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Droperidol: efficacy and side effects in psychiatric emergencies
1Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Conn., USA. robert.chambers@yale.edu
The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry
|November 5, 1999
Summary
Droperidol is a safe and effective medication for managing agitation in psychiatric emergencies, especially when rapid intramuscular administration is needed. Further research and clinical use are recommended for this superior typical neuroleptic.
Area of Science:
- Psychopharmacology
- Emergency Psychiatry
Background:
- Increasing focus on patient safety and behavioral instability in inpatient settings necessitates rapid, safe, and effective agitation control medications.
- Droperidol is reviewed as a potential optimal medication for managing agitation in psychiatric emergencies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the evidence supporting droperidol's efficacy and safety in managing agitation in psychiatric emergencies.
- To compare droperidol with haloperidol for the treatment of agitation.
Main Methods:
- A comprehensive MEDLINE search was performed using the term "droperidol" for English-language literature on its use in psychiatric emergencies.
- Cross-referencing included non-psychiatric and European literature on droperidol's safety and development.
Main Results:
- Studies indicate droperidol is efficacious and rapid in onset for agitation control.
- Droperidol demonstrates relative safety compared to haloperidol, the most common anti-agitation drug.
- Evidence is particularly strong for intramuscular administration of droperidol.
Conclusions:
- Droperidol may be the superior typical neuroleptic for psychiatric emergencies, despite not being widely used.
- Increased clinical utilization and further study of droperidol for agitation management are warranted.
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