Haloperidol Dosing Equivalence to Loxapine

Clinical Context and Dosing

• The American College of Physicians-aligned guidelines suggest that standard haloperidol dose for acute agitation is 5 mg intramuscularly, which can be repeated based on clinical response 1
• Efficacy shows a dose-response relationship up to 10-15 mg; above this dose, there is diminished improvement 1
• Haloperidol carries a 20% risk of extrapyramidal effects, which should be monitored 1

Cardiovascular Considerations

• Both medications can prolong QTc interval, requiring cardiac monitoring in at-risk patients 2