Cerebrolysin
A mix of small peptides and amino acids from pig brain, said to act like the brain’s own growth factors.
Approved in some countries (e.g. Austria, Russia, China) for stroke, brain injury and dementia; not FDA-approved.
Used for
- Recovery after stroke or brain injury
- Dementia (where approved)
- Cognition (off-label)
How it works
Contains fragments that mimic neurotrophic factors such as BDNF and CNTF, which support neuron survival and repair. It is given by injection because it is not absorbed by mouth.
What the research shows
- A 2023 Cochrane review of 7 trials (1,773 people with acute stroke): no effect on deaths, and possibly more non-fatal serious side effects.
- A 2025 pilot trial (123 people) found better recovery of speech when it was added to speech therapy after stroke.
- No trials in healthy people for cognition.
Dosing
Dosing isn’t listed on the public site. In the app, each published option is shown with its source (a drug label, a clinical guideline, a trial or community reports) and can be turned into a protocol you review.
Work out the units to draw for your vial →Side effects
- Dizziness, headache
- Agitation or insomnia
- Injection-site pain (it is a large volume)
- Sweating, nausea
Cautions
- Not with epilepsy (can lower the seizure threshold) or severe kidney disease.
- Made from animal tissue: allergy is possible.
- The best review of the best-studied use (stroke) found no benefit on survival.
Storage
Unmixed powder: freezer or fridge, away from light.
Once mixed with bacteriostatic water: fridge; the common rule is to use it within 28 days.
There is no label or published stability data for this one, so treat these as habits, not limits.
Reference only, not medical advice. Written for this app from the cited research. Doses marked community-reported are not from trials.