Memopryl Side Effects: Interactions, Stomach Upset, When to Stop
Quick answerStomach upset is the most common mild Memopryl side effect, and the main caution is St. John's wort.
St. John's wort weakens many drugs, including birth control pills and warfarin, and with antidepressants it can cause serotonin syndrome. Ginkgo may raise bleeding risk. Talk to a doctor or pharmacist first if you take any medication.
What side effects can Memopryl cause?
Memopryl can cause two kinds of problems. The first is a change in how your prescription medicines work. The second is ordinary discomfort, such as an upset stomach.
The medicine problem matters far more. It comes mainly from St. John's wort, one of the six named ingredients. The full list is on the ingredients page.
Most healthy adults who take no medicine will likely notice little. Anyone on a daily prescription needs a pharmacist check first.
Medicine interactions
St. John's wort weakens many drugs. This is the main reason to talk to a doctor first.
Bleeding risk
Ginkgo may add to the effect of blood thinners and matters before surgery.
Stomach upset
Carnitine, bacopa and glutamine are linked to nausea, cramps or headache in studies.
Which medicines does St. John's wort weaken?
St. John's wort turns up the liver enzymes that break down drugs. Many medicines then leave your body faster and work less well (NCCIH, St. John's Wort) (StatPearls, St. John's Wort).
This can happen even when you feel fine. A weaker drug may give no warning until the problem it was treating comes back.
| Medicine group | Examples | What St. John's wort can do |
|---|---|---|
| Birth control | Pills, and other hormone methods | Lower hormone levels, with breakthrough bleeding or pregnancy |
| Blood thinner | Warfarin | Weaken it, so clots become more likely |
| Antidepressants | SSRIs and other serotonin drugs | Add to serotonin activity and trigger serotonin syndrome |
| Transplant drugs | Cyclosporine | Drop levels enough to put the new organ at risk |
| Heart medicine | Digoxin | Lower levels so it controls the heart less well |
| HIV medicines | Some HIV drugs | Lower levels so the virus is controlled less well |
| Cancer medicines | Some chemotherapy drugs | Lower levels so treatment may work less well |
| Cholesterol and seizure drugs | Simvastatin, some seizure drugs | Lower levels in the blood |
Keep taking your prescriptions
Never stop or change a prescribed medicine on your own to make room for a supplement. Stopping some drugs suddenly is dangerous. Ask the doctor who prescribed it.
What is serotonin syndrome and how do you spot it?
Serotonin syndrome is a reaction to too much serotonin activity in the body. It can happen when St. John's wort is taken with an antidepressant or another serotonin drug (MSKCC, St. John's Wort).
It can start within hours of a new product or a dose change. Mild cases can get worse quickly, so early signs deserve attention.
Warning signs in plain words
- Feeling restless, jumpy or confused
- A racing heart or high blood pressure
- Heavy sweating, shivering or goosebumps
- Muscle twitching, jerking or stiff muscles
- Diarrhea or vomiting
- High fever
Serotonin drugs include many antidepressants, some migraine drugs and some pain medicines. Your pharmacist can tell you if any of yours are on that list.
Act fast
If you take any serotonin drug and notice these signs after starting Memopryl, stop the capsules and get medical care the same day. A high fever, stiff muscles, seizures or confusion means call 911.
Can Memopryl affect birth control, warfarin or your skin?
Birth control
St. John's wort can lower the hormone levels from birth control pills. Some people get spotting between periods, and the pill may fail (MSKCC, St. John's Wort). If you use hormone birth control, ask your doctor whether you need a backup method.
Warfarin
St. John's wort can make warfarin weaker, so clots become more likely. Your INR blood test may need closer checks if a doctor agrees you can use it (NCCIH, St. John's Wort). Ginkgo adds a second concern, covered below.
Sun sensitivity
St. John's wort can make skin burn more easily in sunlight. Wear sunscreen and cover up outdoors. Take extra care if you also use another drug that carries a sun warning.
Why does ginkgo matter before surgery?
Ginkgo may raise the risk of bleeding, most of all in people who take blood thinners such as warfarin (NCCIH, Ginkgo). Aspirin and other drugs that slow clotting deserve the same question.
Surgery and dental work add their own bleeding risk. Tell your surgeon, dentist and anesthesia team that you take a product with ginkgo and St. John's wort. Ask your surgeon when to stop it beforehand. Do not guess a date yourself.
Signs to report include nosebleeds, bleeding gums, easy bruising, dark stools or pink urine.
Can the other ingredients upset your stomach?
Yes, and this is the most common mild complaint in the studies. It usually fades when the product is stopped.
Acetyl-L-carnitine
At about 3 g a day, acetyl-L-carnitine can cause nausea, stomach cramps, diarrhea and a fishy body odor (NIH ODS, Carnitine).
Bacopa (Brahmi)
Bacopa side effects are mostly stomach related: nausea, cramps and more frequent stools (StatPearls, Bacopa). It may also affect drug-processing enzymes, which adds to the medicine question.
L-glutamine
Glutamine is mostly studied in cancer care, not memory. Nausea and headache have been reported (MSKCC, Glutamine).
