Citicoline
OTHER NAME(S): CDP-choline, citicoline, citidine-5-diphosphocholine
Overview
Citicoline is a substance that is made by your body from a nutrient called choline. Citicoline can be turned into many chemicals that have important functions in the body and brain. Dietary supplements that contain citicoline are commonly used for brain and eye health, but their benefits for these uses are not well defined. Common side effects include anxiety, restlessness, and an upset stomach. Before using citicoline, tell your health care provider about all of your health conditions and any medicines or supplements you may be using.
Uses
What is citicoline used for?
Citicoline is used for many reasons, but its benefits are not well defined. Some common reasons for using citicoline include the following.
- Dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease
- Glaucoma
- Stroke
- To improve memory and thinking skills
Note: The FDA has not reviewed citicoline for safety and effectiveness. Learn more about dietary supplements here.
How does citicoline work (mechanism of action)?
Citicoline is a substance that your body uses to make chemicals that have many important functions in your cells. Although citicoline is not a natural part of the diet, your body makes citicoline from other nutrients, such as choline, that are found in the diet. Dietary supplements that contain citicoline are made in a lab (synthetic).
Your body needs citicoline to make important brain chemicals, including dopamine, norepinephrine, and acetylcholine. These chemicals send messages in the brain and affect the way that your brain responds to certain information. Citicoline is also a building block of phosphatidylcholine, a substance that helps keep your brain cells working properly. But the citicoline in supplements does not pass directly into your brain. Instead, your body turns citicoline into choline, which then passes into your brain. Once choline has passed into your brain, some of it is turned back into citicoline.
There is interest in taking citicoline for various conditions that affect the brain, and it has been studied for improving memory and thinking skills. Although some small studies show that citicoline may help improve memory in older adults with memory problems or in people with dementia, other studies have not found any benefit. It is not clear whether citicoline is helpful for improving memory or thinking skills.
Citicoline has also been used in people who have had a stroke that was caused by a clot in the brain (ischemic stroke). Unfortunately, most research shows that citicoline does not help people survive after a stroke or recover from disability after a stroke.
There is also interest in using citicoline supplements or eye drops in people with an eye condition called glaucoma. Although some research has been done, more studies are needed to know whether citicoline can slow down vision loss in people with this condition.
How should I store citicoline?
You should store citicoline according to the product label. Most dietary supplements should be kept in a cool, dry location that is out of the reach of children and pets and not in direct sunlight.
Side Effects
What are the most common side effects of citicoline?
The most common side effects of citicoline are listed below. These side effects may vary depending on the dose you are taking or the specific product you are using. Tell your health care provider if you have any of these side effects that bother you.
- Anxiety or restlessness
- Upset stomach
There may be other side effects of citicoline that are not listed here. Contact your health care provider if you think you are having a side effect of a supplement. In the U.S., you can report side effects to the FDA at www.safetyreporting.hhs.gov or by calling 888-SAFEFOOD (888-723-3366). In Canada, you can report side effects to Health Canada at www.health.gc.ca/medeffect or by calling 866-234-2345.
What are the serious side effects of citicoline?
While less common, the most serious side effects of citicoline are described below, along with what to do if they happen.
Severe Allergic Reactions. Citicoline may cause allergic reactions, which can be serious. Stop using citicoline and get help right away if you have any of the following symptoms of a serious allergic reaction.
- Breathing problems or wheezing
- Racing heart
- Fever or general ill feeling
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Swelling of the face, lips, mouth, tongue, or throat
- Trouble swallowing or throat tightness
- Itching or skin rash
- Bumps on the skin called hives that can be red, pink, white, or brown depending on your skin tone
- Nausea or vomiting
- Dizziness, feeling lightheaded, or fainting
- Stomach cramps
- Joint pain
Precautions
Who should not use citicoline?
Allergies to Ingredients. People who are allergic to any of the following should not use citicoline.
- Citicoline
- Any of the ingredients in the specific product
Your pharmacist can tell you all of the ingredients in the specific citicoline products they stock.
What should I know about citicoline before using it?
Citicoline is a dietary supplement. It cannot be marketed to treat or cure a disease.
Read and follow the directions on the specific product you are using, or use it as recommended by your health care provider.
Keep citicoline out of the reach of children.
Some dietary supplements that contain citicoline may refer to it as CDP-choline. Products that contain citicoline and are marketed for brain health or as “nootropics” may also contain other ingredients. These other ingredients can have different effects in the body. Read the product label closely to see which ingredients it contains.
The FDA has not tested citicoline products to confirm that they contain the ingredients stated on their labels. Some dietary supplements have been tested by third-party organizations to confirm that they contain the ingredients listed on their labels and do not contain any harmful chemicals. Learn more about how to choose a safe dietary supplement product here.
What should I tell my health care provider before using citicoline?
Tell your health care provider about all of your health conditions and any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins/minerals, herbal products, and other supplements you are using. This will help them know if citicoline is right for you.
In particular, make sure that you discuss any of the following.
Current and Past Health Conditions.Tell your health care provider if you have any of the following.
- Dementia
- Glaucoma
- Parkinson’s disease
Other Medicines and Supplements.Citicoline may interact with other medicines and supplements. Before using citicoline, tell your health care provider about any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins/minerals, herbal products, and other supplements you are using. See the Interactions section for more details.
Pregnancy. It is not known if or how citicoline could affect pregnancy or harm a fetus. Tell your health care provider if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.
Breastfeeding. It is not known if citicoline passes into breast milk. Tell your health care provider if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.
Interactions
Does citicoline interact with foods or drinks?
There are no known interactions between citicoline and foods or drinks.
It is unknown if drinking alcohol will affect citicoline.
Does citicoline interact with medicines (drug interactions)?
Always tell your health care provider about any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins/minerals, herbal products, and other supplements you are using.
In particular, make sure that you discuss if you are taking levodopa, which is a medicine for Parkinson’s disease.
The interactions between citicoline and medicines are not fully understood. As with most dietary supplements, the research on drug interactions with citicoline is incomplete. Always check with your health care provider before using citicoline with any medicines.
Dosing
What should I do if I accidentally use too much citicoline?
If you or someone else has used too much citicoline, get medical help right away, call 911, or contact a Poison Control center at 800-222-1222.
Citicoline comes in a wide range of doses and may be combined with other ingredients. Read the product label closely, and speak with a health care provider about how to use citicoline safely. Do not use double or extra doses, even if you miss a dose.
References
- Alcoholism, Clinical and Experimental Research: “A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of citicoline in patients with alcohol use disorder.”
- Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews: “Citicoline for treating people with acute ischemic stroke (Review).”
- EFSA Journal: “‘Citicoline’ and support of the memory function: Evaluation of a health claim pursuant to Article 13(5) of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006,” “Scientific Opinion on the safety of citicoline as a Novel Food ingredient,” “Scientific Opinion on the substantiation of a health claim related to cytidine 5‐diphosphocholine and maintenance of normal vision pursuant to Article 13(5) of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006.”
- Journal of Glaucoma: “Can treatment with citicoline eyedrops reduce progression in glaucoma? The results of a randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial.”
- The Journal of Nutrition: “Citicoline and memory function in healthy older adults: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial.”
- National Cancer Institute: “Citicoline.”
- Nutrients: “Is citicoline effective in preventing and slowing down dementia?-A systematic review and a meta-analysis.”