Haloperidol for agitation in the ED is commonly dosed via which routes?

• A. Oral
• B. Subcutaneous
• C. IM only
• D. IV or IM

Answer: (D)

Rapid calming of an acutely agitated patient relies on parenteral administration, which provides a predictable and fast onset. Oral haloperidol is unreliable in this situation because the patient may not cooperate, swallow safely, or have consistent absorption, leading to delays and variable effects. Intramuscular dosing is a common, straightforward way to achieve quick effect in the ED, and when IV access is already established or an even faster onset is needed, intravenous administration is used. Subcutaneous administration is less typical for this scenario, and oral dosing is generally not practical for acute agitation. Therefore, the routes best suited for haloperidol in the ED to rapidly control agitation are IV or IM.