Association for Emergency Psychiatry Recommendations

Situation	Preferences
Undifferentiated agitation/suspected intoxication with stimulant or withdrawal from alcohol/benzodiazepine	Oral benzodiazepines (e.g., lorazepam 1-2 mg)
	Parenteral benzodiazepines (e.g., lorazepam 1-2 mg IM or IV)
Acute intoxication with CNS depressant (e.g., alcohol)	Avoid benzodiazepine if possible
	Oral 1st generation antipsychotic (e.g., haloperidol 2-10 mg)
	Parenteral 1st generation antipsychotic (e.g., haloperidol 2-10 mg IM)
Delirium (not associated with alcohol or benzodiazepine withdrawal)	Oral 2nd generation antipsychotic (e.g., risperidone 2 mg, olanzapine 5-10 mg)
	Oral 1st generation antipsychotic (e.g., low dose haloperidol)
	Parenteral 2nd generation antipsychotic (e.g., olanzapine 10 mg IM)
	Parenteral 1st generation antipsychotic (e.g., haloperidol low dose IM or IV)
Schizophrenia or mania	Oral 2nd generation antipsychotic alone (e.g., risperidone 2 mg, olanzapine 5-10 mg)
	Oral 1st generation antipsychotic (e.g., haloperidol 2-10 mg with benzodiazepine)
	Parenteral 2nd generation antipsychotic (e.g., olanzapine 10 mg IM)
	Parenteral 1st generation antipsychotic (e.g., haloperidol 2-10 mg IM) along with benzodiazepine (e.g., lorazepam 1-2 mg)

CNS – Central nervous system; IV – Intravenous