ldappasswd command line options

I am trying to use the ldappasswd -s option to set a users password but if I use certain characters i.e. '$&() it won't run the command because of the special characters, if I enclose the whole password in double quotes it at least accepts the command but it doesn't change the password correctly because I can't login using the new password. If I run the ldappasswd -S so it prompts and I manually enter the same password it sets it correctly and I can then login with the new password. What is the difference on how the -s and -S sets the password. I need to use the -s for a webpage that I have setting the password. Thank you