A Cochrane review [Abstract] 1 included 9 studies. There was no data for the primary outcome, tranquilisation. Compared with haloperidol, zuclopenthixol acetate was no more sedating at two hours (RR 0.60 CI 0.27 to 1.34; 1 RCT, n=40). People given zuclopenthixol acetate were not at reduced risk of being given supplementary antipsychotics (RR 1.49 CI 0.97 to 2.30; 3 RCTs, n=134) although there was less additional use of benzodiazepines (RR 0.03 CI 0.00 to 0.47, NNT 2 CI 2 to 4; 1 RCT, n=50). People given zuclopenthixol acetate had fewer injections over seven days compared with those allocated to haloperidol IM (RR 0.39 CI 0.18 to 0.84, NNT 4 CI 3 to 14; 1 RCT, n=70). The risk of adverse effects (e.g., movement disorders, blurred vision, dry mouth, dizziness) is similar to haloperidol.
Comment: The quality of evidence is downgraded by study quality (unclear allocation concealment), indirectness (no data for the primary outcome) and imprecise results (limited study size for each comparison).
Primary/Secondary Keywords