Vinpocetine

Tier 3 — weak evidence · Cerebral blood flow · PDE1 inhibitor · Memory · Regulatory grey area

A semi-synthetic compound from periwinkle (vincamine derivative) that inhibits PDE1, dilates cerebral vessels, and has mild antiplatelet activity. Eastern European clinical trials (primarily Hungarian) show improvements in memory and cognitive recovery post-stroke. However, the FDA ruled in 1997 that vinpocetine is a pharmaceutical drug — not a legal dietary supplement — and has warned against its sale as a supplement. Banned in Canada, the UK, and Australia. Most trials are small, methodologically weak, and from a single research tradition. Safer cognitive options with better evidence…

Dose: 5–10 mg 3× daily (15–30 mg/day) with food if using; note that it is not a legal supplement in most Western countries