Vinpocetine pill health benefit and medical uses stroke, the proper dosage, available over the counter as 5 mg and 10 mg capsules or tablets
Vinpocetine is chemically related to, and derived from vincamine, an
alkaloid
found in the periwinkle plant. Vinpocetine was introduced into clinical practice in Europe more than two decades ago for
the treatment of cerebrovascular disorders and related symptoms. Experiments with
vinpocetine indicate that it can dilate blood vessels, enhance circulation in the brain,
improve oxygen utilization, make red blood cells more pliable, and inhibit aggregation of
platelets. Vinpocetine even has antioxidant properties. Levels peak in the bloodstream within an hour and a half after ingestion. Vinpocetine easily crosses the blood-brain barrier.
See also
acetyl l carnitine supplement information for brain health.
If you have never tried vinpocetine supplement before, we suggest
you buy the 5 mg tablets only since higher dosages can cause lightheadedness and
dizziness. use low dosages at first until you find out how your body reacts to
it.
Purchase Vinpocetine pill 5 mg
Vinpocetine 5 mg and 10 mg per pill
Vinpocetine supplement has been sometimes recommended
for more than once daily however many people may be sensitive to this supplement
and would do fine using half a capsule. Always start your first time with half a 5 mg vinpocetine pill
in order to see if you have any negative responses to it. By taking a small
amount of vinpocetine at first, you could avoid a vinpocetine side effect.
Vinpocetine
side effects
High doses of vinpocetine can cause side effects of dizziness, nausea,
lightheadedness, and a general sense of not feeling well.
Vinpocetine Research
Vinpocetine is a derivative of the alkaloid vincamine. Like vincamine, it
is found in small amounts in the seeds of periwinkle as well as other plants,
such as voaconga and Crioceras longiflorus. Vincamine has been used to treat age
related cognitive disorders with some success. Vinpocetine has similar actions
as vincamine. There have been quite a few studies with vinpocetine. Also see vinpocetine
additional research.
Dementia and Vinpocetine
Researchers at the
University of Surrey in Guildford, England administered
vinpocetine to patients suffering
from mild to moderate dementia (Hindmarch 1991). Two hundred and three patients included
in a placebo-controlled, randomized double-blind trial received every day for sixteen
weeks either 10 mg doses of vinpocetine three times a day, 20 mg doses of vinpocetine
three times a day, or placebo three times a day. There were no clinically relevant side
effects reported. Statistically significant cognitive improvements were found in favor of
active treatment groups compared to placebo. The patients on 10 mg performed slightly
better than those on 20 mg.
In a double blind clinical trial, vinpocetine was shown to offer significant
improvement in elderly patients with chronic cerebral dysfunction.
Forty-two patients received 10 mg vinpocetine three times a day for thirty days, then 5 mg
three times a day for sixty days. Matching placebo tablets were given to another forty
patients for the ninety-day trial period. Patients on vinpocetine scored consistently
better in all cognitive evaluations. No serious side effects were reported.
Memory
Twelve healthy female volunteers received pre-treatments with vinpocetine 40 mg
three times a day or placebo for two days according to a randomized, double-blind
crossover design. On the third day of treatment and one hour following
morning dosage, subjects completed a battery of psychological tests.
Memory was
significantly improved following treatment with vinpocetine when compared to placebo.
Vinpocetine may help with
Eyesight.
Alzheimer's not helpful
Fifteen Alzheimer patients were treated with increasing doses of
vinpocetine (30,
45, and 60 mg per day) in an open-label pilot trial during a one-year period.
The study was done at VA Medical Center, in San Diego, California. Vinpocetine failed to
improve cognition at any dose tested. There were no significant side effects from the
therapy.
Vinpocetine supplement Availability
Vinpocetine supplement is sold in 5 and 10 mg capsules.
Vinpocetine products
Vinpocetine products are available through various companies,
including Source Natural and Club Natural. There are several other mind
enhancers including
Bacopa Monnieri, and the herb
Ginkgo biloba.
Recommendations
Vinpocetine appears to be beneficial in cognitive disorders that are due to poor
blood flow to the brain. Therefore, individuals with atherosclerotic vascular disease are
probably the most likely to benefit. Until long-term studies are available, regular
intake for prolonged periods should be limited to 10 mg once daily.
