How can I compare different antipsychotics?
This page has tables to help you compare antipsychotics by different factors. These are:
- generic name and key characteristics
- type of antipsychotic (first or second generation)
- half-life
- form available
- dietary considerations
Why might I want to compare antipsychotics?
Understanding more about the different antipsychotics available may help you talk to your doctor or psychiatrist about what’s right for you, including:
- If you’ve experienced problems with a particular type of antipsychotic and want to avoid them. For example, if you’ve experienced problems with a first generation (older) antipsychotic and want to change to a newer drug.
- If you need your medication in a different form. For example, you may have problems with swallowing or find it hard to remember to take your medication correctly every day.
- If you have any dietary restrictions, such as being vegetarian or intolerant to some ingredients.
- If the drug’s half-life is important to you. For example, if you are concerned about withdrawal effects and would prefer a drug with a longer half-life. For information about what the half-life means and why it matters, see our page about medication half-life.
- If you are worried about certain side effects of your medication.
Remember: drugs don’t work the same way for everyone, and it’s important to find a medication that works for you. See our page on receiving the right medication for more information.
Antipsychotics by generic name and key characteristics
Each of these drugs may be known by several different names, which we have listed below under the Generic name and Trade names columns.
| Generic name | Trade names (UK) | Type of antipsychotic | Forms available | Half-life | Dietary considerations |
| amisulpride | Amisulpride Normon, Amisulpride Rivopharm, Amisulpride Sandoz, Solian, Vick-Amisulpride | 2nd generation |
|
about 12 hrs | tablets contain lactose |
| aripiprazole | Abilify Discmelt, Abilify, Aripiprazol Stada, Aripiprazole Actavis, Aripiprazole Normon, Aripiprazole Sandoz, Aripizo, Aryzalera | 2nd generation |
|
75–146 hrs | tablets contain lactose (dissolving tablets do not) |
| aripiprazole | Abilify Maintena | 2nd generation depot | 30–47 days | none | |
| chlorpromazine | Chlozine | 1st generation |
|
20–40 hrs | tablets contain lactose |
| clozapine | Clopine, Clozapine, Clozarem, Clozaril, Vick-Clozapine | 2nd generation |
|
6–26 hrs | contains lactose |
| flupentixol | Vick-Flupentixol | 1st generation |
|
about 35 hrs | contains lactose |
| flupentixol decanoate | Flupentixol – Neuraxpharm | 1st generation depot | about 21 days | contains coconut oil | |
| fluphenazine decanoate | Fluphenazine- Neuraxpharm | 1st generation depot | 6–9 days | contains sesame oil | |
| haloperidol | Apo-Haloperidol, Binin-U, Haldol, Haloper, Haloperidol Kern, Halpidol | 1st generation |
|
about 20 hrs | tablets contain lactose |
| haloperidol decanoate | Haldol-Neuraxpharm, Haldol Decanoas | 1st generation depot | about 21 days | contains sesame oil | |
| lurasidone | Latuda | 2nd generation |
|
20–40 hrs | none |
| olanzapine | Apo-Olanzapine, Apt-Olanzapine, Hovid Olanzapine, Nykob, Olanza, Olanzapin Tad, Olanzapine Sandoz, Alanzapine Stada, Olanzapine-Teva, Olza, Onzapin, Ozapex, Prenixa, Zylanza, Zyprexa, Zyprexa Zydis | 2nd generation |
|
32–52 hrs |
tablets contain lactose (dissolving tablets do not) |
| olanzapine pamoate monohydrate | ZypAdhera | 2nd generation depot | about 30 days | none | |
| paliperidone |
Invega Pamoprex |
2nd generation |
|
about 23 hrs | 3mg tablets contain lactose |
| paliperidone palmitate | Invega Sustenna, Invega Trinza |
2nd generation depot |
25–49 days | none | |
| pericyazine | Neulactil, Vick-Pericyazine | 1st generation |
|
about 12 hrs | tablets contain lactose |
| pimozide | Vick-Pimozide | 1st generation |
|
about 55 hrs | none |
| prochlorperazine | Metil, Nautisol, Pemazil, Peratil, Prochlor, Prochlorperazine Maleate, Protil, Seratil, Stemetil | 1st generation |
|
4–8 hrs | tablets contain lactose |
| promazine | Chlozine | 1st generation |
|
not available | tablets contain lactose |
| quetiapine |
Accord Quetiapine, Alvoquel Apo- Quetiapine, PMS-Quetiapine, Quantia, Quesero, Quetiapine Sandoz, Quetiapine Tevapharm, Quetiapine-Teva,, Serogen, Seroquel, Seroquel XR, Setinin |
2nd generation |
|
7–12 hrs | contains lactose |
| sulpiride | Gamotil, Sulide, Sulpidyl, Sulpiren, Supide, Vick-Sulpride | 1st generation |
|
about 8 hrs | tablets contain lactose |
| trifluoperazine | Apo-Trifluoperazine | 1st generation |
|
about 22 hrs | tablets contain gelatin |
| ziprasidone | Zeldox, Ziprasidon Stada, Zypsila | 2nd generation |
|
6-7 hours | none |
| zuclopentixol decanoate | Clopixol | 1st generation depot | about 19 days | contains thin vegetable oil | |
| zuclopenthixol dihydrochloride | Clopixol | 1st generation |
|
about 24 hrs | contains lactose |
Antipsychotics by type
| Type of antipsychotic | Antipsychotics in this type |
| 1st generation |
|
| 1st generation depot |
|
| 2nd generation |
|
| 2nd generation depot |
|
Antipsychotics by half-life
| Half-life | Antipsychotic |
| 4–9 hours | prochlorperazine |
| 6–26 hours | clozapine |
| 6 – 7 hours | ziprasidone |
| 7–12 hours | quetiapine |
| about 8 hours | sulpiride |
| about 12 hours | amisulpride |
| about 12 hours | pericyazine |
| 20–40 hours | lurasidone |
| 20–40 hours | promazine |
| 21–24 hours | haloperidol |
| about 22 hours | trifluoperazine |
| about 23 hours | paliperidone |
| about 24 hours | zuclopenthixol dihydrochloride |
| about 30 hours | chlorpromazine |
| 31–52 hours | olanzapine |
| about 35 hours | flupentixol |
| 55–150 hours | pimozide |
| 75–146 hours | aripiprazole |
| 2–8 days | cariprazine |
| 17–112 days | fluphenazine decanoate |
| 17–21 days | flupentixol decanoate |
| about 19 days | zuclopentixol decanoate |
| about 21 days | haloperidol decanoate |
| 25–139 days | paliperidone palmitate |
| 29–46 days | aripiprazole (depot) |
| about 30 days | olanzapine pamoate monohydrate |
Antipsychotics by form available
| Form | Antipsychotics available in this form |
| tablets |
|
| dissolving tablets |
|
| capsules |
|
| liquid |
|
| injection |
|
Antipsychotics by dietary considerations
Certain brands of individual drugs may have other dietary restrictions that aren’t listed in the tables below. If you are concerned about this, you can check the Drug Information Leaflet included in the box with your medication. This will include a section listing the ingredients contained in your medication.
| Dietary consideration | Drugs this applies to |
| Contains lactose |
|
| Contains gelatine |
|
| Contains coconut oil |
|
| Contains sesame oil |
|
| Contains vegetable oil |
|
