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aripiprazole vs iloperidone

Side-by-side comparison of aripiprazole and iloperidone Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.

Drug Class
aripiprazole Atypical Antipsychotic
iloperidone Atypical Antipsychotic
Type
aripiprazole Prescription
iloperidone Prescription
Summary
aripiprazole

Aripiprazole (Abilify) is a medicine used to treat certain mental disorders and mood problems. It can help to improve your mood, thinking, and behavior.

iloperidone

Fanapt is a medicine used to treat schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. It helps to balance chemicals in the brain to improve mood and behavior.

What It Treats
aripiprazole

Aripiprazole is used to treat schizophrenia in adults and teens. It also treats irritability in children with autism. Additionally, it can treat Tourette's disorder.

iloperidone

Fanapt is used to treat schizophrenia in adults. Schizophrenia can cause confused thinking, hallucinations, and changes in behavior. Fanapt is also used for the short-term treatment of manic or mixed episodes linked to bipolar I disorder in adults.

How It Works
aripiprazole

Aripiprazole works by affecting the levels of certain chemicals in the brain. These chemicals, like dopamine and serotonin, can affect mood and behavior. By balancing these chemicals, aripiprazole helps to reduce symptoms of mental health conditions.

iloperidone

Fanapt is an atypical antipsychotic. It works by affecting certain chemicals in the brain, such as dopamine and serotonin. This helps to reduce symptoms of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

Common Side Effects
aripiprazole
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Constipation
  • Headache
  • Dizziness
iloperidone
  • Dizziness
  • Dry mouth
  • Feeling tired
  • Stuffy nose
  • Low blood pressure when standing up
FAERS Reports
aripiprazole
  • The medicine is not working 8,141
  • Gaining weight 7,698
  • Using the medicine for a condition it is not approved for 7,393
  • Using the medicine for a condition it is not approved for 5,248
  • Feeling worried or nervous 4,995
iloperidone
  • The medicine is not working 107
  • Feeling lightheaded or unsteady 99
  • Trouble sleeping 83
  • Gaining weight 76
  • Feeling worried or nervous 68
Serious Warnings
aripiprazole

Aripiprazole may increase the risk of death in elderly patients who have psychosis related to dementia. It is not approved for this use. Antidepressants may increase the risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors in children, teens, and young adults. Watch closely for worsening mood or suicidal thoughts.

iloperidone

Fanapt may increase the risk of death in elderly patients who have psychosis related to dementia. Fanapt is not approved to treat this condition.

Pregnancy
aripiprazole

If you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant, talk to your doctor. Aripiprazole may cause withdrawal symptoms or other problems in newborns if taken during the third trimester. There is a pregnancy registry for women who take aripiprazole during pregnancy.

iloperidone

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Babies born to mothers who take antipsychotics like Fanapt in the last 3 months of pregnancy may have withdrawal symptoms after birth. Talk to your doctor about whether to breastfeed while taking Fanapt.

Also Compare — Nearby Drugs

How to Read This aripiprazole vs iloperidone Comparison

aripiprazole is classified in the Atypical Antipsychotic drug class, while iloperidone sits within the Atypical Antipsychotic class. Because both drugs share the same classification, they are often considered interchangeable in theory — but clinical outcomes rarely track that cleanly. Both drugs are prescription-only, so a licensed provider must authorize use.

Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, aripiprazole has 33,475 submissions while iloperidone has 433. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume — not per-patient risk — so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. No direct interaction between these two drugs is listed in our FDA-derived dataset, though co-prescription still warrants pharmacist review. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.

A table cannot substitute for clinical judgment. Effectiveness, tolerability, drug-drug interactions with your other medications, kidney and liver function, pregnancy status, insurance formulary, and price all feed into a decision that only a licensed prescriber can make responsibly. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This page is for educational purposes only, is not medical advice, and should not be used to self-switch between aripiprazole and iloperidone — always consult your physician or pharmacist first.

Important: This comparison is for informational purposes only. Drug effects vary between individuals. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized medical advice.