Haldol vs. Abilify

Haldol (haloperidol) and Abilify (aripiprazole) are antipsychotic drugs used to treat psychotic disorders like schizophrenia.

Haldol is also used to control motor (movement) and verbal (for example, Tourette's syndrome) tics and is used to treat severe behavior problems in children.

Abilify is also used to treat mania, depression, bipolar disorders, autistic disorder, and some irritable behavior disorders.

Side effects of Haldol and Abilify that are similar include nausea, vomiting, headache, dizziness, drowsiness, sleep problems (insomnia), anxiety, and blurred vision.

Side effects of Haldol that are different from Abilify include diarrhea, dry mouth, nervousness, spinning sensation, restlessness, skin rash, itching, spontaneous eye movements, mood changes, breast enlargement, irregular menstrual periods, loss of interest in sex, difficulty urinating or urinating less than usual, and occasional movement disorders.

Side effects of Abilify that are different from Haldol include weakness, lightheadedness, stomach upset, tiredness, excess saliva or drooling, choking or trouble swallowing, weight gain, drowsiness, and constipation.

Both Haldol and Abilify may interact with alcohol, other drugs that make you sleepy or slow your breathing (sleeping pills, narcotic pain medicines, prescription cough medicines, muscle relaxers, or medicines for anxiety or seizures), or antidepressants.

Haldol may also interact with cancer medicines, anti-malaria medications, heart rhythm medicines, or medicines to treat a psychiatric disorder.

Abilify may also interact with medications to treat high blood pressure or a heart condition, phenobarbital, rifabutin, rifampin, ketoconazole, itraconazole, or quinidine.

Do not stop using Haldol suddenly, or you could have unpleasant withdrawal symptoms.

Side effects of Haldol include:

• nausea,
• vomiting,
• diarrhea,
• dry mouth,
• nervousness,
• headache,
• dizziness,
• spinning sensation,
• drowsiness,
• sleep problems (insomnia),
• restlessness,
• anxiety,
• skin rash,
• itching,
• spontaneous eye movements,
• mood changes,
• breast enlargement,
• irregular menstrual periods,
• loss of interest in sex,
• blurred vision,
• difficulty urinating or urinating less than usual, and
• occasional movement disorders

Severe side effects of Haldol include:

• death in the elderly,
• prolongation of the QT heartbeat interval,
• tardive dyskinesia (involuntary movements), prolonged erection (hours),
• a symptom complex sometimes referred to as neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS) with fever,
• irregular heartbeats,
• mental status changes, and
• renal failure

Common side effects of Abilify include:

• dizziness
• lightheadedness
• drowsiness
• weakness
• lightheadedness
• nausea
• vomiting
• stomach upset
• tiredness
• excess saliva or drooling
• choking or trouble swallowing
• blurred vision
• headache
• anxiety
• weight gain
• drowsiness
• sleep problems (insomnia)
• constipation

Haldol (haloperidol) is an antipsychotic drug that decreases excitement in the brain. Haldol is used to treat psychotic disorders like schizophrenia, to control motor (movement) and verbal (for example, Tourette's syndrome) tics and is used to treat severe behavior problems in children.

Haldol is also used to treat or manage:

• Schizophrenia
• manic or mixed episodes that happen with bipolar I disorder
• major depressive disorder (MDD) when ABILIFY is used with antidepressant medicines
• irritability associated with autistic disorder
• Tourette's disorder

Haldol Injection is a prescription medicine used to treat:

• agitation associated with schizophrenia or bipolar mania

It is not known if Haldol is safe or effective in children:

• under 13 years of age with schizophrenia
• under 10 years of age with bipolar I disorder
• under 6 years of age with irritability associated with autistic disorder
• under 6 years of age with Tourette's disorder

Abilify is a prescription medicine used to treat a certain type of depression called Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). Abilify belongs to a class of medicines known as SNRIs (or serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors).

Abilify is also used to treat or manage:

• Schizophrenia
• manic or mixed episodes that happen with bipolar I disorder
• major depressive disorder (MDD) when ABILIFY is used with antidepressant medicines
• irritability associated with autistic disorder
• Tourette's disorder

Abilify Injection is a prescription medicine used to treat:

• agitation associated with schizophrenia or bipolar mania

It is not known if Abilify is safe or effective in children:

• under 13 years of age with schizophrenia
• under 10 years of age with bipolar I disorder
• under 6 years of age with irritability associated with autistic disorder
• under 6 years of age with Tourette's disorder

Haldol may interact with other drugs so the patient needs close observation or monitoring to determine if other side effects develop.

Do not take Abilify if you are allergic to aripiprazole or any of the ingredients in Abilify. See the end of this Medication Guide for a complete list of ingredients in Abilify.

Haldol (ziprasidone HCl) is available as capsules and Haldol (ziprasidone mesylate) is available as an injection for intramuscular use.

Haldol Capsules should be administered at an initial daily dose of 20 mg twice daily with food. For intramuscular dosing, the recommended dose of Haldol is 10 mg to 20 mg administered as required up to a maximum dose of 40 mg per day.

Take Abilify exactly as your healthcare provider tells you to take it. Do not change the dose or stop taking Abilify yourself.

• Abilify can be taken with or without food.
• Abilify tablets should be swallowed whole.
• If you miss a dose of Abilify, take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for the next dose, just skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the regular time. Do not take two doses of Abilify at the same time.
• If you have been prescribed Abilify Discmelt, take it as follows:
• Do not open the blister until ready to take the Discmelt tablet.
• To remove one Discmelt tablet, open the package and peel back the foil on the blister to expose the tablet.
• Do not push the tablet through the foil because this could damage the tablet.
• Immediately upon opening the blister, using dry hands, remove the tablet and place the entire bilify Discmelt Orally Disintegrating Tablet on the tongue.
• Tablet disintegration occurs rapidly in saliva. It is recommended that bilify Discmelt be taken without liquid. However, if needed, it can be taken with liquid.
• Do not attempt to split the Discmelt tablet.