Citicoline is an investigational new drug in this
country that was provided on a compassionate use basis
in two cases of traumatic brain injury after horseback
riding accidents. While this report is primarily anecdotal,
the behavioral observations in both cases suggested atypical
patterns of improvement and perhaps greater recovery than
might otherwise have been predicted. The side effect profile
of this drug is negligible and previous experimental research
has yielded positive findings for treatment after stroke
and head trauma, as well as memory loss in aging. Consequently,
Citicoline may potentially be very helpful for patients
suffering traumatic brain injuries and should, in our opinion,
be made available and studied further in this clinical
population. (JINS, 1999, 5, 260–264.)