Background
Bacopa might increase certain brain chemicals that are involved in thinking, learning, and memory. It might also protect brain cells from chemicals involved in Alzheimer disease.
Bacopa is commonly used for Alzheimer disease, memory and thinking skills, anxiety, and attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), but there is no good scientific evidence to support any of these uses.
Do not confuse bacopa with gotu kola. Both plants are sometimes called Brahmi.
Safety Safety definitions
Special Precautions & Warnings:
Pregnancy and breast-feeding: There isn't enough reliable information to know if bacopa is safe to use when pregnant or breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.Children: Bacopa is possibly safe when taken by mouth by children 6-14 years old for up to 6 months.
Slow heart rate (bradycardia): Bacopa might slow down the heart rate. This could be a problem in people who already have a slow heart rate or other heart disease. If you have a heart condition, check with your healthcare provider before using bacopa.
Gastrointestinal tract blockage: Bacopa might make GI tract blockage worse. If you have a GI tract blockage, check with your healthcare provider before using bacopa.
Ulcers: Bacopa might make stomach ulcers worse. If you have stomach ulcers, check with your healthcare provider before using bacopa.
Lung conditions: Bacopa might make asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) worse. If you have asthma or COPD, check with your healthcare provider before using bacopa.
Thyroid disorders: Bacopa might increase levels of thyroid hormone. Bacopa should be used cautiously or avoided if you have a thyroid condition or take thyroid hormone medications.
Urinary tract blockage: Bacopa might make blockage of the urinary tract worse. If you have a urinary tract blockage, check with your healthcare provider before using bacopa.
Effectiveness
Dosing & administration
Interactions with pharmaceuticals
Cevimeline (Evoxac)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Bacopa might change how quickly the body breaks down cevimeline. This could change the effects and side effects of cevimeline.
Drying medications (Anticholinergic drugs)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Bacopa can increase a chemical in the body called acetylcholine. Acetylcholine plays a big part in many important body functions. Some medications, called anticholinergic drugs, block the effects of acetylcholine in the body. Taking bacopa might decrease the effects of anticholinergic drugs.
Medications changed by the liver (Cytochrome P450 1A2 (CYP1A2) substrates)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Some medications are changed and broken down by the liver. Bacopa might change how quickly the liver breaks down these medications. This could change the effects and side effects of these medications.
Medications changed by the liver (Cytochrome P450 2C19 (CYP2C19) substrates)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Some medications are changed and broken down by the liver. Bacopa might change how quickly the liver breaks down these medications. This could change the effects and side effects of these medications.
Medications changed by the liver (Cytochrome P450 2C9 (CYP2C9) substrates)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Some medications are changed and broken down by the liver. Bacopa might change how quickly the liver breaks down these medications. This could change the effects and side effects of these medications.
Medications changed by the liver (Cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) substrates)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Some medications are changed and broken down by the liver. Bacopa might change how quickly the liver breaks down these medications. This could change the effects and side effects of these medications.
Thyroid hormone
Interaction Rating=Minor Be watchful with this combination.
The body naturally produces thyroid hormones. Bacopa might increase how much thyroid hormone is produced. Taking bacopa with thyroid hormone might cause too much thyroid hormone in the body, and increase its effects and side effects.
Various medications used for glaucoma, Alzheimer disease, and other conditions (Cholinergic drugs)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Bacopa can increase a chemical in the body called acetylcholine. Some medications that are used for glaucoma, Alzheimer disease, and other conditions, also increase acetylcholine levels. Taking bacopa with these medications might increase the chance of side effects.
Interactions with herbs & supplements
Interactions with foods
Products
View all products- Bacopa monnieri (Bacopa) ext. 225 mg equiv. bacoside A 101.25 mg
- Ginkgo biloba ext. 60 mg
- Rosmarinus officinalis ext. 100 mg
- Phosphatidylserine enriched soy (powder) (Lecithin) 100 mg equiv. phosphatidylserine 20 mg
- Levomefolate glucosamine (Activated folate) 90.17 µg equiv. levomefolic acid 50 µg
- Mecobalamin (Vitamin B12) 100 µg
- Bacopa monnieri (Bacopa) 300 mg
- Coconut medium-chain triglyceride (Coconut MCT) 3.5 g
- Coffea arabica 2.19 g
- Cordyceps militaris
- Lentinula edodes
- Trametes versicolor
- Coconut milk powder
- Tapioca maltodextrin
- Eleutherococcus senticosus 200 mg
- Sunflower lecithin
- d-alpha-Tocopherol
- Stevia rebaubiana ext.
