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Dietary supplement

Huperzine A Ingredients & Drug Interactions

by GNC Herbal Plus Standardized

Huperzine A label
See full label image
Capsule Category: Botanical
Most serious interaction: Moderate
Clinical methodology reviewed by · Updated Sep 16, 2026 · Label data from the NIH DSLD
What is this page for?

First and foremost: checking Huperzine A against your medications. The heart of this page is the interaction checker and the full interaction report — how this product’s ingredients may interact with prescription and over-the-counter medicines you may be taking.

Around that, we add a pharmacist’s high-level view of the product as a whole — what’s inside, the evidence for its stated use, how transparent the label is, and what safety data exists — so you can see the full picture in one place. It’s educational information from our licensed clinical databases and the clinical staff at HelloPharmacist — not medical advice — and we don’t sell or endorse products. Our editorial policy

The interaction bottom line Most serious interaction: Moderate

Huperzine A is a dietary supplement by GNC Herbal Plus Standardized with 1 active ingredient. Its ingredients are commonly taken for memory and cognitive support, alzheimer's disease and dementia, age-related memory decline.Based on those ingredients, 219 medications have a known interaction with it, the most serious rated moderate. The ingredients most likely to interact are Huperzine A. Use the checker below to test your specific medication, or read the full HelloPharmacist Interaction Report.

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Check Your Meds Against Huperzine A by GNC Herbal Plus Standardized

Ask about any prescription or over-the-counter medication and we check it for interactions with Huperzine A by GNC Herbal Plus Standardized — and tell you which ingredient is responsible.

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HelloPharmacist Scorecard of Huperzine A by GNC Herbal Plus Standardized

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

Generated from HelloPharmacist’s pharmacist-curated databases and editorial rules · Last generated Aug 6, 2026

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.

This product contains one active ingredient: huperzine A, an alkaloid compound derived from club moss plants. It works by slowing the breakdown of acetylcholine, a chemical messenger in the brain involved in memory and cognition.

The capsule also contains inactive ingredients (dicalcium phosphate, cellulose, and a vegetable cellulose capsule shell) that serve as fillers and the delivery method — they don't contribute to the product's effect.

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
Moderate

Some clinical evidence supports this product's ingredients for its stated purpose, but it isn't conclusive.

Why this rating?
  • The label markets this product for: supports memory retention.
  • We looked for evidence on: Memory, Alzheimer disease, Cognitive impairment, Vascular dementia, mental clarity, focus.
  • The strongest evidence on file: Huperzine A is rated "Possibly Effective" for Alzheimer disease (Natural Medicines).
  • Also on file: Huperzine A is rated "Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate" for Cognitive impairment, Vascular dementia, Memory.

The evidence for huperzine A is mixed. For Alzheimer disease, it's rated possibly effective — meaning there's some evidence it may help, but it's not definitive.

For memory, cognitive impairment, vascular dementia, depression, and athletic performance, we don't have enough reliable evidence to say whether it works. If you're considering it for any of these uses, talk with your doctor about what the data actually supports for your situation.

The evidence, ingredient by ingredient Huperzine A

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.

Taken by mouth, huperzine A is generally well tolerated, but it's a pharmacologically active compound and can cause real side effects — so it needs medical guidance. The most common side effects are dose-dependent cholinergic effects: blurred vision, constipation, diarrhea, dizziness, dry mouth, insomnia, nausea, sweating, and vomiting.

It may also cause a slower heart rate. Huperzine A is not recommended during pregnancy or while breastfeeding — there isn't enough safety data in either case.

If you're pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or nursing, talk with your doctor or pharmacist before using this product.

Side effects, ingredient by ingredient Huperzine A

Meds to double-check

Moderate interaction found
Known Interaction Concern · database check
Moderate identified

The most serious documented interaction for these ingredients is Moderate. Check your medications for a personalized result.

Why this rating?
  • 1 of the 1 matched ingredient can interact with medications — Huperzine A.
  • The most serious interaction on file is rated Moderate.
  • For scale: 219 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.

Before taking this product, double-check with your doctor or pharmacist if you take cholinergic drugs (medications that increase acetylcholine activity, often used for Alzheimer disease or myasthenia gravis) or anticholinergic drugs (used for overactive bladder, Parkinson disease, or motion sickness) — huperzine A can change how both work. These are Moderate-severity interactions that can shift your medication's effects.

Check your own medication Run your meds through the checker above

The bottom line

Scorecard at a glanceFully disclosed formula with some supporting evidence for its stated purpose. Moderate medication interactions have been identified, and safety information is well characterized.

Huperzine A is a pharmacologically active supplement, not a casual vitamin — it works on brain chemistry and carries real interaction risks, especially with heart and brain medications. If you take any prescription drugs, particularly those for Alzheimer disease, Parkinson disease, depression, or heart rhythm problems, check with your doctor or pharmacist before starting it.

Pregnant or nursing? Skip it for now and discuss with your healthcare provider.

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 Oct 26, 2011.

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 Huperzine A, straight from the product label.

Brand GNC Herbal Plus Standardized
Barcode (UPC) 048107064648
Net contents 50 Vegetarian Capsules
Market status On market
Date entered into DSLD Oct 26, 2011
DSLD ID 709
Product type Botanical
Supplement form Capsule
Dietary claims / uses All Other, Structure/Function
Intended target group(s) Vegetarian, Adult (18 - 50 Years)
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 Huperzine A by GNC Herbal Plus Standardized, 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:
1 Capsule(s)
Maximum serving Sizes:
2 Capsule(s)
UPC/BARCODE
048107064648
IngredientAmount% DV
Huperzine A50 mcg--

Other ingredients: Dicalcium Phosphate, Cellulose, Vegetable Cellulose Capsule

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.
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.

FDA Statement of Identity

HERBAL SUPPLEMENT

Precautions

KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN.

WARNING: Do not exceed recommended intake. Consult your physicial prior to using this product if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, have high blood pressure, heart problems or have a medical condition. Discontinue use two weeks prior to surgery.

Storage

Store in a cool, dry place.

General

CODE 196311 HLG

General Statements

Supports Memory Retention*

Suggested/Recommended/Usage/Directions

Directions: As a dietary supplement, take one to two capsules daily.

Is this label outdated? Report a formula or label change and our pharmacy team will review it.

See for yourself

Huperzine A by GNC Herbal Plus Standardized label

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

Huperzine A label

Label images are published by the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database for the version of this product on file. Always read your actual product label.

View the full label (PDF)
What’s inside

The Ingredients in Huperzine A by GNC Herbal Plus Standardized

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

Serving size1 Capsule(s) Dosage formCapsule Amounts shown are per serving.

Huperzine A

Interacts with
219 drugs
50 mcg per serving

Huperzine A is a purified compound from a Chinese clubmoss that acts like a mild cholinesterase inhibitor, similar in mechanism to some prescription A...

Huperzine A monograph & interactions

Other (inactive) ingredients: Dicalcium Phosphate, Cellulose, Vegetable Cellulose Capsule. These complete the product’s ingredient list but are not active constituents.

Interaction report

Huperzine A by GNC Herbal Plus Standardized Drug Interactions

Want to check YOUR meds against Huperzine A?

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
219Drugs
219 Moderate

Ingredients driving the most interactions

Huperzine A 219

Individual Drug Interactions

The ingredients in Huperzine A interact with 219 drugs. Click any drug to see the details.

1 of the 1 ingredient in Huperzine A interact with drugs. Each result below shows which ingredient is responsible. Huperzine A

Each ingredient & the kinds of drugs it affects

For each ingredient in Huperzine A 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.

Huperzine A2 drug types · 219 drugs

Anticholinergic Drugs

Theoretically, huperzine A might decrease the effects of anticholinergic drugs.
Huperzine A has acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibiting effects. In animal models, huperzine A reversed cognitive deficits induced by scopolamine, an anticholinergic drug.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Cholinergic Drugs

Theoretically, concurrent use of huperzine A with cholinergic drugs might increase the effects and side effects of these medications.
Huperzine A can inhibit acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and might cause cumulative effects if used with cholinergic drugs.

Likelihood Possible Evidence B
Huperzine A full monograph & interactions
The maker

Brand information

Manufacturer and brand details for Huperzine A, from the product label.

GNC Herbal Plus Standardized

See all GNC Herbal Plus Standardized products
Phone Number
1-888-462-2548
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Huperzine A by GNC Herbal Plus Standardized: Common Questions

Does Huperzine A by GNC Herbal Plus Standardized interact with any medications?
Yes. Based on its ingredients, Huperzine A has a known interaction with 219 medications. Use the checker to see how it interacts with a specific drug.
How can one product interact with so many drugs?
Huperzine A 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.
What does huperzine A actually do?
It blocks an enzyme that normally breaks down acetylcholine, a brain chemical involved in memory and thinking. By keeping acetylcholine around longer, it may help with certain brain functions — but the evidence is strongest for Alzheimer disease and limited for other uses.
Can I take this while I'm pregnant or breastfeeding?
No. There isn't enough safety data during pregnancy, so it's best avoided. The same goes for breastfeeding — safety is unknown. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist about safer options if you need support during this time.
What are the most common side effects?
Dose-dependent cholinergic side effects: blurred vision, constipation, diarrhea, dizziness, dry mouth, insomnia, nausea, sweating, and vomiting. A slower heart rate has also been reported. These tend to happen more at higher doses.
Does it actually work for memory?
We don't have enough reliable evidence to say whether it helps with general memory. The best evidence is for Alzheimer disease (possibly effective), but for other memory or cognition uses, the data isn't established.
Why do I need to check my medications so carefully with this?
Because huperzine A changes how acetylcholine works in your brain. If you're already taking medications that affect acetylcholine — like heart drugs, brain medications, or treatments for bladder or movement problems — combining them can shift how well your medications work or increase side effects.

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

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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.

Huperzine A label
Go deeper

The Full Monographs Behind Huperzine A’s Ingredients

Every ingredient we hold a full HelloPharmacist monograph for — uses, evidence, safety, and the complete interaction list.

Herb & supplement monograph

Huperzine A

Interacts with 219 drugs

Huperzine A is a purified compound from a Chinese clubmoss that acts like a mild cholinesterase inhibitor, similar in mechanism to some prescription Alzheimer's drugs. Some small studies sug...

Read the full Huperzine A monograph →
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Huperzine A'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 13 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.

Huperzine A 13 references
  1. Skolnick AA. Old Chinese herbal medicine used for fever yields possible new Alzheimer Disease therapy. JAMA 1997;277:776. DOI
  2. Ye JW, Cai JX, Wang LM, Tang XC. Improving effects of huperzine A on spatial working memory in aged monkeys and young adult monkeys with experimental cognitive impairment. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 1999;288:814-9.. DOI
  3. Wang T, Tang XC. Reversal of scopolamine-induced deficits in radial maze performance by (-)-huperzine A: comparison with E2020 and tacrine. Eur J Pharmacol 1998;349:137-42. PubMed
  4. Xu SS, Gao ZX, Weng Z, et al. Efficacy of tablet huperzine-A on memory, cognition, and behavior in Alzheimer's disease. Zhongguo Yao Li Xue Bao 1995;16:391-5.
  5. Zhang RW, Tang XC, Han YY, et al. [Drug evaluation of huperzine A in the treatment of senile memory disorders]. Chung Kuo Yao Li Hsueh Pao 1991;12:250-2.
  6. Xu SS, Cai ZY, Qu ZW, et al. Huperzine-A in capsules and tablets for treating patients with Alzheimer disease. Zhongguo Yao Li Xue Bao 1999;20:486-90.
  7. Felgenhauer N, Zilker T, Worek F, Eyer P. Intoxication with huperzine A, a potent anticholinesterase found in the fir club moss. J Toxicol Clin Toxicol 2000;38:803-8.. PubMed
  8. Zhang, Z., Wang, X., Chen, Q., Shu, L., Wang, J., and Shan, G. [Clinical efficacy and safety of huperzine Alpha in treatment of mild to moderate Alzheimer disease, a placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomized trial]. Zhonghua Yi Xue Za Zhi 7-25-2002;82
  9. Cheng, D. H., Ren, H., and Tang, X. C. Huperzine A, a novel promising acetylcholinesterase inhibitor. Neuroreport 12-20-1996;8(1):97-101. PubMed
  10. Wang BS, Wang H, Wei ZH, Song YY, Zhang L, Chen HZ. Efficacy and safety of natural acetylcholinesterase inhibitor huperzine A in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease: an updated meta-analysis. J Neural Transm (Vienna) 2009;116(4):457-65. PubMed
  11. Xu ZQ, Liang XM, Juan-Wu, Zhang YF, Zhu CX, Jiang XJ. Treatment with Huperzine A improves cognition in vascular dementia patients. Cell Biochem Biophys 2012;62(1):55-8. PubMed
  12. Yang G, Wang Y, Tian J, Liu JP. Huperzine A for Alzheimer's disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials. PLoS One 2013;8(9):e74916. PubMed
  13. Xing SH, Zhu CX, Zhang R, An L. Huperzine a in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia: a meta-analysis. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med 2014;2014:363985. PubMed

See these in context on the Huperzine A 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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