When researching nootropic supplements, many people wonder what is the best Forskolin dosage to take advantage of the benefits of this ancient plant-based remedy?
This relatively unknown supplement is a staple in traditional Indian medicine, where it has been used topically for as many as thousands of years.
While Forskolin is a powerful antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory compound with benefits for skin health, it may be even more powerful when consumed as a nootropic supplement for boosting memory.
The supplement has even been used to stimulate weight loss results through increased thyroid activity.
In the modern era, Forskolin is now a fixture among a new class of dietary supplements and cognitive enhancing “smart drugs”. It is also a famous ingredient in the popular memory stack CILTEP. In the right amounts, daily Forskolin dosages may lead to dramatically improved brain function and whole-body health.
Let’s take a look at how this supplement works, including the best Forskolin dosage and usage practices to avoid side effects.



- Boosts thyroid function & lipolysis
- Promotes energy, stamina & concentration
- Supports weight loss & appetite suppression
Understanding How Forskolin Works
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The Coleus forskohlii plant, the source of Forskolin supplements, hails from India and other areas in Southeast Asia.
Forskolin is a labdane diterpene, and is the main active compound found in Coleus forskohlii. Chemically, Forskolin is similar to vitamin A compounds like Retinol.
When consumed, a Forskolin dosage activates a key brain enzyme known as adenylate cyclase, which launches a powerful memory enhancement process. Forskolin activates adenylate cyclase which in turn promotes the production of cAMP (cyclic adenosine monophosphate).
cAMP plays a role in signaling between cells, which activates certain memory encoding pathways in the brain. The new structures that result are the brain’s method of creating lasting long term memories. This sequence of events is known as Long Term Potentiation.
Forskolin further enhances this process by making sure that the brain receives an abundant flow of oxygen-rich blood by vasodilating blood vessels. Overall, the brain’s ability to adapt and form new connections improves, resulting in heightened neuroplasticity and protection against age-related decay.
Additional responses are triggered by an increase of cAMP throughout the body. This messenger increases thyroid activity, resulting in greater production of and secretion of the hormones T3 and T4. When these hormones are present in the body in higher levels, they trigger an increase in the production of ATP in your cells.
The result is a faster metabolism of fats and sugars, leading to both heightened energy levels as well as weight loss. Forskolin can sometimes lead to weight loss results while also lessening susceptibility to mental fatigue and “brain strain” when working for long hours.
What Are the Ideal Forskolin Benefits?
Why do some people take a daily Forskolin dosage? Over time, this kind of regimen may make the process of learning and retaining information more easy and natural.
While Forskolin does not create a “high,” it does foster a sense of very clear thoughts and sharp mental focus. Studying may become more productive and less taxing. Processing large amounts of information does not result in frustration or brain fog.
While these types of benefits are great for particular tasks, such as preparing for an exam, they also have general benefit for parts of life you may not immediately associate with learning.
For example, the ability to observe, understand, and retain the intricacies of social dynamics at work or within a group of friends can be a valuable tool to ease social anxiety.
Forskolin dosages can also be very useful for any part of life that benefits from an open and adaptable mind. Tackling the daily challenge of raising a child, for example, requires the ability to adapt and learn quickly. Forskolin’s memory and focus effects may improve life in all of these areas.
Research on Forskolin benefits has been promising so far, however it is very limited, and more research is still needed to fully understand its effects. At this time in the US, the FDA has not approved Forskolin as a drug to prevent or treat any conditions, and it is available as a dietary supplement only.
Safe Forskolin Dosage Range
An appropriate personal dosage can depend on many different factors including age, weight, sex, personal sensitivities, and the reason for taking the supplement. The below dosage recommendations are general guidelines only, and your personal dosage may be different.
It is always recommended that you speak with your doctor to help determine the best dosage for your needs, and make sure there aren’t any negative interactions with any current supplements or medications you are taking.
For most people, a Forskolin dosage of 20 mg per day is a good starting point to achieve noticeable benefits. It is important to note the difference between Forskolin extract dosages and active ingredient doses.
Some supplements may advertise that they contain 50 mg of extract, but may have less than 5 mg of the active Forskolin compound alkaloids. It is the quantity of alkaloids that should determine your dosage. For this reason, it is best to closely examine the labels of any supplements you purchase to determine the appropriate dosing.
While the supplement is considered fairly easy to tolerate with little serious side effects, the main issue to watch out for is tiredness and fatigue.
For reasons that are not understood at this point, taking Forskolin can result in some immediate feelings of fatigue. For that reason, it is generally best to take your Forskolin at the end of the day.
Keep in mind that Forskolin’s best effects develop over regular use, through a period of weeks. So, if you feel drowsy after an individual dose, memory enhancement effects may still be underway.
Due to Forskolin’s vasodilation effects, it is best not to combine it with any other blood pressure medication, blood thinners, alpha or beta blockers. It reacts poorly with these and the combinations should be avoided. Speak with your doctor if you are on any prescription medications before beginning a Forskolin dosage.
Forskolin Stacks
Forskolin dosages are rarely taken on their own. Most people combine Forskolin with Artichoke Extract, for a good reason. Artichoke synergistically combines with Forskolin to boost brainpower even more through the inhibition of PDE-4, an enzyme which normally blocks the action of cAMP.
Together, Forskolin and Artichoke Extract act as a powerhouse memory booster and enzymatic activator. A standard dosage ratio is 20 mg of Forskolin per 900 mg of Artichoke Extract.
An easy way to take an effective Artichoke Extract and Forskolin stack is via the popular nootropic stack product CILTEP. Also known as “Chemically Induced Long Term Potentiation,” CILTEP adds Forskolin and Artichoke extract to Acetyl-L-Carnitine, L-Phenylalaline, and Vitamin B6. These elements harmoniously combine to produce powerful memory enhancement, increased concentration, and excellent neuro-protection for long term brain health.
CILTEP uses a smaller Forskolin dosage than you would typically use if taking this supplement on its own due to the potentiation effect provided by other compounds. This latest iteration of the ancient plant remedy from India is a welcome addition to the arsenal of modern nootropics.
- Ríos-Silva M, Trujillo X, Trujillo-Hernández B, Sánchez-Pastor E, Urzúa Z, Mancilla E, Huerta M. Effect of chronic administration of forskolin on glycemia and oxidative stress in rats with and without experimental diabetes. Int J Med Sci. 2014
- Makkonen KM, Malinen M, Ropponen A, Väisänen S, Carlberg C. Cell cycle regulatory effects of retinoic Acid and forskolin are mediated by the cyclin C gene. J Mol Biol. 2009
- Rodriguez G, Ross JA, Nagy ZS, Kirken RA. Forskolin-inducible cAMP pathway negatively regulates T-cell proliferation by uncoupling the interleukin-2 receptor complex. J Biol Chem. 2013
- Schneider R, Borges M, Kadyrov M. Forskolin-induced differentiation of BeWo cells stimulates increased tumor growth in the chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) of the turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) egg. Ann Anat. 2011
- Nakamura M, Jang IS. GlyT-2 mediates the forskolin-induced increase of glycinergic transmission. Neuroreport. 2010
Article last updated on: April 16th, 2018 by Nootriment