Which medication is recommended for a patient in the emergency department with amphetamine-induced psychosis to facilitate medical care?

Prepare for the Board-Certified Emergency Medicine Pharmacist Exam. Review with flashcards and multiple choice questions, complete with detailed explanations. Gear up for your certification!

Haloperidol is recommended for patients experiencing amphetamine-induced psychosis in the emergency department because it is a first-generation antipsychotic that effectively addresses the symptoms of psychosis, including hallucinations and delusions. Its dopamine antagonist properties help mitigate the extreme agitation and psychotic features that can arise from stimulant use, facilitating safer medical care and assessment of the patient.

Additionally, haloperidol is often preferred in acute settings due to its relatively well-established efficacy and safety profile, especially in agitated patients. It provides rapid relief of psychotic symptoms, which is crucial in an emergency department where managing agitation is necessary for the safety of both the patient and the staff.

Other medications listed, while they may have roles in different scenarios, do not serve the same purpose as haloperidol. For instance, lorazepam is a benzodiazepine that can help with agitation but does not specifically target psychotic features, and its sedative effects might mask underlying psychosis without addressing it. Midazolam is also a benzodiazepine and is primarily used for sedation; similarly, it lacks the targeted effects on psychotic symptoms. Olanzapine, an atypical antipsychotic, may also be effective in similar scenarios; however, hal

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