Randomized clinical trial comparing intravenous midazolam and droperidol for sedation of the acutely agitated patient in the emergency department

Abstract

STUDY OBJECTIVE: We compare intravenous midazolam and droperidol for the onset of sedation of acutely agitated patients in the emergency department (ED). METHODS: This was a double-blind, randomized, clinical trial set in the ED of a university teaching hospital. Subjects were adults, acutely agitated because of mental illness, intoxication, or both, who received midazolam or droperidol, 5 mg intravenously, every 5 minutes until sedated. We analyzed time to sedation using survival analysis, median times to sedation, and proportions sedated at 5 and 10 minutes. RESULTS: Seventy-four patients received midazolam; 79 patients, droperidol. Survival analysis showed no difference in time to sedatio..