Safety
MemoPryl Side Effects and Drug Interactions to Know
MemoPryl side effects, based on its ingredients, are mostly mild: stomach upset, headache, dizziness, poor sleep and sun sensitivity.
Interactions matter more: St. John's wort weakens many prescription drugs, ginkgo adds bleeding risk with warfarin, and huperzine A may slow the heart.
Written by the MemoPryl editorial teamUpdated
Overview
What side effects can MemoPryl cause?
Mostly mild ones, based on its ingredients: upset stomach, headache, dizziness, trouble sleeping and, from St. John's wort, sun sensitivity. No trial of the MemoPryl formula exists, and its amounts are not public, so nobody can say how often these happen.
Many effects in the sources appeared at study doses. We cannot tell whether MemoPryl reaches them, so treat each one as possible, not certain.
MemoPryl is a dietary supplement, not a drug. Ask your doctor or pharmacist first if you take ANY prescription medicine: St. John's wort weakens birth control pills, warfarin, some antidepressants, heart, HIV, transplant, seizure and cancer drugs, and can cause serotonin side effects with antidepressants. Huperzine A (listed by the eBay seller) adds to donepezil-type dementia drugs and may slow the heart. Not for pregnancy. See side effects and interactions.
By ingredient
Which MemoPryl ingredients cause which side effects?
All eight named ingredients, with what each source reports. The last two come from the eBay seller's list only.
| Ingredient | Reported side effects | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Phosphatidylserine | May lower blood pressure, raise body weight and increase bleeding risk | (ADDF, Phosphatidylserine) |
| Bacopa (brahmi) | Nausea, stomach cramps | (ADDF, Bacopa) |
| Ginkgo biloba leaf | Dizziness, stomach upset, headache; bleeding risk with warfarin | (NCCIH, Ginkgo) |
| Acetyl-L-carnitine | Near 3 g a day: nausea, vomiting, cramps, diarrhea, fishy body odor; seizures in people with seizure disorders | (NIH ODS, Carnitine) |
| St. John's wort | Diarrhea, dizziness, trouble sleeping, restlessness, skin tingling; sun sensitivity at large doses | (NCCIH, St. John's wort) |
| L-glutamine | Swelling, headache, fever, nausea; rare case reports of liver injury, and kidney injury at 18 g long term | (MSKCC, Glutamine) |
| Alpha-GPC (seller list) | Heartburn, headache, insomnia, dizziness, confusion | (ADDF, Alpha-GPC) |
| Huperzine A (seller list) | Headache, dizziness, blurred vision, stomach effects; may lower heart rate | (ADDF, Huperzine A) |
Interactions
Which drugs interact with MemoPryl?
St. John's wort leads the list. NCCIH says it can weaken many medicines and interact in dangerous, sometimes life-threatening ways.
| Medicine | Ingredient | What may happen |
|---|---|---|
| Antidepressants (some) | St. John's wort | Serotonin side effects (NCCIH, St. John's wort) |
| Birth control pills | St. John's wort | The pill works less well (NCCIH, St. John's wort) |
| Cyclosporine (transplant) | St. John's wort | Lower drug effect (NCCIH, St. John's wort) |
| Phenytoin, carbamazepine | St. John's wort | Seizure control may weaken (NCCIH, St. John's wort) |
| Digoxin, ivabradine | St. John's wort | Heart drug effect may drop (NCCIH, St. John's wort) |
| Some HIV drugs | St. John's wort | Lower drug levels (NCCIH, St. John's wort) |
| Some cancer drugs | St. John's wort | Lower drug effect (NCCIH, St. John's wort) |
| Some statins | St. John's wort | Cholesterol drug works less well (NCCIH, St. John's wort) |
| Warfarin | St. John's wort; ginkgo | Weaker warfarin effect; added bleeding risk (NCCIH, St. John's wort) (NCCIH, Ginkgo) |
| Donepezil-type dementia drugs | Huperzine A; bacopa | Stacked side effects (ADDF, Huperzine A) (ADDF, Bacopa) |
| Anticholinergic drugs | Huperzine A | May be weakened (ADDF, Huperzine A) |
| Thyroid medicine | Bacopa | Use care together (ADDF, Bacopa) |
| Valproic acid, other anticonvulsants | Acetyl-L-carnitine | These drugs lower carnitine levels (NIH ODS, Carnitine) |
| Blood pressure medicine | Phosphatidylserine | It may lower blood pressure too (ADDF, Phosphatidylserine) |
Not a complete list. Bring the bottle to your pharmacist, and read the St. John's wort interactions article for more detail.
