Cerebrolysin
Cerebrolysin
Mixture of low-molecular-weight neuropeptides and amino acids researched for stroke and cognitive recovery.
Key takeaways
- Pig-brain peptide and amino-acid mixture approved in parts of Europe and Asia, not the US.
- Largest stroke RCT (CASTA) and a Cochrane review found no clear benefit.
- Reported community protocol: 5–10 mL IM or IV, several times weekly for 4–6 weeks.
- Plotter half-life (~1 hour) and bioavailability (40%) are estimates for a fragment mixture.
Reported dosing protocols
Protocols reported in research literature and clinic/community use — informational context, not a dosing recommendation.
| Use case | Dose | Route | Frequency | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acute ischemic stroke (clinical trial) | 30–50 mL | IV infusion | Once daily | 10–21 days |
| Cognitive / nootropic (community) | 5–10 mL | IM or IV | 3–5× weekly | 4–6 weeks |
Pharmacokinetic summary
- Model tier
- Simple (t½ + F, Tmax estimated)
- Half-life
- 58 min
- Bioavailability
- 40%
- Typical dose
- 1–10 mg
Frequently asked questions
Is cerebrolysin FDA-approved?
No. It's an approved drug in parts of Europe and Asia for stroke, traumatic brain injury, and dementia, but it has no US approval and isn't used in most Western health systems.
Does cerebrolysin help stroke recovery?
The best evidence says no. The CASTA randomized trial found no significant benefit in acute ischemic stroke, and a Cochrane review concluded the evidence doesn't support routine use. Positive results come from older or smaller trials.
Can cerebrolysin be taken orally?
There's no meaningful oral use. Clinical trials dosed it by IV infusion, and reported community protocols use intramuscular or intravenous injection.
References
- Estimated (peptide blend) — Pig-brain hydrolysate of neuropeptides; mixture of short-lived fragments.
- Heiss et al., Stroke 2012 — CASTA trial — Double-blind, placebo-controlled RCT in acute ischemic stroke; no significant benefit.
- Ziganshina et al., Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2017 — Systematic review: evidence does not support routine cerebrolysin use in acute ischemic stroke.
Related compounds
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Recombinant growth hormone; supports lipolysis, recovery, IGF-1 elevation.
MGF (Mechano Growth Factor)
IGF-1 splice variant produced in response to mechanical load; involved in muscle repair signaling.
PEG-MGF (Pegylated MGF)
Pegylated mechano growth factor with extended half-life versus native MGF; used for recovery research.
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