Two medicines, side by side
Iloperidone vs risperidone
Iloperidone and risperidone are both labeled for bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. Drugs@FDA records approvals of iloperidone since 2009 and of risperidone since 1993. Pharmacies paid $60.01 per Fanapt 12 mg tablet and $0.0368 per risperidone 0.25 mg tablet (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ and one is a brand and one a generic, so the two prices are not like for like. How each works, in its label's words: Iloperidone, “The mechanism of action of iloperidone in schizophrenia and bipolar I disorder is unknown.”; Risperidone, “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.”
Check it at the source: the iloperidone FDA label on DailyMed (effective May 6, 2026); the risperidone FDA label on DailyMed (effective May 28, 2026).
Highlights of the iloperidone record
Iloperidone (Fanapt) · label of May 6, 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. FANAPT 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: indicationsFANAPT ® is indicated for: Treatment of schizophrenia in adults [see Clinical Studies (14.1) ]. Acute treatment of manic or mixed episodes associated with bipolar I disorder in adults [see Clinical Studies (14.2) ]. FANAPT is an atypical antipsychotic indicated for: Treatment of schizophrenia in adults. ( 1 , 14.1 ) Acute treatment of manic or mixed episodes associated with bipolar I disorder in adults.
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- May 6, 2009
- Generic labelers
- 1 labeler
- Pharmacy cost
- $60.01 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 0
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 (Iloperidone label of May 6, 2026, Risperidone label of May 28, 2026); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do iloperidone and risperidone differ on the record?
How each works, in its label's words: Iloperidone, “The mechanism of action of iloperidone in schizophrenia and bipolar I disorder is unknown.”; Risperidone, “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.”
Both are in FDA's class atypical antipsychotics.
Both labels carry a boxed warning; the records quote them.
Generics: iloperidone since 2016; risperidone since 2008 (Drugs@FDA).
| Iloperidone | Risperidone | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Schizophrenia, Bipolar disorder | Bipolar disorder, Schizophrenia |
| Pharmacologic class | Atypical Antipsychotic | Atypical Antipsychotic |
| How it works (label) | The mechanism of action of iloperidone in schizophrenia and bipolar I disorder is unknown. However, the efficacy of iloperidone could be mediated through a combination of dopamine type 2 (D 2 ) and serotonin type 2 (5-HT 2 ) antagonism. | 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) | May 6, 2009 | December 29, 1993 |
| First generic approved | November 28, 2016 | June 30, 2008 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 1 labeler | 37 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $60.01 per tablet (Fanapt 12 mg tablet) | $0.0368 per tablet (Risperidone 0.25 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | +4% | -13% |
| Boxed warning | Yes | Yes |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 0 | 5 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 1,470 | 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)
Do their labels mention each other?
Iloperidone label, warnings and precautionsPatients with Dementia-Related Psychosis In placebo-controlled trials in elderly subjects with dementia, patients randomized to risperidone, aripiprazole, and olanzapine had a higher incidence of stroke and transient ischemic attack, including fatal stroke.
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA
What next?
- Alternatives to iloperidone
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions