aripiprazole vs quetiapine
Side-by-side comparison of aripiprazole and quetiapine Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
Abilify
Seroquel
Aripiprazole (Abilify) is a medicine used to treat certain mental disorders and mood problems. It can help to improve your mood, thinking, and behavior.
Quetiapine is a medicine that belongs to a class of drugs called atypical antipsychotics. It is used to treat mental disorders like schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
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.
Quetiapine is used to treat schizophrenia in adults and teens (13-17 years old). It also treats manic and depressive episodes of bipolar disorder in adults and children (10-17 years old). For bipolar disorder, it can be used alone or with other medicines like lithium or divalproex.
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.
Quetiapine works by changing the levels of certain natural substances in the brain. These substances are called neurotransmitters. By affecting these neurotransmitters, quetiapine can help reduce symptoms of mental disorders.
- • Nausea
- • Vomiting
- • Constipation
- • Headache
- • Dizziness
- • Feeling sleepy
- • Dry mouth
- • Dizziness
- • Constipation
- • Feeling weak
- 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
- The medicine is not working 12,343
- Using the medicine for something it is not approved for 11,797
- Harmful effects from different substances 9,721
- Trouble sleeping 9,103
- Feeling tired 8,861
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.
Quetiapine may increase the risk of death in elderly patients who have psychosis related to dementia. Quetiapine can also increase the risk of suicidal thoughts and behavior in children, teens, and young adults. Watch for worsening symptoms or suicidal thoughts, and tell your doctor right away.
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.
If you take quetiapine during the last 3 months of pregnancy, your baby may have withdrawal symptoms or other problems after birth. There is a pregnancy registry to track outcomes in women who take quetiapine during pregnancy. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.
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How to Read This aripiprazole vs quetiapine Comparison
aripiprazole is classified in the Atypical Antipsychotic drug class, while quetiapine 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 quetiapine has 51,825. 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 quetiapine — 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.