Bupropion vs Sertraline: what is the difference?
Sertraline is an SSRI that acts on serotonin, while bupropion acts on dopamine and norepinephrine and leaves serotonin essentially alone.
Sources and notes
- The sentence under the titlefrom sourceMoleculeFinder comparison notesThe pair's answer line.
- The two drawingscomputedMoleculeFinder rule (RDKit MCS)Each molecule's own drawing, as its page shows it. The common core, 7 of 20 atoms, is too small to align on.
Side by side
| Bupropion | Sertraline | |
|---|---|---|
| Molecular weightCalculated PubChem | 239.74 g/molC13H18ClNO | 306.2 g/molC17H17Cl2N |
| Hydrogen-bond donorsCalculated PubChem | 1 | 1 |
| FamilyEditorial MoleculeFinder curated | Antidepressants | SSRIs |
| Everyday groupEditorial MoleculeFinder curated | Prescription medicine | Prescription medicine |
| Chemical groupsCalculated Found by rule (RDKit) | Amines, Aromatics, Ketones, Halogenated | Amines, Aromatics, Halogenated |
| Hazard labelReported HSDB via PubChem; ECHA via PubChem | Warning | Warning |
| The supplier-filed hazard label's signal word, not a statement about ordinary use. | ||
| Oral LD50Measured HSDB via PubChem | 600 mg/kgpure bupropion, rat, oral | Not recorded |
| A single acute animal measure. It ranks nothing about human safety. | ||
Sources and notes
- Molecular weightcomputedPubChemComputed from the structure; the formula is under each weight.
- Hydrogen-bond donorscomputedPubChemThe hydrogens on nitrogen or oxygen that each molecule can lend to a hydrogen bond, counted from its structure.
- Familyfrom sourceMoleculeFinder curated
- Everyday groupfrom sourceMoleculeFinder curated
- Chemical groupscomputedFound by rule (RDKit)Each group is found in the structure by a chemical pattern.
- Hazard labelfrom sourceHSDB via PubChem; ECHA via PubChem
- Oral LD50from sourceHSDB via PubChem
- ECHAfrom sourceAttributionSource: European Chemicals Agency, echa.europa.eu.
- Identifiersfrom sourcePubChemPubChem CID 444 (Bupropion) and 68617 (Sertraline).
In more detail
These two are both antidepressants and they work on entirely different neurotransmitters. Sertraline is an SSRI and acts on serotonin; bupropion acts on dopamine and norepinephrine reuptake and leaves serotonin essentially alone. That difference drives most of what separates them in practice: bupropion does not carry the sexual side effects or the weight gain associated with SSRIs, and it is activating rather than calming, while it does lower the seizure threshold in a way SSRIs do not. Bupropion is also sold under a second name as a smoking cessation aid, which sertraline is not. Bupropion is much the smaller molecule at 239.74 against 306.2.
Sources and notes
- The paragraphfrom sourceMoleculeFinder comparison notes
Questions
- What is the difference between Bupropion and Sertraline?
- Sertraline is an SSRI that acts on serotonin, while bupropion acts on dopamine and norepinephrine and leaves serotonin essentially alone.
- Is Bupropion bigger than Sertraline?
- Sertraline is the heavier molecule, 306.2 g/mol against 239.74 g/mol for Bupropion. Bupropion is C13H18ClNO and Sertraline is C17H17Cl2N.
Sources and notes
- The answersfrom sourceMoleculeFinderThe first is the pair's answer line; the others are read off the table above.