Lucidril

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Lucidril

Method of action: Nootropic

Medically reviewed

Laura Arias

Last updated on 22/12/2025

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 Lucidril

What is Lucidril? An Overview

Property Description
Active ingredient Meclofenoxate hydrochloride (Centrophenoxine)
Form Tablets, capsules, solution
Pharmacological class Nootropic agent / Neuroprotective agent (ATC N06BX)
General purpose Support cognitive function and mental acuity
Origin Synthetic ester compound

What Type of Medicine is Lucidril?

Lucidril is a synthetic pharmaceutical preparation whose active ingredient, Meclofenoxate hydrochloride (INN: Meclofenoxate), is classified as a nootropic agent and a neuroprotective substance. The compound is also widely recognized by its chemical synonym, Centrophenoxine, and is assigned to the Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) classification N06BX01. This classification places it within the category of Other Psychostimulants and Nootropics. Pharmacological studies have supported the agent's unique potential to influence cellular aging processes, particularly within neurological tissues. The general conclusion supported by pharmacological research is that the compound possesses properties that may help preserve the structural integrity and function of neurons over time. Lucidril is typically supplied as precisely measured tablets and capsules for oral administration, though medical solution forms also exist.

Composition and General Purpose of Meclofenoxate

The composition of Lucidril is centered on the single-ingredient product, Meclofenoxate, which is a highly specialized ester molecule. This structure represents a chemical fusion of two vital components: dimethylaminoethanol (DMAE), which is utilized as a precursor to the essential neurotransmitter acetylcholine, and p-chlorophenoxyacetic acid. This chemical architecture is a differentiating factor, as it facilitates the targeted delivery of its components across the blood-brain barrier. Research indicates that this mechanism is clinically recognized for contributing significant antioxidant properties, which means the agent actively helps protect brain cells from damage. The overall purpose of this pharmaceutical agent is to support and promote robust cognitive function, overall brain health, and mental acuity, such as supporting memory during periods of high mental demand.

Regulatory References

  1. Meclofenoxate MeSH Descriptor Data (NIH/NLM)

What side effects are possible with Lucidril?

Possible Side Effects and Safety Information

The safety profile of Lucidril (Meclofenoxate), as detailed in regulatory documents, is primarily defined by generally mild and transient adverse reactions. Safety classifications may vary by region, but the documented effects are categorized based on their frequency and the physiological systems affected.


Documented Adverse Reactions

The most frequent adverse events listed in regulatory-aligned clinical reports are typically Common and involve two main System-Organ Classes:

  • Nervous System Disorders: Common effects include headache, dizziness, restlessness, and insomnia. These are associated with the compound's mild stimulant properties.
  • Gastrointestinal Disorders: Common effects include nausea, heartburn, and diarrhea.

Rare adverse reactions documented in regulatory summaries include muscle tremor, depression, and noticeable changes in blood pressure.


Safety Constraints and Considerations

The official labeling defines specific constraints and populations that require particular caution:

  • Hypersensitivity: The medicine is contraindicated in individuals with a known hypersensitivity to Meclofenoxate or its excipients.
  • Vulnerable Populations: Caution is required for patients with severe cardiovascular conditions, including severely high blood pressure, and for those with a history of epilepsy.
  • Pregnancy and Lactation: Use is generally advised to be avoided during pregnancy and lactation due to safety concerns observed in preclinical data. **

The overall regulatory framework emphasizes that many adverse effects are transient and may diminish as the body adjusts to the medication, while certain effects, such as tremor, can be a high-level indicator of overdosage.

Overdose and Emergency Response

Overdose and When to Seek Help

The official regulatory profile for Meclofenoxate overexposure is structured around the potential for severe clinical consequences, which necessitate immediate medical intervention. Overdose manifestations may present as Central Nervous System (CNS) stimulation, including pronounced agitation, insomnia, headache, and gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea and vomiting.

Required Emergency Actions

Official regulatory data mandates urgent action due to the potential for life-threatening outcomes. The most serious outcomes documented in safety data involve the cardiovascular system and CNS, specifically the risk of cardiac arrest, cardiac failure, and seizure activity.

Action Mandated by Regulators Requirement Trigger
Seek immediate medical attention Any suspected overexposure or manifestation of severe symptoms.
Contact emergency services immediately Occurrence of life-threatening events (e.g., seizure, cardiac instability).

Management of overdosage is restricted to symptomatic and supportive treatment, as regulatory guidance confirms that no specific antidote is known for Meclofenoxate. Hospital monitoring and observation are required due to the potential for severe or delayed cardiovascular and neurological events. No population-specific overdose severity notes are explicitly detailed in the official documentation.

Therapeutic Uses of Lucidril

What Lucidril Treats: Main Uses and Benefits

Lucidril is commonly used to help manage mild-to-moderate cognitive deficits that commonly accompany the aging process. Pharmacological research indicates that Meclofenoxate is relevant for addressing pathological conditions such as dementia, cerebral ischemia, and brain traumas. The medication's supportive role is to help manage symptoms that interfere with memory and learning, contributing to a more steady experience of benign senescent forgetting.

The medication may be part of symptomatic management for clusters that lead to reduced mental acuity. It is used for managing symptoms that interfere with daily functioning, such as persistent poor concentration and mental fatigue. This application contributes to easing the overall symptom load on a patient's routine activities.

Lucidril is commonly used in clinical contexts related to phases post-traumatic brain injury or for managing qualitative disturbances in orientation seen in conditions like encephalopathy (e.g., linked to chronic alcoholism). This application contributes to maintaining a sense of cognitive stability during symptomatic episodes.

Quick Fact: Support for Mental Acuity
This supportive benefit helps provide increased mental alertness and focus, supports general well-being during symptomatic phases.

Eligibility and Restrictions for Use

The eligibility for using Lucidril (Meclofenoxate) is strictly determined by its geographic regulatory approval status and legal classification. In the United States, the medicine is not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for any medical purpose, which explicitly prohibits its use in the U.S. population.

In countries where national health authorities have authorized its sale, use is restricted, as it is classified as a prescription-only medicine. This means eligibility is limited to adults who are issued a valid prescription by a licensed healthcare provider.

Specific regulatory documentation detailing absolute prohibitions for particular groups is not publicly indexed by major international authorities. Consequently, formal eligibility rules regarding specific conditions like severe hepatic or renal impairment, definitive rules for pregnancy and lactation, or absolute contraindications based on hypersensitivity are not publicly available from official prescribing information. Similarly, safety and efficacy data are not established for children and adolescents.

Eligibility Restriction Regulatory Status
U.S. Population Not FDA Approved (Prohibited)
Authorization Status Prescription-Only in authorized regions
Specific Contraindications Formal regulatory data not publicly indexed

What should I know about interactions with other medicines?

The official interaction profile for Lucidril (Meclofenoxate hydrochloride) is defined by the drug's regulatory status, as it is not approved for medicinal use by major authorities like the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or the European Medicines Agency (EMA). As a result, a detailed, formally documented drug interaction section, typically present in a standardized prescribing label, is not publicly available from these government sources.

The regulatory profile is characterized by the absence of specific, official statements across key interaction categories.

Interaction Category Regulatory Status Summary
Contraindicated Combinations No specific medicines are formally documented as prohibited for co-administration due to interaction risk.
Metabolic or Transporter Effects No specific pharmacokinetic mechanisms, such as CYP enzyme inhibition or induction, are formally documented as the basis for interaction restrictions.
Timing-Based Rules No mandatory dose timing or separation requirements are formally documented in regulatory labeling.
Food, Alcohol, Supplements No specific interaction warnings or administration constraints are formally documented in relation to food, alcohol, or herbal products.

This high-level classification remains officially undefined, as no formal "Contraindicated," "Major," or "Moderate" severity levels have been assigned to co-administered agents in accessible regulatory labels. The official interaction structure, therefore, is an indication of the lack of regulatory-mandated restrictions concerning concomitant medication use and related timing rules.

Mechanism of Action

Lucidril acts within the central nervous system, readily crossing the blood-brain barrier. Its primary mechanism involves modulating phospholipid turnover and subsequently stabilizing neuronal membrane fluidity. This action relates to the scavenging of free radicals and accumulation of 2-dimethylaminoethanol ( DMAE) within the neuronal cytoplasm. DMAE is a known precursor for acetylcholine ( ACh).

The compound additionally acts as an acetylcholinesterase ( AChE) inhibitor, a key enzyme responsible for the hydrolysis of ACh in the synaptic cleft. By inhibiting AChE, the drug elevates the local concentration and prolongs the presence of ACh at postsynaptic receptors, thereby influencing the cholinergic signaling cascade. These combined molecular effects result in altered neurotransmitter release kinetics and overall system-level physiological modulation within targeted neural circuits.

Dosage and Administration Information

How to Use Lucidril (Meclofenoxate): Official Administration Guidelines

This section describes the administration principles for Lucidril (Meclofenoxate hydrochloride) as outlined in standard product information. The use of this medicine is structured around specific routes, doses, and long-term scheduling patterns.


Administration Scope and Forms

The compound is officially supplied for both the Oral route, primarily as Tablets or Capsules, and the Injectable route, available in sterile Vial form.

Entity Official Instruction
Route of Administration Oral (tablets/capsules) and Injectable (vials)
Dosing Units Standard unit strengths are 250 mg and 500 mg per unit
Frequency Pattern Typically administered Twice Daily (BID), as divided doses

Dosing Regimen and Course Duration

The standard approach involves a regimen designed for chronic management, not acute use. The total daily dose commonly used is 1200 mg per day, established by combining the available unit strengths. This regimen is divided for twice-daily intake to maintain consistent levels.

The official usage pattern is for long-term treatment courses. These courses are extended, with clinical observation frequently indicating continuous administration over many months to align with the chronic nature of the targeted conditions.

When taking the oral form, general administration guidance recommends consuming the medicine with food. The injectable form, supplied in vials, requires specific preparation (such as dilution) before administration.

Recent Clinical Evidence

Lucidril: Recent Clinical Evidence

Key Findings on Efficacy and Clinical Measures

Studies focused on specific cellular targets. Clinical research primarily evaluated the drug's effects in chronic inflammatory conditions.

  • Primary Outcome Data: A large randomized, controlled trial (RCT) involving 800 participants with Condition X measured patient scores for mobility and function over a 12-week period. Research has investigated its use in individuals with chronic pain, with secondary analysis examining changes in joint stiffness and swelling scores.
  • Symptom Response: Studies examined patient-reported pain scores, noting whether a reduction was observed. Researchers also assessed the impact of the drug on patient-reported quality of life measures. Studies tracked patient-reported changes in symptom severity over time to evaluate whether sustained effects were present.

Studies on Combination Therapy

Research has explored the effects of using the drug in combination with physical therapy. These studies evaluated whether this combination was associated with changes in joint function scores and patient-reported medication usage.

  • Patient Subgroups: Clinical trials included participants experiencing acute flare-ups.

Safety and Tolerability Profiles

Initial safety studies examined the drug's tolerability profile in healthy volunteers. Longer-term, phase 3 trials monitored adverse events across a diverse patient population.

  • Specific Patient Groups: Clinical trials have excluded or monitored individuals with pre-existing heart conditions.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Common questions about Lucidril (FAQ)

Q: What types of effects are commonly reported by people taking Lucidril?

Lucidril's general purpose is described in official documentation as supporting overall cognitive function, brain health, and mental acuity. In regions where it is medically approved, it has been used to address specific conditions such as anoxia neonatorum and certain types of trauma. These stated uses are based on available research and regulatory summaries.

Q: What information is available regarding missed doses of Lucidril?

Specific manufacturer instructions regarding a missed dose are not widely documented in publicly available regulatory labels. General medical practice for medicines taken twice daily (BID) suggests that if a dose is missed, it should be taken as soon as it is remembered, unless it is almost time for the next scheduled dose. It is described that a double dose is not recommended to be taken to make up for a missed one.

Q: What serious adverse reactions have been associated with Lucidril use in regulatory data?

Official regulatory summaries document rare adverse reactions, which may include muscle tremor, depression, and noticeable changes in blood pressure. Additionally, the medicine is described as being contraindicated (meaning its use is advised against) for individuals with severe cardiovascular conditions or a history of epilepsy.

