Huperzine A (Chinese club moss, Huperzine Rx-Brain, HUP, HUP A, Memorall, selagine)

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