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Antipsychotics
Explains what antipsychotics are used for, how the medication works, possible side effects and information about withdrawal.
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 antipsychotic medication.
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.
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Generic name | Trade names (UK) | Type of antipsychotic | Forms available | Dietary considerations | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Solian | 2nd generation |
| around 12 hours | tablets contain lactose | |
Abilify, Arpoya | 2nd generation |
| 75 to 146 hours | tablets contain lactose | |
Abilify Maintena | 2nd generation depot | 29 to 46 days | none | ||
Sycrest | 2nd generation |
| around 24 hours | contains gelatine | |
Anquil | 1st generation |
| 6 to 10 hours | contains lactose | |
Reagila | 2nd generation |
| 2 to 8 days | contains gelatine | |
Chloractil, Largactil | 1st generation |
| around 30 hours | tablets contain lactose and gelatine | |
Clozaril, Denzapine, Zaponex | 2nd generation |
| 6 to 26 hours | tablets contain lactose | |
Depixol, Fluanxol | 1st generation |
| around 35 hours | contains lactose | |
Depixol, Psytixol | 1st generation depot | 17 to 21 days | contains coconut oil | ||
Modecate | 1st generation depot | 2.5 to 16 weeks | contains sesame oil | ||
Haldol, Halkid | 1st generation |
| 21 to 24 hours | some tablets contain lactose | |
Haldol decanoate | 1st generation depot | around 21 days | contains sesame oil | ||
Nozinan | 1st generation |
| around 30 hours | none | |
Latuda | 2nd generation |
| 20 to 40 hours | none | |
Zalasta, Zyprexa | 2nd generation |
| 31 to 52 hours | tablets contain lactose | |
Zypadhera | 2nd generation depot | around 30 days | none | ||
Invega | 2nd generation |
| around 23 hours | 3mg tablets contain lactose | |
Trevicta, Xeplion | 2nd generation | Trevicta: 84 to 139 days Xeplion: 25 to 49 days | none | ||
Neulactil | 1st generation |
| around 12 hours | tablets contain lactose | |
Orap | 1st generation |
| 55 to 150 hours | none | |
Stemetil | 1st generation |
| 4 to 9 hours | tablets contain lactose | |
none | 1st generation |
| 20 to 40 hours | tablets contain lactose | |
Alaquet, Atrolak, Biquelle, Branco, Mintreleg, Seroquel, Tenprolide, | 2nd generation |
| 7 to 12 hours | some tablets contain lactose | |
Risperdal | 2nd generation |
| 3 to 20 hours | tablets contain lactose | |
Risperdal Consta | 2nd generation depot | 3 to 6 days | none | ||
Dolmatil, Sulpor | 1st generation |
| around 8 hours | tablets contain lactose | |
Stelazine | 1st generation |
| around 22 hours | tablets contain gelatine | |
Clopixol Acuphase | 1st generation |
| around 19 days | contains thin coconut oil | |
Clopixol | 1st generation depot | around 19 days | contains thin vegetable oil | ||
Clopixol | 1st generation |
| around 24 hours | contains lactose |
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 to 20 hours | |
| 4 to 9 hours | |
| 6 to 10 hours | benperidol |
| 6 to 26 hours | clozapine |
| 7 to 12 hours | quetiapine |
| around 8 hours | sulpiride |
| around 12 hours | amisulpride |
| around 12 hours | pericyazine |
| 20 to 40 hours | lurasidone |
| 20 to 40 hours | promazine |
| 21 to 24 hours | haloperidol |
| around 22 hours | trifluoperazine |
| around 23 hours | paliperidone |
| around 24 hours | asenapine |
| around 24 hours | zuclopenthixol dihydrochloride |
| around 30 hours | chlorpromazine |
| around 30 hours | levomepromazine |
| 31 to 52 hours | olanzapine |
| around 35 hours | flupentixol |
| 55 to 150 hours | pimozide |
| 75 to 146 hours | aripiprazole |
| 2 to 8 days | cariprazine |
| 3 to 6 days | risperidone (depot) |
| 17 to 112 days | fluphenazine decanoate |
| 17 to 21 days | flupentixol decanoate |
| around 19 days | zuclopenthixol |
| around 19 days | zuclopenthixol decanoate |
| around 21 days | haloperidol decanoate |
| 25 to 139 days | paliperidone palmitate |
| 29 to 46 days | aripiprazole (depot) |
| around 30 days | olanzapine pamoate monohydrate |
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) |
|
|
Contains gelatine |
|
|
Contains coconut oil |
|
|
Contains sesame oil |
|
|
Contains vegetable oil |
This information was published in September 2020.
This page is currently under review. All content was accurate when published.
References and bibliography available on request.
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