Cerebrolysin (BDNF - GDNF - NGF - CNTF)

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Cerebrolysin (developmental code name FPF-1070) is a mixture of enzymatically treated peptides derived from pig brain whose constituents can include brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), nerve growth factor (NGF), and ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF).

I am currently trying Cerebrolysin, which is believed to be an efficient BDNF / NGF booster. For best results, this should be used in the acute or subacute stage.

The protocol as per my neurologist is 21 days minimum of daily IM or IV injection of the 5ml ampoule. You should not expect to see results before the 3 weeks marker if that's the case. I have no idea about the 10ml ampoules but maybe they could be useful if you are finding benefits and can tolerate it well. It is considered a safe drug and used in strokes , traumatic brain injury and dementia treatment.

The treatment period can increase to 3-4 months if patient is responding to it (as per my neurologist)

Researches regarding BDNF/NGF for tinnitus are lacking a lot. But, a study suggests that patients with tinnitus have elevated plasma levels on BDNF, but it does not correlate to an increase in tinnitus. So, it is a therapeutic effect (the brain trying to heal).

Another study unfortunately, reports the exact opposite. The tinnitus patients have lower BDNF levels.
I will be giving this a trial for 3 weeks. Those below lines are copied from the FAQs about the drug.

• WHAT ARE NEUROPEPTIDES?
  Neuropeptides are small protein-like molecules used by neurons to communicate with each other.
  
  
• IS CEREBROLYSIN® A MULTI-MODAL DRUG AND HOW DOES CEREBROLYSIN® WORK?
  Similar to neuropeptides Cerebrolysin® interacts with several pathways of intracellular signal transduction and is therefore considered as multi-modal drug. The cellular integration of these signals results in the observed neuroprotective and neurorestorative effects.
  
  
• IS CEREBROLYSIN® A SAFE DRUG?
  As Cerebrolysin® is meanwhile used for many years and the safety profile of the drug is well-established. Therefore the submission frequency for Periodic Safety Update Reports was set to 13 years by the European Medicines Agency (EMA).
  
  
• WHAT ARE THE MOST FREQUENTLY REPORTED SIDE EFFECTS OF CEREBOLYSIN?
  The side effects of Cerebrolysin® are rare and of mild intensity. The most frequently reported adverse reactions with Cerebrolysin® are dizziness, headache, sweating, and nausea.
  
  
• IS THE CEREBROLYSIN® DOSAGE ADJUSTED FOR THE PATIENT’S BODY WEIGHT?
  There is no data available about adjustment for the patient's body weight.
  
  
• WHEN SHOULD CEREBROLYSIN® BE GIVEN AFTER STROKE?
  Time is Brain is one of the most important messages for patients, caregivers and doctors. All treatments for acute stroke, if indicated, should be given as fast as possible. Cerebrolysin® supports neuroprotection and neurorecovery and the earlier the patient receives the agent, the more the patient will benefit from them. Newest data also show beneficial effects if Cerebrolysin® is administered at a later stage.
  
  
• DOES CEREBROLYSIN® SUPPORT RECOVERY WHEN ADMINISTERED IN THE SUB ACUTE PHASE AFTER STROKE?
  Yes, Cerebrolysin® stimulates natural recovery processes after stroke. These processes are most prominent during first 3 months post-stroke. Therefore, Cerebrolysin® can be given within this broad treatment window. Both the research and clinical data for Cerebrolysin® indicate that the best treatment effects are seen when Cerebrolysin® is administered as soon as it is possible after stroke and continued during the natural recovery phase.
  
  
• IS CEREBROLYSIN® USED AFTER TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY
  Yes, Cerebrolysin® is used after TBI, including concussions, the most common and least serious type of traumatic brain injury.

 

Just wanted to make dosage clearer, only the 5ml ampoule should be given IM. 10ml ampoules should only be given IV injection. Anything more than 10ml you will need to use IV infusion.

 

Very interesting, never even heard of it before, but have seen studies about BDNF and NGF in regards to tinnitus before.

What country did you get this prescribed in? Seems like it might only be a potential treatment in certain countries.

Definitely update us on how it goes.

 

I am in Egypt. I will let you know how it went after 3 weeks.

