Huperzine A

Huperzine A is a substance purified from a plant called Chinese club moss.

Uses

Huperzine A is used for Alzheimer’s disease, memory and learning enhancement, and age-related memory impairment. It is also used for treating a muscle disease called myasthenia gravis, for increasing alertness and energy, and for protecting against agents that damage the nerves such as nerve gases.

There have been different studies to show the benefits of Huperzine A on acetylcholine levels. Increased Cholinergic activity is associated with greater neuroplasticity which means your brain is better able to adapt, learn and store new information. Acetylcholine is also directly connected with the concept of fluid intelligence and working memory capacity. Acetylcholine levels typically decline as you age, but a supplement like Huperzine offers an effective way of reversing this decline in the short-term.
Researchers have demonstrated improvements in mental function from using this nootropic, including an increase in memory capacity. Dementia and Alzheimer’s diseases are the most common diseases that can be ameliorated with Huperzine A. Within the first four to eight weeks of usage, Alzheimer’s disease patients found improvement in both thinking abilities and memory. Another study showed that patients of senile dementia needed only one month to see the great benefits of Huperzine A. There is still more research that needs to be done to fully confirm these results, but the outlook is positive. Healthy adolescents have been able to use Huperzine A effectively to boost their memory formation and retention as well.

Huperzine A is POSSIBLY SAFE when taken by mouth for a short period of time (less than 3 months). It can cause some side effects including nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, sweating, blurred vision, slurred speech, restlessness, loss of appetite, contraction and twitching of muscle fibers, cramping, increased saliva and urine, inability to control urination, high blood pressure, and slowed heart rate.

Drying medications (Anticholinergic drugs) interacts with HUPERZINE A
Huperzine A contains chemicals that can affect the brain and heart. Some of these drying medications called anticholinergic drugs can also affect the brain and heart. But huperzine A works differently than drying medications. Huperzine A might decrease the effects of drying medications.

Some of these drying medications include atropine, scopolamine, and some medications used for allergies (antihistamines), and for depression (antidepressants).
Medications for Alzheimer’s disease (Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors) interacts with HUPERZINE A
Huperzine A contains a chemical that affects the brain. Medications for Alzheimer’s disease also affect the brain. Taking Huperzine A along with medications for Alzheimer’s disease might increase effects and side effects of medications for Alzheimer’s disease.
Various medications used for glaucoma, Alzheimer’s disease, and other conditions (Cholinergic drugs) interacts with HUPERZINE A
Huperzine A contains a chemical that affects the body. This chemical is similar to some medications used for glaucoma, Alzheimer’s disease and other conditions. Taking Huperzine A with these medications might increase the chance of side effects.

Some of these medications used for glaucoma, Alzheimer’s disease, and other conditions include pilocarpine (Pilocar and others), donepezil (Aricept), tacrine (Cognex), and others.