Celecoxib vs Ibuprofen: what is the difference?
Ibuprofen blocks COX-1 and COX-2 about equally, while celecoxib was designed to hit COX-2 and largely spare COX-1, which maintains the stomach lining.
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 26 atoms, is too small to align on.
Side by side
| Celecoxib | Ibuprofen | |
|---|---|---|
| Molecular weightCalculated PubChem | 381.4 g/molC17H14F3N3O2S | 206.28 g/molC13H18O2 |
| Hydrogen-bond donorsCalculated PubChem | 1 | 1 |
| Half-life in the bodyEditorial MoleculeFinder curated | Not recorded | about 2 h |
| Where each turns upEditorial MoleculeFinder food and product lists | Not on our lists |
|
| Also sold asEditorial MoleculeFinder curated | Not recorded | Advil, Motrin, Nurofen |
| FamilyEditorial MoleculeFinder curated | NSAIDs | Over-the-counter medicines, NSAIDs, Non-opioid painkillers |
| Everyday groupEditorial MoleculeFinder curated | Prescription medicine | OTC medicine |
| Chemical groupsCalculated Found by rule (RDKit) | Amines, Aromatics, Halogenated | Carboxylic Acids, Aromatics |
| Hazard labelReported ECHA, HSDB via PubChem; ECHA via PubChem | Danger | Warning |
| The supplier-filed hazard label's signal word, not a statement about ordinary use. | ||
| Oral LD50Measured HSDB via PubChem | Not recorded | 636 mg/kgpure ibuprofen, rat, oral |
| 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.
- Half-life in the bodyfrom sourceMoleculeFinder curatedIn a typical adult: the time the body takes to clear half of it.
- Where each turns upfrom sourceMoleculeFinder food and product listsEach amount is an editorial figure from our lists, not a measurement of any one product. Each mark is set by hand on the list, never inferred.
- Also sold asfrom sourceMoleculeFinder curated
- 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 sourceECHA, HSDB via PubChem; ECHA via PubChem
- Oral LD50from sourceHSDB via PubChem
- ECHAfrom sourceAttributionSource: European Chemicals Agency, echa.europa.eu.
- Identifiersfrom sourcePubChemPubChem CID 2662 (Celecoxib) and 3672 (Ibuprofen).
In more detail
Both are NSAIDs, but they aim at different halves of the same enzyme family. Ibuprofen blocks COX-1 and COX-2 more or less equally; celecoxib was designed to hit COX-2 while largely sparing COX-1, which is the enzyme that maintains the stomach lining and normal platelet function. That selectivity is the entire reason celecoxib exists, and it shows in the structure: a sulfonamide and a trifluoromethyl group on a pyrazole core, nothing like ibuprofen's small propionic acid. Celecoxib is prescription only and ibuprofen is sold over the counter, which is the difference a shopper sees. It is also nearly twice the weight, 381.4 against 206.28.
Sources and notes
- The paragraphfrom sourceMoleculeFinder comparison notes
Questions
- What is the difference between Celecoxib and Ibuprofen?
- Ibuprofen blocks COX-1 and COX-2 about equally, while celecoxib was designed to hit COX-2 and largely spare COX-1, which maintains the stomach lining.
- Is Celecoxib bigger than Ibuprofen?
- Celecoxib is the heavier molecule, 381.4 g/mol against 206.28 g/mol for Ibuprofen. Celecoxib is C17H14F3N3O2S and Ibuprofen is C13H18O2.
Sources and notes
- The answersfrom sourceMoleculeFinderThe first is the pair's answer line; the others are read off the table above.