What is benperidol used for?

Primary Use: Treating Schizophrenia and Psychotic Disorders

Benperidol is an antipsychotic medication primarily used for treating schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders. It belongs to the butyrophenone class of drugs, which work by blocking dopamine receptors in the brain, thereby reducing psychotic symptoms such as hallucinations, delusions, and disorganized thinking.

Clinical Studies

Numerous studies have investigated the efficacy of benperidol in treating schizophrenia and psychotic disorders:

Study 1: Comparison with Haloperidol

A study by Van Praag et al. (1981) compared the efficacy of benperidol with haloperidol, another butyrophenone antipsychotic, in 60 patients with schizophrenia. The results showed that both drugs were effective in reducing psychotic symptoms, with no significant difference between the two.

Study 2: Systematic Review of Benperidol’s Effectiveness

A systematic review by Leucht et al. (2002) examined the effectiveness of benperidol in comparison to other antipsychotic medications in the treatment of schizophrenia. The review concluded that benperidol was as effective as other antipsychotics, with a similar side effect profile.

In summary, benperidol is mainly used for treating schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders. Clinical studies have demonstrated its effectiveness in managing psychotic symptoms, with comparable efficacy to other antipsychotic medications.


There are various forms of drugs available, such as tablets or liquids, and each may have a separate patient information leaflet (PIL) for different doses. It is important to refer to the PIL for the specific form and dose of the drug that you have been prescribed.

You can search for further information and PILs on websites such as: