The porcine brain hydrolysate prescribed across Europe and Asia for stroke, TBI, and dementia — a cocktail of neuropeptides and amino acids that doesn’t quite fit the single-peptide mold.
Cerebrolysin is not a single peptide — it’s a standardized enzymatic hydrolysate of purified porcine brain tissue, containing a mix of neuropeptides, free amino acids, and biogenic amines. Manufactured by EVER Neuro Pharma (Austria) and prescribed in ~50 countries for stroke recovery, TBI, and dementia.
Not FDA approved in the US but widely used clinically in Europe, Russia, and much of Asia. The mechanism is multi-target, which is both its strength (broad neurotrophic effect) and weakness (harder to study in controlled clinical trials).
Approved in 50+ countries for neurological conditions. Not FDA approved. Not WADA prohibited. Available through international pharmacies.
Contains peptide fragments that mimic the activity of endogenous neurotrophic factors (BDNF, NGF, CNTF, GDNF). Supports neuronal survival, differentiation, and regeneration in damaged CNS tissue.
Reduces excitotoxicity (glutamate-driven neuronal death) and oxidative stress. Relevant in acute ischemic injury (stroke) and chronic degenerative disease.
Upregulates LTP (long-term potentiation) in hippocampal circuits — the cellular basis of memory formation. This is the mechanism behind its cognitive-enhancement effects.
| Condition | Evidence |
|---|---|
| Acute ischemic stroke | CASTA trial and others: improved outcomes when given in first 48–72h; standard of care in Russia, Austria, China |
| Traumatic brain injury | CAPTAIN trials: functional improvement; prescribed in Europe for TBI recovery |
| Alzheimer’s disease | Small but consistent cognitive improvements in moderate Alzheimer’s; MMSE improvements in multiple RCTs |
| Vascular dementia | Widely used indication in Europe |
| Off-label nootropic | Popular in biohacker / nootropic community; anecdotal strong effects, no controlled trials in healthy users |
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Start Tracking FreeCerebrolysin is sold in multiple ampoule sizes (1, 2, 5, 10, and 20 mL) depending on indication and country — check your product; don’t assume every ampoule is 5 mL when calculating total volume.
Community protocols typically use 5–10 mL IM daily for 10–20 days, 2–4 times per year. Lower than the acute-stroke range but consistent with the pattern Russian/European clinicians use for milder cognitive indications.
Cerebrolysin is supplied as pre-mixed 5 mL glass ampoules — no reconstitution. Keep at room temperature or refrigerated; protect from light. Use immediately after opening the ampoule.
Pre-filled with a typical Cerebrolysin setup. Edit any field — the draw updates live.
Insulin syringe — 100 units = 1 mL
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Cerebrolysin is a research peptide not approved by the FDA for human use. It is sold only as a research chemical, and StackTrax does not endorse or facilitate personal use.
Quality varies enormously among research-chemical suppliers. At minimum, look for:
StackTrax’s preferred partner NextGen Peptides does not currently carry Cerebrolysinin their catalog, which is why you don’t see a direct purchase link here. Other major research-chemical suppliers carry it; we don’t specifically recommend one for this compound.
Build your protocol, log every dose, monitor your body's response, and get reminders so you never miss a dose.
Start Tracking FreeNo. Cerebrolysin is not FDA approved in the US. However, it is approved in 50+ countries — including across Europe, Russia, and much of Asia — for neurological conditions like stroke recovery, TBI, and dementia. It is manufactured by EVER Neuro Pharma in Austria and is available through international pharmacies. Not WADA prohibited.
Cerebrolysin is not a single peptide. It is a standardized enzymatic hydrolysate of purified porcine brain tissue, containing a mix of neuropeptides, free amino acids, and biogenic amines. The peptide fragments mimic the activity of endogenous neurotrophic factors like BDNF, NGF, CNTF, and GDNF. The multi-target nature is both its strength (broad neurotrophic effect) and its weakness (harder to study in controlled trials).
The CASTA trial and others showed improved outcomes when given in the first 48–72 hours of acute ischemic stroke — it is standard of care in Russia, Austria, and China for this indication. The CAPTAIN trials showed functional improvement in traumatic brain injury, and Cerebrolysin is prescribed in Europe for TBI recovery. 2023 and 2019 Cochrane reviews (PMIDs 37818733, 31710397) note the overall safety evidence is low to very low certainty, so the evidence base is weaker than the volume of clinical use implies.
Either intramuscular (smaller doses) or slow IV infusion (larger doses). Standard neurological courses use 5–30 mL total daily for 10–20 consecutive days, repeated quarterly or biannually. It is supplied as pre-mixed glass ampoules — no reconstitution needed. Ampoule sizes vary by country (1, 2, 5, 10, and 20 mL), so check the product before calculating total volume.
Community protocols typically use 5–10 mL IM daily for 10–20 days, 2–4 times per year — lower than the acute-stroke range but consistent with the pattern Russian and European clinicians use for milder cognitive indications. There are no controlled trials in healthy users, so any cognitive-enhancement effects rest on anecdote.
Common side effects include injection site reactions (can sting significantly IM), transient dizziness, mild headache, nausea, and flushing during IV administration if infused too quickly. The product labeling carries a long-standing caution about seizure threshold — best treated as a reason to use with specialist input if you have a seizure-disorder history rather than a hard contraindication. Do not use with known hypersensitivity to porcine proteins or during pregnancy. The Cochrane reviews flag low-certainty safety evidence and mortality / serious-adverse-event signals in some trials, so monitor appropriately.
Disclaimer: This guide is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The compounds discussed are not FDA approved for human use. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before starting any new supplement or peptide protocol. StackTrax does not sell peptides or supplements directly — purchase links go to third-party vendors. StackTrax is not responsible for the products, quality, or business practices of any third-party vendor. This page contains affiliate links — StackTrax may earn a commission on purchases at no extra cost to you.
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StackTrax guides cover peptides and compounds that are not FDA-approved for the uses discussed. The dosing, reconstitution, and safety information is compiled from published research and community protocols for educational purposes only.
Before using any compound mentioned here, consult a qualified healthcare provider. StackTrax does not sell, prescribe, or recommend these substances for personal use.
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