Antipsychotics

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

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The different types of antipsychotics

This page contains comparison tables, presenting all antipsychotics by:

generic name and key characteristics
type of antipsychotic (first or second generation)
length of half-life
available form
dietary information

Why might I want to compare antipsychotics?

After considering how they can help and issues around taking them safely, you might want to know more about the different antipsychotics available to help you talk to your doctor about what's right for you. For example:

If you have problems with a particular type of drug, such as first generation (older) antipsychotics, and want to avoid them.
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 the impact of particular side effects, such as weight gain. For information about the side effects of a particular antipsychotic, you can look the drug up in our antipsychotics A–Z.

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

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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 hrs	tablets contain lactose
aripiprazole	Abilify	2nd generation	tablet dissolving tablets liquid emergency injection	75–146 hrs	tablets contain lactose (dissolving tablets do not)
aripiprazole	Abilify Maintena	2nd generation depot	depot injection	30–47 days	none
asenapine	Sycrest	2nd generation	dissolving tablet	about 24 hrs	contains gelatine
benperidol	Anquil	1st generation	tablets	6–10 hrs	contains lactose
chlorpromazine	Largactil	1st generation	tablets liquid emergency injection suppositories	20–40 hrs	tablets contain lactose
clozapine	Clozaril Denzapine	2nd generation	tablets	6–26 hrs	contains lactose
flupentixol	Depixol, Fluanxol, Flupenthixol	1st generation	tablets	about 35 hrs	contains lactose
flupentixol decanoate	Depixol	1st generation depot	depot injection	about 21 days	contains coconut oil
fluphenazine decanoate	Modecate	1st generation depot	depot injection	6–9 days	contains sesame oil
haloperidol	Dozic, Haldol, Serenace	1st generation	tablets liquid depot injection	about 20 hrs	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 hrs	none
lurasidone	Latuda	2nd generation	tablets	20–40 hrs	none
olanzapine	Zyprexa	2nd generation	tablets dissolving tablets (Velotab) 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	2nd generation	slow release tablets	about 23 hrs	3mg tablets contain lactose
paliperidone palmitate	Xeplion	2nd generation depot	depot injection (prefilled syringe)	25–49 days	none
pericyazine	Neulactil	1st generation	tablets liquid	about 12 hrs	tablets contain lactose
pimozide	Orap	1st generation	tablets	about 55 hrs	none
prochlorperazine	Stemetil	1st generation	tablets liquid depot injection	4–8 hrs	tablets contain lactose
promazine	none	1st generation	tablets liquid	not available	tablets contain lactose
quetiapine	Atrolak Biquelle Ebesque Seroquel Tenprolide Zaluron	2nd generation	tablets	7–12 hrs	contains lactose
risperidone	Risperdal	2nd generation	tablets dissolving tablets (Quicklet)	about 24 hrs	contains lactose some tablets contain gelatin
risperidone	Risperdal Consta	2nd generation depot	injection	4–6 days	none
sulpiride	Dolmatil Sulpor	1st generation	tablets liquid	about 8 hrs	tablets contain lactose
trifluoperazine	Stelazine	1st generation	tablets liquid	about 22 hrs	tablets contain gelatin
zuclopenthixol	Clopixol Acuphase	1st generation	emergency injection	about 19 days	contains thin coconut oil
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

Comparing antipsychotics by type

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Type of antipsychotic	Drug names
1st generation	benperidol flupentixol haloperidol levomepromazine pericyazine pimozide prochlorperazine promazine sulpiride trifluoperazine zuclopenthixol zuclopenthixol dihydrochloride
1st generation depot	flupentixol decanoate fluphenazine decanoate haloperidol decanoate zuclopentixol decanoate
2nd generation	amisulpride aripiprazole asenapine clozapine lurasidone olanzapine paliperidone quetiapine risperidone
2nd generation depot	aripiprazole olanzapine pamoate monohydrate paliperidone palmitate risperidone

Comparing 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	Drug name
4–8 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
about 20 hours	haloperidol
20–40 hours	chlorpromazine
20–40 hours	lurasidone
about 22 hours	trifluoperazine
about 23 hours	paliperidone
about 24 hours	asenapine
about 24 hours	risperidone
about 24 hours	zuclopenthixol dihydrochloride
about 30 hours	levomepromazine
32–52 hours	olanzapine
about 35 hours	flupentixol
about 55 hours	pimozide
75–146 hours	aripiprazole
4–6 days	risperidone (depot)
6–9 days	fluphenazine decanoate
about 19 days	zuclopenthixol
about 19 days	zuclopentixol decanoate
about 21 days	flupentixol decanoate
about 21 days	haloperidol decanoate
25–49 days	paliperidone palmitate
about 30 days	olanzapine pamoate monohydrate
30–47 days	aripiprazole (depot)
n/a	promazine

Comparing 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
dissolving tablets	aripiprazole asenapine olanzapine risperidone
liquid	amisulpride aripiprazole chlorpromazine haloperidol pericyazine prochlorperazine promazine sulpiride trifluoperazine
injection	aripiprazole chlorpromazine flupentixol decanoate fluphenazine decanoate haloperidol haloperidol decanoate olanzapine olanzapine pamoate monohydrate paliperidone palmitate prochlorperazine risperidone zuclopenthixol zuclopentixol decanoate
suppositories	chlorpromazine

Comparing antipsychotics by dietary considerations

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Dietary consideration	Drugs this applies to
Contains lactose	amisulpride aripiprazole benperidol chlorpromazine clozapine flupentixol haloperidol olanzapine paliperidone pericyazine prochlorperazine promazine quetiapine risperidone sulpiride zuclopenthixol dihydrochloride
Contains gelatine	asenapine risperidone (some tablets) trifluoperazine
Contains coconut oil	flupentixol decanoate zuclopenthixol
Contains sesame oil	fluphenazine decanoate haloperidol decanoate