What is Cerebrolysin?
Cerebrolysin is a mixture of small peptides and amino acids made from purified pig brain proteins. It is made by the Austrian company EVER Pharma and given by injection or IV drip.
It is approved in about 50 countries, including Austria, Russia and China, but not by the FDA.
What is Cerebrolysin used for?
Where approved, it is used after stroke and traumatic brain injury and for dementia. It is sold online as a nootropic for memory and focus, which is not an approved use anywhere.
How does Cerebrolysin work?
It is thought to act like the brain’s own growth factors, helping brain cells survive and form new connections after injury. Because it is a mixture, it is hard to pin down which parts do what.
What does the research on Cerebrolysin show?
A 2023 Cochrane review of 7 trials in 1,773 people with acute stroke found it probably doesn’t reduce deaths, and it may increase non-fatal serious side effects. Other reviews of recovery after stroke have reported modest benefits, but the evidence is mixed.
There is no good evidence for its use as a nootropic in healthy people.
Cerebrolysin side effects and risks
Reported side effects include dizziness, headache, sweating, nausea and reactions at the injection site; the Cochrane review found more non-fatal serious side effects than with placebo. It isn’t used in people with severe kidney problems or epilepsy.
Products bought online may not be genuine, and injecting a brain-derived product carries infection and allergy risks.
Is Cerebrolysin legal?
Cerebrolysin is not FDA-approved, so it can’t be legally marketed in the US. It is a prescription medicine in the countries that approve it.