Vinpocetine
About
Vinpocetine belongs to the class of ‘phytonutrients’, primarily used to improve dementia in Alzheimer's disease, hearing impairment, concentration, mental attention and macular degeneration (an eye disease that causes vision loss). It is also used as a neuroprotective agent that prevents damage to the brain or spinal cord from ischemic stroke (interrupted blood supply to the brain), convulsions, or trauma. Vinpocetine is also used to treat symptoms of menopause, chronic fatigue syndrome, and seizures (fits), and prevents motion sickness.
Vinpocetine contains 'Vinpocetine,' a semisynthetic derivative of alkaloid, Vincamine that is extracted from the periwinkle plant. Vinpocetine belongs to the class of phosphodiesterase inhibitors that blocks the action of the enzyme, phosphodiesterase (that controls the signalling messengers). Vinpocetine relaxes blood vessels in the brain and increases blood flow to the brain. It also protects the brain cells (neurons) against injury. Vinpocetine exhibits a nootropic effect and improves cognitive function. It is also used as a dietary supplement and has anti-oxidant activity against free radicals (toxins) in the body.
Your doctor will decide the dose and duration based on the severity of your disease and response to treatment. Common side effects of Vinpocetine include stomach pain, nausea, sleep disturbances, headache, dizziness, nervousness, and flushing of the face. These side effects are not familiar to everyone and vary individually. If you notice any side effects that are not manageable, please consult your doctor.
Please tell your doctor if you are allergic to Vinpocetine or its components. If you are using any prescription and non-prescription medications, let your doctor know before starting Vinpocetine. Inform your doctor beforehand if you have a history of liver or kidney diseases, heart problems, low blood pressure (hypotension), bleeding disorders, and constipation. If you are pregnant, planning to conceive or are a breastfeeding mother, inform your doctor before starting Vinpocetine. Avoid consuming alcohol along with Vinpocetine as it can make you dizzy or drowsy.
Uses of Vinpocetine
Medicinal Benefits
Vinpocetine contains 'Vinpocetine,' a semisynthetic derivative of alkaloid, Vincamine that is extracted from the periwinkle plant. Vinpocetine improves dementia in Alzheimer's disease, hearing impairment, concentration, mental attention and macular degeneration (an eye disease that causes vision loss). It prevents damage to the brain or spinal cord from ischemic stroke (interrupted blood supply to the brain), convulsions or trauma by acting as a neuroprotective agent. It also treats symptoms of menopause, chronic fatigue syndrome, and seizures (fits), and prevents motion sickness. Vinpocetine exhibits a nootropic effect by improving memory functioning and protecting brain cells from injury. It has antioxidant activity and is used as a dietary supplement. Vinpocetine is a vasodilator that helps widens the blood vessels and helps in improving cerebral blood flow in cases of stroke.
Directions for Use
Storage
Side Effects of Vinpocetine
- Stomach pain
- Nausea
- Sleep disturbances
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Nervousness
- Flushing of the face
In-Depth Precautions and Warning
Drug Warnings
Brief your medical history if you have any liver or kidney diseases, heart problems, bleeding disorders, and weak immune system before starting Vinpocetine. This medicine is contraindicated for low blood pressure (hypotension) and constipation. Vinpocetine is unsafe to use during pregnancy since it may lead to miscarriage and harm the foetus. Please consult your doctor if you are a breastfeeding mother before starting Vinpocetine. Avoid consuming alcohol along with Vinpocetine as it might lead to increased side effects like dizziness and drowsiness. Avoid driving or operating machinery as Vinpocetine may decrease your mental alertness, making you feel dizzy or drowsy.
Drug Interactions
Drug-Drug Interaction: Vinpocetine may interact with anti-coagulants (clopidogrel, heparin, warfarin), and painkillers that slow down blood clotting (aspirin, diclofenac)
Drug-Food Interaction: Do not consume alcohol while taking Vinpocetine as it could lead to increased dizziness and drowsiness.
Drug-Disease Interaction: Before using Vinpocetine, let your doctor know if you have any liver or kidney diseases, heart problems, bleeding disorders, and weak immune system. Vinpocetine is contraindicated in low blood pressure (hypotension) and constipation.
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
cautionIt is advised to limit alcohol consumption while taking Vinpocetine. Alcohol intake, along with Vinpocetine, may cause increased dizziness and drowsiness. Please consult your doctor for more information.
Pregnancy
unsafeVinpocetine is unsafe to use during pregnancy since it may lead to miscarriage and harm the foetus. Please consult your doctor before taking Vinpocetine if you are pregnant or planning to conceive.
Breast Feeding
cautionIt is not known if Vinpocetine is excreted into breast milk. Please consult your doctor before taking Vinpocetine if you are a breastfeeding mother.
Driving
cautionVinpocetine may make you feel dizzy or drowsy. Do not drive if you are not mentally alert or experience any symptoms that affect your ability to drive or operate machinery.
Liver
cautionPlease consult your doctor before using Vinpocetine if you suffer from any severe liver impairment/liver disease.
Kidney
cautionPlease consult your doctor before using Vinpocetine if you suffer from any severe kidney impairment/kidney disease.
Children
unsafeVinpocetine is not recommended in people below 18 years of age.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
- Maintain proper weight by following a healthy diet.
- Exercise regularly as it helps in less cognitive decline and brain volume loss.
- Avoid smoking and alcohol consumption.
- Try to avoid stress by practising meditation or yoga.
- Include fruits and vegetables in your diet as they contain anti-oxidants.
- Eat nutritious food as it helps in cognitive stimulation.
- Limit foods with high cholesterol and saturated fats.
- Cut down on sugar, salt and processed foods.
- Drink plenty of water.
- Follow a healthy lifestyle as it helps in improving overall health and possibly protects the brain.
Special Advise
- Let your doctor know that you are taking Vinpocetine if you are undergoing any medical tests.
- It is advised to regularly monitor your blood pressure since Vinpocetine affects the blood pressure.
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
Alzheimer's disease: The disease is named after Dr Alois Alzheimer, who was the first to discover the disease. Alzheimer's disease is a neurological disorder that causes dementia (memory loss), and slowly destroys the ability to think, learn, communicate, and eventually, the ability to handle daily activities. It is the most common cause of dementia (memory loss) in adults. Dementia is the loss of cognitive functioning, such as remembering, thinking and reasoning. The causes of this disease are abnormal functioning of brain cells which causes a disturbance in communication between them. The risk factors are age, family history and genetics of a person. Alzheimer's disease symptoms include memory loss, trouble with familiar tasks, difficulties with problem-solving, trouble with writing or talking, disorientation, problems with reasoning or judgment, and mood and personality changes. In most people, the symptoms of Alzheimer's appear in their mid-60s.
FAQs
Vinpocetine contains 'Vinpocetine', a semi-synthetic derivative from an alkaloid called Vincamine. It treats dementia in Alzheimer's disease by increasing blood flow to the brain and protecting the brain cells from injury. It also exerts nootropic effect and anti-oxidant activity Thus, Vinpocetine improves memory, thinking, and awareness.
Vinpocetine should be used with caution in the medical history of liver or kidney diseases, heart problems, bleeding disorders, and weak immune system. Vinpocetine is contraindicated in low blood pressure (hypotension) and constipation. Please let your doctor know if you have any other medical problems before starting Vinpocetine.
It is advised to take Vinpocetine with food to avoid any stomach upset. Please consult your doctor for more information.
Vinpocetine is a blood thinner and may slow down the process of blood clotting. Hence, if any surgery is planned, it is advised to stop using Vinpocetine at least 2 weeks before you are scheduled for surgery to avoid the risk of bleeding during surgery. Please seek medical advice for more information.
Your doctor will decide the dose and duration of Vinpocetine based on your medical condition. However, if you notice unusual side effects like blood pressure changes or irregular heartbeat, stop using Vinpocetine and please consult your doctor.
Vinpocetine may increase or decrease blood pressure in some patients. This may be for a short duration. However, if you notice any major fluctuations in your blood pressure levels, please consult your doctor immediately.