Vinpocetine and stroke
Effects of vinpocetine on the redistribution of cerebral blood flow and
glucose metabolism in chronic ischemic stroke patients: a PET study.
J Neurol Sci. 2005 Mar 15;229-230:275-84. National Stroke Center,
Department of Vascular Neurology, Semmelweis University, H-1085 Budapest,
Hungary.
The pharmacological effects of the neuroprotective drug vinpocetine,
administered intravenously in a 14-day long treatment regime, on the cerebral
blood flow and cerebral glucose metabolism in chronic ischemic stroke patients
(n=13) were studied with positron emission tomography in a double-blind design.
The regional and global cerebral metabolic rates of glucose (CMRglc) and
cerebral blood flow (CBF) as well as vital physiological parameters, clinical
performance scales, and transcranial Doppler parameters were measured before and
after the treatment period in patient groups treated with daily intravenous
infusion with or without vinpocetine. While the global CMRglc values did not
change markedly as a result of the infusion treatment with (n=6) or without
(n=7) vinpocetine, the global CBF increased and regional CMRglc and CBF values
showed marked changes in several brain structures in both cases, with more
accentuated changes when the infusion contained vinpocetine. In the latter case
the highest rCBF changes were observed in those structures in which the highest
regional uptake of labelled vinpocetine was measured in other PET studies
(thalamus and caudate nucleus: increases amounting to 36% and 37%,
respectively). The findings indicate that a 2-week long intravenous vinpocetine
treatment can contribute effectively to the redistribution of rCBF in chronic
ischemic stroke patients. The effects are most pronounced in those brain regions
with the highest uptake of the drug.
Vinpocetine Research Update
Human positron emission tomography with oral 11C-vinpocetine
Orv Hetil. 2003 Nov 16. Vas A, Christer H,
Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Psychiatry Section, Karolinska Institute,
Stockholm.
Positron emission tomography (PET) is a useful tool for the
investigation of certain physiological changes and for the evaluation of the
distribution, and receptor binding of drugs labelled with positron emitting
isotopes. Vinpocetine (ethyl-apovincaminate) is a neuroprotective drug widely
used in the prevention and treatment of cerebrovascular diseases. In the
clinical practice vinpocetine is usually administered to the patients in
intravenous infusion followed by long-term oral treatment. Until presently human
data describing vinpocetine's kinetics and brain distribution came from ex vivo
(blood, plasma, liquor) and post mortem (brain autoradiography) measurements.
The authors wished to investigate the kinetics and distribution of vinpocetine in the brain and body after oral administration with PET in order to
prove, that PET is useful in the non-invasive in vivo determination of these
parameters. Vinpocetine was labelled with carbon-11 and the radioactivity was
measured by PET in the stomach, liver, brain, colon and kidneys in healthy male
volunteers. The radioactivity in the blood and urine was also determined. After oral administration, [11C]vinpocetine appeared
immediately in the stomach and within minutes in the liver and the blood. In the
blood the level of radioactivity continuously increased until the end of the
measurement period, whereas the fraction of the unchanged mother compound
decreased. Radioactivity uptake and distribution in the brain were demonstrable
from the tenth minute after the oral administration of the labelled drug
(average maximum uptake: 0.7% of the administered total dose). Brain
distribution was heterogeneous (with preferences in the thalamus, basal ganglia
and occipital cortex), similar to the distribution previously reported by the
authors after intravenous administration. Vinpocetine, administered
orally to human volunteers, readily entered the bloodstream from the stomach and
the gastrointestinal tract and thereafter passed the blood-brain barrier and
entered the brain. Radioactivity from [11C]vinpocetine was also demonstrated in
the kidneys and in urine. The study demonstrates that PET might be a useful,
direct and non-invasive tool to study the distribution and pharmacokinetics of
orally administered labelled drugs active in the central nervous system in the
living human body.
Vinpocetine email questions and comments
Q.
