Hydergine - Caveat lector
The granddaddy of the so-called smart drugs,
hydergine has a long history as a mental
de-ager. An extract of ergot, a fungus that grows
on rye, hydergine (also known as
dihydroergotoxine) was developed in the 1940s
as a treatment for hypertension. Since then,
hydergine has undergone scores of tests in
patients with varying forms of dementia, including
Alzheimer's disease. Although the results have
been equivocal, the Physicians' Desk Reference
lists hydergine as offering "some" relief for
age-related declines in mental acuity.
In old rats, hydergine has been shown to
increase metabolism and uptake of glucose in
the brain. It also helps rejuvenate connections
between brain cells, protect the brain against
damage due to oxygen starvation and improve
learning capabilities.
Although a 1990 study at Jefferson Medical
College in Philadelphia concluded that hydergine
was ineffective as a treatment for Alzheimer's
disease, Longevity reported in 1991 that
exhaustive testing in a number of laboratories in
the US of more than 1,000 patients with various
kinds of senile disorders indicates that those
treated with hydergine had consistently higher
scores in such cognitive functions as mental
alertness, clarity and mood.
Hydergine is nontoxic and relatively safe. Its
potential side effects include mild nausea and
gastric disturbance. It should not be taken by
people with psychosis, or those with low blood
pressure or abnormally slow heartbeat.
One of the most exciting things about hydergine
is its availability. It has FDA approval as a
treatment for Alzheimer's disease, but some
doctors may prescribe it to combat brain aging in
healthy people.
Excerpt from BRAIN BOOSTERS: Foods &
Drugs That Make You Smarter
Hydergine is considered by some to be an
all-purpose brain booster . It increases mental
abilities, prevents brain cells from being damaged
by free radicals or by too little oxygen (hypoxia),
and reverses brain-dell damage. Hydergine
increases learning, memory, and recall in several
ways. It speeds up the level of metabolism in the
brain cells and increases the amount of blood
and oxygen getting to the brain. Hydergine
reduces brain damage when oxygen is
insufficient, as during a stroke. Hydergine slows
down lipofuscin deposits associated with
brain-cell aging, and acts as a prophylactic
against damage from free radicals.
The only FDA-approved uses of hydergine are
senility and cerehrovascular insufficiency, which
is caused by poor blood circulation to the brain.
Hydergine's effectiveness in reducing symptoms
of senility have been well-established. Hydergine
increases the oxygen supply in the brain, which
keeps production of free radicals in check. When
oxygen is in short supply because of smoking,
cerebral insufficiency, strokes, or heart attacks,
free radicals are rapidly produced, resulting in
brain-cell damage.
In Europe, hydergine is regularly given in hospital
emergency rooms to victims of strokes, heart
attacks, hemorrhage, drug overdoses, drowning,
and electrocution. Because brain damage can
occur from emergencies during surgery where
oxygen and blood can be cut off, European
hospitals routinely administer hydergine
pre-surgery as an extra measure of caution. In
spite of the volumes of research demonstrating
the effectiveness of hydergine in these cases,
use with accident victims or as a preventive
measure is not approved in the United States by
the FDA.
Hydergine has been studied extensively, with
more than 3,000 research papers published on it
to date, making it one of the most widely studied
and prescribed drugs. Hydergine was originally
produced and distributed by Sandoz
Pharmaceuticals, and later by Dorsey
Pharmaceuticals, a division of Sandoz. Because
the original patent has expired, numerous generic
versions are now available in various strengths
through prescription. According to FDA
guidelines, prescription is permitted for
anti-senility only. However, in practice it is often
used for improving intelligence and combating
aging, and is prescribed for higher doses than
those usually approved in the U.S.
Hydergine is available in the U.S. by prescription
only. Hydergine may have even better effects
when used in conjunction with piracetam;
researchers suggest taking smaller doses of both
to get the best effect.
The data on Smart Drugs is provided for informational
purposes only. These are prescription items and/or are
not available for sale in the United States. Please note
that Smartbasics does NOT sell these products. We are
not associated with any other company nor do we
recommend the purchase of Smart Drugs through any
offshore company. If you are interested in using these
products, we recommend you contact your health care
provider.