Cerebrolysin: a peptide mixture reported in millilitres, from its stroke studies

What is cerebrolysin, and what are people searching for?

The 2023 Cochrane review describes cerebrolysin as a mixture of low-molecular-weight peptides and amino acids derived from porcine brain, with possible neuroprotective properties [1]. It is widely used for acute ischaemic stroke in Russia, eastern Europe, China and other Asian and post-Soviet countries, according to the same review. The cited studies report cerebrolysin solution volumes in mL and do not supply a mass concentration for a syringe conversion.

Searches for the name ask what it is, whether it works after a stroke, and how much was used. The first two have published answers, summarised below with their uncertainty. The third has a study answer, a daily infusion volume in hospital patients, which describes a research setting and is not a personal amount.

What do the Cochrane review and the stroke studies report?

The review pooled seven randomised studies with 1773 participants that started cerebrolysin, or a similar product called Cortexin, within 48 hours of an ischaemic stroke [1]. It found probably little to no difference in death from any cause (risk ratio 0.96) and in the total number of people with serious adverse events. It also found a probable increase in non-fatal serious adverse events (risk ratio 2.39), more marked in the subgroup given 30 mL daily for 10 days.

The review judged most domains of bias as unclear, and noted that the manufacturer supported three of the multicentre studies [1]. Its conclusion was that moderate-certainty evidence shows no benefit on death and a possible increase in non-fatal serious harms.

The largest single study, published in Stroke in 2012, randomised 1070 patients in Asia within 12 hours of stroke onset to 30 mL of cerebrolysin or saline by daily intravenous infusion for 10 days, on top of aspirin, and followed them for 90 days [2]. Its primary end point, a combined test of three disability and stroke scales, showed no significant difference between groups. A post hoc look at the most severely affected patients suggested a trend favouring cerebrolysin, which the authors said needed confirmation.

How is cerebrolysin measured?

The cited studies report cerebrolysin solution volumes in mL and do not supply a mass concentration for a syringe conversion [2][1]. The only arithmetic the sources support is volume multiplied by days: 30 mL a day for 10 days is 300 mL across the course, the cumulative figure the Cochrane review uses for its subgroup [1][4].

There is no milligram value, no concentration and no syringe-unit conversion in either source, so this page does not produce one. Infusion volumes of this size are given in hospital, not drawn into an insulin syringe. The peptide calculator handles single compounds with a labeled amount; it has nothing to divide here.

How do people log cerebrolysin in PinPoint?

PinPoint's library has no cerebrolysin entry [3]. The app records compounds from its library, which covers peptides, TRT and GLP-1 medicines across injection, oral, nasal, topical and sublingual routes, and the peptide library lists every compound guide it covers [5].

For compounds that are in the library, entries record compound, dose, site and pain level, side effects with severity ratings and daily notes, and export as PDF, CSV or JSON [5]. Ask PinPoint can summarise what published references say about a library compound, and it never recommends a dose or a change [5].

What do people ask about cerebrolysin?

What is cerebrolysin?

Cerebrolysin is a mixture of low-molecular-weight peptides and amino acids derived from pig brain. The 2023 Cochrane review describes it as widely used for acute stroke in Russia, eastern Europe, China and other Asian countries.

Does cerebrolysin help after a stroke?

The 2023 Cochrane review found probably little to no difference in death from any cause and a possible increase in non-fatal serious adverse events. The largest single study had a neutral primary result.

How was cerebrolysin given in the stroke studies?

The 2012 study gave 30 mL a day by intravenous infusion for 10 days in hospital, against saline. That is a research schedule for acute stroke, not a personal amount.

Is cerebrolysin in the PinPoint app?

No. The compound library has no cerebrolysin entry, and the peptide library page lists the compounds it covers.

Where do these facts come from?

Sources are listed by kind: labels first, then peer-reviewed papers, then PinPoint's own library, arithmetic and app description. Library values were retrieved from the PinPoint application on 5 October 2026; vendor listings support package sizes only.

1. Cochrane review: cerebrolysin for acute ischaemic stroke, 2023Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2023. Seven randomised studies, 1773 participants; all-cause death, serious adverse events and the 30 mL for 10 days subgroup.Retrieved 2026-10-05 · systematic review
2. Cerebrolysin in acute ischemic stroke in Asia, placebo-controlled randomised study, 2012Stroke, 2012. 1070 patients; 30 mL daily by intravenous infusion or saline for 10 days, followed to 90 days; neutral primary end point.Retrieved 2026-10-05 · study
3. PinPoint compound library, application recordsHalf-life inputs, routes, frequencies, package examples and confidence labels as stored in the iOS app library and mirrored in the peptide guides.Retrieved 2026-10-05 · library
4. Unit conversion arithmeticConcentration = amount / volume; volume = amount / concentration; U-100 units = mL x 100; remaining fraction = 2^(-elapsed / half-life).Retrieved 2026-10-05 · arithmetic
5. PinPoint App Store descriptionFeature wording from the approved application description, not pricing.Retrieved 2026-10-05 · app-description