Cerebrolysin

What people use it for

• Stroke recovery (approved in some countries)
• Traumatic brain injury and dementia (approved in some countries)
• Cognition (popular use)

What Cerebrolysin does in the body

A mixture of small peptides and amino acids from purified pig brain protein. It is proposed to act like the brain's own growth factors, supporting nerve-cell survival and repair.

Strength of evidence

Mixed: some trials suggest benefits after stroke or brain injury, but systematic reviews have not found clear evidence of improved recovery.

Look up the evidence

• Reviews on PubMed: Summaries of the published research
• Clinical trials on PubMed: Published studies in people
• ClinicalTrials.gov: Registered trials, past and ongoing
• Prescribing information (DailyMed, US): Official US label
• Patient leaflets (emc, UK): Official UK product information

Live searches of official databases. New to the terms? See the glossary.

Reported side effects & risks

• Dizziness, headache
• Agitation or sleep problems
• Allergic reactions
• Not for people with epilepsy or severe kidney problems

Who should avoid it or take extra care

• Epilepsy
• Severe kidney problems
• Allergy to pork products
• Pregnant or breastfeeding

Not a complete list. Check with a doctor or pharmacist about your own health and medicines.

Regulatory status

Approved in a number of countries in Europe and Asia; not approved in the US or UK.

How it's taken

Route: Injection into a vein or muscle, often as a course

How long it lasts (half-life): Not well defined (it is a mixture)

Mixing guides

How much water to add and what each syringe mark holds, worked out for your own dose:

• 60 mg vial