Low Incidence of Extrapyramidal Symptoms in Treatment of Delirium with Intravenous Haloperidol and Lorazepam in the Intensive Care Unit

We retrospectively reviewed 11 patients in an intensive care unit who were treated for delirium with intrave nously administered haloperidol and lorazepam. The cu mulative doses for each episode of delirium ranged from 25.5 to 1,929 mg of haloperidol and 19.5 to 2,274 mg of lorazepam. Neuroleptic-induced rigidity developed in 1 patient. After administration of the neuroleptic was dis continued, there were no residual extrapyramidal symp toms.