Compound or practice · Supplement
Idebenone
A synthetic CoQ10 relative with niche evidence in specific mitochondrial diseases, not general use.
- Overall grade
- Grade C
- Last revised
- 1
- graded outcome
- 0
- references listed
A structured monograph in Prometheus's bundled library. Its grades are the monograph's own reading of the evidence, not a peer-reviewed review.
1 at grade C — 1 graded row
What is known
Each outcome with its grade (how strong the evidence is, A to D), the size of the effect where the entry records one, and how often studies agree.
- Mitochondrial disease (specific)Evidence grade C
Niche, medical
Moderatemixed
What is uncertain
Read off the same rows as above. Nothing here is added that the entry does not itself record.
- Thin evidence: Mitochondrial disease (specific) (grade C).
The evidence in words
What it is
Idebenone is a synthetic analog of CoQ10 developed for mitochondrial disorders.
How it works
It supports mitochondrial electron transport and has antioxidant activity, with better water solubility than CoQ10.
What the evidence shows
It has genuine (if modest) evidence in specific conditions like Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy and is used medically there; general cognitive/anti-aging use in healthy people is unsupported.
Safety & interactions
Generally tolerated; medical uses are supervised.
Bottom line
A real drug for niche mitochondrial diseases, not a general nootropic. No case for healthy-person use.
Related reading
Entries that share this one's tags or conditions.
- Methylene BlueA century-old dye and drug repurposed as a low-dose mitochondrial nootropic — real pharmacology, serious MAOI-level interactions.Evidence grade C
- Acetyl-L-Carnitine (ALCAR)The brain-penetrant carnitine — real evidence for diabetic neuropathy, softer signals for mood and aging cognition.Evidence grade B
- Idebenone for Mitochondrial disease (specific)Evidence grade C — Niche, medicalEvidence grade C
- Idebenone: side effects, safety & interactionsGenerally tolerated; medical uses are supervised.Evidence grade C
Sources
This entry lists no references of its own.
Last revised . A grade is this entry's reading of the evidence, not medical advice.