Citicoline is a pharmaceutical substance that is used for different brain-related issues.
It has interesting results against symptoms of dementia, brain damage, strokes, and ADHD. This substance is basically a synthetic form of a natural precursor that your brain already produces called choline.
It can help your brain function properly and heal from certain conditions.
So, does citicoline help ADHD?
Yes, citicoline does in fact help with ADHD related symptoms. It’s a great nootropic solution for combatting hyperactivity problems.
As a nootropic for ADHD, citicoline increases your mental energy and protects your brain against damage and aging-related issues.
Citicoline helps aleviate ADHD by raising the levels of neurotransmitters which are directly connected to ADHD symptoms.
Now, although citicoline can help with ADHD symptoms, it can do much more than that.
If you need help with memory and learning, citicoline can be a great option.
This nootropic substance can be found in certain foods, within other nootropic formulas, and as a standalone nootropic.
For anyone having difficulty with ADD or ADHD, there’s no reason to not give it a try and see if it can help. Still, the most important thing is to understand how this nootropic impacts your body’s chemistry, and how it affects the brain.
You’re about to find out exactly that!
In this article, you’re going to learn what is citicoline, all the different uses it has, and especially how it can be used to help with ADHD symptoms.
That is… Exactly what happens in your brain when you take CDP Choline also known as citicoline.
What Is Citicoline / CDP Choline?
CDP Choline is a precursor to Acetylcholine, which is a powerful and important neurotransmitter that helps with focus, learning, and concentration.
That’s why citicoline can be found not only as a nootropic on its own, but also in racetams, which are famous for their improvements in overall concentration and focus.
Citicoline Helps With:
- Memory formation
- Rational thinking
- Improved learning
Although you can find other ways to supplement your body with choline, citicoline is the only form that acts differently on the body.
When taken in oral form, it splits into cytidine and choline before it reaches the brain.
When the cytidine reaches the brain, it becomes uridine.
Now, this is important because uridine is a known brain cognitive enhancer. This means that you’re getting more than what you’ve bargained for. In the end, you’ll get both the benefits of choline and uridine together when supplementing with CDP Choline.
Some CDP Choline Benefits You Can Expect:
- Enhanced cognitive function
- Neuroplasticity
- Better Focus
- Improved Memory
- Optimized learning
Citicoline can give you many benefits and be used for different things.
Still, the results (specifically when it comes to ADHD symptoms) are one of the most exciting. It has shown promising results for people who regularly are experiencing a lack of concentration and focus.
The Connection Between Citicoline And ADHD

To understand the connection between citicoline and ADHD, you first need to first understand what possibly causes ADHD.
Although scientists don’t quite know what causes ADHD, there’s one theory that is generally the most accepted.
This theory says that unbalanced levels of catecholamines are connected to causing ADHD.
Catecholamines are a group of known brain neurotransmitters that are responsible for important functions in your brain.
- Epinephrine
- Norepinephrine
- Dopamine
These are the 3 neurotransmitters that are known as catecholamines.
They help you regulate mood, focus, expand your attention span, and a series of other functions.
When you have ADHD, you have trouble concentrating, focusing, learning, and remembering things.
This happens because your catecholamine levels are low. You’re depleted.
When it comes to ADHD, citicoline comes in to the rescue here.
Benefits Of Using Citicoline Nootropics
When you take CDP choline regularly, it increases the levels of your norepinephrine, dopamine, and epinephrine.
This will help you focus better, learn faster, and remember things much easier.
In other words, it can totally help with your ADHD symptoms.
One of the main problems of adult ADHD is that you can’t juggle all of your thoughts and concentrate at the same time. You pretty much have too many thoughts and can’t seem to concentrate on only one.
That’s what citicoline can help you with.
It’s a precursor of acetylcholine, which helps with symptoms of Alzheimer’s, depression, general dementia, and ADHD.
After a few days of taking CDP Choline, you will notice that you have a much easier time with focusing on one thought at a time, rather than being unfocused and “scatter-brained”.
Your ability to learn and memorize things improves exponentially.
This is due to your ADHD related neurotransmitters (which control cognitive functions) getting to a more balanced level.
You’ll Experience:
- Executive functions of the brain working better
- Improved cognitive abilities
- Faster learning
- Better focus
- Expanded concentration
So, these are the benefits of CDP choline that are directly related to ADHD. In a nut shell, that’s how it will help you with your ADHD symptoms.
Citicoline Can Be Used For Different Things
Citicoline can also be used for other things like depression and anxiety (but the main one is still ADHD symptoms).
What you want to focus on here is the acetylcholine.
This neurotransmitter helps with concentration, focus, and motivation. It’s similar to some of the functions of dopamine.
