Table 2.

Outcomes for 301 patients given emergency intramuscular sedation with midazolam or haloperidol-promethazine mix because of agitation and dangerous behaviour. Values are number (percentage) of patients unless stated otherwise

Patient outcomes	Midazolam (n=151)	Haloperidol-promethazine (n=150)	Relative risk (CI)*	Difference in % risk (CI)*
By 20 minutes after injection
Tranquil or asleep	134 (89)	101 (67)	1.32 (1.16 to 1.49)	22 (12 to 30)
Asleep	93 (62)	43 (29)	2.15 (1.48 to 3.11)	33 (19 to 47)
Serious adverse effect	1 (1)	1 (1)
Unknown	1 (1)	2 (1)
By 40 minutes after injection
Tranquil or asleep	141 (93)	124 (83)	1.13 (1.01 to 1.26)	10 (1 to 20)
Asleep	118 (78)	69 (46)	1.70 (1.32 to 2.19)	32 (18 to 46)
Unknown	1 (1)	2 (1)
By 60 minutes after injection
Tranquil or asleep	141 (93)	131 (87)	1.07 (0.97 to 1.18)	6 (−3 to 15)
Asleep	120 (79)	83 (55)	1.44 (1.16 to 1.78)	24 (11 to 38)
Unknown	1 (1)	2 (1)
By 120 minutes after injection
Tranquil or asleep	144 (95)	138 (92)	1.04 (0.96 to 1.12)	3 (−4 to 11)
Asleep	125 (83)	95 (63)	1.31 (1.08 to 1.57)	20 (7 to 32)
No additional tranquillising drugs	149 (99)	143 (95)	1.04 (0.98 to 1.09)	4 (−2 to 8)
Not needing restraints	118 (78)	110 (73)	1.07 (0.90 to 1.26)	5 (−8 to 18)
Unknown	1 (1)	2 (1)
By 24 hours after injection
No other episode of aggression:	107 (71)	111 (74)	0.96 (0.80 to 1.15)	−3 (−16 to 10)
Unknown	2 (1)	7 (5)
Doctor not called to see patient:	100 (66)	107 (71)	0.93 (0.76 to 1.13)	−5 (−19 to 8)
Unknown	2 (1)	4 (3)
Accepting oral medication:	135 (89)	139 (93)	0.96 (0.88 to 1.06)	−4 (−12 to 5)
Unknown	7 (5)	5 (3)
By 2 weeks after injection
Discharged	73 (48)	69 (46)	1.05 (0.77 to 1.44)	2 (−12 to 17)
Unknown	0	3 (2)

^*99% confidence intervals, except for primary outcome (tranquil or asleep by 20 minutes), which is 95%.