An open-label clinical trial of oral transmucosal haloperidol and oral transmucosal olanzapine in the treatment of terminal delirium at home.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The phenomenon of restlessness, agitation, or cognitive disturbances experienced by dying patients is well-known in palliative care; more than half of these patients will experience delirium symptoms at end-of-life. When not identified early and effectively managed, delirium symptoms could lead to caregiver and patient distress and harm.

Methods

Eighty patients with a prognosis of 7 days or less will be recruited for an open-label randomised control trial. The two arms compare oral-transmucosal haloperidol 2.5 mg vs olanzapine 5 mg over 72 h. The severity of agitation, delirium and toxicities of treatments will be compared at the 24th, 48th and 72nd hour after drug administration.

Discussion

This trial is the first to compare anti-psychotics in the manageme

SUBMITTER: Lyu XJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9011988 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature