Duloxetine vs Venlafaxine: what is the difference?
Duloxetine and venlafaxine are both SNRIs, but venlafaxine acts mostly on serotonin at lower amounts while duloxetine hits both transmitters from the start.
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, 8 of 21 atoms, is too small to align on.
Side by side
| Duloxetine | Venlafaxine | |
|---|---|---|
| Molecular weightCalculated PubChem | 297.4 g/molC18H19NOS | 277.4 g/molC17H27NO2 |
| Hydrogen-bond donorsCalculated PubChem | 1 | 1 |
| FamilyEditorial MoleculeFinder curated | SNRIs | SNRIs |
| Everyday groupEditorial MoleculeFinder curated | Prescription medicine | Prescription medicine |
| Chemical groupsCalculated Found by rule (RDKit) | Amines, Aromatics, Ethers | Alcohols, Aromatics, Ethers |
| Hazard labelReported ECHA, HSDB via PubChem; ECHA via PubChem | Danger | Danger |
| The supplier-filed hazard label's signal word, not a statement about ordinary use. | ||
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 sourceECHA, HSDB via PubChem; ECHA via PubChem
- ECHAfrom sourceAttributionSource: European Chemicals Agency, echa.europa.eu.
- Identifiersfrom sourcePubChemPubChem CID 60835 (Duloxetine) and 5656 (Venlafaxine).
In more detail
Both block the reuptake of serotonin and norepinephrine rather than serotonin alone. Venlafaxine is strongly serotonergic at lower amounts and only recruits norepinephrine as the amount rises, so its character changes across its range. Duloxetine hits both from the start, which is part of why it is used for nerve pain and fibromyalgia as well as for depression. Venlafaxine has a notably short half-life and produces a well-known discontinuation syndrome when stopped abruptly; duloxetine is somewhat gentler on that front. Structurally duloxetine carries a thiophene ring and a naphthalene ether at 297.4, and venlafaxine is a simpler phenol ether at 277.4.
Sources and notes
- The paragraphfrom sourceMoleculeFinder comparison notes
Questions
- What is the difference between Duloxetine and Venlafaxine?
- Duloxetine and venlafaxine are both SNRIs, but venlafaxine acts mostly on serotonin at lower amounts while duloxetine hits both transmitters from the start.
- Is Duloxetine bigger than Venlafaxine?
- Duloxetine is the heavier molecule, 297.4 g/mol against 277.4 g/mol for Venlafaxine. Duloxetine is C18H19NOS and Venlafaxine is C17H27NO2.
Sources and notes
- The answersfrom sourceMoleculeFinderThe first is the pair's answer line; the others are read off the table above.