Now, the great thing about citicoline (remember that it’s turned into acetylcholine) is that it can do more than just help with ADHD.
It can also help with your aging brain, depression, and anxiety.
This nootropic inhibits various neurotransmitters that in turn make the brain raise their levels.
In practical words, you’ll experience faster processing speeds, better memory, and noticeable improvements in focus.
If you’re having serious problems with things like; concentrating on a test, memorizing important details, or even simply concentrating at work, you can benefit from citicoline.
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Dementia
- Alzheimer
These are some of the different things that you can use citicoline for other than just attention deficit disorders.
It’s not only an ADHD nootropic!
Where Does Citicoline / CDP Choline Come From?
Citicoline or CDP choline occurs naturally in your body.
It’s present in your cells, but you can also get it from your diet if you eat certain foods.
Still, the most efficient way to get it is through the added supplementation of nootropics. You can either take it as a standalone supplement, or in other nootropics like racetams.
If you’re having problems concentrating, the first (most important thing) that you can and should do, is to improve your diet.
It may not be just ADHD, but some form of malnutrition.
Now, if you’re having problems only with ADHD symptoms, citicoline on its own may be your best option.
It increases the density of dopamine receptors.
This improves the quality and the quantity of dopamine that your brain releases. Needless to say, you’ll experience improvements in your mood regulation, motivation, and focus.
Citicoline comes from your own cells.
While it’s already found within your body, you can also take it as a synthetic nootropic. Not only is it a safe substance, it can also offer you great results by increasing your levels of dopamine.
Not only that, it also increases the levels of epinephrine and norepinephrine!
How To Use Citicoline To Help With ADHD
The way that you can go about using citicoline to help with ADHD is either by taking a citicoline supplement, or another nootropic that has it already within its formula.
In the short-term, you may benefit from trying racetams.
They’re famous for helping with ADHD symptoms and helping students ace exams.
They can be a great nootropic for studying because they help you with learning, focus, concentration.
Your overall cognitive functions are positively impacted by the use of racetams.
But they’re short-term and they don’t work as well for everybody.
That’s why you may benefit more from using only CDP choline, which you can take for longer periods of time than racetams (in most cases).
Citicoline acts quickly in your bloodstream. Simply….
- Take it in the morning…
- Take it only for a few weeks…
- Notice the results especially in stressful days.
Normally, you’ll notice an improvement in your ADHD symptoms. Especially with memory and concentration. This by itself will help you study better by default.
Using Citicoline as a Nootropic & Common Side Effects
The great thing about citicoline is that it’s generally safe to take for up to 90 days.
The common side effects of citicoline for ADHD are:
Well, actually, there are no known side effects when it’s taken by mouth as a supplement!
The only thing that you should watch out for is use by pregnant women and children.
Other than that, it’s generally safe to take.
Just remember to limit your use for 90 days. Then, you can change your nootropic stack and get started on other substances.
While it is known to be safe, as with any changes in diet or supplementation, you should always discuss these changes with your doctor just to be on the safe side!
Now, besides ADHD, citicoline as a nootropic can also help with Parkinson’s, lazy eye condition, and all the other conditions mentioned above like depression, dementia, Alzheimer’s, and stroke recovery.
Once again, just make sure that you don’t take it for more than 90 days and that you’re a healthy adult without any pre-existing conditions before taking it.
As long as you do that, you’re good to go.
Citicoline is one of the best nootropics because it doesn’t have unmanageable side effects.
Just keep in mind that this applies to pure CDP choline.
It doesn’t necessarily apply to every single nootropic that has citicoline as part of their formula!
Does Citicoline Help ADHD? – Final Thoughts…
So, the bottom line here, is that yes citicoline does help with ADHD.
This is a hyperactivity nootropic solution.
All you have to do is to make sure that you don’t take it for more than 3 months without cycling off to a different nootropic stack.
Just to wrap up, remember that CDP choline acts in your brain by raising your levels of catecholamines.
These are neurotransmitters that help with all the symptoms of ADHD such as memory, concentration, focus, and motivation.
So if you want a safe and effective way to help aleviate symptoms of ADHD without hazardous prescription drugs, CDP Choline may be what you’re looking for!
Question…
Have you taken any Citicoline supplements? If so, did you notice a difference?
Drop me a comment below!

About David Gracey
Founder of SuperMindHacker.com
In other words, I am completely obsessed with anything and everything related to cognitive brain enhancement!
Whether it's nootropics supplements, challenging brain puzzles, or even meditation techniques, chances are, I've tried it! This website is my outlet to give back and share what I've learned in the past 15+ years in this field of study.
You Can Read my Other Posts Here: David Gracey's Articles