression.
• Benzodiazepines may be as effective as antipsychotics for acute psychosis. Adding them to antipsychotics may not bring added benefit but may cause more adverse effects Benzodiazepines Alone or in Combination with Antipsychotic Drugs for Acute Psychosis.
• Olanzapine IM appears to have similar efficacy as the older, better known treatments in the management of acute aggression or agitation, however, the side effects are less well-known Olanzapine Im or Velotab for Acutely Disturbed/Agitated People with Suspected Serious Mental Illnesses..

Other evidence summaries