Is taking Vinpocetine for depression a viable treatment for one of the most common mental disorders on the planet?
Once again, the plant kingdom has offered up new wellness solutions that are just as effective as pharmaceutical drugs, without the serious attached side effects and health risks.
Derived from the alkaloids of a decorative, flowering European bush, Vinpocetine is known to boost cognitive function naturally and safely. Its circulatory effects enhance overall mental performance and may indeed provide an effective specific treatment for depression and anxiety.
Let’s find out what is known about using Vinpocetine as a natural anti-depressant, including chemistry, benefits, and dosages compared to traditional mood boosting drugs.



- Increases blood flow & brain metabolism
- Supports energy, focus & memory
- Combats free radicals & oxidative damage
How Vinpocetine Enhances Mood
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The pretty white flowers of a periwinkle plant known as Vinca Minor have sourced over 50 health boosting alkaloids.
These are naturally forming nitrogen compounds found in plants which can be used medicinally. In fact, many of the most popular and effective pharmaceutical drugs are synthesized versions of these natural chemicals.
Just one of Vinca Minor’s alkaloids, Vinpocetine, has been used by traditional cultures in Europe for hundreds of years or more for overall mental health and mood effects.
Over the past few decades, scientists have decoded why this plant is able to improve cognitive health. They key is good cerebral circulation.
Vinpocetine boosts blood flow specifically within the brain. Through the process of vasodilation – enlarging blood vessels, Vinpocetine assists in delivering nutrient-filled, oxygen-rich blood to the tissues of the brain. It does this by inhibiting the enzyme Phosphodiesterase Type 1.
The blood which is delivered ensures proper function of existing structures, helps repair damage, and fosters the growth of new structures. Other vasodilators you may have heard of include Viagra, niacin and picamilon.
Vinpocetine’s circulatory effects are entirely focused upon the brain. For this reason, it is frequently used to treat brain disorders like cerebrovascular disease, cerebral vascular ischemia, and even Alzheimer’s Disease.
The maintenance of healthy, oxygenated tissue is key to improving all of these conditions, and leads to clearer thoughts, better access to memory, and better concentration. All of these factors can directly and indirectly improve the root causes of depression.
Vinpocetine for Depression Relief
Taking Vinpocetine for depression in advance of symptoms can set up a strong basis of mental health, neuroplasticity, and positive mood. This foundation can work to prevent depressive episodes before they begin, by giving patients the tools they need to think about and act upon life’s stresses from a place of clarity and confidence.
While depression is a serious, clinical diagnosis which affects as many as 15 million American adults every year, less severe depression symptoms are frequently experienced, at least in passing, by the vast majority of the world’s population.
For these daily episodes, harsh heavy-strength prescription drugs may not be appropriate or available. That’s why a safe, plant-based remedy like Vinpocetine for depression is so appealing.
In many cases, simply having the extra confidence, presence of mind, and lack of “brain fog” that Vinpocetine offers can be enough to allow depression sufferers to navigate difficult emotions patiently and thoughtfully.
Dosage
A dose of only 10 mg of Vinpocetine per day can reduce symptoms of depression in as many as 74 percent of cases, according to a study published in the journal of International Clinical Pharmacology in 1991.
This is especially true in more severe cases, where the depression is caused by disorders like cerebral insufficiency (lack of oxygen in the brain).
For most people, Vinpocetine needs to be taken daily for at least a week before effects will become noticeable.
This is one disadvantage that natural remedies like Vinpocetine for depression have compared to traditional anti-depressants like Prozac or Lexapro, which yield more noticeable results within a few days at most. However, larger doses of Vinpocetine up to 60 mg per day are considered safe and effective, and may be faster acting.
Vinpocetine for Depression Review
Many patients with depression assume that their symptoms are caused by external events and people, but poor brain circulation could also be a huge culprit in the disorder. Bad circulation leads to poor functioning in brain cells as well as premature cell death and small infarcts.
Over time, these condition make the brain less able to inhibit stress reactions and can lead to long-term depression. Taking Vinpocetine for depression might be able to repair and reverse these conditions, paving the way for lasting brain health, and the tools that everyday people need to fight negative emotional stimuli.
A long-term plan involving pro-active supplementation for overall brain health may be the best approach for most people. Creating a healthy neural foundation before symptoms become unmanageable is always the best approach to imbalances like depression.
It’s a good idea to look into nootropic supplements geared toward brain health that can support mood. If the sheer number of remedies is overwhelming, a pre-packaged stack of brain-centric supplements such as Alpha Brain – which include Vinpocetine for depression – can make the process of cognitive enhancement a lot easier.
Alpha Brain also contains L-Tyrosine and other mood-boosting compounds which may aid in reducing depression symptoms.
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- Sitges M, Galván E, Nekrassov V. Vinpocetine blockade of sodium channels inhibits the rise in sodium and calcium induced by 4-aminopyridine in synaptosomes. Neurochem Int. 2005
- Abdel-Salam OM, Khadrawy YA, Salem NA, Sleem AA. Oxidative stress in a model of toxic demyelination in rat brain: the effect of piracetam and vinpocetine. Neurochem Res. 2011
- Gupta S, Singh P, Sharma BM, Sharma B. Neuroprotective effects of agomelatine and vinpocetine against chronic cerebral hypoperfusion induced vascular dementia. Curr Neurovasc Res. 2015
- Miskolczi P, Kozma K, Polgár M, Vereczkey L. Pharmacokinetics of vinpocetine and its main metabolite apovincaminic acid before and after the chronic oral administration of vinpocetine to humans. Eur J Drug Metab Pharmacokinet. 1990
- Solanki P, Prasad D, Muthuraju S, Sharma AK, Singh SB, Ilavzhagan G. Preventive effect of piracetam and vinpocetine on hypoxia-reoxygenation induced injury in primary hippocampal culture. Food Chem Toxicol. 2011
- Csillik B, Mihály A, Knyihár-Csillik E. Antinociceptive effect of vinpocetine--a comprehensive survey. Ideggyogy Sz. 2010
Article last updated on: April 16th, 2018 by Nootriment