I started with vinpocetine and stayed on it
for several months. Amazing I noticed a new clarity for a day or so when I
began. The problem I had was when I went off. Head flutters for two weeks, (I
thought I was coming down with a head-cold). Sometimes, I thought I was going to
faint. I thought this was permanent for a few days and was ready to go to an MD.
But it passed.
Q. Will vinpocetine help our daughter's ADD (tested and
verified by Neuropsychologist), or can you recommend another natural product
with proven results.
A. We are not aware of studies with vinpocetine and ADD and we
doubt it will help. Please discuss this
ADHD info with
her doctor and we wish you well.
Q. I am interested in trying vinpocetine for my 88 year
old mother. However, she is currently taking the SSRI drug Citalopram. Is there
any information on interaction affects of vinpocetine and these drugs?
A. We are not aware of any research that have examined the
interactions between citalopram or other SSRI drugs with vinpocetine. Older
individuals are much more likely to have side effects when more than one
medication or a medication and supplement are combined. As such, if her doctor
approves, the initial vinpocetine dose should be minimal, no greater than half a
5 mg tablet or preferably on a day when she is not taking the SSRI.
Would vinpocetine mind booster interact with
tribulus terrestris extract
herbal supplement?
We don't recommend taking them the same day, particularly if the vinpocetine dosage is greater than 5 mg.
My doctor has me on vinpocetine mind booster pills and I added curcumin plant since it has so many health benefits, and potentially helpful in Alzheimer's disease. I take 5 mg of the periwinkle extract and 500 mg of the curcumin and have not come across any side effects.
My dad is 72 years old and he suffered a really
small stroke on right side of brain in May of 2009. He was then diagnosed with
having vascular dementia. We were told that this is tiny strokes that happen in
the brain. He is currently taking Aricept 10mg. (which, by the way, does not
seem to be helping). In July he had a stent placed in his heart for a blood clot
and he is currently on Plavix 75 mg. and Aspirin 81 mg. He has been on dialysis
for the past 4 years. My question is, are there any drug interactions that can
occur with vinpocetine? Also, is it safe for dialysis patients?
Although vinpocetine products have not been tested in humans
in conjunction with Plavix, this supplement may act as a blood thinner therefore
caution is advised when mixing the herbal extract with the prescription
medication.
My Dad has been battling vascular dementia for the
past 20 years. Just to give you brief idea, he smoked for 30 years from his 20's
(a pipe), then quit before his heart attack and bypass at 57. I believe the
chemicals form the tobacco caused this inflammatory condition and progressive
hardening or the arteries and were significant contributors to his vascular
problems. That being said, in the past 5 years (age 75-80) he has begun to have
more problems with cognitive short term memory loss due to lack of circulation.
It is obvious because although we have been using health remedies - 90% of the
ones mentioned in Mind Boosting Secrets book for years, and even tried IV
chelation under the supervision of a health doctor, the circulation problem
continues to slowly progress. We continue to see progress and improvement with
nutritional support and vitamins. But here is the problem. I see someone
vinpocetine recommended for memory loss. We have used two separate reliable
blended formula products with this ingredient from established health doctors.
Memory function does and sis improve. They also both contained ashwagandha. The
problem with both formulations, is after taking them for more than 12 months
respectively, there is some over stimulation of the brain and my dad will report
seeing things like, smoke coming out of a chimney where there is none. In both
instances, we immediately stopped using the Memory Formulas. In both instances,
the over stimulation symptom disappeared within a few hours. So I am having
trouble finding out from any reliable source if the likely ingredient causing
this that we should avoid is the vinpocetine or ashwagandha? It's s shame to
have to stop these therapies entirely because of one ingredient. Can you or your
staff comment, as you have these ingredients you your products as well, which
product is most likely the problem with long-term use in this case? Any
information or recommendations you may have about the known long-term possible
side effects of these ingredients will be very helpful. Thank you for your
consideration. I will not consider any reply to be medical advice in any way.
Just health information or further resources to investigate these two
ingredients if you have it, please.
It is difficult to say since long term studies are not
available with either one, but often taking a break for a few days and
restarting at a lower dosage or frequency can reduce the side effects. It may be
a good idea to alternate different mind boosting supplements rather than taking
the same ones all the time.