Comparative Safety of Medications for Severe Agitation: A Geriatric Emergency Department Guidelines 2.0 Systematic Review.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Managing undifferentiated, severe agitation in older adults may require antipsychotic or sedative medications to prevent harm to self or others. Unfortunately, these medications are associated with serious adverse events in older adults, and little is known about their comparative safety.

Methods

We conducted a systematic review to identify comparative effectiveness studies on the safety of medications used in the treatment of severe agitation among older adults in the prehospital or emergency department (ED) setting. We searched eight databases including PubMed, EMBASE, SCOPUS, Cochrane library, CINAHL, Proquest Central, Ageline, and PsycInfo published in or before February 2024. Studies were included if they examined 1st generation antipsychotics, 2nd generation

SUBMITTER: Casey MF 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12460960 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature