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Meclofenoxate
An old cholinergic nootropic — an ester of DMAE (dimethylaminoethanol) and the synthetic auxin pCPA — promoted for memory and 'anti-aging' via clearance of lipofuscin (the age-related cellular waste pigment). The clinical evidence is genuinely old and small: a handful of decades-old dementia and memory studies with modest, mixed results.
What the evidence says
Most Centrophenoxine studies are mechanism or observational rather than RCTs that measure a clinical effect — keep findings provisional.
Most evidence is from mixed-quality randomised trials published 1977–1992 with a typical study size of 50 participants.
Based on 4 studies · 2 RCTs · 50 total participants
Confidence
LowBy outcome
Centrophenoxine has an evidence score of 2.5/10 — emerging evidence based on 4 indexed studies. An old cholinergic nootropic — an ester of DMAE (dimethylaminoethanol) and the synthetic auxin pCPA — promoted for memory and 'anti-aging' via clearance of lipofuscin (the age-related cellular waste pigment). The clinical evidence is genuinely old and small: a handful of decades-old dementia and memory studies with modest, mixed results. Representative study: PMID 2506844.
The commonly studied dose of Centrophenoxine is Old trials used ~1000-2000mg/day in divided doses; no modern validated dose. Individual needs vary — start at the lower end of the range and adjust based on how you respond.
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Last reviewed June 2026 · evidence from 4 studies · how we score
This information is for educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any supplement or medication.
Centrophenoxine (generic name meclofenoxate) is a compound from the 1950s-1960s nootropic era, formed by esterifying DMAE (dimethylaminoethanol) with para-chlorophenoxyacetic acid (pCPA). It is thought to act as a cholinergic agent — DMAE is a putative precursor in choline/acetylcholine metabolism — and is best known for the claim that it helps clear lipofuscin, the brown 'wear-and-tear' lipopigment that accumulates in neurons with age. This is the basis for its 'anti-aging brain' marketing. Honest appraisal: the supporting human studies are old, small, and methodologically limited. A 1989 double-blind trial in 50 elderly nursing-home residents with mid-level dementia found memory improvements in 48% of the centrophenoxine group versus 28% on placebo; a 1977 double-blind study in healthy elderly subjects found improved consolidation of new information into long-term memory and increased self-reported alertness. The lipofuscin-clearance rationale rests largely on animal data and review-level discussion. There is no modern, adequately-powered replication, so the overall evidence is weak/emerging.
Delivers DMAE, a putative precursor in choline/acetylcholine metabolism, the basis for its cognitive rationale.
Proposed to reduce neuronal lipofuscin — the age-related lipopigment waste — mainly demonstrated in animal models.
Thought to reduce free-radical-related cellular damage, supporting the lipopigment-reduction hypothesis.
How Centrophenoxine works — from molecular targets to health outcomes. Click an edge to see supporting research.This visualization is in beta — pathways are being refined and expanded.
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Old trials used ~1000-2000mg/day in divided doses; no modern validated dose
Take with food
| Form | Type |
|---|---|
| 💊Centrophenoxine (meclofenoxate) | Recommended |
| 💊DMAE | Alternative |
Centrophenoxine is essentially a DMAE-delivery ester; DMAE alone is the cheaper, similarly weakly-evidenced alternative.
Compare Centrophenoxine vs DMAE →Minimum: 8 weeks
Optimal: 12 weeks
Cycling: Not required
Note: Earlier in the day; avoid late dosing due to potential overstimulation/insomnia.
Dose-response data unavailable. The current published research for Centrophenoxine does not provide sufficient dose-specific outcome data to generate reliable dose-response curves.
Refer to the Dosage & Timing section above for recommended dose ranges based on available evidence.
Modest improvements in long-term memory consolidation in small old studies.
Some subjects reported increased mental alertness.
Claims rest on decades-old studies and animal lipofuscin data; no modern replication.
Use caution — cholinergic stimulation; consult a clinician.
Only modest old-trial evidence; manage expectations and involve a clinician.
Not studied — avoid.
Additive cholinergic effects are possible when combined with cholinesterase inhibitors or other cholinergic agents — use caution.
May theoretically oppose anticholinergic medications via its cholinergic action.
Tip: Reduce dose
Tip: Dose earlier in the day
Tip: Take with food
Tip: Reduce dose or discontinue
Both are cholinergic; Alpha-GPC supplies choline for acetylcholine synthesis while centrophenoxine (via DMAE) is marketed to support the same pathway.
Layered cholinergic support — watch for additive cholinergic side effects (headache).
Citicoline is a better-evidenced cholinergic that also supplies choline and supports membrane phospholipids; sometimes stacked with older nootropics.
Complementary cholinergic/membrane support (citicoline carries the stronger evidence).
The best time to take Centrophenoxine is in the morning. Take it with food. Taken earlier in the day to avoid sleep disruption from its stimulating/cholinergic activity; trial doses were divided across the day with meals.
Centrophenoxine is generally safe at recommended doses, with a few precautions worth noting. The most commonly reported side effects are headache, insomnia or restlessness (overstimulation), GI upset. Use caution if any of these apply to you: Pregnancy/breastfeeding (not studied); Seizure disorders (cholinergic stimulation caution); Severe hypertension.
Crosses the blood-brain barrier to fuel acetylcholine synthesis — supports focus, memory, and power output in athletes.