Sertraline vs Fluoxetine: what is the difference?
Sertraline and fluoxetine are both SSRIs, but fluoxetine and its active metabolite linger for a week or more while sertraline clears in a day or two.
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, 6 of 22 atoms, is too small to align on.
Side by side
| Sertraline | Fluoxetine | |
|---|---|---|
| Molecular weightCalculated PubChem | 306.2 g/molC17H17Cl2N | 309.33 g/molC17H18F3NO |
| Hydrogen-bond donorsCalculated PubChem | 1 | 1 |
| FamilyEditorial MoleculeFinder curated | SSRIs | SSRIs |
| Everyday groupEditorial MoleculeFinder curated | Prescription medicine | Prescription medicine |
| Chemical groupsCalculated Found by rule (RDKit) | Amines, Aromatics, Halogenated | Amines, Aromatics, Ethers, Halogenated |
| Hazard labelReported ECHA via PubChem | Warning | 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 via PubChem
- ECHAfrom sourceAttributionSource: European Chemicals Agency, echa.europa.eu.
- Identifiersfrom sourcePubChemPubChem CID 68617 (Sertraline) and 3386 (Fluoxetine).
In more detail
Both block the serotonin transporter. Fluoxetine carries a trifluoromethyl group and produces an active metabolite, norfluoxetine, that persists for a week or more, so its level falls very slowly when it stops. Sertraline carries two chlorines on a naphthalene core instead and clears in a day or two. That difference shapes how each behaves at the edges: fluoxetine is the more forgiving of a missed dose and the harder to stop cleanly, sertraline the reverse. Fluoxetine was the first SSRI approved in the United States, in 1987 as Prozac, and sertraline followed as Zoloft in 1991.
Sources and notes
- The paragraphfrom sourceMoleculeFinder comparison notes
Questions
- What is the difference between Sertraline and Fluoxetine?
- Sertraline and fluoxetine are both SSRIs, but fluoxetine and its active metabolite linger for a week or more while sertraline clears in a day or two.
- Is Sertraline bigger than Fluoxetine?
- Fluoxetine is the heavier molecule, 309.33 g/mol against 306.2 g/mol for Sertraline. Sertraline is C17H17Cl2N and Fluoxetine is C17H18F3NO.
Sources and notes
- The answersfrom sourceMoleculeFinderThe first is the pair's answer line; the others are read off the table above.