Drug Comparison

For educational purposes only — a decision-support tool, not a substitute for clinical judgment.

Side-by-side rubric across 96 psychiatric medications. Every rating traces to a verbatim primary-source quote — click any cell to see it.

How to read this tool
Rating scale
Favorable / lower than class baseline
± Minimal / equivocal
+ Low / uncommon
++ Moderate / common
+++ High / very common
++++ Very high / class-outlier
Frequency vs severity
F = frequency, S = severity. Each gets its own pill colored on the same traffic-light scale: greenblueyelloworangered. Click any cell for incidence percentages and NNH.
Evidence tier
A Network meta-analysis / RCT / FDA label
B Cohort / registry / pooled label data
C Expert review / textbook / case series
Sourcing
Click any cell to see the verbatim source quote and citation. Missing data shows n/a.
Data depth
++ Graded — frequency + severity, primary-source traces
+ FDA label — §6 frequency only (dashed border). Click for sub-types.
  Blank — not yet checked (not “absent”)
±++++++++++ABCF = frequency · S = severity · Dashed border = FDA label only · Click cell for details
1 drug selected — Perphenazine(click to collapse)
1/4 selected
Perphenazine
Trilafon
First-Generation Antipsychotic
FDA-approved indications
  • Schizophrenia
  • Severe nausea and vomiting
MechanismPhenothiazine Antipsychotic
Half-life9 to 12 hours
Next:Taper Perphenazine
Decision GuideWhen to pick each / when to consider an alternative
Perphenazine
Consider when
  • Mid-potency FGA with balanced EPS/sedation profile — intermediate D2 affinity between haloperidol and chlorpromazine
  • CATIE trial evidence — only FGA included in landmark CATIE trial; comparable effectiveness to SGAs for chronic schizophrenia
  • Cost-effective antipsychotic — generic with decades of use; fraction of brand SGA cost
  • Nausea/vomiting — FDA-approved antiemetic indication; useful in patients needing both antipsychotic and antiemetic
  • +1 more
Consider an alternative when
  • EPS-vulnerable patient — mid-potency still carries meaningful EPS risk; higher than most SGAs
  • Tardive dyskinesia concern with long-term use — FGA TD risk higher than SGAs; monitoring essential
  • Metabolic monitoring not in place — CATIE showed perphenazine had metabolic effects comparable to some SGAs; not metabolically clean
  • Hyperprolactinemia concern — dose-dependent prolactin elevation; less than haloperidol but more than SGAs
  • +1 more
Axis
Perphenazine
FGA
Boxed Warnings
Agranulocytosis / severe neutropenia
Cerebrovascular events (elderly w/ dementia)
Neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS)
CNS
Sedation / somnolence
Activation / insomnia
Akathisia / EPS
Tardive dyskinesia
Seizure risk
Metabolic
Weight gain
Endocrine
Prolactin elevation
Autonomic
Anticholinergic burden
Orthostatic hypotension
Cardiac
QTc prolongation
Heart rate / tachycardia
GI
Nausea / GI (general)
Hepatic
Liver enzymes / hepatotoxicity
Dermatologic
Photosensitivity / skin pigmentation
Sexual
Sexual dysfunction
Interactions
CYP interactions / DDI profile
Safety
Overdose toxicity
Pregnancy
Teratogenicity
Lactation / breastfeeding safety

Safety: Every rating traces to a verbatim primary-source quote. Click any cell to audit. Stubs are disabled until calibrated. This tool surfaces published evidence — it does not replace clinical judgment.