Vinpocetine Review: Don’t Buy Before You Read This!
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What is it?
Vinpocetine is a synthetic nootropic supplement that is designed to help improve users’ mental performance. Their advertisers claim that it is beneficial for memory, mood, and mental health.
Vinpocetine is thought of as a neuroprotectant that may be beneficial for preserving mental function as you age. It is also a cerebral anti-inflammatory that can help reduce the effects of some degenerative conditions.
The nootropic supplement that our panel of experts recommend the most highly is called Memotenz. It is the product that has demonstrated the most effectiveness for improving its users’ mental performance out of all of the hundreds of brands that they have examined. To find out more about the ways that Memotenz can benefit its users and to see if it is right for you, just follow this link.
Vinpocetine Ingredients and Side Effects
Ingredients:
Vinpocetine: A synthetic substance that is designed to mimic the structure of an extract of the periwinkle plant. Vinpocetine is potentially effective in treating diseases like Alzheimer’s that affect cognition, however most of its effects and benefits are not well understood at this time.
The alkaloid vincamine is substance that is taken from the common form of the European periwinkle plant. Vincamine is thought to have nootropic properties, and it is used to fight the effects of aging and for increasing blood flow.
Vincamine is a noted vasodilator, which means that when it enters the bloodstream it causes the veins to widen, allowing more blood to pass through them at a time. This is beneficial for circulation and heart health, however some scientists also believe that it may be useful for mental function as well.
Vinpocetine uses the same basic chemical structure and has the same effects as vincamine, however it is said to be up to five times more potent. This may be due to the ways that the two chemicals are absorbed by the body, as vincamine is difficult for people to digest.
When taken with food, about 60% of the active chemicals in vincamine are absorbed. When taken without food, only about 7% of them actually make it into the blood stream. Vinpocetine is far more easily broken down and absorbed in the stomach, which means that users are exposed to more of the active components.
When vinpocetine is absorbed into the blood, its effects are said to be noticeable rapidly. People that get pressure headaches due to high blood pressure have said that they feel relief quickly when taking vinpocetine.
Vinpocetine is considered a neuroprotectant that helps guard the brain against the effects of toxins and stress. It is said to help slow mental decline due to aging, and may be beneficial to stroke recovery and for preventing epileptic seizures. Other uses conditions that vinpocetine has been used to try to treat include:
- Hearing loss and tinnitus
- Bed wetting and urine control
Despite these uses, the only condition that there is definitive data about are Alzheimer’s and dementia, and vinpocetine has only shown to be mildly helpful in slowing the progress of these conditions and it does not in any way “cure” them.
There is little data that confirms that vinpocetine can have mental performance help as well as mental protection benefits. It may be useful in increasing memory, however the only study that has provided proof of this tested a combination of vinpocetine and ginkgo biloba, which may have influenced the data.
Ginkgo is a potent nootropic herb on its own, and there is far more data that it can impact memory performance. As such, it is not known what role the vinpocetine played in those findings.
There have been a number of possible side effects for vinpocetine usage that have been reported. They may potentially include:
- Nervousness and irritability
There are also concerns that vinpocetine may weaken the immune system in certain individuals, particularly the elderly. Studies have shown increased rates of infection amongst vinpocetine users.
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Vinpocetine Quality of Ingredients
Vinpocetine has been successful in some studies and applications, however it has also been shown to be less useful than might be hoped for increasing mental performance.
Vinpocetine seems to be most useful when taken for preventative reasons. It has been shown to be successful in lessening cerebral inflammation, preventing blood clotting, and decreasing the negative effects of aging and certain mental conditions such as Alzheimer’s or dementia.
Vinpocetine has not tested as well in areas like increased thinking speed, problem solving abilities, or focus. This means that it is unlikely to be particularly useful to people that are looking for a study aid, sleep prevention, or a short-term mental performance booster.
It is unlikely that users of Vinpocetine will see the types of benefits that people expect from nootropic supplements. It may be applicable for some users and conditions, however it is not recommended as a substitute for other, more effective mental performance supplements.
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The Price and Quality of Vinpocetine
There are quite a few different companies that sell Vinpocetine. The price can range dramatically, from a few dollars to a few hundred dollars, depending on the business, their location, and the quantity being purchased. Here are several of the options found online:
- Swanson Superior Herbs: 1, 90-count bottle of 10 mg Vinpocetine capsules: $4.99
- Source Naturals: 1, 120-count bottle of 10 mg Vinpocetine tablets: $16.40
- Pure Formulas: 1, 120 count bottle of 20 mg Vinpocetine capsules: $42.40
- Prescribed for Life: 1, 2 oz. bag of Vinpocetine raw powder: $354.99
Depending on where it is purchased from, Vinpocetine ranges in price from very cheap to far more expensive than most other nootropics. Individuals looking for an immediate boost in cognitive performance should consider pairing Vinpocetine with another supplement that is more effective in the short term.
Click here to see how the top brands of nootropic supplements compare with one another when rated back-to-back.
Business of Vinpocetine
Potential users should note that due to health regulations it is listed differently by European manufactures and American manufacturers. Vinpocetine is chemically close enough to natural periwinkle extracts that it is allowed to be sold as a nutritional supplement, however in Europe their labeling laws are stricter and it must be classified as a pharmaceutical product.
Here is the contact information for two of the larger distributors of Vinpocetine:
Pure Formulas:
Phone Number: (800) 383-6008
Address: 11800 NW 102nd Road, Suite #2
Medley, FL 33178
Email: [email protected]
Prescribed for Life:
Phone Number: (800) 383-6008
Address: 243 Eichen Strasse
Fredericksburg, TX 78624
Email: Prescribed for life uses an electronic comment form as opposed to publishing their email details publically.
Neither company has any history of issues with the FDA or FTC. There is no evidence that there are any open legal cases involving either brand.
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Customer Opinions of Vinpocetine
Many people that have taken Vinpocetine have written about it online. Here is a sample of some of those reviews:
“I took this to help increase my mental alertness. Been using it for four weeks now, and still nothing.”
“I don’t know what this stuff is supposed to feel like, but for me it was like my head was going to explode. Had to throw it in the garbage.”
“May as well be air in a capsule. Does absolutely nothing for me.”
The most common response from previous users was that they noticed no difference after taking Vinpocetine. There were also reports of headaches, gastro-intestinal issues, and extreme anxiety and nervousness.
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Conclusion – Does Vinpocetine Work?
Like most products, whether or not you believe that Vinpocetine is successful will largely depend on your expectations for it going in. If you are looking for a nootropic supplement that will help you think faster, problem solve more efficiently, and improve information recall and retention, then Vinpocetine is not the product that you are looking for.
If you are worried about the effects that aging is having on your brain or are concerned about conditions such as dementia and Alzheimer’s, then it has a much better chance of being effective. Those results will be much less noticeable, however Vinpocetine is thought to be effective for improving those conditions.
The nootropic supplement that has received the most positive attention from within the industry is Memotenz. It has been shown to help improve its users’ mental performance in a number of ways.
Memory and cognition are both boosted, as are users’ focus and attention span. Click here to learn more about all of the different ways that Memotenz can improve your brain’s abilities.
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