Mechanical ventilation is a life-saving procedure in critically ill patients. This procedure is however not devoid of risks and every effort should be made to shorten its duration. This is best accomplished by the implementation of weaning protocols. Sedation (by opiates and benzodiazepines) is often required in such patients for their comfort and adaptation to the respirator. Withdrawal of sedation in order to allow patients to resume spontaneous breathing may be associated with agitation and confusion that may hinder weaning. In such cases, reinstitution of heavy sedation will prolong ventilator-dependency. It may therefore be interesting to administer a neuroleptic (loxapine) with good anxiolytic properties but that does not notably interfere with spontaneous breathing ability.