Huperzine A has been used for centuries in traditional Chinese medicine and India's naturopathy to improve brain performance, also to counteract dementia, Alzheimer's and aging processes. As a food supplement, it is mainly used to improve cognitive performance (memory, concentration etc.) and is now available in Europe.

Of course, taking Huperzine will not turn you into the next Einstein overnight. But, it does improve the ability to remember what you have learned and supports the cognitive abilities in the brain. For this reason, it is especially popular with students or in training, before tests and graduations, to learn the new information as quickly as possible.

You can read more about all the benefits and advantages of Huperzine A in the next blog post: Effects and benefits of Huperzine A.

 

Huperzine A Dosage - Dosage recommendations:

A normal daily dose of Huperzine A is about 100 - 250 micrograms. This corresponds to one-thousandth of a milligram and would be very difficult to dose accurately as a powder. At Raw Powders, you can buy Huperzine A as capsules containing 225 micrograms of pure Huperzine A, which makes it easier to dose Huperzine correctly.

Recommended dosages of Huperzine A by a purpose:

> as a dietary supplement to promote long-term memory: 100 - 225 micrograms (1 capsule of Huperzine A every 2nd or 3rd day);

> for short-term enhancement of cognitive performance: 1x 225 micrograms;

> to prevent memory loss in old age: 1x daily 50 - 150 micrograms;

> for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease: 250 up to 500 micrograms per day;

 

What do I have to bear in mind when taking Huperzine A?

Huperzine works very quickly because it is well absorbed by the body and can also pass directly through the blood-brain barrier. Therefore, it does not have to be taken with a meal.

The effect of Huperzine also sets in quickly, so it is particularly effective in the short term (before a test, when studying or studying) after just one dose.

 

Taking Huperzine A in cycles with breaks

The half-life of Huperzine A is 10 to 24 hours. For this reason, it is recommended to take the nootropic (in case of prolonged therapy) as a single dose only every 2 to 3 days or 2-3 times a week. Otherwise, the dosage in the body will keep increasing. The benefits of Huperzine last for more than one day after taking it.

In addition, since the body builds up a tolerance to the active ingredient after prolonged use, it is recommended to either take the nootropic only a few days a week (with breaks in between) or, especially, if used regularly), to stop taking it completely every 2 to 3 weeks (for at least 7 days). It prevents the organism from becoming accustomed to the active ingredient or requiring ever-higher doses.

Taking Huperzine A correctly also reduces possible side effects. We have listed the possible side effects in the blog: Side effects of Huperzine.

 

For whom is Huperzine A not suitable?

In case of pregnancy or during breastfeeding, it is always recommended to consult the attending doctors before taking medicines and food supplements. The same applies to people with pre-existing conditions (e.g. high blood pressure) and Huperzine A, especially when taking prescription medication, e.g. psychotropic drugs such as monoamine oxidase inhibitors. Before using Huperzine A, possible interactions should be medically discussed and ruled out.

It is not suitable for children. Studies for adolescent use are ongoing.

Huperzine A should not be taken with alcohol or sedatives.

 

Is a Huperzine A overdose dangerous?

Huperzine A is an extremely potent nootropic. Just a few micrograms of the active ingredient have a potent effect. For this reason, the recommended doses are kept very low, and that is how it should be!

The recommended dosage (depending on the area of application) is only approx. 100 - 250 micrograms. This dosage recommendation must also be adhered to.

The maximum daily dose of huperzine is 400 micrograms and is used exclusively for Alzheimer's disease treatment (usually under medical supervision).

If taken as a powder, the risk of overdose would be very high, as micrograms can hardly be measured accurately by laypersons. For this reason, should buy Huperzine A as capsules. These are dosed consistently, and the risk of an unintentional overdose is lower.

Most suppliers offer 100 to 225 microgram capsules - this is the safe dosage choice of Huperzine A. If you accidentally take two of the capsules in one day, no dangerous side effects should occur. However, it would be advisable to take a break for the next 3-4 days until the body completely absorbs the active ingredient. In any case, cyclical intake with breaks is always advisable.

In addition, there is a risk of withdrawal symptoms or tolerance build-up in the body if the drug is taken excessively and for too long. All important information on this can also be found in the blog: Side effects of Huperzine A.

 



Sources:

https://gehirn-doping.org/huperzine-a-erfahrung-wirkung/

https://noodoc.com/huperzin-a/

https://nootropicsexpert.com/huperzine-a/

https://www.bessermorgen.com/huperzine-a-nutzen-nebenwirkungen-dosierung-und-wechselwirkungen/

 



Text author:

Kay Svegler

Communications, PR, American Studies, University of Leipzig

Journalist and freelance writer (e.g. Süddeutsche Zeitung, BILD, MDR etc.)

Former Senior PR Manager for Fischer Appelt, Sustainability and Diversity Manager for DKB