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Smart Drugs & Nutrients:

How to Improve Your Memory and Increase Your Intelligence Using the Latest Discoveries In Neuroscience

VOLUME 1 in the Smart Drugs Series

by Ward Dean, M.D. & John Morgenthaler
$12.95 - 224 pages, softcover (Out of Stock)

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Sec 5: Other Cognitive Enhancers

Acetyl­L-Carnitine (ALC) | Caffeine | Centrophenoxine (Lucidril) | Choline & Lecithin | AL721 (Egg Lecithin) | DHEA | DMAE | Gerovital (GH­3) | Ginkgo Biloba: A Nootropic Herb? | Ginseng | Hydergine | Idebenone | Phenytoin (Dilantin) | Propranolol Hydrochloride (Inderal) | Thyroid Hormone | Vasopressin (Diapid) | Vincamine | Vitamins | Xanthinol Nicotinate

Centrophenoxine (Lucidril)

Centrophenoxine is an intelligence booster and may also be an effective anti‑aging therapy. It has been shown to cause improvements in various aspects of memory function and a 30% increase in life span of laboratory animals (Hoch­schild, 1973).

One of the most widely recognized aspects of aging is the build‑up of lipofuscin in brain cells, heart, and skin (lipofuscin is the stuff of which "age spots" are made). In animal studies, decreased lipofuscin deposits have been correlated with improved learning ability, and, conversely, increased lipofuscin deposits have been correlated with decreased learning ability (Nandy, 1988).

Centrophenoxine removes lipofuscin deposits (Nandy, 1966, 1978). It also repairs the synapses, which is where the neurotransmitters are released from one nerve cell in order to convey information to another.

Centrophenoxine breaks down into DMAE (see page 99) in the blood stream. Some researchers have suggested that centrophenoxine's effects may be identical to DMAE's. One study found that DMAE and Centrophenoxine had the same free-radical-scavenging abilities (Nagy, 1984). However, another piece of research indicates that Centrophenoxine is better than DMAE in retarding lipofuscin accumulation in a nematode (Zuckerman, 1978).

Centrophenoxine has been shown to protect the brains of animals from hypoxia (lack of oxygen) (Miyazaki, 1976). It may be of value in treating some cases of stroke, atherosclerotic dementia, angina, intermittent claudication, and other conditions in which oxygenation of tissues is reduced (Dowson, 1988).

Centrophenoxine is probably not effective in treating Alzheimer's disease (Branconnier, 1983). However, some research indicates it may be useful in cases where hypoxia is speeding the development of the disease (Gedye, 1972; Mercer, 1972). Centrophenoxine should be begun in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease (Dowson, 1988).

Precautions: Centrophenoxine should not be used by persons who are easily excitable, have severe hypertension, or are subject to convulsions or involuntary musculoskeletal movements. Centrophenoxine also should not be used by nursing mothers. Adverse effects are rare, but include hyperexcitability, insomnia, tremors, motion sickness, paradoxical drowsi­ness and depression. If taken late in the day, centrophenoxine is more likely to cause insomnia. There is no toxicity of centrophenoxine at therapeutic doses.

Dosage: 1000 to 3000 mg per day. Centrophenoxine takes effect very quickly. Many people notice an increase in alertness and a slight stimulation effect.

Sources: Centrophenoxine is not sold in the U.S. It can be purchased over the counter in Mexico or by mail order from the sources listed in Appendix A (see page 165). Other names include: acephen, Analux, ANP 235, Brenal, Cellative, Cerebon, Cerebron, Cetrexin, Clocete, clofenoxine, Helfergin, Licidril, Lucidril, Luncidril, Lutiaron, Marucotol, meclofenoxane, meclofenoxate, Mecloxate, Methoxynal, Proserout, Proseryl, Ropoxyl, and Telucidone.

References:

Anderson, K., Anderson, L. Orphan Drugs. Los Angeles, CA: The Body Press, 1987, p. 132.

Dowson, J.H., Wilton-Cox, H. "The Effect of Drugs on Neuronal Lipopigment" Lipofuscin—1987: State of the Art. Nagy (ed), Amsterdam: Elsevier Science Publishers, 1988, pp. 271-88.

Gedye, J.L., Exton-Smith, A.N., Wedgewood, J. "A Method for Measuring Mental Performance in the Elderly and its Use in a Pilot Clinical Trial of Meclofenoxate in Organic Dementia." Age and Ageing. 1972, 1, pp. 74-80.

Hochschild, R. "Effect of Dimethylaminoethyl p‑Chlorophenoxy-acetate on the Life Span of Male Swiss Webster Albino Mice." Experi­mental Gerontology. 1973, Vol. 8, pp. 177‑83.

Jarvik, L.F. "The Aging Nervous System: Clinical Aspects." Aging. New York: Raven Press, 1975, Vol. 1, pp. 1‑9.

Marcer, D., Hopkins, S.M. "The Differential Effects of Meclofenoxate on Memory Loss in the Elderly." Age and Ageing. 1977, Vol. 6, pp. 123‑31.

Miyazki, H., Nambu, K., Hashimoto, M. "Antianoxic Effect of Meclofenoxate Related to its Disposition." Chemical Pharmaceutical Bulletin. 1976, 24: pp. 822-25.

Nagy, I., Floyd, R. "Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopic Demonstration of the Hydroxyl Free Radical Scavenger Properties of Dimethylaminoethanol in Spin Trapping Experiments Confirming the Molecular Basis for the Biological Effects of Centrophenoxine." Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics. 1984, 3 (4) pp. 297‑310.

Nandy, K. "Aging Neurons and Pharmacological Agents." Aging. New York: Raven Press, 1983, Vol. 21, pp. 401‑15.

Nandy, K. "Lipofuscinogenesis in Mice Early Treated with Centrophenoxine." Mechanisms of Aging and Develop­ment. 1978, Vol. 8, pp. 131‑8.

Nandy, K., Bourne, G.H. "Effect of Centrophenoxine on the Lipofuscin Pigments of the Neurones of Senile Guinea Pigs." Nature. 1966, Vol. 210, pp. 313‑4.

Nandy, K., Mostofsky, D.I., Idrobo, F., Blatt, L., Nandy, S. "Experi­mental Manipulations of Lipofuscin Formation in Aging Mammals." Lipofuscin—1987: State of the Art. Nagy, I. (ed), Amsterdam: Elsevier Science Publishers, 1988, pp. 289-304.

Pearson, D., Shaw, S. Life Extension: A Practical Scientific Approach. New York: Warner Books, 1982.

Pelton, R., Pelton, T.C. Mind Food & Smart Pills. New York: Double­day, 1989.

Riga, S., Riga, D. "Effects of Centrophenoxine on the Lipofuscin Pigments of the Nervous System of Old Rats." Brain Research. 1974, Vol. 72, pp. 265‑75.

Zuckerman, B., Barrett, K. "Effects of PCA and DMAE on the Nematode Caenorhabditis Briggsae." Experimental Aging Research. 1978, 4 (2) pp. 133‑9.