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	tablets	about 12 hrs	tablets contain lactose
aripiprazole	Abilify Discmelt, Abilify, Aripiprazol Stada, Aripiprazole Actavis, Aripiprazole Normon, Aripiprazole Sandoz, Aripizo, Aryzalera	2nd generation	tablets dissolving tablets emergency injection	75–146 hrs	tablets contain lactose (dissolving tablets do not)
aripiprazole	Abilify Maintena	2nd generation depot	depot injection	30–47 days	none
chlorpromazine	Chlozine	1st generation	tablets	20–40 hrs	tablets contain lactose
clozapine	Clopine, Clozapine, Clozarem, Clozaril, Vick-Clozapine	2nd generation	tablets	6–26 hrs	contains lactose
flupentixol	Vick-Flupentixol	1st generation	tablets	about 35 hrs	contains lactose
flupentixol decanoate	Flupentixol – Neuraxpharm	1st generation depot	depot injection	about 21 days	contains coconut oil
fluphenazine decanoate	Fluphenazine- Neuraxpharm	1st generation depot	depot injection	6–9 days	contains sesame oil
haloperidol	Apo-Haloperidol, Binin-U, Haldol, Haloper, Haloperidol Kern, Halpidol	1st generation	tablets liquid depot injection	about 20 hrs	tablets contain lactose
haloperidol decanoate	Haldol-Neuraxpharm, Haldol Decanoas	1st generation depot	depot injection	about 21 days	contains sesame oil
lurasidone	Latuda	2nd generation	tablets	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	tablets dissolving tablets  emergency injection	32–52 hrs	tablets contain lactose (dissolving tablets do not)
olanzapine pamoate monohydrate	ZypAdhera	2nd generation depot	depot injection	about 30 days	none
paliperidone	Invega Pamoprex	2nd generation	slow release tablets	about 23 hrs	3mg tablets contain lactose
paliperidone palmitate	Invega Sustenna, Invega Trinza	2nd generation depot	depot injection	25–49 days	none
pericyazine	Neulactil, Vick-Pericyazine	1st generation	tablets	about 12 hrs	tablets contain lactose
pimozide	Vick-Pimozide	1st generation	tablets	about 55 hrs	none
prochlorperazine	Metil, Nautisol, Pemazil, Peratil, Prochlor, Prochlorperazine Maleate, Protil, Seratil, Stemetil	1st generation	tablets depot injection	4–8 hrs	tablets contain lactose
promazine	Chlozine	1st generation	tablets	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	tablets slow release tablets	7–12 hrs	contains lactose
sulpiride	Gamotil, Sulide, Sulpidyl, Sulpiren, Supide, Vick-Sulpride	1st generation	tablets capsules	about 8 hrs	tablets contain lactose
trifluoperazine	Apo-Trifluoperazine	1st generation	tablets	about 22 hrs	tablets contain gelatin
ziprasidone	Zeldox, Ziprasidon Stada, Zypsila	2nd generation	capsules	6-7 hours	none
zuclopentixol decanoate	Clopixol	1st generation depot	depot injection	about 19 days	contains thin vegetable oil
zuclopenthixol dihydrochloride	Clopixol	1st generation	tablets	about 24 hrs	contains lactose

 

Antipsychotics by type

Type of antipsychotic	Antipsychotics in this type
1st generation	flupentixol haloperidol pericyazine pimozide prochlorperazine promazine sulpiride trifluoperazine zuclopenthixol dihydrochloride
1st generation depot	flupentixol decanoate fluphenazine decanoate haloperidol decanoate zuclopentixol decanoate
2nd generation	amisulpride aripiprazole clozapine lurasidone olanzapine paliperidone quetiapine ziprasidone
2nd generation depot	aripiprazole olanzapine pamoate monohydrate paliperidone palmitate

 

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	amisulpride aripiprazole chlorpromazine clozapine flupentixol haloperidol lurasidone olanzapine paliperidone pericyazine pimozide prochlorperazine promazine quetiapine sulpiride trifluoperazine zuclopenthixol dihydrochloride
dissolving tablets	aripiprazole clozapine olanzapine
capsules	cariprazine
liquid	haloperidol pericyazine
injection	aripiprazole flupentixol decanoate fluphenazine decanoate haloperidol haloperidol decanoate olanzapine olanzapine pamoate monohydrate paliperidone palmitate prochlorperazine zuclopentixol decanoate

 

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	amisulpride aripiprazole chlorpromazine clozapine flupentixol haloperidol olanzapine (non-dissolving tablets only) paliperidone (3mg tablets only) pericyazine prochlorperazine promazine quetiapine (some tablets) sulpiride zuclopenthixol dihydrochloride
Contains gelatine	risperidone (some tablets) trifluoperazine cariprazine chlorpromazine (tablets only)
Contains coconut oil	flupentixol decanoate zuclopenthixol
Contains sesame oil	fluphenazine decanoate haloperidol decanoate pipotiazine palmitate
Contains vegetable oil	zuclopenthixol decanoate