Fluticasone propionate vs Budesonide: what is the difference?

How they differ

Fluticasone propionate and budesonide are corticosteroids made to work on the surface they are sprayed or inhaled onto, and both are sold for hay fever without a prescription in the United States, as Flonase and Rhinocort. Fluticasone carries three fluorine atoms and a sulfur, C25H31F3O5S at 500.6, where budesonide has neither, C25H34O6 at 430.5. Fluticasone is the more potent at the receptor. Most of either that is swallowed is broken down by the liver on its first pass, which keeps the amount reaching the rest of the body small. Budesonide also comes as a capsule for the gut in Crohn's disease, a form fluticasone does not have.

Side by side

Common questions

What is the difference between Fluticasone propionate and Budesonide?

Fluticasone propionate and budesonide are corticosteroids made to work on the surface they are sprayed or inhaled onto, and both are sold for hay fever without a prescription in the United States, as Flonase and Rhinocort. Fluticasone carries three fluorine atoms and a sulfur, C25H31F3O5S at 500.6, where budesonide has neither, C25H34O6 at 430.5. Fluticasone is the more potent at the receptor.

Is Fluticasone propionate bigger than Budesonide?

Fluticasone propionate is the heavier molecule, 500.6 g/mol against 430.5 g/mol for Budesonide. Fluticasone propionate is C25H31F3O5S and Budesonide is C25H34O6.