The Safe Use of High Dose Neuroleptics in a Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit

Abstract

A review of the use of high dose neuroleptics in the management of acute psychoses in a psychiatric intensive care unit confirms the previously reported safety of such regimes. The risk of extreme unwanted effects, such as cardiac arrest and sudden death, was considerably less than the risk of suicide as an inpatient. Although high doses of neuroleptics appear to be relatively safe, there is no advantage, in terms of the length of admission required in the intensive care unit, in using a dose of neuroleptic above the equivalent of 60-80 mg of haloperidol in any one 24-hour period.