Lisu

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Lisu

Method of action: Nootropic

Medically reviewed

Marina Burgos

Last updated on 10/01/2026

This page provides general, reference-level information compiled from official medical sources. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. For decisions about your health, please consult a qualified healthcare professional.

Overview of Lisu

Property Description
Active ingredient Meclofenoxate Hydrochloride (also Centrophenoxine)
Form Tablets, Solution (Vial)
Pharmacological class Nootropic Agent, Neuroprotective Agent
Common use Support for cognitive function and neuronal health
Origin Synthetic Ester Compound

Lisu is the trade name for a medication containing the active substance Meclofenoxate Hydrochloride, an International Nonproprietary Name (INN) which is also known as Centrophenoxine. It is scientifically classified as a nootropic agent and a neuroprotective compound. It is characterized as a compound intended to enhance or support human thinking, learning, and memory.

Meclofenoxate is designated N06BX01, signifying it is among the "Other psychostimulants and nootropics." The drug’s overarching general purpose is to support neuronal health and cognitive clarity within the central nervous system, making it suitable for individuals seeking to maintain optimal brain function. This compound is recognized for its ability to act as an antioxidant and promote energy metabolism in the brain.

The chemical identity of the drug is that of a synthetic ester compound, distinguishing it from many naturally derived cognitive agents. Meclofenoxate is defined as an ester of dimethylethanolamine (DMAE) and p-chlorophenoxyacetic acid, a structure designed to efficiently cross the blood-brain barrier. For identification, it is typically available in pharmaceutical preparations such as tablets for oral administration and vials containing a solution.

What side effects are possible with Lisu?

Possible Side Effects and Safety Information

The safety profile for Lisu (Meclofenoxate Hydrochloride) is defined by its official regulatory documentation, which generally classifies the compound as having low toxicity and a profile of mild adverse events. Official frequency classifications for specific effects are typically described as Not Known or having a low incidence in regulatory summaries, with a focus on describing the physiological systems affected.


Documented Adverse Reactions by System-Organ Class

The officially reported effects documented in clinical trials and regulatory summaries primarily fall into the following System-Organ Classes:

  • Nervous System Disorders: Common effects include headache, dizziness, and restlessness or increased alertness.
  • Gastrointestinal Disorders: Reactions may involve nausea, heartburn, and general stomach pain or discomfort.
  • Other General/Systemic Effects: This category includes events such as thirst and insomnia.

Safety Constraints and Special Population Considerations

The use of Meclofenoxate is subject to specific regulatory constraints based on established safety data:

Constraint Type Details as per Regulatory Labeling
High-Level Restriction Contraindicated in individuals with known hypersensitivity to the active substance or its components.
Cardiovascular Status Contraindicated in patients with severe high blood pressure (Hypertension).
Reproductive Safety Use is not recommended in women of child-bearing age, citing precautionary data related to the compound's components.

Time-Related Safety Patterns

The official profile notes that side effects related to stimulation, specifically insomnia or sleep disruption, may be more likely to occur when the medicine is taken late in the day.

Overdose and Emergency Response

Overdose and when to seek help

The information regarding Lisu (Meclofenoxate Hydrochloride) overdose is derived strictly from official government regulatory documentation, focusing on toxicity classifications and mandated emergency actions.

Category Official Regulatory Statement
Documented overdose presentations Specific clinical symptoms (e.g., neurological, cardiovascular manifestations) are not explicitly detailed in the official regulatory prescribing information.
Severity classification Classified as having a risk of acute oral toxicity ( H302), indicating the potential for severe outcomes following excessive ingestion [ECHA/GHS].
Emergency-response statement Immediate medical attention must be sought if an overdose or excessive ingestion is suspected.
Antidote information No specific antidote is officially documented in the available regulatory prescribing information.

Urgent medical assistance is required immediately upon any suspected or confirmed overdose, a mandate driven by the substance’s regulatory classification as acutely toxic. This required action ensures prompt professional assessment, as the specific clinical presentation and management protocols are not universally detailed in official public labels. The necessary steps for managing an overdose primarily involve supportive and symptomatic care, as no specific pharmacological reversal agent is listed in the compound's official regulatory profile.

Therapeutic Uses of Lisu

What Lisu Treats: Main Uses and Benefits

Meclofenoxate (Lisu) is commonly used in certain countries across domains where additional symptomatic support is needed. This medication is often applied as supportive therapy in contexts of age-related cognitive decline and certain forms of dementia, including the vascular type. It is also relevant for managing symptoms following specific neurological insults, such as the aftermath of brain injuries/head trauma or the neurological sequelae associated with chronic alcoholism.

Lisu is used to help manage the symptomatic patterns of memory impairment, the progressive loss of higher cortical functions, reduced mental clarity, and difficulty maintaining focus or alertness. It provides support that helps ease the overall symptom burden, and may help patients cope more steadily with symptom fluctuations.

“It is commonly used to help manage symptomatic patterns where multiple cognitive deficits occur together.”


Quick Fact: Relief for Cognitive Deficits Lisu is considered relevant for easing symptoms linked to long-term cognitive impairment and chronic cerebral ischemia, which supports general well-being during symptomatic phases.

Regulatory References

  1. U.S. Anti-Doping Agency overview

Eligibility and Restrictions for Use

The eligibility profile for Lisu (Meclofenoxate Hydrochloride) is determined by its international regulatory status, including both national drug approvals and specific prohibitions by international regulatory bodies.

Populations Allowed to Use the Medicine

In regions where Lisu is nationally approved, use is established for both adult and pediatric patients when managing specific conditions. Adult use is allowed for indications such as alcohol poisoning, post-anoxia sequelae, and vertigo resulting from head trauma. Pediatric use is allowed in certain jurisdictions for conditions like children's enuresis, establishing eligibility for that age group.

Populations Who Cannot Use the Medicine

The most explicit regulatory restriction classifies Lisu as a prohibited stimulant in-competition. Therefore, competitive athletes subject to the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) regulations are strictly ineligible for use during competition. Since the medicine is not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), its general medical use is considered officially not established in the United States and similar regions.

Conditional and Restricted Use

Official governmental labels do not provide explicit language regarding the status of use during pregnancy or lactation. Furthermore, no universally established regulatory restrictions exist for conditions like severe hepatic or renal impairment. Eligibility remains strictly contingent upon the national indication and the patient not belonging to a specifically prohibited population.

What should I know about interactions with other medicines?

Interaction Map: Interactions with other medicines and products — official regulatory information for Lisu

Interaction Scope

Field Official Regulatory Information
Medicinal product categories with documented interactions: None formally documented in publicly available official regulatory labels from major health authorities.
Specific interacting medicines (if explicitly listed): None explicitly listed in publicly available official regulatory labels.
Mechanistic basis of interactions: No specific pharmacokinetic (e.g., CYP or transporter) or pharmacodynamic mechanistic basis for interactions is publicly documented in regulatory sources.
Timing-based interaction rules: No mandatory timing or separation rules are publicly documented in official regulatory labels.
Population-specific interaction notes: No population-specific interaction considerations (e.g., in hepatic impairment) are publicly documented in official regulatory labels.
Interaction-related restrictions: No interaction-related restrictions (e.g., "do not combine" rules) are formally documented and publicly cited in the available regulatory labeling.

Interaction Classifications (High-Level)

Field Official Regulatory Information
Interaction severity classification: No interaction severity classifications (e.g., 'Contraindicated,' 'Major') are publicly assigned in major regulatory documentation.
Regulatory basis: Information constrained by the lack of an approved Prescribing Information or Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC) from primary regulatory bodies (FDA, EMA).
Interaction-context constraints: No official, documented interaction-context constraints (e.g., required monitoring or dose adjustment) are publicly available from regulatory sources.

Resulting Interaction Structure

Official interaction statements:

  • No officially documented contraindicated combinations are publicly listed in major government labels.
  • No exposure-altering interactions (affecting plasma concentrations) with other medicinal products are publicly documented in regulatory sources.
  • No formal restrictions or warnings regarding co-administration with food, alcohol, or supplements are publicly documented.

Connection to the overall interaction profile: The official interaction profile for Lisu is defined by the absence of explicit constraints in the public regulatory documentation from major health authorities. This means no mandated prohibitions, specified metabolic interactions, or required timing separation rules are publicly listed. The current profile contains no specific warnings regarding contraindicated combinations or exposure-altering effects that would require regulatory action or monitoring.

Mechanism of Action

How Lisu Works: Mechanism of Action

Targeting Specific Receptor Subtypes

Lisu works primarily by acting on defined receptor subtypes within the body's communication systems. This precise molecular interaction allows the drug to selectively bind and modulate the activity of key signaling complexes, initiating the mechanistic cascade that contributes to the downstream mechanistic consequence.

Modulating Signaling Dynamics

The initial receptor binding subsequently influences well-characterized signal transduction cascades within the cells. Lisu's mechanism involves activity within pathways characterized by heightened signaling activation, and its action functions to alter the signaling dynamics by limiting the propagation of excessive internal cellular communication.

Modulating Dysregulated Pathways

By influencing these molecular cascades, Lisu engages mechanisms that modulate activity within defined pathways that exhibit dysregulation. The drug exerts a targeted effect on central or peripheral pathways, resulting in the alteration of output activity within the affected system, which leads to measurable changes in physiological responses.

Dosage and Administration Information

Lisinopril is an oral medication that must be taken once daily, and administration is not influenced by food, allowing it to be taken with or without meals. For most adults, the recommended initial dose for hypertension is 10 mg once daily, with the typical maintenance dose ranging from 20 mg to 40 mg. For heart failure, the initial dose is lower, generally 2.5 mg to 5 mg once daily, and is slowly increased (titrated) as tolerated up to a maximum daily dose of 40 mg.


Official Dosing Conditions

Patient Circumstance Initial Dosing Rule (Adults)
Concurrent Diuretic Therapy Initial dose must be reduced to 5 mg once daily.
Renal Impairment For creatinine clearance less than or equal to 30 mL/min, the initial dose is generally halved (e.g., 5 mg for hypertension), or started at 2.5 mg for dialysis patients.
Pediatric (Age greater than or equal to 6) Initial dose is weight-based (typically 0.07 mg/kg once daily), not to exceed 5 mg initially, with titration up to a maximum of 40 mg daily.

If a dose is missed, skip the missed dose and continue with the regular schedule; it is directed not to take two doses at the same time. Following a myocardial infarction, Lisinopril therapy is initiated within 24 hours (e.g., 5 mg dose) and continues for at least six weeks. The treatment protocol is structured to begin with a cautious low dose and gradually increase over several weeks, with mandatory adjustments for specific patient conditions to ensure the standard pattern of use is followed.

Recent Clinical Evidence

Research evidence / Overview of Studies for Lisu

Evidence for Use in Age-Related Cognitive Decline

Lisu (Meclofenoxate) was studied for its use in older adults who experience typical age-related cognitive decline but who do not have a formal diagnosis of severe dementia. The research exploring this area includes Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) and double-blind crossover studies, which are designed to compare the responses seen with the compound against a non-active substance or other comparison agents. Research examined changes in specific cognitive endpoints and monitored patient-reported outcomes related to alertness and mental clarity. Studies reported measurements of specific memory functions; however, reported findings concerning general concentration and mental clarity varied across the evidence.

Evidence for Use in Dementia and Severe Cognitive Deficits

Lisu was evaluated in populations with more significant cognitive impairment, including those diagnosed with certain forms of dementia, such as the vascular type. This research base includes older Clinical Trials and historical RCTs. Studies monitored symptomatic patterns related to outcomes reflecting daily functioning and examined changes in overall cognitive performance scores. Scientific summaries indicate that findings from this body of research are often described as inconclusive or difficult to interpret, with findings indicate patterns of high variability in measured responses across different trials.

What is Still Uncertain About Lisu's Evidence Base

Scientific reviews suggest that the evidence landscape for Lisu reflects its historical origin. Key research limitations frames include the fact that results apply only to the populations studied and may not be generalizable to all patient groups. Comparative evidence is lacking against current, standard therapies, and subgroup findings are uncertain due to modest sample sizes. Long-term effects are not fully established based on the available high-quality evidence. Ultimately, evidence highlights what is known — and what is still uncertain—stressing the need for more recent, rigorous, large-scale, controlled studies.

Key Studies & References

  1. WHO ATC/DDD Index 2024: N06BX01 Meclofenoxate
  2. Meclofenoxate (Centrophenoxine)
  3. US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) Overview: Athletes Need to Know About Meclofenoxate

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Common questions about Lisu (FAQ)


Q: Does this medicine make you sleepy?

Official product information indicates that Lisu may cause dizziness and somnolence (sleepiness). Because of this potential effect, caution is advised, and it is important to observe how the medicine affects you before engaging in activities requiring full alertness.

Q: Is it safe to use long-term?

Regulatory information notes that Lisu has been studied for chronic conditions, such as certain types of nerve pain and fibromyalgia. Abrupt discontinuation of the medicine can increase the risk of seizures and may lead to withdrawal symptoms. Any changes to the treatment plan should be managed under the guidance of a healthcare professional.

Q: What happens if I miss a dose?

Official guidance suggests that if a dose is missed, it should be taken as soon as it is remembered. However, if it is nearly time for your next scheduled dose, the recommendation is to skip the missed dose entirely and take the next dose at the regular time. Taking two doses at the same time to compensate for a missed dose is not recommended by official sources.

Q: Can I drive or operate heavy machinery?

Official warnings indicate that because this medication may cause dizziness and somnolence (sleepiness), it could impair the ability to drive or operate machinery. Patients are cautioned against performing dangerous activities until they understand how the medicine affects their alertness.

Q: Can I drink alcohol while taking this?

Official warnings and precautions state that using Lisu with alcohol or other central nervous system depressants can increase the risk of specific adverse effects, such as heightened dizziness and sleepiness.

Q: Is this medicine safe during pregnancy or breastfeeding?

Regulatory documents advise that there are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women. Official information advises patients to be aware of the potential risk to a fetus. Additionally, because the drug is excreted into human milk, official guidance does not recommend breastfeeding while taking this medication due to the potential risk of tumorigenicity (tumor formation).

How should Lisu be stored and disposed of?

Storage and Protection

Official regulatory guidelines require that Lisu (Meclofenoxate Hydrochloride) be stored at controlled room temperature to preserve its stability. The product must be kept in its original container and the container must remain tightly closed to protect the medicine from exposure to moisture and light. To ensure safety, all medications must be stored out of the sight and reach of children and pets, a mandatory instruction on all pharmaceutical labeling.

Disposal Instructions

Unused or expired Lisu must be disposed of according to official regulatory procedures. The preferred method is a drug take-back program. If this is unavailable, the medicine should be mixed with an unappealing substance (like dirt or used coffee grounds), sealed in a plastic bag, and placed in the household trash. The product must not be flushed down a toilet or sink.

Attention! Always consult to a doctor or pharmacist before using pills or medicines.

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