Two medicines, side by side
Risperidone vs haloperidol
Risperidone and haloperidol are both labeled for schizophrenia. Drugs@FDA records approvals of risperidone since 1993 and of haloperidol since 1967. Pharmacies paid $0.0368 per risperidone 0.25 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, risperidone is an atypical antipsychotic and haloperidol a typical antipsychotic.
Check it at the source: the risperidone FDA label on DailyMed (effective May 28, 2026); the haloperidol FDA label on DailyMed (effective April 23, 2026).
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
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 (Risperidone label of May 28, 2026, Haloperidol label of April 23, 2026); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do risperidone and haloperidol differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, risperidone is an atypical antipsychotic and haloperidol a typical antipsychotic.
Both labels carry a boxed warning; the records quote them.
Generics: risperidone since 2008; haloperidol since 1986 (Drugs@FDA).
| Risperidone | Haloperidol | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Bipolar disorder, Schizophrenia | Schizophrenia |
| Pharmacologic class | Atypical Antipsychotic | Typical Antipsychotic |
| How it works (label) | 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. | n/a |
| Half-life (label) | The apparent half-life of risperidone was 3 hours (CV=30%) in extensive metabolizers and 20 hours (CV=40%) in poor metabolizers. | n/a |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | December 29, 1993 | April 12, 1967 |
| First generic approved | June 30, 2008 | June 10, 1986 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 37 labelers | 41 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.0368 per tablet (Risperidone 0.25 mg tablet) | $15.60 per mL (Haloperidol dec 100 mg/mL vial) |
| 12-month price change | -13% | no change |
| Boxed warning | Yes | Yes |
| Shortage now | No current entry | A presentation being discontinued |
| Recalls recorded | 5 | 18 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 131,095 | 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 risperidone
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions