Alternative Approaches for Addressing Acute Agitation in Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder

Importance: The prompt effective treatment of acute agitation among patients with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder can alleviate distressing symptoms for the patient and decrease the risk of escalation to aggression and the potential for serious harm to the patient, health care providers, and others. Observations: A commonly used approach for the management of acute agitation has been the intramuscular administration of antipsychotic medications and/or benzodiazepines. However, US Food and Drug Administration–approved treatments with alternative routes of delivery now include inhaled loxapine powder and, more recently, dexmedetomidine sublingual film. Two formulations of intranasal olanzapine for acute agitation are in development. Conclusions and Relevance: Intranasal formulations offer the potential for favorable pharmacokinetics and onset of action combined with ease of delivery obviating the need for injections and are thus consistent with patient-centered factors such as preference and self-administration. In this review, alternative methods of medication delivery are discussed, with an emphasis on the potential for intranasal administration to treat acute agitation in adult patients with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. Prim Care Companion CNS Disord 2024;26(1):23nr03596 Author affiliations are listed at the end of this article.