Antipsychotics

Explains what antipsychotics are used for, how the medication works, possible side effects and information about withdrawal.

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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 of 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. See our page on drug names for more information.

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Generic name	Trade names (UK)	Type of antipsychotic	Forms available	Half-life	Dietary considerations
amisulpride	Solian	2nd generation	tablets liquid	about 12 hours	tablets contain lactose
aripiprazole	Abilify, Arpoya	2nd generation	tablets dissolving tablets liquid emergency injection	75–146 hours	tablets contain lactose
aripiprazole (depot)	Abilify Maintena	2nd generation depot	depot injection	29–46 days	none
asenapine	Sycrest	2nd generation	dissolving tablets	about 24 hours	contains gelatine
benperidol	Anquil	1st generation	tablets	6–10 hours	contains lactose
cariprazine	Reagila	2nd generation	capsules	2–8 days	contains gelatine
chlorpromazine	Chloractil, Largactil	1st generation	tablets liquid emergency injection suppositories	about 30 hours	tablets contain lactose and gelatine
clozapine	Clozaril, Denzapine, Zaponex	2nd generation	tablets dissolving tablets liquid suspension	6–26 hours	tablets contain lactose
flupentixol	Depixol, Fluanxol	1st generation	tablets	about 35 hours	contains lactose
flupentixol decanoate	Depixol, Psytixol	1st generation depot	depot injection	17–21 days	contains coconut oil
fluphenazine decanoate	Modecate	1st generation depot	depot injection	2.5–16 weeks	contains sesame oil
haloperidol	Haldol, Halkid	1st generation	tablets liquid emergency injection	21–24 hours	some tablets contain lactose
haloperidol decanoate	Haldol decanoate	1st generation depot	depot injection	about 21 days	contains sesame oil
levomepromazine	Nozinan	1st generation	tablets	about 30 hours	none
lurasidone	Latuda	2nd generation	tablets	20–40 hours	none
olanzapine	Zalasta, Zyprexa	2nd generation	tablets dissolving tablets (Velotab) emergency injection	31–52 hours	tablets contain lactose (dissolving tablets do not)
olanzapine pamoate monohydrate	Zypadhera	2nd generation depot	depot injection	about 30 days	none
paliperidone	Invega	2nd generation	slow-release tablets	about 23 hours	3mg tablets contain lactose
paliperidone palmitate	Trevicta, Xeplion	2nd generation depot	depot injection	Trevicta: 84–139 Xeplion: 25–49 days	none
pericyazine	Neulactil	1st generation	tablets liquid	about 12 hours	tablets contain lactose
pimozide	Orap	1st generation	tablets	55–150 hours	none
prochlorperazine	Stemetil	1st generation	tablets liquid emergency injection	4–9 hours	tablets contain lactose
promazine	none	1st generation	tablets liquid	20–40 hours	tablets contain lactose
quetiapine	Alaquet, Atrolak, Biquelle, Branco, Mintreleg, Seroquel, Tenprolide, Zaluron	2nd generation	tablets slow-release tablets	7–12 hours	some tablets contain lactose
risperidone	Risperdal	2nd generation	tablets dissolving tablets (Quicklet) liquid	3–20 hours	tablets contain lactose some tablets contain gelatine
risperidone (depot)	Risperdal Consta	2nd generation depot	depot injection	3–6 days	none
sulpiride	Dolmatil, Sulpor	1st generation	tablets liquid	about 8 hours	tablets contain lactose
trifluoperazine	Stelazine	1st generation	tablets liquid	about 22 hours	tablets contain gelatine
zuclopenthixol	Clopixol Acuphase	1st generation	emergency injection	about 19 days	contains thin coconut oil
zuclopenthixol decanoate	Clopixol	1st generation depot	depot injection	about 19 days	contains thin vegetable oil
zuclopenthixol dihydrochloride	Clopixol	1st generation	tablets	about 24 hours	contains lactose

Antipsychotics by type

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Type of antipsychotic	Antipsychotics in this type
1st generation	benperidol chlorpromazine flupentixol haloperidol levomepromazine pericyazine pimozide prochlorperazine promazine sulpiride trifluoperazine zuclopenthixol zuclopenthixol dihydrochloride
1st generation depot	flupentixol decanoate fluphenazine decanoate haloperidol decanoate zuclopenthixol decanoate
2nd generation	amisulpride aripiprazole asenapine cariprazine clozapine lurasidone olanzapine paliperidone quetiapine risperidone
2nd generation depot	aripiprazole (depot) olanzapine pamoate monohydrate paliperidone palmitate risperidone (depot)

Antipsychotics by half-life

For information about what the half-life means and why it matters, see our page on medication half-life.

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Half-life	Antipsychotic
3–20 hours	risperidone
4–9 hours	prochlorperazine
6–10 hours	benperidol
6–26 hours	clozapine
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	asenapine
about 24 hours	zuclopenthixol dihydrochloride
about 30 hours	chlorpromazine
about 30 hours	levomepromazine
31–52 hours	olanzapine
about 35 hours	flupentixol
55–150 hours	pimozide
75–146 hours	aripiprazole
2–8 days	cariprazine
3–6 days	risperidone (depot)
17–112 days	fluphenazine decanoate
17–21 days	flupentixol decanoate
about 19 days	zuclopenthixol
about 19 days	zuclopenthixol 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

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Form	Antipsychotics available in this form
tablets	amisulpride aripiprazole benperidol chlorpromazine clozapine flupentixol haloperidol levomepromazine lurasidone olanzapine paliperidone pericyazine pimozide prochlorperazine promazine quetiapine risperidone sulpiride trifluoperazine zuclopenthixol dihydrochloride
dispersible (dissolving) tablets	aripiprazole asenapine clozapine olanzapine risperidone
capsules	cariprazine
liquid	amisulpride aripiprazole chlorpromazine haloperidol pericyazine prochlorperazine promazine sulpiride trifluoperazine
depot injection	aripiprazole (depot) flupentixol decanoate fluphenazine decanoate haloperidol decanoate olanzapine pamoate monohydrate paliperidone palmitate risperidone (depot) zuclopenthixol decanoate
emergency injection	aripiprazole chlorpromazine haloperidol olanzapine prochlorperazine zuclopenthixol
suppositories	chlorpromazine

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 Patient Information Leaflet (PIL) included in the box with your medication. This will include a full list of your medication's ingredients.

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Dietary consideration	Antipsychotics with these considerations
Contains lactose (only applies to the tablet form of the drug, unless specified)	amisulpride aripiprazole benperidol chlorpromazine clozapine flupentixol haloperidol olanzapine (non-dissolving tablets only) paliperidone (3mg tablets only) pericyazine prochlorperazine promazine quetiapine (some tablets) risperidone sulpiride zuclopenthixol dihydrochloride
Contains gelatine	asenapine cariprazine chlorpromazine (tablets only) risperidone (some tablets) trifluoperazine
Contains coconut oil	flupentixol decanoate zuclopenthixol
Contains sesame oil	fluphenazine decanoate haloperidol decanoate
Contains vegetable oil	zuclopenthixol decanoate