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Vitamins & vitamin-like compounds

Idebenone

Idebenone / synthetic CoQ10 analog

Idebenone is a synthetic CoQ10 analog with real but indication-specific medicine evidence, mainly Leber hereditary optic neuropathy rather than general nootropic use. The clearest dose context is Raxone 900 mg/day with food in EMA materials; U.S. status is different because FDA issued a Complete Response Letter on March 5, 2026 and requested additional clinical data. Compare listings through regulated status, identity, 900 mg/day cost context, food-dependent exposure, and medical safety caveats.

Healthy AgingCellular SupportMitochondrial SupportAntioxidant PathwaysBioavailability SensitiveClinical ResearchModerate Human Evidence
Updated August 2026/6 min read/6 citations
Reviewed by the NootropicsIndex editorial team.Method: prioritize cited human research and official safety or regulatory sources; compare retailer-listed prices without endorsing products.Affiliate disclosure
01

What is it?

Synthetic CoQ10 analog medicine context

2

Idebenone is a synthetic short-chain analog of coenzyme Q10. The strongest public clinical context is Leber hereditary optic neuropathy, a mitochondrial optic-nerve disease, where Raxone is authorized in the EU. That is very different from a general nootropic, antioxidant, or memory supplement claim.

Not a general cognition enhancer4
Idebenone listings should be compared through medicine-status, dose-context, product identity, and safety questions. Do not treat LHON data as proof of focus, studying, memory, or productivity benefits in healthy users.
Evidence boundary6
This profile separates indication-specific LHON medicine evidence from supplement and nootropic marketing. EU authorization does not make Idebenone a proven healthy-user cognition enhancer, and the U.S. FDA decision as of March 5, 2026 remained not approved.
Timing evidence gap2
Reliable healthy-user onset, acute duration, cycling, tolerance, and effect half life were not established from the sources used here. Keep those unknown rather than turning treatment-study duration into a consumer plan.
02

Names, aliases and forms

Common NameIdebenone
Brand NameRaxone
Chemical NameSynthetic CoQ10 analog
Cas Number58186-27-9
Pubchem Cid3686
Regulatory NameUNII HB6PN45W4J
Molecular FormulaC19H30O5
03

Mechanisms of action

Mitochondrial electron-carrier rationale

2

Idebenone is designed as a short-chain benzoquinone related to CoQ10. In LHON, the rationale is mitochondrial electron transport and oxidative-stress biology in retinal ganglion cells, but mechanism plausibility is not the same as evidence for everyday cognitive enhancement.

04

Potential effects and evidence map

Idebenone has meaningful human evidence and EU regulatory review for Leber hereditary optic neuropathy, including the RHODOS randomized trial and supportive LEROS observational data. The evidence is not a general memory, focus, productivity, or healthy-aging nootropic proof. U.S. regulatory status was not approved as of the March 5, 2026 Complete Response Letter, which requested additional clinical data for LHON.

Effect domainMagnitudeGrade
Cellular / long-term brain support2
CumulativeConfidence: Medium

Idebenone has indication-specific human evidence for visual outcomes in Leber hereditary optic neuropathy, not broad brain or nootropic enhancement.

Note EU authorization relies on LHON-specific evidence including RHODOS and supportive longer-term data. The effect should be framed as mitochondrial optic-neuropathy treatment context, not generic cognitive support.

3/5
B
Memory / learning4
UnknownConfidence: Medium

No reliable evidence was found that idebenone improves memory, learning, focus, or productivity in healthy users.

Note Do not extrapolate from LHON or mitochondrial-disease work into general nootropic claims.

0/5
E
05

Typical dosages and timing

Typical
900-900 mg/day
Not a recommendation
Lower bound
900 mg
Profile value
Upper bound
900 mg
Profile value
Raxone label dose3900 mg/day

EMA materials describe the recommended Raxone adult dose as 900 mg/day, usually two 150 mg tablets three times daily with food. This is medicine-label context for LHON, not a supplement-store serving suggestion.

Raxone label context3With food

The product information directs administration with food because food increases idebenone exposure. If a product is not a regulated medicine, label quality and dose accuracy become separate concerns.

06

Timing & effect horizon

Effect horizonUnknown
Unknown
RHODOS course4

The RHODOS randomized trial used 900 mg/day for 24 weeks in LHON. This is study duration, not an acute effect duration or nootropic cycle.

LEROS follow-up5

LEROS adds longer open-label observational context in LHON, but it remains disease-specific and not a healthy-user cognition study.

07

Safety, side effects and risk profile

Legal / regulatory risk6
Confidence: High

Regulatory status is indication- and jurisdiction-specific.

Note Raxone is EU-authorized for LHON under the EMA framework, while the FDA issued a Complete Response Letter on March 5, 2026 and requested more clinical data before U.S. approval.

