There are three commonly seen Tianeptine
forms on the market: Tianeptine acid,
tianeptine sodium, and tianeptine sulfate.
Among them, tianeptine acid is the least
popular and cheapest type. Maybe tianeptine
free acid only exists because it can be
made into various tianeptine salts such as
tianeptine hydrochloride, tianeptine
tosylate, tianeptine phosphate, etc. So
here we only list the difference between
tianeptine sodium and tianeptine sulfate
(also written as tianeptine sulphate).
1.
Their age. (Tianeptine Sodium is older than
sulfate)
Tianeptine sodium is the first to be widely
used for medical purposes for depression
since 1960. Tianeptine sulfate is
later-developed and improved versions to
replace tianeptine sodium.
2.
Stability. (tianeptine sulfate is more
stable than tianeptine sodium)
Both tianeptine sodium and sulphate are
stable when protected from light and air.
But sodium salt is very hygroscopic to get
chunky. While tianeptine sulfate salt
contains monohydrate with itself, it is
more stable when exposed to air for a short
period.
3.
Water solubility uniformity. (Tianeptine
sulfate has better uniformity than
sodium)
In water solutions PH ranged 1~6, the
soluble amount of tianeptine sulphae in
water is very average. Its solubility curve
is very smooth, the value gets slightly
smaller as the PH goes up. While sodium
salt has a sudden drop when PH goes from 1
to 6. As the stomach fluid PH ranges from
1.5~3.5 and sure you will choose sulphate
to maintain a stable solubility.
4.
Taste. (Tianeptine sulfate is not bitter,
sodium is)
The bitterness of tianeptine sodium can
linger in your mouth for one month if you
take the API directly. While tianeptine
sulphate is much better on the taste, no
such strong bitterness at all.
That’s why you only see tianeptine sodium
capsules but rarely see any tianeptine
sodium tablets on the market.
5.
Half-life and Bioavailability. (Tianeptine
sulfate lasts longer than sodium)
According to researches and online reviews,
tianeptine sulphate performs better on both
half-life and bioavailability. Sulphate is
easier to absorb and its effect lasts
longer, while dosing sodium can go to 6~7
times daily to obtain the same effect as
sulphate.
6.
Price. (Tianeptine Sulfate is 20% higher
than sodium)
As tianeptine sulfate has better
performance almost on any aspect than
tianeptine sodium and the production
process is a little more complicated, its
price is also a little higher, which does
make sense.