Safety Profile
Overall safety rating: Generally Safe
CDP-Choline (Citicoline) Side Effects & Safety
This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Consult your healthcare provider before starting any supplement. Full disclaimer
Potential Side Effects
- Generally very well-tolerated with an excellent safety profile
- Rare: mild headache, nausea, or digestive discomfort
- Very rare: insomnia if taken late in the day
- No significant adverse effects reported in trials up to 2000mg/day
Drug & Supplement Interactions
- Levodopa (Parkinson's medications) — citicoline may enhance efficacy, allowing lower levodopa doses
- Cholinesterase inhibitors — potential additive cholinergic effects
- Anticholinergic drugs — citicoline may reduce their effectiveness
Maximum Dose
Do not exceed: 2000mg/day (clinical stroke doses; supplement doses typically cap at 500mg)
References
- McGlade E, Locatelli A, Hardy J, et al. (2012). Improved attentional performance following citicoline administration in healthy adult women. Food and Nutrition Sciences. DOI
- Gareri P, Castagna A, Cotroneo AM, et al. (2015). The role of citicoline in cognitive impairment: pharmacological characteristics, possible advantages, and doubts for an old drug with new perspectives. Clinical Interventions in Aging. DOI PubMed
- Dávalos A, Alvarez-Sabín J, Castillo J, et al. (2012). Citicoline in the treatment of acute ischaemic stroke: an international, randomised, multicentre, placebo-controlled study (ICTUS trial). The Lancet. DOI PubMed