What is Centrophenoxine and what are some of the effects of this brain booster?
Centrophenoxine is one of the lesser understood nootropic supplements and for this reason it often gets overlooked.
However, it has actually accumulated over 50 years of research as a cognitive enhancer and is known to be both a neuroprotectant and a cholinergic compound.
Centrophenoxine is a modified version of DMAE (dimethylethanolamine, Dimethylaminoethanol), designed to have better absorption and increased transportation across the blood-brain barrier. It carries all of the same benefits of DMAE including increased memory, learning, alertness, mood, and attention.
Centrophenoxine – also known as Lucidril – can further increase acetylcholine activity in the brain which is why it is commonly grouped in with other Choline supplements like Alpha GPC and CDP Choline.
It is also widely considered as one of the best ways to help protect the brain against toxic chemicals and other forms of environmental damage. There are a number of studies which show it may have a powerful effect in combating age related cognitive decline and signs of aging in your neurons.



- Supports memory & heightens acetylcholine
- May reduce lipofuscin & beta-amyloid residue
- Boosts brain health & fights aging
Centrophenoxine Method of Action:
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One of the first questions people are likely to have about Centrophenoxine is how does it work.
There are actually conflicting theories at present regarding the specific mechanism of action for this nootropic.
We do know that it is an acetylcholine precursor, increasing the amount of this neurotransmitter that is stored in your synaptic vesicles. However, it is unclear what the specific pathways used by Centrophenoxine are.
Two theories prevail: either this supplement breaks down into choline in the brain thereby naturally leading to acetylcholine conversion or it converts into an intermediary phospholipid which then can be used to make acetylcholine.
Either way, we know that Centrophenoxine is highly cholinergic and may be used as an alternative to other choline sources.
The Cholinergic activity of this compound believed to be primarily responsible for increasing memory formation and a number of the associated cognitive benefits. It also may help to increase the blood flow and oxygen uptake to the brain, raising mental energy levels and getting rid of so-called brain fog.
This burst of energy is also likely responsible for helping to lengthen the attention span as well as the ability to focus and concentrate. Many people feel that using Centrophenoxine makes it easier to work or study for long periods without experiencing as much mental fatigue.
It can also promote increased synaptic plasticity leading to better learning as your brain is able to form more new connections.
The other way in which Centrophenoxine works has to do with the fact that this supplement is a source of DMAE. Centrophenoxine is a biosynthetic version of DMAE that is better capable of crossing the blood-brain barrier and reaching the central nervous system.
In addition to playing a role in increasing the supply and production of Acetylcholine, this also acts as a powerful anti-oxidant. The brain is an area especially vulnerable to free radical damage due to the fact that it produces a lot of ATP and iron, which are actually part of the free radical production process.
Luckily, Centrophenoxine is capable of flushing many of these free radicals and other poisons out of the brain, helping to maintain good health in your neurons and supporting brain cells.
Centrophenoxine and Aging
Another much sought-after benefit of this supplement is protection against brain aging.
While we cannot completely reverse the damage done to our brains by aging, studies have shown that Centrophenoxine is able to decrease the build-up of certain age related pigments in our neurons.
This includes the reduction and elimination of lipofuscin, which is a waste material that is present in older cells. It is responsible for what are sometimes known as “age spots” on the skin. Centrophenoxine flushes this unwanted toxin out of cells in many different parts of the body as well.
This supplement is also thought to reverse the age-dependent accumulation of potassium in brain cells. The presence of potassium actually makes it more difficult for neurons and other brain cells to communicate with each other.
Sadly, many older people suffering from age-related cognitive decline have elevated potassium levels but Centrophenoxine offers an easy solution. This also increases the presence of various helpful chemicals and materials. This includes an increase in the production of RNA and also aids in protein synthesis.
All of these effects help to make nerve and brain cells not only communicate better with each other, but they also improve the overall health and efficiency of the brain.
Centrophenoxine Dosage:
The typical daily dosage range for Centrophenoxine is between 500 to 1,000mg.
If you are using this supplement as an anti-aging remedy then you may end up taking a much higher dose, but it is best that you speak to a doctor first for this usage.
You can take Centrophenoxine power all at once or split it into several different administrations.
Due to the increase in brain energy, it is best to take this one earlier rather than later. Going past the midafternoon could interfere with sleep patterns or make it more difficult to fall asleep.
Many users tend to take this in combination with other Nootropics, especially members of the Racetam family. While it is normally advised to always start with the lowest possible effective dose, when being stacked it may not be a bad idea to start a little bit higher, at least in the beginning.
Centrophenoxine Safety
This supplement is both very safe and well-tolerated. In other words almost every healthy adult should be able to take Centrophenoxine supplements without any issues. However, there are still a few potential side effects. These are all generally very mild, since the supplement is not toxic at any level.
Commonly associated side effects include headaches, nausea, dizziness, gastrointestinal issues, irritability, and a bit of insomnia. If any of these occur, it is recommended to reduce the dosage down to the recommended level (most occurrences are due to an excessive dose).
Note that if you are female and are pregnant or planning to become pregnant in the near future, this nootropic drug should be avoided. Centrophenoxine contains the active ingredient DMAE, which has been identified due to a risk of teratogenic effects. It may increase the risk of a certain form of birth defect occuring in developing fetuses.
This risk is thought to be greatest during the first weeks of fetal development. However, out of caution is is recommended to avoid taking this drug,
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Article last updated on: March 13th, 2018 by Nootriment