SHEET /vs/atenolol-vs-propranolol · COMPARISON
Atenolol vs Propranolol: what is the difference?
How they differ
Propranolol was the first beta blocker and blocks both the beta-1 receptors of the heart and the beta-2 receptors of the lungs and blood vessels, while atenolol was designed to prefer beta-1. Atenolol is also far more water-soluble, so it barely crosses into the brain, while propranolol enters readily, which is part of why propranolol is used for tremor, migraine prevention and the physical side of stage fright. Their formulas are C14H22N2O3 at 266.3 and C16H21NO2 at 259.3. Atenolol leaves the body mostly unchanged through the kidneys, while propranolol is processed by the liver. Both are prescription medicines, sold as Tenormin and Inderal.
Side by side
| Atenolol | Propranolol | |
|---|---|---|
| Formula | C14H22N2O3 | C16H21NO2 |
| Molecular weight | 266.34 g/mol | 259.34 g/mol |
| Family | Beta blockers | Beta blockers |
| Everyday group | Prescription medicine | Prescription medicine |
| Functional groups | Alcohols, Amines, Aromatics, Amides, Ethers | Alcohols, Amines, Aromatics, Ethers |
| GHS signal wordThe supplier-filed hazard label, not a statement about ordinary use. | Danger | Warning |
| Oral LD50A single acute animal measure. It ranks nothing about human safety. | 3,000 mg/kg (oral, rat) | not recorded |
| CAS number | 29122-68-7 | 525-66-6 |
| PubChem CID | 2249 | 4946 |
Structural similarity 0.44 of 1, computed as a Morgan fingerprint Tanimoto coefficient. It measures shape, not effect.
Common questions
- What is the difference between Atenolol and Propranolol?
- Propranolol was the first beta blocker and blocks both the beta-1 receptors of the heart and the beta-2 receptors of the lungs and blood vessels, while atenolol was designed to prefer beta-1. Atenolol is also far more water-soluble, so it barely crosses into the brain, while propranolol enters readily, which is part of why propranolol is used for tremor, migraine prevention and the physical side of stage fright. Their formulas are C14H22N2O3 at 266.3 and C16H21NO2 at 259.3.
- Is Atenolol bigger than Propranolol?
- Atenolol is the heavier molecule, 266.34 g/mol against 259.34 g/mol for Propranolol. Atenolol is C14H22N2O3 and Propranolol is C16H21NO2.
Read the full records: Atenolol and Propranolol.