Suggested Dosing
Alzheimer 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
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
Interactions
Interaction Checker
No Results

Contraindicated
Serious - Use Alternative
Significant - Monitor Closely
Minor

Contraindicated (0)
Serious - Use Alternative (0)
Monitor Closely (65)
- aclidinium
huperzine A increases and aclidinium decreases cholinergic effects/transmission. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.
- amitriptyline
huperzine A increases and amitriptyline decreases cholinergic effects/transmission. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.
- amoxapine
huperzine A increases and amoxapine decreases cholinergic effects/transmission. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.
- anticholinergic/sedative combos
huperzine A increases and anticholinergic/sedative combos decreases cholinergic effects/transmission. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.
- atracurium
huperzine A increases and atracurium decreases cholinergic effects/transmission. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.
- atropine
huperzine A increases and atropine decreases cholinergic effects/transmission. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.
- atropine IV/IM
huperzine A increases and atropine IV/IM decreases cholinergic effects/transmission. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor. .
- belladonna alkaloids
huperzine A increases and belladonna alkaloids decreases cholinergic effects/transmission. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.
- belladonna and opium
huperzine A increases and belladonna and opium decreases cholinergic effects/transmission. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.
- bethanechol
bethanechol and huperzine A both increase cholinergic effects/transmission. Use Caution/Monitor.
- carbachol
carbachol and huperzine A both increase cholinergic effects/transmission. Use Caution/Monitor.
- cevimeline
cevimeline and huperzine A both increase cholinergic effects/transmission. Use Caution/Monitor.
- cisatracurium
huperzine A increases and cisatracurium decreases cholinergic effects/transmission. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.
- clomipramine
huperzine A increases and clomipramine decreases cholinergic effects/transmission. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.
- cyclizine
huperzine A increases and cyclizine decreases cholinergic effects/transmission. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.
- cyclobenzaprine
huperzine A increases and cyclobenzaprine decreases cholinergic effects/transmission. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.
- darifenacin
huperzine A increases and darifenacin decreases cholinergic effects/transmission. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.
- desipramine
huperzine A increases and desipramine decreases cholinergic effects/transmission. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.
- dicyclomine
huperzine A increases and dicyclomine decreases cholinergic effects/transmission. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.
- diphenhydramine
huperzine A increases and diphenhydramine decreases cholinergic effects/transmission. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.
- donepezil
donepezil and huperzine A both increase cholinergic effects/transmission. Use Caution/Monitor.
- dosulepin
huperzine A increases and dosulepin decreases cholinergic effects/transmission. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.
- doxepin
huperzine A increases and doxepin decreases cholinergic effects/transmission. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.
- echothiophate iodide
echothiophate iodide and huperzine A both increase cholinergic effects/transmission. Use Caution/Monitor.
- fesoterodine
huperzine A increases and fesoterodine decreases cholinergic effects/transmission. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.
- flavoxate
huperzine A increases and flavoxate decreases cholinergic effects/transmission. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.
- galantamine
galantamine and huperzine A both increase cholinergic effects/transmission. Use Caution/Monitor.
- glycopyrrolate
huperzine A increases and glycopyrrolate decreases cholinergic effects/transmission. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.
- glycopyrrolate inhaled
huperzine A increases and glycopyrrolate inhaled decreases cholinergic effects/transmission. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.
- henbane
huperzine A increases and henbane decreases cholinergic effects/transmission. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.
- homatropine
huperzine A increases and homatropine decreases cholinergic effects/transmission. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.
- hyoscyamine
huperzine A increases and hyoscyamine decreases cholinergic effects/transmission. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.
- hyoscyamine spray
huperzine A increases and hyoscyamine spray decreases cholinergic effects/transmission. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor. .
- imipramine
huperzine A increases and imipramine decreases cholinergic effects/transmission. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.
- incobotulinumtoxinA
huperzine A increases and incobotulinumtoxinA decreases cholinergic effects/transmission. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.
- ipratropium
huperzine A increases and ipratropium decreases cholinergic effects/transmission. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.
- lofepramine
huperzine A increases and lofepramine decreases cholinergic effects/transmission. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.
- maprotiline
huperzine A increases and maprotiline decreases cholinergic effects/transmission. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.
- meclizine
huperzine A increases and meclizine decreases cholinergic effects/transmission. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.
- methscopolamine
huperzine A increases and methscopolamine decreases cholinergic effects/transmission. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.
- neostigmine
huperzine A and neostigmine both increase cholinergic effects/transmission. Use Caution/Monitor.
- nortriptyline
huperzine A increases and nortriptyline decreases cholinergic effects/transmission. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.
- onabotulinumtoxinA
huperzine A increases and onabotulinumtoxinA decreases cholinergic effects/transmission. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.
- orphenadrine
huperzine A increases and orphenadrine decreases cholinergic effects/transmission. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.
- oxybutynin
huperzine A increases and oxybutynin decreases cholinergic effects/transmission. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.
- oxybutynin topical
huperzine A increases and oxybutynin topical decreases cholinergic effects/transmission. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.
- oxybutynin transdermal
huperzine A increases and oxybutynin transdermal decreases cholinergic effects/transmission. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.
- pancuronium
huperzine A increases and pancuronium decreases cholinergic effects/transmission. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.
- physostigmine
huperzine A and physostigmine both increase cholinergic effects/transmission. Use Caution/Monitor.
- pilocarpine
huperzine A and pilocarpine both increase cholinergic effects/transmission. Use Caution/Monitor.
- pralidoxime
huperzine A increases and pralidoxime decreases cholinergic effects/transmission. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.
- propantheline
huperzine A increases and propantheline decreases cholinergic effects/transmission. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.
- protriptyline
huperzine A increases and protriptyline decreases cholinergic effects/transmission. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.
- pyridostigmine
huperzine A and pyridostigmine both increase cholinergic effects/transmission. Use Caution/Monitor.
- rapacuronium
huperzine A increases and rapacuronium decreases cholinergic effects/transmission. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.
- rocuronium
huperzine A increases and rocuronium decreases cholinergic effects/transmission. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.
- scopolamine
huperzine A increases and scopolamine decreases cholinergic effects/transmission. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.
- solifenacin
huperzine A increases and solifenacin decreases cholinergic effects/transmission. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.
- succinylcholine
huperzine A and succinylcholine both increase cholinergic effects/transmission. Use Caution/Monitor.
- tiotropium
huperzine A increases and tiotropium decreases cholinergic effects/transmission. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.
- tolterodine
huperzine A increases and tolterodine decreases cholinergic effects/transmission. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.
- trazodone
huperzine A increases and trazodone decreases cholinergic effects/transmission. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.
- trimipramine
huperzine A increases and trimipramine decreases cholinergic effects/transmission. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.
- trospium chloride
huperzine A increases and trospium chloride decreases cholinergic effects/transmission. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.
- vecuronium
huperzine A increases and vecuronium decreases cholinergic effects/transmission. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.
Minor (4)
- donepezil
donepezil increases effects of huperzine A by pharmacodynamic synergism. Minor/Significance Unknown.
- galantamine
galantamine increases effects of huperzine A by pharmacodynamic synergism. Minor/Significance Unknown.
- pantothenic acid
pantothenic acid, huperzine A. Either increases effects of the other by pharmacodynamic synergism. Minor/Significance Unknown.
- procainamide
procainamide decreases effects of huperzine A by pharmacodynamic antagonism. Minor/Significance Unknown.
Adverse 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 & 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
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