Medication	Dosage	Adverse effects	Comments
Conventional antipsychotics
Haloperidol (Haldol; brand not available as an oral tablet in the United States)	0.5 to 1 mg orally, twice daily; additional doses every four hours, as needed	Extrapyramidal symptoms, particularly with dosages greater than 3 mg per day; prolonged corrected QT interval on electrocardiography	Agent of choice; avoid intravenous use due to short duration of action; avoid in patients with withdrawal syndrome, hepatic insufficiency, or neuroleptic malignant syndrome
Atypical antipsychotics
Risperidone (Risperdal)	0.5 mg twice daily	Extrapyramidal effects equal or slightly less than with haloperidol; prolonged corrected QT interval on electrocardiography	Tested only in small, uncontrolled studies; associated with increased mortality in older patients with dementia
Olanzapine (Zyprexa)	2.5 to 5 mg daily
Quetiapine (Seroquel)	25 mg twice daily
Benzodiazepines
Lorazepam (Ativan)	Initial 0.5- to 1-mg dose orally; repeat every four hours, as needed	Paradoxical excitation, respiratory depression, oversedation	Should not be used unless patient has alcohol or benzodiazepine withdrawal, Parkinson disease, or neuroleptic malignant syndrome