- Acacia sp. 1.5 g
- Bacopa monnieri (Bacopa) powder 100 mg
- Cordyceps militaris
- Pleurotus eryngii
- Lentinula edodes
- Trametes versicolor
- Grifola frondosa
- Coffea arabica 2.9 g
- Medium chain triglycerides (MCT) 1.5 g
- Huberzia serrata 25 µg
- Acacia sp. (gum)
- Stevia rebaubiana
- Theobroma cacao 15 mg
- Natural flavours
- Theobroma cacao powder 480 mg
- Alpinia galanga powder 150 mg
- Coffea arabica powder 100 mg
- Acacia sp. (fibre)
- Bacopa monnieri (Bacopa) powder 50 mg
- Lactobacillus acidophilus 1.58 billion CFU
- Bifidobacterium bifidum 1.58 billion CFU
- Pea protein isolate 9.4 g
- Marine algae 500 mg
- Linum usitatissimum (seed) (Flaxseed) 250 mg
- Sunflower lecithin 200 mg
- Spinacia oleracea (Spinach) 100 mg
- Beta vulgaris (root) powder (Beetroot) 100 mg
- Daucus carota powder (Carrot) 100 mg
- Arthrospira platensis (Spirulina) 100 mg
- Wheatgrass powder 100 mg
- Zingiber officinale powder 40 mg
- Ribes nigrum powder 200 mg
- Vitis vinifera powder 200 mg
- Malpighia glabra powder 100 mg
- Lycium chinese powder 100 mg
- Vaccinium myrtillus powder 100 mg
- Taraxacum officinale powder 30 mg
- Apple pectin 200 mg
- Plantago ovata (husk) (Psyllium) 100 mg
- Citric acid anhydrous 150 mg
- Citrus bioflavonoids extract 70 mg
- Ananas comosus (Bromelain) 30 mg
- R,S-alpha lipoic acid 20 mg
- Beta glucan 11.5 mg
- Dunaliella salina 8 mg
- Lutein 2 mg
- Zeaxanthin (Carotenoids) 400 µg
- Potassium phosphate dibasic
- Magnesium gluconate
- Calcium citrate
- Ascorbic acid (Vitamin C)
- Zinc gluconate
- d-alpha-Tocopheryl acid succinate (Vitamin E)
- Thaumatin
- Nicotinamide (Vitamin B3)
- Manganese gluconate
- D-calcium pantothenate (Vitamin B5)
- Tocopherols concentrate - mixed (Vitamin E)
- Selenomethionine
- Retinyl palmitate
- Riboflavin (Vitamin B2)
- Thiamine hydrochloride (Vitamin B1)
- Pyridoxine hydrochloride (Vitamin B6)
- Folate
- Chromium picolinate
- Cholecalciferol
- Fucus vesiculosus powder 97 mg
- Stevia rebaubiana powder
- Phytomenadione (Vitamin K1)
- Copper gluconate
- Calendula officinalis powder
- Biotin
- Cyanocobalamin (Vitamin B12)
- Brassica oleracea var. italica powder 100 mg
- Carica papaya 50 mg
- Hordeum vulgare 100 mg
- Malus (fibre) powder (Apple) 963 mg
- Natural vanilla flavour
- Natural caramel flavour
- Menaquinone 7 (Vitamin K2)
- Bacopa monnieri (Bacopa)
- Pea protein isolate
- Malus (Apple)
- Apple pectin
- Arthrospira platensis (Spirulina)
- Linum usitatissimum (seed) (Flaxseed)
- Sunflower lecithin
- Marine algae
- Wheatgrass powder
- Beta vulgaris (root) powder (Beetroot)
- Brassica oleracea var. italica (Broccoli)
- Chlorella pyrenoidosa powder
- Spinacia oleracea (Spinach)
- Daucus carota powder (Carrot)
- Zingiber officinale
- Glycyrrhiza glabra (root)
- Cynara scolymus
- Ribes nigrum
- Vitis vinifera
- Malpighia glabra
- Vaccinium myrtillus
- Camellia sinensis
- Rosa canina
- Centella asiatica
- Silybum marianum
- Rhodiola rosea
- Rosmarinus officinalis
- Withania somnifera
- Taraxacum officinale
- Lycium chinese (berry)
- Citric acid anhydrous
- Citrus bioflavonoids extract
- R,S-alpha lipoic acid
- Beta glucan
- Ubiquinol-10 (Coenzyme Q10)
- Dunaliella salina
- Lactobacillus acidophilus
- Bifidobacterium bifidum
- Potassium phosphate dibasic
- Magnesium citrate
- Ascorbic acid (Vitamin C)
- Natural vanilla flavour
- Natural pineapple flavour
- Zinc citrate
- Tocopherols concentrate - mixed (Vitamin E)
- Selenomethionine
- D-calcium pantothenate (Vitamin B5)
- Nicotinamide (Vitamin B3)
- Pyridoxine hydrochloride (Vitamin B6)
- Retinyl palmitate
- Cholecalciferol
- Copper gluconate
- Thiamine hydrochloride (Vitamin B1)
- Riboflavin (Vitamin B2)
- Folate
- Chromium picolinate
- Panax ginseng
- Fucus vesiculosus
- Stevia rebaubiana (leaf)
- Phytomenadione (Vitamin K1)
- Biotin
- Cyanocobalamin (Vitamin B12)
- Lentinula edodes (fruiting body)
- Ulmus rubra (bark inner) powder
- Hordeum vulgare
- Plantago ovata (husk) (Psyllium)
- Theobroma cacao
- Tocopherols concentrate - mixed (Vitamin E)
- Astragalus membranaceus
- Manganese gluconate
- Menaquinone 7 (Vitamin K2)
- Fallopia japonica
- Amylase enzyme
- Protease
- Lipase
- Cellulase
- Lactase
- Euterpe oleracea (berry) ext. (Acai)
- Salvia officinalis
- Vaccinium macrocarpon