Parenteral treatment of acute psychotic patients with agitation: a review

Representative studies which elucidate present treatment principles regarding parenteral administration of neuroleptics for acute psychoses with agitation are reviewed. "Rapid tranquillization" with drugs such as haloperidol generally appears preferable, but controlled comparisons with more conservative types of treatment are lacking. It is suggested that parenteral chlorpromazine should be avoided because of its tendency to provoke severe hypotension, whereas loxapine apparently is a valuable drug if strong sedation is required for behavioural control. Possible advantages of ultra-high-dose therapy need to be proved in controlled trials, and the occurrence of toxic side-effects requires further evaluation. From an ethical and psychological point of view, it is recommended that antiparkinsonian medication should be administered simultaneously with neuroleptics which induce a high incidence of acute dystonia. Several types of acute psychosis with agitation which do not require treatment with a neuroleptic as drug treatment of first choice are briefly mentioned.