Escitalopram vs Citalopram: what is the difference?
Citalopram is a mix of two mirror-image forms and escitalopram is the active one isolated, so half the amount does roughly the same work.
The same atoms; escitalopram is one mirror-image form, citalopram a mix of both.
Sources and notes
- The sentence under the titlefrom sourceMoleculeFinder comparison notesThe pair's answer line.
- The two drawingscomputedMoleculeFinder rule (RDKit MCS)Drawn the same way round on the skeleton they share; the amber marks where the two differ. Aligned; the same atoms, marked where their arrangement in space differs.
- The captionfrom sourceMoleculeFinder curated
- What is highlightedfrom sourceMoleculeFinder curatedOne line under each drawing, written from the atoms the amber marks.
- Structural similaritycomputedRDKit Morgan/Tanimoto1.00 of 1, a Morgan fingerprint Tanimoto coefficient. It measures shape, not effect.
Side by side
| Escitalopram | Citalopram | |
|---|---|---|
| Molecular weightCalculated PubChem | 324.4 g/molC20H21FN2O | 324.4 g/molC20H21FN2O |
| Hydrogen-bond donorsCalculated PubChem | 0 | 0 |
| FamilyEditorial MoleculeFinder curated | SSRIs | SSRIs |
| Everyday groupEditorial MoleculeFinder curated | Prescription medicine | Prescription medicine |
| Chemical groupsCalculated Found by rule (RDKit) | Aromatics, Ethers, Halogenated | Aromatics, Ethers, Halogenated |
| Hazard labelReported ECHA via PubChem | Warning | Warning |
| 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 via PubChem
- ECHAfrom sourceAttributionSource: European Chemicals Agency, echa.europa.eu.
- Identifiersfrom sourcePubChemPubChem CID 146570 (Escitalopram) and 2771 (Citalopram).
In more detail
The two forms are mirror images of one molecule. The inactive half does not simply sit there: it appears to blunt the active half slightly, which is the argument for separating them. Everything else is identical, same formula C20H21FN2O, same weight of 324.4, same serotonin transporter. Half the amount of escitalopram does roughly what a full amount of citalopram does, which is why the numbers on the two prescriptions look different for what is chemically the same substance. Citalopram carries a stronger warning about heart rhythm at higher amounts than escitalopram does.
Sources and notes
- The paragraphfrom sourceMoleculeFinder comparison notes
Questions
- What is the difference between Escitalopram and Citalopram?
- Citalopram is a mix of two mirror-image forms and escitalopram is the active one isolated, so half the amount does roughly the same work.
- Do Escitalopram and Citalopram have the same formula?
- Yes. Both are C20H21FN2O at 324.4 g/mol. They are isomers: the same atoms arranged differently, which is why they behave differently despite weighing the same.
Sources and notes
- The answersfrom sourceMoleculeFinderThe first is the pair's answer line; the others are read off the table above.