Two medicines, side by side
Aripiprazole vs lurasidone
Aripiprazole and lurasidone are both labeled for depression, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. Drugs@FDA records approvals of aripiprazole since 2002 and of lurasidone since 2010. Pharmacies paid $0.110 per aripiprazole 5 mg tablet and $0.142 per lurasidone HCl 20 mg tablet (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like. How each works, in its label's words: Aripiprazole, “The mechanism of action of aripiprazole in schizophrenia or bipolar mania, is unclear.”; Lurasidone, “The mechanism of action of lurasidone in the treatment of schizophrenia and bipolar depression is unclear.”
Check it at the source: the aripiprazole FDA label on DailyMed (effective January 29, 2025); the lurasidone FDA label on DailyMed (effective January 31, 2025).
Highlights of the aripiprazole record
Aripiprazole (Abilify) · label of January 29, 2025
INCREASED MORTALITY IN ELDERLY PATIENTS WITH DEMENTIA-RELATED PSYCHOSIS and SUICIDAL THOUGHTS AND BEHAVIORS WITH ANTIDEPRESSANT DRUGS Elderly patients with dementia-related psychosis treated with antipsychotic drugs are at an increased risk of death. ABILIFY is not approved for the treatment of patients with dementia-related psychosis [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) ].
Used for
From the label: indicationsABILIFY (aripiprazole) Tablets are indicated for the treatment of: Schizophrenia Acute Treatment of Manic and Mixed Episodes associated with Bipolar I Disorder Adjunctive Treatment of Major Depressive Disorder Irritability Associated with Autistic Disorder Treatment of Tourette's Disorder ABILIFY is an atypical antipsychotic. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- November 15, 2002
- Generic labelers
- 47 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.110 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 25
Highlights of the lurasidone record
Lurasidone (Latuda) · label of January 31, 2025
INCREASED MORTALITY IN ELDERLY PATIENTS WITH DEMENTIA-RELATED PSYCHOSIS; and SUICIDAL THOUGHTS AND BEHAVIORS WARNING: INCREASED MORTALITY IN ELDERLY PATIENTS WITH DEMENTIA-RELATED PSYCHOSIS; and SUICIDAL THOUGHTS AND BEHAVIORS See full prescribing information for complete boxed warning. Elderly patients with dementia-related psychosis treated with antipsychotic drugs are at an increased risk of death. LATUDA is not approved for the treatment of patients with dementia-related psychosis ( 5.1 ).
Used for
From the label: indicationsLATUDA is indicated for: Treatment of adult and adolescent patients (13 to 17 years) with schizophrenia [see Clinical Studies ( 14.1 )]. Monotherapy treatment of adult and pediatric patients (10 to 17 years) with major depressive episode associated with bipolar I disorder (bipolar depression) [see Clinical Studies ( 14.2 )]. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- October 28, 2010
- Generic labelers
- 28 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.142 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 2
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Aripiprazole label of January 29, 2025, Lurasidone label of January 31, 2025); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do aripiprazole and lurasidone differ on the record?
How each works, in its label's words: Aripiprazole, “The mechanism of action of aripiprazole in schizophrenia or bipolar mania, is unclear.”; Lurasidone, “The mechanism of action of lurasidone in the treatment of schizophrenia and bipolar depression is unclear.”
Both are in FDA's class atypical antipsychotics.
Both labels carry a boxed warning; the records quote them.
Generics: aripiprazole since 2015; lurasidone since 2019 (Drugs@FDA).
| Aripiprazole | Lurasidone | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Depression, Bipolar disorder, Schizophrenia | Schizophrenia, Bipolar disorder, Depression |
| Pharmacologic class | Atypical Antipsychotic | Atypical Antipsychotic |
| How it works (label) | The mechanism of action of aripiprazole in schizophrenia or bipolar mania, is unclear. | The mechanism of action of lurasidone in the treatment of schizophrenia and bipolar depression is unclear. |
| Half-life (label) | For CYP2D6 poor metabolizers, the mean elimination half-life for aripiprazole is about 146 hours. | n/a |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | November 15, 2002 | October 28, 2010 |
| First generic approved | April 28, 2015 | January 3, 2019 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 47 labelers | 28 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.110 per tablet (Aripiprazole 5 mg tablet) | $0.142 per tablet (Lurasidone HCl 20 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | +3% | -28% |
| Boxed warning | Yes | Yes |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 25 | 2 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 121,736 | 20,803 |
| DEA schedule | none | none |
Source: Drugs@FDA, FDA NDC Directory, CMS NADAC of October 7, 2026, FDA shortages and recalls, FAERS via openFDA (FDA files October 8, 2026)
Do their labels mention each other?
Lurasidone label, warnings and precautionsStroke in Elderly Patients with Dementia-Related Psychosis In placebo-controlled trials with risperidone, aripiprazole, and olanzapine in elderly subjects with dementia, there was a higher incidence of cerebrovascular adverse reactions (cerebrovascular accidents and transient ischemic attacks), including fatalities, compared to placebo-treated subjects.
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA
What next?
- Alternatives to aripiprazole
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions