Anyone have experience with Huperzine A?

According to uniquenutrition.net:
L-Huperzine A is a natural plant alkaloid (extracted from Huperzia serrata), which quickly and potently boosts memory, learning, and concentration. Used worldwide for decades in adults and high school students. Is considered the most potent short term memory enhancer available.

What's the best place to buy this?

Here's more info I found:

Huperzine Introduction

A Chinese medicine with use dating back hundreds (if not thousands) of years, healers have used the moss Huperzia serrata as part of their medical armamentarium. The moss is found in northern areas of China and has been employed as a fever and inflammation remedy. While some research backs up the historical applications of this medicinal moss, modern science has uncovered far more uses for this plant. More specifically, an alkaloid extract of the moss, known as huperzine A, has impressive effects on conditions involving the brain.

Huperzine A appears to work on areas of memory and can possibly benefit those with loss of short term memory; as well as in conditions of long term memory loss, such as Alzheimer’s disease. Other information relating to its usefulness in treating fevers and inflammation (historical uses) remain to be elucidated by modern research. However, given the wisdom of thousands of years of efficient usage, huperzine A may indeed be helpful for such conditions.



Huperzine Food Sources

Parts Used
The extract of the moss, huperzine A, is classified as an alkaloid chemical. Huperzine A is derived from two different types of Chinese club moss, Huperzia serrata and Lycopodium selago. [1]

Huperzine Uses
Huperzine A directly affects the concentration of a particular neurotransmitter in the brain known as acetylcholine. [2, 3] This medicine works by stopping or slowing the enzyme (acetylcholinesterase, AChE) responsible for breaking down this neurotransmitter for a specified period of time; hence it is known as a reversible acetylcholinesterase inhibitor.


Under normal conditions in the brain, acetylcholine is released and acts upon specific neurons. Once it has performed its function, the enzyme acetylcholinesterase comes along and ‘sweeps up’ the remaining acetylcholine. Huperzine A effectively slows this action, leaving acetylcholine around for longer periods of time. Scientists believe this may be the reason why Huperzine A has positive effects on certain brain conditions.

Huperzine A is thought to act on AChE for up to 3 hours, and may be more effective than certain pharmaceutical AChE inhibitors (i.e. tacrine, Cognex or donzepril, Aricept). [4, 5] In one particular study, huperzine A was shown to be 64 times more effective than one of these medications (tacrine), and to be better distributed in the brain than this drug. [1] In addition to working as well as commonly prescribed drugs, huperzine A can protect brain cells in certain conditions as well. For example, glutamate is an amino acid that can become toxic to brain cells when it reaches a certain concentration; huperzine A also protects against glutamate-induced neuronal damage. [4] Huperzine A is protective against another type of experimental neurotoxin, N-methyl-D-aspartate, or NMDA. [6, 7] Huperzine A is protective against certain seizure-inducing nerve agents as well. [8]

Areas where huperzine A excels also includes improving memory function in healthy individuals. In one study, highlighting school children that complained of poor memory, huperzine supplementation was shown to improve memory after only four weeks of supplmentation. [9]

In treatments of dementia, huperzine A supplementation has been shown to improve the memory, behavior, and cognitive function in people with Alzheimer’s disease, brain damage caused by strokes, and in the very elderly who suffer from senile-induced dementia. [10-12] In these studies, treatment times ranged from two to eight weeks of supplementation.

Another interesting area of success with huperzine A is within the treatment of the disease myasthenia gravis (MG). MG is an autoimmune condition in which acetylcholine receptors in the muscles are attacked by the person’s own immune system. By administering huperzine A, muscle weakness was delayed in MG patients who received the medicine by intramuscular injection. [1] Compared to neostigmine, a commonly used drug for this condition, huperzine A had a longer duration of effect.


Huperzine Dosages


Taken orally, huperzine A is dosed from 50 micrograms to 200 micrograms, twice per day. Studies investigating its intramuscular use utilized 400 micrograms per day.


Huperzine Toxicities and Contraindications

Huperzine Side effects:
Some reported side effects of huperzine A supplementation include blurry vision, sweating, nausea, loss of appetite, muscle twitching, and insomnia. [13, 14]


Conditions in which huperzine A may be contraindicated include pregnancy and lactation; no studies have been performed regarding its safety, however. Other conditions with potential reactions include; cardiovascular disease (huperzine can slow the heart rate), epilepsy (may worsen seizure disorders), ulcers (huperzine can enhance gastric juice secretion), asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (huperzine may increase lung secretions), and urinary tract obstructions (huperzine may increase secretions here as well).

Note: Huperzine A, although derived from a plant, is a constituent that has undergone laboratory modification. Avoid confusing prescription names of huperzine A (Cerebra, selagine) with similar-sounding prescription drugs (e.g. Celebrex, Celexa, Cerebyx and selegiline). [15]

General interactions (supplement, herb, food, lab):
Huperzine A does not appear to interfere with any other supplements, herbs, foods, or lab tests.

Huperzine Drug interactions:
Because of the apparent inhibitory effect of huperzine A on AChE, using it with acetylcholinesterase inhibitor drugs may lead to additive effects. This includes the drugs; tacrine (Cognex), succinylcholine (Anectine, Quelicin), echothiophate (Phospholine Iodide, bethanechol (Urecholine), donepezil (Aricept), edrophonium (Enoln, Reversol, Tensilon), neostigmine (Prostigmin), physostigmine (Antilirium), and pyridostigmine (Mestinon, Regonol).

Using huperzine A with anticholinergic drugs may decrease the effectiveness of huperzine A, as these drugs counter its effects on acetylcholine. Anticholinergic drugs include: scopolamine, atropine, biperiden (Akineton), benztropine (Cogentin), trihexyphenidyl (Artane), and procyclidine (Kemadrin).


Using huperzine A with cholinergic drugs (these promote the activity of acetylcholine in the body) may lead to additive effects. These drugs include; bethanechol (Urecholine), donepezil (Aricept), echothiophate (Phospholine Iodide), edrophonium (Enoln, Reversol, Tensilon), neostigmine (Prostigmin), physostigmine (Antilirium), pyridostigmine (Mestinon, Regonol), succinylcholine (Anectine, Quelicin), and tacrine (Cognex).

I've used and given Huperzine A to many people. For most it is one of the best nootropics that can make a rather noticeable impact on short-term memory. It also has been shown to affect Nerve Growth Factor and have some neuroprotective effects on the NMDA receptors.

It’s pretty safe unless you happen to be on other AChEI's or taking too much ACh precursors. Then the risk of nausea, headache, increased sweating, and/or salvia production can occur. It’s always a good idea to check with your healthcare provider before taking any supplements.

Several companies sell Huperzine A.

Im not sure why but any nootropic ive tried has increased dysphoria. interestingly , many antidepressants are anticholinergic (which i dont care for either except for the effect my diphenhydramine sleeping pills have).

I guess im one of the unlucky ones that gets mental pain from nootropics and need something else like stablon or more opioid to prevent that reaction. it seems like it would be tricky to enhance both cholinergic pathways and sense of well-being

how much daily dosage is recommended for huperzine?

Depends on what other ACh compounds you are taking but usually 50-200mcg daily with meals.

I take wheat germ, which supposedly has high phosphatidyl choline amounts. I used to take choline bitartrate, but that has a low conversion rate to acetylcholine; I'm not currently taking that. I also take 500 mg Acetyl-l-carnitine (ALCAR) each day, which is supposed to increase synthesis of ACh when taken in conjunction with choline.

I was thinking about getting some huperzine from the store to try, but didn't know what daily dosage I should be looking at. I'll look for 50-200mcg capsules. Thanks.

PC is a very slow acting source of choline for ACh production. ALC does help increase Choline Acetyltransferase (the rate limiting enzyme that bonds Acetyl groups with choline to form ACh) and has a mild effect on the ACh receptors. But your dose is very low and the effects are not remarkably strong.

So i would suggest 100-200 mcg daily, as needed, or mon - fri.

is ALC just always pricey? I would take more but haven't found a good relatively cheap supplier.

Well there are several sources out there I take a 750 mg ALC 4 times day to get the full recommended dose. See Smart Drug suppliers list for a cost effective source.

I ended up getting some formula containing huperzine from GNC. There is a warning on the package not to take more than 100 mcg of huperzine per day. What are the effects of taking too much huperzine?

If too much is taken nausea, headaches, dizziness is possible but rare when using the right dose. One study used up to 990 mcg [1] without apparent problems. A current US study is planning to use 800 mcg daily for the treatment of AD. [2] A study in high school students used 100 mcg daily. [3]


[1] Zhongguo Yao Li Xue Bao. 1995 Sep;16(5):396-8. Pharmacokinetics of tablet huperzine A in six volunteers.

[2] http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct/gui/show/NCT00083590?order=1

[3] Zhongguo Yao Li Xue Bao. 1999 Jul;20(7):601-3. Huperzine-A capsules enhance memory and learning performance in 34 pairs of matched adolescent students.

i don't know if it's ok to say - i buy my huperzine and acetyl-l carnitine at very reasonable prices from swanson's on the web.

Its a low dose but if it works stick with it.

Hey Lifemirage... if i play disc golf, which is a very mental game do you think using some form of Huperzine A would naturally help me with my focus and my mental game that constantly fall apart due to exhaustion, and also would it help the muscle memory part of my game and make me play better?

Picamilon may be a better choice.