Two medicines, side by side
Olanzapine vs haloperidol
Olanzapine and haloperidol are both labeled for schizophrenia. Drugs@FDA records approvals of olanzapine since 1996 and of haloperidol since 1967. Pharmacies paid $0.147 per olanzapine 20 mg tablet and $15.60 per mL (Haloperidol dec 100 mg/mL vial) (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like. In FDA's classes, olanzapine is an atypical antipsychotic and haloperidol a typical antipsychotic.
Check it at the source: the olanzapine FDA label on DailyMed (effective March 5, 2026); the haloperidol FDA label on DailyMed (effective April 23, 2026).
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
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 (Olanzapine label of March 5, 2026, Haloperidol label of April 23, 2026); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do olanzapine and haloperidol differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, olanzapine is an atypical antipsychotic and haloperidol a typical antipsychotic.
Both labels carry a boxed warning; the records quote them.
Generics: olanzapine since 2011; haloperidol since 1986 (Drugs@FDA).
| Olanzapine | Haloperidol | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Schizophrenia, Bipolar disorder, Depression | Schizophrenia |
| Pharmacologic class | Atypical Antipsychotic | Typical Antipsychotic |
| How it works (label) | 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. | n/a |
| Half-life (label) | 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). | n/a |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | September 30, 1996 | April 12, 1967 |
| First generic approved | October 24, 2011 | June 10, 1986 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 43 labelers | 41 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.147 per tablet (Olanzapine 20 mg tablet) | $15.60 per mL (Haloperidol dec 100 mg/mL vial) |
| 12-month price change | -5% | no change |
| Boxed warning | Yes | Yes |
| Shortage now | No current entry | A presentation being discontinued |
| Recalls recorded | 14 | 18 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 107,881 | 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)
What next?
- Alternatives to olanzapine
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions