Drugs Patients can usually be rapidly calmed or tranquilized using Benzodiazepines Antipsychotics (typically a conventional antipsychotic, but a 2nd-generation drug may be used) These drugs are better titrated and act more rapidly and reliably when administered IV (see table Drug Therapy for Agitated or Violent Patients), but IM administration may be necessary when IV access cannot be achieved in struggling patients.