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clomipramine vs haloperidol

Side-by-side comparison of clomipramine and haloperidol. Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.

minor Known Drug Interaction

The plasma concentration of CMI has been reported to be increased by the concomitant administration of haloperidol; plasma levels of several closely related tricyclic antidepressants have been reported to be increased by the concomitant administration of methylphenidate or hepatic enzyme inhibitors (e.g., cimetidine, fluoxetine) and decreased by the concomitant administration of hepatic enzyme inducers (e.g., barbiturates, phenytoin), and such an effect may be anticipated with CMI as well.

Recommendation: Your doctor should monitor you closely for side effects. They may need to adjust your clomipramine dosage.

Drug Class
clomipramine Tricyclic Antidepressant (TCA)
haloperidol Typical Antipsychotic
Type
clomipramine Prescription
haloperidol Prescription
Summary
clomipramine

Clomipramine (Anafranil) is a medicine used to treat obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). It helps reduce unwanted thoughts and repetitive behaviors.

haloperidol

Haloperidol is a medicine used to treat mental disorders. It can help reduce symptoms like hallucinations and confused thinking.

What It Treats
clomipramine

Clomipramine treats obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). OCD causes upsetting thoughts or images that keep coming back. It also causes the need to repeat actions over and over. Clomipramine can help control these symptoms.

haloperidol

Haloperidol is used to manage symptoms of psychotic disorders. It can also control tics and vocal sounds in people with Tourette's Disorder. In children, it can treat severe behavior problems like being combative or overly excitable when other treatments haven't worked. It can also be used short-term for hyperactive children with impulsivity and difficulty paying attention.

How It Works
clomipramine

Clomipramine is a type of antidepressant. It works by increasing the amount of certain chemicals in the brain. These chemicals help regulate mood and reduce OCD symptoms.

haloperidol

Haloperidol works by changing the effect of certain natural chemicals in the brain. These chemicals, called neurotransmitters, affect mood and behavior. By blocking dopamine, haloperidol helps to reduce psychotic symptoms.

Common Side Effects
clomipramine
  • Dry mouth
  • Constipation
  • Nausea
  • Upset stomach
  • Sleepiness
haloperidol
  • Muscle stiffness
  • Shaking
  • Slow movement
  • Restlessness
  • Changes in heart rhythm
FAERS Reports
clomipramine
  • Interaction with another medicine 226
  • Sleepiness 203
  • Falling down 202
  • Shaking 185
  • Feeling sick to your stomach 173
haloperidol
  • The medicine is interacting with another medicine 1,663
  • A rare, life-threatening reaction to the drug 1,577
  • Weight gain 1,216
  • Movement problems 1,200
  • Poisoning from different substances 999
Serious Warnings
clomipramine

Antidepressants may increase the risk of suicidal thoughts or actions in children, teens, and young adults. Watch closely for worsening mood or unusual behavior. Clomipramine is only approved for OCD in children.

haloperidol

Haloperidol may increase the risk of death in elderly patients with dementia-related psychosis. Haloperidol is not approved to treat dementia-related psychosis.

Pregnancy
clomipramine

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Clomipramine may harm your unborn baby. It can also pass into breast milk, so talk to your doctor about breastfeeding.

haloperidol

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Haloperidol may cause side effects in newborns if taken during pregnancy. Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of taking haloperidol while breastfeeding.

Also Compare, Nearby Drugs

How to Read This clomipramine vs haloperidol Comparison

clomipramine is classified in the Tricyclic Antidepressant (TCA) drug class, while haloperidol sits within the Typical Antipsychotic class. Drugs from different classes work through distinct mechanisms, so a head-to-head comparison illustrates trade-offs rather than equivalence. 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, clomipramine has 989 submissions while haloperidol has 6,655. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume, not per-patient risk, so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. These two drugs have a known minor interaction flagged in FDA labeling, attributed to haloperidol can slow down how your body processes clomipramine. this leads to higher amounts of the drug in your blood, which can increase side effects.. 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 clomipramine and haloperidol - 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.