Centrophenoxine is a nootropic that doesn't get a lot of attention. It might not be as strong as modafinil or as popular as piracetam, but centrophenoxine can pack a powerful nootropic punch.

In this post, we're going to take a detailed look at centrophenoxine's benefits, safety, dosage, and other information. But before we do, let's first take an in-depth look at what centrophenoxine is.

What Is Centrophenoxine?

This is a cholinergic compound that experienced nootropic users often stack with other substances. They often report centrophenoxine (sometimes called meclofenoxate) to be mildly stimulating, improve memory, and boost overall cognitive functioning. And there is a growing body of research to support these claims.

In the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, and several other countries, centrophenoxine is sold legally as an over-the-counter (OTC) supplement. In Japan and some European countries including Germany, Austria, and Hungary, it's only available as a prescription medication.¹ In those countries, centrophenoxine is used to treat Alzheimer's Disease, senile dementia, and other conditions.

Nootropic users like centrophenoxine for a couple of reasons. First of all, it's a good choline source. The body uses choline to make acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter known to play a vital role in memory, learning, arousal, and muscle tone.² Secondly, centrophenoxine contains DMAE. Dimethylethanolamine, aka DMAE, is known to protect neurons (brain cells), have antioxidant properties, and improve overall brain health.³ In addition to anecdotal reports from around the world, there is also some scientific evidence to support centrophenoxine's use as a nootropic.

In some populations, centrophenoxine has been found to improve memory, be mentally stimulating, and improve general cognition.⁴ Elderly patients given centrophenoxine in a 1977 study reported increased levels of mental alertness and helped them to store long-term memories. Another study done one elderly patients a few years earlier also showed that centrophenoxine improved mental performance.⁵

The results of other human studies have also been promising when it comes to centrophenoxine's potential as a nootropic. A 1994 study done on older participants showed that centrophenoxine improved several aspects of cognition including attention, concentration, and performance IQ.⁶ A study done back in the late 1960s showed that centrophenoxine was able to improve learning and short-term memory in alcoholics.⁷

Centrophenoxine has an excellent safety profile.

In addition to all the human studies that have been done on centrophenoxine, a number of animal studies have also shown it to have nootropic properties. A 2004 study done on rats showed that centrophenoxine could improve memory and reduce neuronal damage after having a stroke.⁸ Another rat study from 2005 showed that centrophenoxine could reduce some of mental effects of aging.⁹

As you can see, centrophenoxine has a bit of research to support its use as a nootropic. Human and animal studies have consistently shown that it can improve memory, be mentally stimulating, and improve overall cognition. Now let's look at centrophenoxine's dosage and safety.

Centrophenoxine Dosage & Safety

Centrophenoxine is generally considered to be very safe for most people. Side effects are very rare and virtually non-existent at lower dosages. It has been extensively studied in both humans and animals and has an excellent safety profile.

Like with any nootropic (or any substance in general), dosage will vary from person to person. It's generally recommended to start with 250 milligrams (mg) 1-3 times a day.¹⁰ A lot of people report great results at that dosage. However, others need to take more to experience centrophenoxine's benefits. In anecdotal reports from Reddit and other internet sources, some users take up to 1 gram (1,000 mg) six times a day.

Several studies have been done to test the safety of centrophenoxine. One of those studies showed that it's safe to take 3 grams (3,000 mg) a day.¹¹ Participants were given 3 grams of centrophenoxine a day for an entire year. Only two minor side effects were noted. Some participants experienced upset stomach after taking their dose which went away after 20 minutes. And a few participants reported a slight increase in jitteriness. Other than that, the study found no other side effects.

Conclusion

Centrophenoxine has plenty of research and anecdotal reports to support its use as a nootropic. It's a good source of choline, improves memory, may slow cognitive decline, and improves overall mental performance.

While centrophenoxine can be taken by itself, it's usually taken as part of a nootropic stack. Some of the things that it commonly stacked with are piracetam, phenylpiracetam, aniracetam, and ashwagandha. But users have found success by stacking centrophenoxine with plenty of other nootropics, too.

If you'd like to learn more about stacking nootropics, check out some of the posts here: Nootropic Stacks. Have you tried centrophenoxine? If so, what has your experience been like? Feel free to leave your answers in the comments section at the bottom.

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