Why it leads
Why is St. John's wort the biggest MemoPryl safety issue?
It changes how the body handles other drugs, and no image of either MemoPryl label warns about it.
The herb is studied mainly for mild to moderate depression, not memory (NCCIH, St. John's wort). In adults on no medicines it appears safe for up to 12 weeks. For anyone on a prescription, the risk is a medicine that quietly stops working. Keep taking your prescribed medicine and ask before adding MemoPryl.
Huperzine A
Is huperzine A in MemoPryl safe?
For most healthy adults it is a question mark. It works much like prescription Alzheimer's drugs, so it behaves more like a drug than a food.
Huperzine A comes from firmoss. The eBay seller lists it; the brand graphics do not. If your bottle contains it, these points apply (ADDF, Huperzine A):
- It might lower heart rate. People with a slow pulse, or on heart-rate drugs, should ask first.
- It may worsen some forms of epilepsy.
- Taken with donepezil-type drugs, it may worsen their side effects.
- It may weaken anticholinergic drugs, such as some bladder medicines.
- Dementia trials were small, short and at high risk of bias. A study of 84 healthy military personnel found no benefit.
More on the huperzine A page.
Two more cautions
Does MemoPryl raise bleeding or seizure risk?
Possibly, through three ingredients. Ginkgo and phosphatidylserine carry bleeding cautions, and carnitine carries a seizure caution.
Ginkgo and phosphatidylserine
Ginkgo raises bleeding risk with warfarin (NCCIH, Ginkgo), and phosphatidylserine may increase bleeding risk on its own (ADDF, Phosphatidylserine). Tell your surgeon or dentist you take MemoPryl before any procedure. Watch for easy bruising, nosebleeds or bleeding gums.
Acetyl-L-carnitine
Carnitine has been linked to seizures in people with seizure disorders (NIH ODS, Carnitine). Anyone with epilepsy should ask a neurologist first. Huperzine A adds its own epilepsy caution, as noted above.
Learn what large studies found on the ginkgo biloba page.
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Order nowWhen to stop
When should you stop taking MemoPryl?
Stop and call your doctor if any of these happen. Bring the bottle to the appointment.
Unusual bleeding or bruising
Especially on warfarin or before surgery.
A slow, skipping or weak pulse
Or feeling faint, which may point to huperzine A.
A medicine seems weaker
A seizure, a mood change or a heart rhythm change on a drug that used to control it.
Rash or bad sunburn after short sun
St. John's wort can cause sun sensitivity.
Stomach upset, headache or poor sleep that lasts
Mild effects that do not settle after a few days.
Stopping a supplement is your call. Stopping or changing a prescription is not: never stop or change a dose on your own.
Emergency
Which symptoms mean call 911?
Sudden symptoms that could be a stroke. Do not wait to see if they pass.
- Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, often on one side
- Sudden confusion or trouble speaking
- Sudden trouble seeing or walking
- A sudden, severe headache
These stroke signs come from the CDC (CDC, Stroke signs). Trouble breathing or a swollen face or throat also needs 911.
Name mix-up
Why must MemoPryl never be confused with metoprolol?
Because one is a supplement and the other is a prescription beta blocker. Mixing them up on a medicine list can lead to the wrong advice.
The names look alike on a handwritten list. When you tell a doctor or pharmacist about MemoPryl, spell it out and show the bottle.
If you take metoprolol, you are on a prescription, so the ask-first rule applies. Huperzine A might also lower heart rate (ADDF, Huperzine A), which is worth raising with your prescriber.
Report it
How do you report a side effect from MemoPryl?
Tell your doctor first, then report it to the FDA through MedWatch, its safety reporting program for supplements and drugs.
The product name spelled out, which label version you have, the lot code, the date you started, what happened and what else you take. Keep the bottle.
You can file a MedWatch report online yourself, or ask your doctor to file it. For a refund or a return on an eBay order, use your eBay account. For orders placed through the order desk, call +1 (302) 200-3480.
FAQ
MemoPryl side effects and interactions: FAQ
Does MemoPryl cause headaches?
It can. Headache is reported for ginkgo, L-glutamine, alpha-GPC and huperzine A taken on their own (NCCIH, Ginkgo) (MSKCC, Glutamine) (ADDF, Alpha-GPC) (ADDF, Huperzine A). No study of MemoPryl measured it. If a headache is sudden and severe, treat it as an emergency and call 911.
Can MemoPryl cause trouble sleeping?
Possibly. St. John's wort lists trouble sleeping and restlessness, and alpha-GPC lists insomnia (NCCIH, St. John's wort) (ADDF, Alpha-GPC). If sleep gets worse after you start, tell your pharmacist and consider stopping. Poor sleep is easy to track in a short daily log.
Does MemoPryl interact with blood thinners like warfarin?
Yes, in two ways. St. John's wort can weaken warfarin (NCCIH, St. John's wort), and ginkgo adds bleeding risk when taken with it (NCCIH, Ginkgo). Anyone on warfarin or another blood thinner should not start MemoPryl without the prescriber's approval.
Can MemoPryl slow your heart rate?
It might, if your bottle contains huperzine A, which the eBay seller lists. ADDF notes huperzine A might lower heart rate (ADDF, Huperzine A). People with a slow pulse or on heart-rate medicine should ask a doctor first.
Does St. John's wort in MemoPryl cause sun sensitivity?
It can at large doses (NCCIH, St. John's wort). MemoPryl's amount is not public, so cover up and use sunscreen until you know how your skin reacts. A rash or burn after little sun is a reason to stop.
How do I report a bad reaction to MemoPryl?
Tell your doctor, then report it to FDA MedWatch online. Include the lot code, label version and what happened. For an eBay return, use your eBay account; for order-desk purchases, call +1 (302) 200-3480.
Does MemoPryl cause nausea or stomach upset?
It may. Nausea or stomach upset is reported for bacopa, ginkgo, acetyl-L-carnitine, L-glutamine and huperzine A on their own (ADDF, Bacopa) (NCCIH, Ginkgo) (NIH ODS, Carnitine) (MSKCC, Glutamine) (ADDF, Huperzine A). Carnitine's stomach effects showed up near 3 g a day. Upset that lasts more than a few days is a reason to stop and ask.
Who wrote this
Written and reviewed by
Plain-language pages built from the label, the sales page and linked public health sources.
Last updated . Read our editorial standards and how we check reviews. This website is run by a U.S. stocking partner that sells MemoPryl, not by the maker (the pack shots say "By NutraVibe"). We earn money when you buy through our order links.
Keep reading
More about MemoPryl
Who it's for
Who might consider MemoPryl, who must ask first, and who should skip it, in plain words with a quick self-check.
Read moreSt. John's wort drug interactions
Which medicines St. John's wort weakens, why that matters for MemoPryl, and what to ask your pharmacist.
Read more
Huperzine A
Huperzine A acts like a prescription dementia drug. Who should ask first, and which bottle lists it.
Read moreU.S. stocking partner for MemoPryl
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