Phosphatidylserine is often made from soy. Check the panel on your bottle if you have a soy allergy. Timing tips are on the how to use page.
Why can't anyone say how strong the effects will be?
The Supplement Facts panel was not in our files, and the brand's info link opened an error page. So every ingredient amount in Memopryl is not published here.
Side effects often depend on the dose. Without amounts, nobody can say whether a capsule is closer to a mild study dose or a strong one. An interaction with St. John's wort, though, can happen even at modest amounts.
Read the panel on your bottle and take a photo of it to your pharmacist. Our Supplement Facts page explains what each line should show.
Who should not take Memopryl?
Some people should skip it or only start with a doctor's clear yes. The groups below carry the most risk.
Under 18
Memopryl is for adults only.
Antidepressant users
SSRIs and other serotonin drugs can react with St. John's wort.
Blood thinner users
Warfarin plus ginkgo and St. John's wort needs a doctor's plan.
Birth control users
Hormone methods may work less well. Ask about backup.
Transplant, HIV, heart or cancer patients
Cyclosporine, digoxin and some HIV and cancer drugs can be weakened.
Surgery planned
Tell your surgeon and ask when to stop.
Pregnant or nursing
Ask your doctor before use.
Noticeable memory changes
See a doctor first. A focus supplement is not a treatment (NIA, memory and aging).
Any daily prescription
Show the bottle to your pharmacist before the first capsule.
A longer checklist is on the who Memopryl is for page.
How likely is each side effect, and what should you do?
The table sums up every known effect by ingredient. The first column names the effect, the second gives a rough sense of risk, and the third is your next step.
| Effect | How likely | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Weaker prescription medicine | Likely with many drugs (St. John's wort) | Check every medicine with a pharmacist before the first capsule |
| Serotonin syndrome | Uncommon, but serious, with serotonin drugs | Stop and get urgent care; call 911 if severe |
| Birth control failure | Possible with hormone methods | Ask your doctor about a backup method |
| Bleeding or easy bruising | Possible, higher with blood thinners (ginkgo) | Stop and call your doctor; tell your surgeon |
| Sunburn or rash in sun | Possible (St. John's wort) | Cover up, use sunscreen, call if a rash spreads |
| Nausea, cramps, loose stools | The most common mild effect (carnitine, bacopa) | Take with food if your label allows; stop if it lasts |
| Fishy body odor | Reported at about 3 g of acetyl-L-carnitine | Stop and see if it fades |
| Headache | Reported with glutamine | Stop if it keeps coming back |
| Swelling, hives, trouble breathing | Rare allergy to any product | Call 911 |
When should you stop Memopryl and call a doctor or 911?
Mild and short-lived
A little nausea or a loose stool in the first days. Try taking it with a meal if your label allows. Stop if it lasts more than a few days.
Call your doctor today
Bleeding gums, easy bruising, a skin rash in the sun, spotting on birth control, or any sign your usual medicine is working less well.
Get urgent care
Restlessness, a racing heart, sweating, shivering or muscle twitching, especially if you take an antidepressant.
Call 911
Trouble breathing, swelling of the face or throat, chest pain, fainting, seizures, a high fever with stiff muscles, or sudden confusion.
Bring the bottle to any visit so the care team can see the label. You can also report a problem to the FDA's MedWatch program.
For refunds after you stop, call the order desk at +1 (302) 200-3480. The refund policy explains the 60-day window.
Memopryl side effects FAQ
Is Memopryl safe to take with an antidepressant?
Do not combine them unless your doctor says yes. Memopryl contains St. John's wort, and with SSRIs or other serotonin drugs it can cause serotonin syndrome, a serious reaction.
Can Memopryl stop my birth control from working?
It can. St. John's wort speeds up how your body clears birth control pills, which may lead to breakthrough bleeding or pregnancy. Ask your doctor about a backup method.
I take warfarin. Can I use Memopryl?
Only with your doctor's approval and closer blood tests. St. John's wort can weaken warfarin, and ginkgo may add to bleeding risk. Never change your warfarin dose on your own.
Should I stop Memopryl before surgery or dental work?
Tell your surgeon and dentist you take it, because ginkgo may raise bleeding risk and St. John's wort changes how many drugs work. Ask your surgeon when to stop.
What are the most common mild side effects?
Stomach upset is the one reported most in ingredient studies: nausea, cramps or looser stools. Taking capsules with food may help, as long as your label allows it.
How strong are Memopryl's side effects compared with the studies?
No one can say yet. The amount of each ingredient is not published in our files, so the strength of any effect cannot be predicted from the research.
Can teenagers or pregnant women take Memopryl?
It is not for anyone under 18. If you are pregnant, trying to get pregnant or nursing, ask your doctor before use.
When should I call 911?
Call 911 for trouble breathing, swelling of the face or throat, chest pain, fainting, a high fever with stiff muscles, or sudden confusion. Bring the bottle with you.
Checked your medicines? Order Memopryl
Each bottle holds 60 capsules and comes with a 60-day money-back guarantee. Prices show at checkout. Questions about an order? Call +1 (302) 200-3480.
