library.onepin.app/citicoline Peptide Education Library

Education only, not medical advice◆ 21+◆ Every dose is an example to finalize with a licensed provider

OnePin Peptide Library · Cognitive & Mood

Cognitive & Mood CDP-Choline (Cytidine 5'-Diphosphocholine)

Citicoline

CDP-Choline · CDP-Choline (Citicoline)

CDP-Choline (Cytidine 5'-Diphosphocholine)EU/Asian Pharmaceutical / US SupplementCognitive / Stroke RecoveryPhosphatidylcholine Precursor

Citicoline (CDP-Choline / Cytidine 5'-Diphosphocholine) is a naturally occurring intermediate in the synthesis of phosphatidylcholine, a major brain phospholipid. After oral ingestion, citicoline rapidly hydrolyzes to choline and cytidine - both cross the BBB and are re-synthesized to citicoline in the brain.

Quick Start

Route

Oral capsule or tablet

Start low

250-500mg daily

Frequency

1-2x daily

Timing

Independent

Morning or split AM/PM.

❋

Start here. Every protocol below is ordered lowest-first. Begin at the smallest effective dose, hold about a week to assess tolerance, and step up only if needed.

Tiered Protocols · lowest first

Quick Start

Conservative start

250-500mg daily · Oral capsule or tablet · 1-2x daily

Lowest starting point. Hold about a week to assess tolerance before stepping up.

250-500mg daily

1-2x daily

Standard

Choline Source & Focus

250-500 mg · Oral · Daily

human clinical trial · McGlade et al. 2012 (Food Nutr Sci)

250-500 mg

Daily

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How it works

Citicoline supports phosphatidylcholine biosynthesis:

Membrane Phospholipid Substrate

Provides choline + cytidine for neuronal membrane phosphatidylcholine synthesis.

Acetylcholine Precursor

Choline component supports acetylcholine synthesis - cholinergic neurotransmission.

Dopamine and Norepinephrine

Indirect effects on catecholamines via phosphatidylcholine-mediated receptor function.

Neuroprotection

Reduces phospholipase activation in stroke / TBI - protects from membrane breakdown.

Sirtuin SIRT1 Activation

Some evidence of SIRT1 pathway involvement.

What to expect

Early

Days 1–7

Days 1-7: subtle attention/focus effects.

Mid

Weeks 2–4

Weeks 1-4: peak cognitive effects.

Later

Weeks 4–12

Long-term continuous use OK.

Evidence

HumanStrong

AnimalStrong

In-vitroPresent

2011Citicoline: a review of its pharmacology and clinical efficacy in cognitive disorders · Secades JJ, Methods and Findings in Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology ↗review

2002Citicoline for acute ischemic stroke · Davalos A et al, Stroke ↗peer reviewed

2012Citicoline improves cognitive function in young adults · McGlade E et al, Food and Nutrition Sciences ↗peer reviewed

Interactions & stacking

What's safe to combine, and what belongs in a separate pin.

Keep separate

Side effects & safety

Commonly reported

Generally well-tolerated
Mild headache (early dosing)
Mild GI rare

Less common & notes

Long-term safety excellent per decades of EU pharmaceutical use.
Allergic reactions rare.

Pharmacokinetics

Illustrative plasma concentration · 24 h

Half-life

~56 hours (long)

Peak · Tmax

~1-3 hours

Elimination

Days at steady state

Activity

Daily dosing maintains steady state

Storage. Capsule. Cool dry location.

Regulatory status

EU/Asian pharmaceutical drug. US dietary supplement (DSHEA).

Put it to work

Calculate, log & track

Open Citicoline straight into OnePin with your vial and dose pre-filled, then let it handle the syringe math and remind you before the vial runs out.

Open Citicoline in the app →

Go deeper

The guide & community

The complete Citicoline walkthrough, real protocol discussion and coaching live inside the BlessUp community on Skool.

Join the community ↗

Open in app Community