3/5
A
GI discomfort3
Confidence: High

Diarrhea and nausea are recognized adverse reactions.

Note EMA public materials list diarrhea among the most common adverse reactions; product information should guide medicine use.

2/5
A
Liver / kidney caution3
Confidence: Medium

Use is not established in significant hepatic or renal impairment.

Note Regulatory product information includes impairment cautions; consumer products do not replace medical monitoring.

3/5
B
Interaction risk3
Confidence: Low

Interaction data are limited and medicine-context review matters.

Note Use caution with prescription medications, mitochondrial disease care plans, anticoagulants, diabetes drugs, liver-metabolized medicines, and other antioxidant stacks until a clinician reviews the regimen.

2/5
C
Pregnancy / lactation caution3
Confidence: Medium

Pregnancy and lactation require medical review.

Note Idebenone is a medicine in some jurisdictions; pregnancy, lactation, pediatric, and fertility questions should follow product information and clinician advice, not supplement-store claims.

3/5
C
Evidence uncertainty2
Confidence: High

Evidence is specific to LHON and does not validate general cognitive use.

Note The regulatory and clinical evidence base is disease-specific, and the latest U.S. decision requested additional clinical data.

3/5
A
Recognized adverse reactions3

Regulatory materials list adverse reactions such as diarrhea and other tolerability issues. People using Idebenone as a medicine should follow the product information and prescriber advice rather than online supplement advice.

Medical-review groups3

Get professional review first with pregnancy or lactation, pediatric use, liver or kidney impairment, complex mitochondrial disease care, diabetes medications, anticoagulants, immunosuppressants, or planned surgery.

08

Interactions and cautions

Do not stack blindly3

Interaction evidence is not broad enough to green-light high-dose antioxidant, mitochondrial, stimulant, anticoagulant, diabetes, or liver-metabolized medication stacks. A medicine-dose product deserves medicine-level review.

09

Legal and regulatory status

EU and U.S. status differ6

In the EU, Raxone is authorized for LHON under EMA oversight. In the United States, Chiesi announced on March 5, 2026 that FDA issued a Complete Response Letter and requested additional clinical data before idebenone could be approved for LHON. Other countries may differ.

10

Practical buying and quality notes

  • For Idebenone listings, compare whether the product is a regulated medicine, research chemical, or supplement-style listing; whether the identity is Idebenone, CAS 58186-27-9, CID 3686; whether there is batch testing; and whether the seller makes disease or cognition claims that exceed local rules.1
  • A normalized price based on 900 mg/day is useful for comparing label-context cost, but it should not be read as advice for healthy users or as evidence that a non-medicine product is equivalent to Raxone.3
11

FAQ

What is Idebenone?

2

Idebenone is a synthetic CoQ10-like benzoquinone. Its strongest regulatory and clinical context is the medicine Raxone for Leber hereditary optic neuropathy, not general nootropic use.

What is the Idebenone dosage?

3

The clearest label dose is 900 mg/day for Raxone in LHON, taken as 300 mg three times daily with food. That is a medicine-label context, not a healthy-user supplement recommendation.

How long is Idebenone studied for?

4

The RHODOS randomized trial ran for 24 weeks, and LEROS provides open-label observational follow-up up to 24 months. Those durations are disease-study contexts and should not be converted into a nootropic cycle.

Does Idebenone improve memory or focus?

2

There is no reliable evidence here for healthy-user memory, focus, or productivity enhancement. The main evidence is LHON-specific visual-outcome research and regulatory review.

Is Idebenone approved in the United States?

6

No FDA approval was identified from the cited current source. Chiesi announced a Complete Response Letter on March 5, 2026 for the LHON NDA, with FDA requesting additional clinical data before approval.

12

References

  1. PubChem. Idebenone (CID 3686). Accessed 2026-07-01.
  2. European Medicines Agency. Raxone (idebenone) EPAR medicine overview. Accessed 2026-07-01.
  3. European Medicines Agency. Raxone: EPAR product information.
  4. Klopstock T, Yu-Wai-Man P, Dimitriadis K, et al. A randomized placebo-controlled trial of idebenone in Leber hereditary optic neuropathy. Brain. 2011;134(Pt 9):2677-2686.
  5. Yu-Wai-Man P, Newman NJ, Carelli V, et al. Efficacy and safety of idebenone in patients with Leber hereditary optic neuropathy: LEROS, a multicenter, open-label, observational study. Cell Rep Med. 2024;5(3):101437.
  6. Chiesi Global Rare Diseases. Chiesi Global Rare Diseases receives Complete Response Letter from FDA for idebenone to treat Leber hereditary optic neuropathy. 2026-03-05.
Note

This page is informational and summarizes available evidence. It is not medical advice, a recommendation, or a substitute for guidance from a qualified clinician.