2,3-dimethoxy-5-methyl-6-(10-hydroxydecyl)-1,4-benzoquinone, Hydroxydecyl Benzoquinone, Idebenona, Idébénone.
Idebenone is a man-made product similar to coenzyme Q-10.
Idebenone is used for Alzheimer's disease, liver disease, and heart disease; as well as a number of inherited disorders including Leber's disease (an eye condition), mitochondrial encephalomyopathies (nerve and muscle disorders), and Friedreich's ataxia (a nervous system disorder that worsens over time, producing gait and speech problems, and eventually leading toward heart disease and diabetes).
How does it work?
Idebenone seems to have antioxidant activity, and appears to protect a wide variety of cells from oxidative damage.
SLIDESHOW
The Stages of Dementia: Alzheimer's Disease and Aging Brains See SlideshowPossibly Effective for...
- Treating Alzheimer's disease. There's some evidence that taking idebenone slows the decline of thinking skills in people with Alzheimer's disease. Idebenone appears most effective in patients with moderately severe Alzheimer's disease.
Insufficient Evidence to Rate Effectiveness for...
- Friedreich's ataxia (an inherited progressive condition affecting the nerves that can lead to heart disease and diabetes). Some developing research suggests that taking idebenone may help control heart damage associated with Friedreich's ataxia. But other research hasn't shown this benefit. Idebenone does not appear to slow the progression of this condition.
- Mitochondrial encephalomyopathies (a group of disorders that lead to muscle and nervous system problems). There is some research that suggests that taking idebenone might reduce symptoms in patients with some of these conditions.
- Other conditions.
Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database rates effectiveness based on scientific evidence according to the following scale: Effective, Likely Effective, Possibly Effective, Possibly Ineffective, Likely Ineffective, and Insufficient Evidence to Rate (detailed description of each of the ratings).
QUESTION
One of the first symptoms of Alzheimer's disease is __________________. See Answer
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Di Prospero NA, Sumner CJ, Penzak SR, et al. Safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics of high-dose idebenone in patients with Friedreich ataxia. Arch Neurol 2007;64:803-8. View abstract.
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Hausse AO, Aggoun Y, Bonnet D, et al. Idebenone and reduced cardiac hypertrophy in Friedreich's ataxia. Heart 2002;87:346-9. View abstract.
Ihara Y, Namba R, Kuroda S, et al. Mitochondrial encephalomyopathy (MELAS): pathological study and successful therapy with coenzyme Q10 and idebenone. J Neurol Sci 1989;90:263-71. View abstract.
Ikejiri Y, Mori E, Ishii K, et al. Idebenone improves cerebral mitochondrial oxidative metabolism in a patient with MELAS. Neurology 1996;47:583-5. View abstract.
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Rego AC, Santos MS, Oliveira CR. Influence of the antioxidants vitamin E and idebenone on retinal cell injury mediated by chemical ischemia, hypoglycemia, or oxidative stress. Free Radic Biol Med 1999;26:1405-17. View abstract.
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