 

I’m using 25ml a day. Been on it a little over 3 weeks. No effect on tinnitus. I think you need at least 4 weeks, and preferably 2 months

 

I hope you find some positive results. Do you use it through IV infusion?

 

I use 5 needles with 5ml each.

 

5 injections per day must be painful. Good luck. Also, try to listen to some sound therapy after the injections. That's how I will do it hoping that the drug will be more efficient in connecting neurons related to the auditory pathways.

When they give this drug to stroke patients who have motor problems, they inject and then try to make them move etc, not just lay in bed. I hope you get the idea if that makes sense.

 

I’ve just been doing regular sound-exposure. Actually, come to think of it; I think it really is helping, considering the fact that I’ve been exposing almost all day every day without getting setbacks. Normally I definitely think I would. Maybe the Cerebrolysin is keeping me from getting worse. Maybe even to a point where I can function normally now without having to worry about setbacks. I’ll keep posted in this thread.

 

Same thought came to me. I just came back from the dentist and he used heavy drilling. 15 minutes at least. Last time I went (2 weeks ago) I spent the following week with a horrible spike. Today, nothing. Maybe even better than the normal.

 

A fascinating self-study. One thing you both might want to try is Otonomy's sample Words-in-Noise test. They've already shown BDNF can improve hearing. Maybe take the test once a week and see if you notice any improvement in your hearing. If not, it may mean that not much BDNF is making it to your cochlea.

 

I personally do not have hearing loss so I can hear the test pretty well.

I found this post about Cerebrolysin pretty informative:

https://www.leoandlongevity.com/post/cerebrolysin

So far I am on my 3rd dose. Nothing significant yet.

 

If you're going to do Cerebrolysin, you should add in Vinpocetine, Pentoxifylline and Piracetam to it too.

Here is a patent from Russia where they use all these compounds:

Agent for sensorineural hearing loss treatment (versions)

 

I am already on Piracetam, Vinpocetine and Ginkgo Biloba. Will see what benefits Pentoxifylline could add.

 

Today I have completed my 21 day course. Nothing significant to report. Could be slightly better but hard to tell.

 

@ma7555, what was your dose?

 

First week, 5 ML everyday. After the first week I started taking 5 ML every other day.

How is it going for you?

 

Strange. I read about a neurologist who uses this to manage his tinnitus. It lowers his tinnitus. Maybe I'll look into this...

@LostinTX, have you tried this?

 

25 ML a day, 5 days a week. I think it helps, the effects are just very subtle. I will discontinue it when I run out though. We’ll see what happens then.

 

How do I get this drug in America?

 

Neurologist.

 

Any more news on this?

 

Have things changed at all for you? I'd love to hear any news.

 

Sorry pal, I don't think Cerebrolysin was significantly beneficial in my case. It did something by the way, but it was not significantly positive. The physical electrical feeling associated with my tinnitus went down somewhat but the volume not so much (maybe a tiny bit).

I felt I was having negative results at first but my Neurologist asked me to continue with a reduced dosage (every other day instead of everyday) because he was so confident it can not make me worse (he was right) and he was optimistic that this drug can end my tinnitus so I stuck with it.

Please note that this is the a potent BDNF - GDNF - NGF - CNTF booster and it could benefit a subset of tinnitus sufferers based purely on logic.

My experience should not hold you off from trying it if you think it may help you. It is rather safe and I experienced no side effects at all. My dosage was rather low (5ML every other day) in comparison with @danielthor who was shooting 25ML everyday. I may do another round in a few months if things didn't resolve but with a higher dosage.

 

How are you now?

 

If you don't mind my asking, do you have measurable hearing loss, like an audiogram test showed a defined gap in your ability to hear? Implying dead cochlear hair cells?

 

It didn’t help, so I discontinued. I tried it for 2 months almost. I read a study that said benzos can inhibit neurogenesis and I’ve been taking benzos daily this whole time so that might be why it didn’t work. I doubt it though. The first time I tried it I was not on benzos but it didn’t seem to do much then either. I’m in a setback with reactive tinnitus right now, but I don’t think that has anything to do with me stopping Cerebrolysin because, now that I think about it, I was already getting big improvements before I went on Cerebrolysin.

 

Benzos are horrible for healing I feel.

 

I’ve given up on any sort of healing. Benzos are mainly there for me to stop me from killing myself while I wait for the miracle.

 

Same. How much do you take daily?