Less Lethal Weapon Injuries

Chemical Restraint

Benzodiazepines and first generation antipsychotics can be used in combination to sedate combative patients. As an example, the combination of lorazepam [a.k.a. Ativan 2 mg IV or IM] and haloperidol [a.k.a. Haldol 5 mg IM] achieves more rapid sedation than either drug alone and can reduce side effects.  If additional medication is needed, a reasonable approach to titration is to give additional lorazepam every 10 to 20 minutes as needed.

Randomized trials have found the combination of lorazepam and haloperidol to be more effective than either drug alone in sedating acutely agitated or psychotic patients. [30, 31]