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Updated: May 9, 2026

A Novel Approach for the Administration of Medications and Fluids in Emergency Scenarios and Settings
Published on: November 9, 2016
Safety and efficacy of intravenous combination sedatives in the ED
Siu Fai Li1, Amy Kumar, Susan Thomas
1Department of Emergency Medicine, Jacobi Medical Center, Bronx, NY 10461.
Objective:
The objective of the study is to determine the safety of intravenously administered combination sedatives in the emergency department (ED).
Methods:
This was a retrospective study of alcohol-intoxicated patients in the ED. We examined the incidence of adverse events in agitated patients who received combination sedatives intravenously and compared the efficacy of combination sedatives and single-agent sedatives.
Results:
Of 1300 patient visits, there was a single adverse event, a dystonic reaction, in the combination sedative group, for an adverse event rate of less than 1%. Patients who received combination sedatives were less likely to require a second dose of sedative medication than patients who received a single-agent sedative (21% vs 44%).
Conclusions:
Combination sedatives appear to be safe when administered intravenously in the ED. Combination sedatives may be more effective than single-agent sedatives in agitated alcohol-intoxicated patients.
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