Huperzine A (Chinese club moss, Huperzine Rx-Brain, HUP, HUP A, Memorall, selagine)
Classes: Neurology & Psychiatry, Herbals
- Suggested dosing of Chinese club moss, Huperzine Rx-Brain (huperzine A)
- Suggested uses of Chinese club moss, Huperzine Rx-Brain (huperzine A)
- Chinese club moss, Huperzine Rx-Brain (huperzine A) adverse (side) effects
- Warnings
- Pregnancy
- Pharmacology of Chinese club moss, Huperzine Rx-Brain (huperzine A)
Suggested dosing of Chinese club moss, Huperzine Rx-Brain (huperzine A)
Alzheimer's disease & Multi-infarct dementia
50-200 mcg PO BId
Senile or presenile dementia
30 mcg PO BId
Prevention of muscle weakness in myasthenia gravis
400 mcg IM qDay
Suggested uses of Chinese club moss, Huperzine Rx-Brain (huperzine A)
Improve memory; treatment of Alzheimer's disease, protection from neurotoxic agents including organophosphate nerve gases, glutamate toxicity, and treating myasthenia gravis
Efficacy
Clinical studies in progress; preliminary results promising
Chinese club moss, Huperzine Rx-Brain (huperzine A) adverse (side) effects
Frequency not defined
Gastrointestinal effects (eg, nausea, diarrhea)
Sweating
Blurred vision
Fasciculations
Dizziness
See cholinergic syndrome
Warnings
Contraindications
Seizure disorders, cardiac arrhythmias, asthma, IBS, IBD & malabsorption syndromes
Pregnancy and lactation
Pregnancy category: avoid
Lactation: avoid
Pregnancy categories
A: Generally acceptable. Controlled studies in pregnant women show no evidence of fetal risk.
B: May be acceptable. Either animal studies show no risk but human studies not available or animal studies showed minor risks and human studies done and showed no risk.
C: Use with caution if benefits outweigh risks. Animal studies show risk and human studies not available or neither animal nor human studies done.
D: Use in LIFE-THREATENING emergencies when no safer drug available. Positive evidence of human fetal risk.
X: Do not use in pregnancy. Risks involved outweigh potential benefits. Safer alternatives exist.
NA: Information not available.
Pharmacology of Chinese club moss, Huperzine Rx-Brain (huperzine A)
Absorption: readily from GI tract
Distribution: wide, including brain
Peak Plasma Time: 80 min
Metabolism: some first pass metabolism in liver
Excretion: N/A
Mechanism of action
Cholinesterase inhibitor