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Dietary supplement

Alpha-GPC Ingredients & Drug Interactions

by Pure Encapsulations

Capsule Category: Non-nutrient/non-botanical
Most serious interaction: Minor
The interaction bottom line Most serious interaction: Minor

Alpha-GPC is a dietary supplement by Pure Encapsulations with 1 active ingredient. Its ingredients are commonly taken for memory and learning support, age-related cognitive decline, alzheimer's disease and dementia (under study).Based on those ingredients, 16 medications have a known interaction with it, the most serious rated minor. The ingredients most likely to interact are Alpha-GPC. Use the checker below to test your specific medication, or read the full HelloPharmacist Interaction Report.

HelloPharmacist Scorecard of Alpha-GPC by Pure Encapsulations

Our pharmacy team’s full take, with four database checks built into the cards below — a summary of what is known, not a grade of the product itself.

From our pharmacy team — supplement deep dive

What’s inside

Full disclosure
Ingredient Transparency · database check
Full

Every active ingredient lists its own amount on the label.

Why this rating?
  • The label discloses an exact amount for 1 of its 1 active ingredient.
  • No proprietary blends here — you can verify the dose of every single component.

Alpha-GPC by Pure Encapsulations contains one active ingredient: alpha-GPC (also called L-alpha-glycerylphosphorylcholine), a compound your body makes naturally and uses for brain cell function and memory. The supplement also includes several inactive ingredients—dicalcium phosphate, hypoallergenic plant fiber, a vegetarian capsule, ascorbyl palmitate, and silicon dioxide—which serve as fillers, binders, and capsule material.

Does it work?

Moderate evidence
Evidence for Intended Use · database check
By FDA rules, dietary supplements can’t claim to treat, cure, or prevent disease — so labels speak in careful marketing language. We discern each product’s intended use from its name, label claims, and label statements, then grade the clinical evidence for that use. How these ratings are computed

This product doesn't appear to be marketed for a specific use, so we graded Alpha-gpc's overall clinical evidence instead.

Moderate

Some clinical evidence supports Alpha-gpc for:

Why this rating?
  • We looked at the product name, claims, and label statements and couldn't find a stated purpose to grade.
  • Since the label doesn't commit to one use, we graded the ingredient's overall clinical evidence instead.
  • On file: Alzheimer disease — rated "Possibly Effective" (Natural Medicines).

The evidence for alpha-GPC is mixed. It's rated possibly effective for Alzheimer disease, meaning some evidence supports it but more research is needed.

For brain tumors, cognitive function, vascular dementia (poor blood flow to the brain), and stroke, we don't have enough reliable evidence to say whether it works or not. If you're considering this for any of those uses, talk it over with your doctor to see if it's right for your situation.

The evidence, ingredient by ingredient Alpha-gpc

How safe is it?

Well-documented data
Safety Information · database check
Well characterized

Adverse-effect, pregnancy, and general safety data are on file for most of these ingredients.

Why this rating?
  • We hold adverse-effect (side-effect) data for 1 of the 1 matched ingredient.
  • Pregnancy & breastfeeding safety ratings cover 1 of 1.
  • General safety write-ups exist for 1 of 1.
  • Remember: this measures how much safety information exists. Thin data is not the same as being safe.

Alpha-GPC is generally well tolerated when taken by mouth, though long-term safety hasn't been fully studied. The most important caution: long-term use (at least 2 months) has been rarely associated with an elevated risk of stroke compared with non-users or shorter-term users.

A small number of people have reported dizziness, headache, insomnia, excitation, nausea, vomiting, heartburn, or diarrhea. Because safety data is limited, especially over longer periods, the supplement should not be started without direction from your doctor.

Side effects, ingredient by ingredient Alpha-gpc

Meds to double-check

Minor interactions only
Known Interaction Concern · database check
Minor only

Only Minor-severity interactions are documented for these ingredients.

Why this rating?
  • 1 of the 1 matched ingredient can interact with medications — Alpha-gpc.
  • The most serious interaction on file is rated Minor.
  • For scale: 16 individual medications appear in the full list. A big number alone doesn't make a product dangerous — what matters is whether YOUR medication is on it, so run yours through the interaction checker on this page.

If you use a scopolamine patch (Transderm Scop) for motion sickness, alpha-GPC might reduce how well it works—discuss this with your doctor before taking the supplement. No other medication interactions are documented for the ingredient we checked, but the interaction data applies to 16 individual medications overall, so verify your exact prescriptions using the tool on this page.

Check your own medication Run your meds through the checker above

The bottom line

Scorecard at a glanceFully disclosed formula with some supporting evidence behind its ingredients' uses. Only minor medication interactions are documented, and safety information is well characterized.

Alpha-GPC may be worth considering if your doctor recommends it for Alzheimer disease, but the evidence for other brain-related uses isn't clear yet. The most important caution is a rare link to stroke with long-term use (2 months or more).

If you take a scopolamine motion sickness patch or any other medications, check with your doctor or pharmacist before starting this supplement.

Educational only — not medical advice; always confirm with your pharmacist. Our editorial policy · How we use AI

Assessment coverage: 1 of 1 active ingredient matched to our full ingredient reviews (monographs). Based on the product label dated Nov 21, 2018.

This Scorecard evaluates available label information, ingredient evidence, and known medication-safety considerations. It does not independently verify product identity, purity, potency, contamination, or manufacturing quality. How these ratings are computed

At a glance

General information

Key facts about Alpha-GPC, straight from the product label.

Brand Pure Encapsulations
Barcode (UPC) 766298005331
Net contents 120 Capsule(s)
Market status On market
Date entered into DSLD Nov 21, 2018
DSLD ID 183561
Product type Non-nutrient/non-botanical
Supplement form Capsule
Dietary claims / uses All Other, Structure/Function
Intended target group(s) Adult (18 - 50 Years), Gluten Free
From the label
Everything in this section is reproduced from the manufacturer’s own product label — it’s the label speaking, not HelloPharmacist. We show it so you can see exactly what the maker states; we don’t verify or endorse those statements.

Supplement Facts

The label details for Alpha-GPC by Pure Encapsulations, sourced from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database.

Supplement Facts

Daily Value (DV) Target Group(s):
Adults and children 4 or more years of age
Minimum serving Sizes:
2 Capsule(s)
Maximum serving Sizes:
2 Capsule(s)
Servings per container
60
UPC/BARCODE
766298005331
IngredientAmount% DV
Alpha-GPC400 mg--

Other ingredients: Dicalcium Phosphate, hypoallergenic Plant Fiber, Vegetarian Capsule, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Silicon Dioxide

Tap any ingredient to jump to its full detail below.

Label statements
These statements are the manufacturer’s wording, reproduced from the product label — the label is saying it, not HelloPharmacist. We don’t verify or endorse them.
Storage

Store in a cool, dry place.

Suggested/Recommended/Usage/Directions

Recommendations: As a dietary supplement, take 2 capsules, 3 times daily, with or between meals.

Precautions

Warning: If you are pregnant or lactating, have any health condition or are taking any medication, consult your health professional before use.

Keep out of the reach of children.

Use only if safety seal is intact.

Contains soy

General Statements

Scan to learn about our hypoallergenic supplements

Contents may not fill package in order to accommodate required labeling. Please rely on stated quantity.

Neurotransmitter and phospholipid precursor: Supports cognitive health

Formulation

Certified Gluten-Free by the Gluten-Free Certification Organization, www.gluten.org

Gluten-free & Non-GMO

FDA Statement of Identity

Dietary Supplement

Seals/Symbols

GF

Formula

Contains soy

FDA Disclaimer Statement

This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

General

v3 code: AG1

See for yourself

Alpha-GPC by Pure Encapsulations label

The label scan from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database. Tap to enlarge.

What’s inside

The Ingredients in Alpha-GPC by Pure Encapsulations

This is the 1 active ingredient this product is made of. Select it to open its full monograph.

Serving size2 Capsule(s) Dosage formCapsule Servings per container60 Amounts shown are per serving.

Alpha-GPC

Interacts with
16 drugs
400 mg per serving

Alpha-GPC is a choline-containing compound used mainly for memory, brain health, and as a choline source. There is some evidence it may help cognition...

Alpha-GPC monograph & interactions

Other (inactive) ingredients: Dicalcium Phosphate, Hypoallergenic Plant Fiber, Vegetarian Capsule, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Silicon Dioxide. These complete the product’s ingredient list but are not active constituents.

Interaction report

Alpha-GPC by Pure Encapsulations Drug Interactions

Want to check YOUR meds against Alpha-GPC?

Ask about interactions with your drugs in plain English — “Can I take it with lisinopril?” — and we find you the answer in seconds, ingredient by ingredient.

Go to the checker
16Drugs
16 Minor

Ingredients driving the most interactions

Each ingredient & the kinds of drugs it affects

For each ingredient in Alpha-GPC with known interactions, here are the types of medications it can affect. Open any type for the detail — or search your exact drug in the checker above.

Alpha-GPC1 drug type · 16 drugs

Scopolamine (Transderm Scop)

Theoretically, alpha-GPC might decrease the effects of scopolamine.
A small clinical study shows that alpha-GPC can partially counteract the attention and memory impairment effects caused by scopolamine given intramuscularly. Whether alpha-GPC can decrease the beneficial anti-motion sickness effects of the scopolamine patch (Transderm Scop) is unclear.

Likelihood Possible Evidence B
The maker

Brand information

Manufacturer and brand details for Alpha-GPC, from the product label.

Pure Encapsulations

See all Pure Encapsulations products
Name
Pure Encapsulations
Street Address
490 Boston Post Road
City
Sudbury
State
MA
Phone Number
1-800-753-2277
Web Address
www.PureEncapsulations.com
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Alpha-GPC by Pure Encapsulations: Common Questions

Does Alpha-GPC by Pure Encapsulations interact with any medications?
Yes. Based on its ingredients, Alpha-GPC has a known interaction with 16 medications. Use the checker to see how it interacts with a specific drug.
How can one product interact with so many drugs?
Alpha-GPC contains a single active ingredient, and that one ingredient can interact with many different medications on its own. We check it against each medication and show the mechanism responsible.
Where does this information come from?
The product label data comes from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database (DSLD); the interaction data is built on the Natural Medicines database and reviewed by HelloPharmacist pharmacists.
Is alpha-GPC safe to take long-term?
Long-term safety hasn't been fully established. Importantly, use for 2 months or more has been rarely linked to an elevated risk of stroke, so this isn't something to take indefinitely without medical supervision. Talk with your doctor about how long it's safe for you to use it.
Can I take this while pregnant or breastfeeding?
We don't have enough safety information for pregnancy or breastfeeding on file. You should avoid starting this supplement unless your doctor directs you to. If you're pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding, check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking it.
Will this help my memory or brain function?
Alpha-GPC is possibly effective for Alzheimer disease—meaning some evidence backs it up, but more research is needed. For general cognitive function and memory, the evidence isn't strong enough to rate. Your doctor can help you figure out if it's worth trying for your specific situation.
What are the most common side effects?
Alpha-GPC is generally well tolerated, but a small number of people have reported dizziness, headache, insomnia, nausea, vomiting, and excitation. Very rarely, stroke has been reported, especially with long-term use. If you notice any unusual symptoms, stop the supplement and contact your doctor.
Does this supplement have fillers?
Yes, it contains inactive ingredients including dicalcium phosphate, plant fiber, ascorbyl palmitate, and silicon dioxide, which are used as fillers, binders, and to fill the capsule. If you have sensitivities to any of these, check with your pharmacist.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

Not sure if Alpha-GPC is safe with your meds?

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Ask a pharmacist

Label information is sourced from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database and reflects the product version on file; always read your actual product label. This page is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Confirm with your pharmacist or doctor before combining supplements and medications.

Alpha-GPC label
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Alpha-GPC's label data comes from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database; the ingredient interaction data is from the Natural Medicines database, reviewed by our pharmacists.

Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists. See our data sources and editorial standards for how this information is built and checked.

The 4 references behind this product’s interaction data

Every citation that drives the interaction findings for this product’s ingredients, from the evidence-graded Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) database. Open an ingredient to browse its citations — links open the study on PubMed or the publisher’s site.

Alpha-gpc 4 references
  1. Di Perri R, Coppola G, Ambrosio LA, et al. A multicentre trial to the evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of alpha-glycerylphosphorylcholine versus cytosine diphosphocholine in patients with vascular dementia. J Int Med Res 1991;19:330-41.
  2. Barbagallo Sangiorgi G, Barbagallo M, Giordano M, et al. Alpha-glycerophosphocholine in the mental recovery of cerebral ischemic attacks: An Italian multicenter clinical trial. Ann N Y Acad Sci 1994;717:253-69. PubMed
  3. Canal N, Franceschi M, Alberoni M, et al. Effect of L-alpha-glyceryl-phosphorylcholine on amnesia caused by scopolamine. Int J Clin Pharmacol Ther Toxicol 1991;29:103-7.
  4. Lee G, Choi S, Chang J, et al. Association of L-a glycerylphosphorylcholine with subsequent stroke risk after 10 Years. JAMA Netw Open 2021;4(11):e2136008.

See these in context on the Alpha-gpc monograph →

Parts of this content are provided by the Therapeutic Research Center, LLC.

DISCLAIMER: Currently this does not check for drug-drug interactions. This is not an all-inclusive comprehensive list of potential interactions and is for informational purposes only. Not all interactions are known or well-reported in the scientific literature, and new interactions are continually being reported. Input is needed from a qualified healthcare provider including a pharmacist before starting any therapy. Application of clinical judgment is necessary.

© 2021 Therapeutic Research Center, LLC

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