Two medicines, side by side
Aripiprazole vs olanzapine
Aripiprazole and olanzapine are both labeled for depression, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. Drugs@FDA records approvals of aripiprazole since 2002 and of olanzapine since 1996. Pharmacies paid $0.110 per aripiprazole 5 mg tablet and $0.147 per olanzapine 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.”; Olanzapine, “The mechanism of action of olanzapine, in the listed indications is unclear.”
Check it at the source: the aripiprazole FDA label on DailyMed (effective January 29, 2025); the olanzapine FDA label on DailyMed (effective March 5, 2026).
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 olanzapine record
Olanzapine (Zyprexa) · label of March 5, 2026
INCREASED MORTALITY IN ELDERLY PATIENTS WITH DEMENTIA-RELATED PSYCHOSIS Elderly patients with dementia-related psychosis treated with antipsychotic drugs are at an increased risk of death. Analyses of seventeen placebo-controlled trials (modal duration of 10 weeks), largely in patients taking atypical antipsychotic drugs, revealed a risk of death in drug-treated patients of between 1.6 to 1.7 times the risk of death in placebo-treated patients.
Used for
From the label: indicationsOlanzapine is an atypical antipsychotic indicated: As oral formulation for the: · Treatment of schizophrenia. ( 1.1 ) · Adults: Efficacy was established in three clinical trials in patients with schizophrenia: two 6-week trials and one maintenance trial. ( 14.1 ) · Adolescents (ages 13-17): Efficacy was established in one 6-week trial in patients with schizophrenia ( 14.1 ). […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- September 30, 1996
- Generic labelers
- 43 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.147 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 14
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Aripiprazole label of January 29, 2025, Olanzapine label of March 5, 2026); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do aripiprazole and olanzapine 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.”; Olanzapine, “The mechanism of action of olanzapine, in the listed indications is unclear.”
Both are in FDA's class atypical antipsychotics.
Half-life, in each label's words: Aripiprazole, “For CYP2D6 poor metabolizers, the mean elimination half-life for aripiprazole is about 146 hours.”; Olanzapine, “Its half-life ranges from 21 to 54 hours (5th to 95th percentile; mean of 30 hr), and apparent plasma clearance ranges …”
Both labels carry a boxed warning; the records quote them.
Generics: aripiprazole since 2015; olanzapine since 2011 (Drugs@FDA).
| Aripiprazole | Olanzapine | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 olanzapine, in the listed indications is unclear. However, the efficacy of olanzapine in schizophrenia could be mediated through a combination of dopamine and serotonin type 2 (5HT 2 ) antagonism. |
| Half-life (label) | For CYP2D6 poor metabolizers, the mean elimination half-life for aripiprazole is about 146 hours. | Its half-life ranges from 21 to 54 hours (5th to 95th percentile; mean of 30 hr), and apparent plasma clearance ranges from 12 to 47 L/hr (5th to 95th percentile; mean of 25 L/hr). |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | November 15, 2002 | September 30, 1996 |
| First generic approved | April 28, 2015 | October 24, 2011 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 47 labelers | 43 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.110 per tablet (Aripiprazole 5 mg tablet) | $0.147 per tablet (Olanzapine 20 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | +3% | -5% |
| Boxed warning | Yes | Yes |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 25 | 14 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 121,736 | 107,881 |
| 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)
What next?
- Alternatives to aripiprazole
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions