Two medicines, side by side
Chlorpromazine vs haloperidol
Chlorpromazine and haloperidol are both labeled for schizophrenia. Drugs@FDA records approvals of chlorpromazine since 1957 and of haloperidol since 1967. Pharmacies paid $0.552 per chlorpromazine 100 mg tablet and $15.60 per mL (Haloperidol dec 100 mg/mL vial) (NADAC, October 7, 2026). In FDA's classes, chlorpromazine is a phenothiazine and haloperidol a typical antipsychotic.
Check it at the source: the chlorpromazine FDA label on DailyMed (effective May 12, 2026); the haloperidol FDA label on DailyMed (effective April 23, 2026).
Highlights of the chlorpromazine record
Chlorpromazine (Thorazine) · label of May 12, 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: indicationsFor the management of manifestations of psychotic disorders. For the treatment of schizophrenia. To control nausea and vomiting. For relief of restlessness and apprehension before surgery. For acute intermittent porphyria. As an adjunct in the treatment of tetanus. To control the manifestations of the manic type of manic-depressive illness. For relief of intractable hiccups. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- September 18, 1957
- Generic labelers
- 33 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.552 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 25
Highlights of the haloperidol record
Haloperidol (Haldol) · label of April 23, 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: indicationsHaloperidol tablets are indicated for use in the management of manifestations of psychotic disorders. Haloperidol tablets are indicated for the control of tics and vocal utterances of Tourette’s Disorder in children and adults. Haloperidol tablets are effective for the treatment of severe behavior problems in children of combative, explosive hyperexcitability (which cannot be accounted for by immediate provocation). […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- April 12, 1967
- Generic labelers
- 41 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $15.60 per mL
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- A presentation being discontinued
- Recalls
- 18
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Chlorpromazine label of May 12, 2026, Haloperidol label of April 23, 2026); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do chlorpromazine and haloperidol differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, chlorpromazine is a phenothiazine and haloperidol a typical antipsychotic.
Both labels carry a boxed warning; the records quote them.
Generics: chlorpromazine since 1972; haloperidol since 1986 (Drugs@FDA).
| Chlorpromazine | Haloperidol | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Schizophrenia, Nausea and vomiting | Schizophrenia |
| Pharmacologic class | Phenothiazine | Typical Antipsychotic |
| How it works (label) | n/a | n/a |
| Half-life (label) | n/a | n/a |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | September 18, 1957 | April 12, 1967 |
| First generic approved | March 16, 1972 | June 10, 1986 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 33 labelers | 41 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.552 per tablet (Chlorpromazine 100 mg tablet) | $15.60 per mL (Haloperidol dec 100 mg/mL vial) |
| 12-month price change | -27% | no change |
| Boxed warning | Yes | Yes |
| Shortage now | No current entry | A presentation being discontinued |
| Recalls recorded | 25 | 18 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 7,098 | 26,054 |
| 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?
Haloperidol label, drug interactionsCYP2D6 inhibitors – chlorpromazine; promethazine; quinidine; paroxetine, sertraline, venlafaxine.
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA
What next?
- Alternatives to chlorpromazine
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions