✓ No active regulatory warningsFDA MedWatch, EMA EudraVigilance, WHO VigiBase, WADA Prohibited List · 2026-05-29
📰Read the full Bacopa evidence review on GMJ News →Complete clinical article, references and updates on news.gmj.ge. This page is the structured safety summary.⚠ Patient expecting acute cognitive boost — Bacopa takes 8–12 WEEKS [2]
⚠ GI upset is common — take with food/fat, start half-dose [2]
⚠ Thyroid patient — bacopa may increase T4; monitor [1]
⚠ CDRI 08 is the gold-standard extract [2]
ℹ️ Not obtained from food. Not applicable — this is not obtained from food in meaningful amounts; supplementation is the practical route.
🔬 Lab interpreter
Recommended test
No routine monitoring
No routine monitoring
Reference range / target
N/A
N/A
Cognitive testing at 12 weeks for assessment [2].
Full lab monitoring ↓⚕ For professionals — confirm ranges against your local laboratory.
Clinical verdict
Bacopa is the best-evidenced nootropic herb — 9 RCTs show improved attention, processing speed, and memory. BUT it requires 8–12 weeks of daily use (dendritic branching takes time). GI upset is common — take with food and fat. CDRI 08 extract (KeenMind/Synapsa) standardized to 50% bacosides [1] [2].
1 How much do I need?
👤 Adults: Specific dosage data under clinical review
👴 Elderly: Specific dosage data under clinical review
🤰 Pregnancy: See guidance
No modern safety data. Avoid [1].
👦 Pediatric: Specific dosage data under clinical review
🏃 Athletes: Standard dose
⚖️ Obesity: Standard dose
Fat-soluble compounds may require dose adjustment in obesity.
🩺 Renal: Consult specialist
Dose adjustment may be needed in renal impairment.
🌱 Vegan: Standard dose
How to take
🍽 Timing: With meals containing fat (bacosides are lipophilic) [2].
💊 With food: Always with food/fat [2].
🚫 Avoid: Thyroid medications without monitoring [1].
2 Which form?
| Form | Bioavailability | Vegan | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| ['Standardized extract (50% bacosides)', 'preferred', 'KeenMind/CDRI 08 or Synapsa/CDRI 08 extracts: most studied. 300 mg/day [2].'] | Standard | Check label | |
| ['Whole herb powder', 'common', 'Lower potency. 750–1,500 mg/day needed. Traditional Ayurvedic preparation [1].'] | Standard | Check label |
3 Common questions
How long does Bacopa take to work? ▼
8–12 weeks of consistent daily use. This is NOT an acute nootropic like caffeine. The mechanism involves structural changes (dendritic branching) that take time [2].
Is Bacopa better than Ginkgo? ▼
For different things. Bacopa has stronger evidence for memory and learning (structural neuroplasticity). Ginkgo increases cerebral blood flow. For cognitive enhancement in healthy adults, Bacopa has more consistent positive trial data [2].
Does Bacopa cause GI upset? ▼
Yes — GI side effects (nausea, cramping, diarrhea) are the most common complaint. Take with food and fat. Starting with half-dose for the first week may help [2].
What is the best extract? ▼
CDRI 08 (sold as KeenMind or Synapsa) is the most studied extract. Look for ≥50% bacosides standardization [2].
4 Clinical evidence
Strong
Dendritic branching enhancement in hippocampal neurons (animal models — well-replicated) [1]. Systematic review of 9 RCTs: consistent improvement in attention, cognitive processing speed, and working memory after 8–12 weeks [2]. HIGH
Moderate
Memory in healthy adults: multiple RCTs positive for verbal learning and memory retention [2]. Anxiety reduction: some trials show reduced state anxiety [1]. ADHD in children: one Australian RCT (n=36) showed improvement in attention and cognitive function [3]. Elderly cognitive decline: small positive trials [2]. MODERATE
Insufficient
5 Safety, toxicity & adverse events
Relative
⚠ Bradycardia or heart block — cholinergic activity may slow heart rate
⚠ Peptic ulcer or GI obstruction — increases secretions
⚠ Concurrent thyroid medication, cholinergics or sedatives
⚠ Pregnancy and lactation — insufficient safety data
🚩 Red flags
● Thyroid patient starting bacopa — monitor thyroid function [1]
● Patient expecting immediate nootropic effect — not acute; 8–12 weeks [2]
6 Interactions
Drug interactions
Thyroid medications Moderate
Mechanism: Bacopa may stimulate thyroid function and increase T4 levels. [1]
Effect: Potential hyperthyroid symptoms or need for dose adjustment. [1]
Action: Monitor TSH and free T4 at 4–8 weeks [1].
Supplement synergies
Lion's Mane · 500–1,000 mg Lion's Mane
Complementary nootropic mechanisms: Bacopa (dendritic branching, ACh) + Lion's Mane (NGF synthesis). Popular 'cognitive stack' [1].
Complementary nootropic mechanisms: Bacopa (dendritic branching, ACh) + Lion's Mane (NGF synthesis). Popular 'cognitive stack' [1].
Omega-3 DHA · 250–500 mg DHA
Structural brain lipid + neuroprotective herb. Complementary [1].
Structural brain lipid + neuroprotective herb. Complementary [1].
7 Regulatory
United States (FDA): Dietary supplement. No drug claims [1].
India (AYUSH): Official Ayurvedic pharmacopoeia ingredient. 3,000+ year history [1].
Australia (TGA): Listed medicine for cognitive function (KeenMind) [2].
South Korea: Available as dietary supplement.
8 US supplement products
79
on-market products containing Bacopa (NIH DSLD)
Brands carrying Bacopa (57)
Click a brand to see its Bacopa products.
9 Frequently paired with
10 Cite this page
Vancouver: Pkhakadze G. Bacopa — safety profile [Internet]. Tbilisi: PHIG; 2026 [cited 2026 Jul 17]. Available from: https://supplement.ge/ingredients/bacopa/
APA 7th: Pkhakadze, G. (2026). Bacopa — Safety profile. Public Health Institute of Georgia. https://supplement.ge/ingredients/bacopa/
📋 Editorial information
Author: Prof. G. Pkhakadze, MD, MPH, PhD
Institution: Public Health Institute of Georgia (PHIG)
Affiliation: David Tvildiani Medical University (DTMU)
First published: January 2026
Last reviewed: 2026-05-29
Next review: January 2027
References: 3 cited sources
COI: SupplementIndex receives no funding from supplement manufacturers. All content independently authored by PHIG.
Process: Systematic literature review
📄 License & reuse
Published under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0). You may share and adapt for any purpose with attribution.
Pkhakadze G. "Bacopa — Safety Profile." SupplementIndex, PHIG, 2026. https://supplement.ge/ingredients/bacopa/ CC BY 4.0.
GP
Prof. G. Pkhakadze, MD, MPH, PhD
Professor of Public Health · Head of Department, DTMU
Editor-in-Chief, Georgian Medical Journal (ISSN 3088-4322)
Chair, Public Health Institute of Georgia · UEMS Public Health Section
Educational and public health purposes. CC BY 4.0. Consult your healthcare provider before starting any supplement. Corrections: info@accreditation.ge. Publisher: PHIG