Two medicines, side by side
Chlorpromazine vs risperidone
Chlorpromazine and risperidone are both labeled for schizophrenia. Drugs@FDA records approvals of chlorpromazine since 1957 and of risperidone since 1993. Pharmacies paid $0.552 per chlorpromazine 100 mg tablet and $0.0368 per risperidone 0.25 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 risperidone an atypical antipsychotic.
Check it at the source: the chlorpromazine FDA label on DailyMed (effective May 12, 2026); the risperidone FDA label on DailyMed (effective May 28, 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 risperidone record
Risperidone (Risperdal) · label of May 28, 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. RISPERDAL is not approved for the treatment of patients with dementia-related psychosis. [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) ] WARNING: INCREASED MORTALITY IN ELDERLY PATIENTS WITH DEMENTIA-RELATED PSYCHOSIS See full prescribing information for complete boxed warning.
Used for
From the label: indicationsRISPERDAL is an atypical antipsychotic indicated for: Treatment of schizophrenia ( 1.1 ) As monotherapy or adjunctive therapy with lithium or valproate, for the treatment of acute manic or mixed episodes associated with Bipolar I Disorder ( 1.2 ) Treatment of irritability associated with autistic disorder ( 1.3 ) 1.1 Schizophrenia RISPERDAL (risperidone) is indicated for the treatment of schizophrenia. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- December 29, 1993
- Generic labelers
- 37 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.0368 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 5
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Chlorpromazine label of May 12, 2026, Risperidone label of May 28, 2026); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do chlorpromazine and risperidone differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, chlorpromazine is a phenothiazine and risperidone an atypical antipsychotic.
Both labels carry a boxed warning; the records quote them.
Generics: chlorpromazine since 1972; risperidone since 2008 (Drugs@FDA).
| Chlorpromazine | Risperidone | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Schizophrenia, Nausea and vomiting | Bipolar disorder, Schizophrenia |
| Pharmacologic class | Phenothiazine | Atypical Antipsychotic |
| How it works (label) | n/a | The mechanism of action of risperidone in schizophrenia is unclear. The drug's therapeutic activity in schizophrenia could be mediated through a combination of dopamine Type 2 (D 2 ) and serotonin Type 2 (5HT 2 ) receptor antagonism. |
| Half-life (label) | n/a | The apparent half-life of risperidone was 3 hours (CV=30%) in extensive metabolizers and 20 hours (CV=40%) in poor metabolizers. |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | September 18, 1957 | December 29, 1993 |
| First generic approved | March 16, 1972 | June 30, 2008 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 33 labelers | 37 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.552 per tablet (Chlorpromazine 100 mg tablet) | $0.0368 per tablet (Risperidone 0.25 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | -27% | -13% |
| Boxed warning | Yes | Yes |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 25 | 5 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 7,098 | 131,095 |
| 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