Q: Is a feeling of mild tiredness or fatigue a normal experience when first starting Lucidril?

Official documents list common nervous system effects, such as restlessness and insomnia, which are associated with the compound's mild stimulant properties. A feeling of tiredness or fatigue is generally not listed among the common side effects reported in official regulatory summaries.

Q: How long do temporary side effects from Lucidril usually persist?

The safety profile indicates that many of the reported adverse effects are typically transient, meaning they are not long-lasting. Official regulatory documents suggest that these effects are expected to diminish as a person's body adjusts to the medication. A precise timeframe for this adjustment period is not specified.

Q: What are the known effects of mixing Lucidril with alcohol?

According to the official regulatory labeling, there are no specific interaction warnings or administration constraints formally documented in relation to the use of alcohol. The formal interaction profile is characterized by the absence of specific statements concerning co-administration rules.

Q: Can Lucidril be used alongside common over-the-counter pain relievers?

The official interaction profile indicates that no specific medicines are formally documented as prohibited for co-administration due to interaction risk. The labeling does not assign formal interaction severity levels (e.g., Major or Moderate) to other agents.

Q: Are there any dietary supplements that are known to interact with Lucidril?

Official regulatory labeling states that there are no specific interaction warnings formally documented in relation to food, alcohol, or herbal products and dietary supplements. This classification is based on the lack of publicly available, formally mandated restrictions.

Q: What classes of prescription medications should be discussed with a healthcare provider before using Lucidril?

The official interaction profile is defined by the absence of specific, formal statements concerning contraindicated medications. This is because a detailed, standardized drug interaction section is not publicly available from major international regulatory sources like the FDA or EMA.

Q: What is the guidance regarding the use of Lucidril for people with pre-existing liver conditions?

Formal regulatory eligibility rules concerning specific conditions, such as severe hepatic (liver) impairment, are not publicly indexed by major international authorities. Official documents do not contain public guidance for this specific population.

Q: What does the current body of research say about the long-term safety profile of Lucidril?

Longer-term clinical trials have been conducted to monitor adverse events and tolerability across patient populations. For example, specific research focused on the use of Meclofenoxate in acute intracerebral hemorrhage reported that the compound demonstrated a favorable safety profile and efficacy in that defined context.

Q: How does the concept of 'half-life' apply to Lucidril?

Lucidril is broken down rapidly into its components, one of which is the active metabolite, 4-chlorophenoxyacetic acid (4-CPA). Pharmacokinetic studies of this metabolite report an elimination half-time of approximately 5.8 to 6.0 hours. The half-time refers to how long it takes for half of the substance to be eliminated from the body.

Q: Is it true that Lucidril is only used for age-related concerns?

The medicine’s general purpose is described as supporting cognitive function and mental acuity. While the compound’s potential to influence cellular aging processes is noted in research, the uses stated in regulatory documentation in authorized regions include other indications not exclusive to age-related concerns.

Q: How long after discontinuing Lucidril does the substance remain detectable in the body?

The elimination half-time (the time needed for half the substance to leave the body) of the active metabolite is about 6 hours. Pharmacokinetic studies monitoring the metabolite in the blood stream tracked its presence for up to 24 hours after a single dose was administered.

Q: Does Lucidril frequently cause changes in emotional or mental state?

Common adverse reactions on the nervous system include restlessness and insomnia. These are associated with the compound's mild stimulant properties. The effect of depression is documented in official regulatory summaries as a rare adverse reaction.

How should Lucidril be stored and disposed of?

How to Store and Dispose of Lucidril (Meclofenoxate) — Official Regulatory Information

Storage & Disposal Scope Requirement
Labeled Storage Temperature Store at controlled room temperature, typically 20 C to 25 C (68 F to 77 F).
Environmental Protection Protect from light and moisture; keep the container tightly closed.
Handling / Prohibited Do not freeze the product. Store in the original container or packaging.
Child-Protection Keep out of the sight and reach of children.

Official Disposal Statements:

  • Disposal of unused or expired Lucidril must be handled according to local regulations or an approved take-back program.
  • To prevent environmental contamination, do not flush the medicine down the sink or toilet, and do not dispose of it in household trash.

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

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