Two medicines, side by side
Chlorpromazine vs olanzapine
Chlorpromazine and olanzapine are both labeled for schizophrenia. Drugs@FDA records approvals of chlorpromazine since 1957 and of olanzapine since 1996. Pharmacies paid $0.552 per chlorpromazine 100 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. In FDA's classes, chlorpromazine is a phenothiazine and olanzapine an atypical antipsychotic.
Check it at the source: the chlorpromazine FDA label on DailyMed (effective May 12, 2026); the olanzapine FDA label on DailyMed (effective March 5, 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 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 (Chlorpromazine label of May 12, 2026, Olanzapine label of March 5, 2026); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do chlorpromazine and olanzapine differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, chlorpromazine is a phenothiazine and olanzapine an atypical antipsychotic.
Both labels carry a boxed warning; the records quote them.
Generics: chlorpromazine since 1972; olanzapine since 2011 (Drugs@FDA).
| Chlorpromazine | Olanzapine | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Schizophrenia, Nausea and vomiting | Schizophrenia, Bipolar disorder, Depression |
| Pharmacologic class | Phenothiazine | Atypical Antipsychotic |
| How it works (label) | n/a | 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) | n/a | 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) | September 18, 1957 | September 30, 1996 |
| First generic approved | March 16, 1972 | October 24, 2011 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 33 labelers | 43 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.552 per tablet (Chlorpromazine 100 mg tablet) | $0.147 per tablet (Olanzapine 20 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | -27% | -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) | 7,098 | 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 chlorpromazine
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions