Isotretinoin vs Tretinoin: what is the difference?
Isotretinoin and tretinoin share one formula and differ in one double bond; tretinoin is mostly used on skin and isotretinoin by mouth for severe acne.
The same atoms; the marked double bond is cis in isotretinoin and trans in tretinoin.
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; the amber marks where the two differ. The two shipped drawings (aligning them would draw a double bond the wrong way round); 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
| Isotretinoin | Tretinoin | |
|---|---|---|
| Molecular weightCalculated PubChem | 300.4 g/molC20H28O2 | 300.4 g/molC20H28O2 |
| Hydrogen-bond donorsCalculated PubChem | 1 | 1 |
| Where each turns upEditorial MoleculeFinder food and product lists | Not on our lists |
|
| FamilyEditorial MoleculeFinder curated | Retinoids | Retinoids |
| Everyday groupEditorial MoleculeFinder curated | Prescription medicine | Prescription medicine |
| Chemical groupsCalculated Found by rule (RDKit) | Carboxylic Acids | Carboxylic Acids |
| Hazard labelReported ECHA, HSDB via PubChem | Danger | Danger |
| The supplier-filed hazard label's signal word, not a statement about ordinary use. | ||
| Oral LD50Measured HSDB via PubChem | Not recorded | 1,960 mg/kgpure tretinoin, 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.
- 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.
- 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
- Oral LD50from sourceHSDB via PubChem
- ECHAfrom sourceAttributionSource: European Chemicals Agency, echa.europa.eu.
- Identifiersfrom sourcePubChemPubChem CID 5282379 (Isotretinoin) and 444795 (Tretinoin).
In more detail
The formula is C20H28O2 for both, and the weights are identical. Tretinoin is all-trans retinoic acid, the natural active form of vitamin A, used topically for acne and photoaging and given systemically for one type of leukaemia. Isotretinoin is the 13-cis isomer, used by mouth for severe acne, where it shrinks sebaceous glands in a way topical retinoids do not. Both are potent teratogens, which is why isotretinoin is dispensed under strict pregnancy-prevention programmes in the US and Europe. That is the practical meaning of the pair: the same atoms, one bond flipped, and two very different regulatory regimes.
Sources and notes
- The paragraphfrom sourceMoleculeFinder comparison notes
Questions
- What is the difference between Isotretinoin and Tretinoin?
- Isotretinoin and tretinoin share one formula and differ in one double bond; tretinoin is mostly used on skin and isotretinoin by mouth for severe acne.
- Do Isotretinoin and Tretinoin have the same formula?
- Yes. Both are C20H28O2 at 300.4 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.