Haloperidol; oral

0.5–5 mg every 8–12 h; a dose of 2 mg/day can be efficacious in mild cases

Haloperidol; SC, IM, or IV

0.5–2 mg per dose titrating dose to clinical effect hourly IV infusion 0.2–1 mg/h with careful titration to clinical effect can be used in difficult cases. ECG monitoring is recommended

Chlorpromazine; oral, IM, or IV

12.5–50 mg every 8–12 h. More sedating, anticholinergic, and hypotensive effects; ECG monitoring is mandatory

Clozapine; oral

12.5–50 mg at night (monitoring of blood cell count is needed) very sedative, has less extrapyramidal effects than other neuroleptics

Risperidone; oral

From 0.5–1 mg/day up to 2–4 mg/day. It has extrapyramidal effects

Olanzapine; OS IM

5 mg every night at bedtime to be titrated up to clinical effect

Quetiapine; OS

25 mg every 12 h More sedating, orthostatic hypotension, to be titrated to effect, useful in mild cases with insomnia

Lorazepam; oral, SL, or IV

0.5–2 mg every 6–8 h if sedating anxiolytic effects required

Midazolam; SC or IV

20–100 mg 24 h IV or SC continuous infusion for sedation in refractory cases. 3–5 mg IV priming dose if rapid sedation is required. Start IV infusion with 1 mg/h, dose should be frequently titrated to effect

Promethazine; IM or IV

50 mg every 8–12 h; antihistamine more sedative; useful if sedation desired and for night-time sleep