Bacopa diarrhea

Neuro

I received my bacopa from Vitacost yesterday. It's the bacognize brand and has 300 mg of bacopa standardized to 45% bacosides in each capsule. I took one with my last meal last night and didn't have any stomach issues, but felt a little bit sedated an hour after I took it.

I woke up today after 12 hours of sleep a little fatigued. Yesterday I only got 6 hours of sleep and I usually need 9-10 hours to feel rested. So I'm not sure if it was bacopa that made me sleep 12 hours or if it's payback for the lack of sleep the previous day.

Anyway, I had breakfast and some caffeine, about 30 mg from black tea, and 30 minutes after drinking the tea I felt the need to go to the bathroom. Without going into too much detail I basically had diarrhea. Though, it wasn't like normal diarrhea where your body is just trying to get rid of the waste as fast as possible, this one felt like it was processed normally, but that it had way too much water. Normally, diarrhea causes pain and chills, but I had none of these.

Will this side effect go away?

Galaxyshock

It may take several days before it subsides. Some consider it part of the "healing experience" Bacopa brings.

Bacopa can increase the amount of sleep, I've heard some people sleeping excessively when using high doses.

If side effects feel strong, you could try taking half a capsule?

Neuro

I didn't have any diarrhea or fatigue today. I guess it was just a conicidence. I've been feeling more bored lately, and nothing seems to get my attention. I wonder if I should take Jiaogulan with my current stack. Here's what I'm taking so far:

TMG 1000 mg
Rhodiola vitacost 350 mg
Bacopa bacognize 300 mg

Galaxyshock

I've been taking Jiaogulan recently, during the day replacing Maca (I want to cycle adaptogens), and then Bacopa in the evening. Seems to be working nicely, I think either Jiaogulan or Ginseng is good with Bacopa. Not sure how these would combine with Rhodiola though.

Neuro

But don't both Maca and Jiaogulan take time to work? Wouldn't cycling prevent their long-term benefits? When I used to take Maca it would take a week to kick in and the effects would build up. For Jiaogulan it usually works after 3 days for me.

Well you mention that it's working nicely so that's good to hear.

Galaxyshock

Actually I'm going to keep Maca in my regimen but reduce the dosage. Jiaogulan kicked in the first day I took it. The thing is I tend to go excess with herbs and run out early hehe. But trying to be smart this time and really remember that more isn't always better.

Neuro

Haha, I know what you mean. You just wanna get the benefits of all of them, but that's unrealistic. I wish Jiaogulan would kick in the first day for me. It provides nice smooth energy without any feelings of stimulation.

Anyway, have you noticed poor sleep quality when taking bacopa? I keep waking up after around 3 hours of normal sleep and just constantly fall asleep and wake up. I must have woken up at least 10 times yesterday. I take bacopa before bed. Today, though I took it in the evening. Hopefully it won't affect my sleep this way.

Galaxyshock

Are you still taking Bacopa? Feeling benefits in memory or cognition?

Neuro

Yeah I'm still taking it. Honestly, no, I haven't noticed any changes. It's been 2 weeks since I started it so I'm not suprised. Hopefully it'll start working in the 4th week.

How long does it take to work for you?

Galaxyshock

Usually a minimum of a week to start feeling effects, then gradually becoming more pronounced over several weeks. In studies it's often used 8 weeks for full effects I think? And the benefits remain for a while after stopping.

Neuro

I think it's starting to work. I've been noticing long-term memories popping into my head at random times. But one thing that's not working is the anxiolytic part of it. Not even the first day did I have any type of anxiolytic effect from bacopa. Does this effect also take time to build up?

Galaxyshock

Hmm I think the anxiolytic effects should be the first to appear, but I guess it is possible to occur later. Or the mechanism of anxiolysis in Bacopa is the kind that doesn't provide you benefit. Do you have anxiety in general?

Neuro

I usually don't have anxiety in general. Is that the kind bacopa helps with?

Galaxyshock

I would think that it noticeably helps anxious individuals, while the anxiolysis not affecting others that much. Perhaps in times of stress you might feel it. Have you tried a high dose? it's interesting that sometimes it gets me in mildly psychedelic-like altered state in high doses, everything becomes very vivid and I feel lucid, and almost as if there was an aura around me. Serotonergic substances might enhance it.

Neuro

I have not tried a high dose. Huh, your experience sounds like bacopa ascended your consciousness. Could it be acting on the 5-HT1A or 5-HT2A receptors? Both are targets of psychedelic drugs.

Galaxyshock

Could very well be that several 5-HT receptors are involved.

I find that turmeric (with black pepper) and spirulina potentiate the antidepressive effect of bacopa.

Neuro

So it's been about 6 weeks since I started bacopa and I still have yet to notice any benefits. No antidepressant effect, no memory effect, but maybe an increase in fatigue and a decrease in the effects of dopaminergic substances.

Galaxyshock

Try a bigger dose along with something serotonergic (5-HTP, tryptophan, Rhodiola, Zembrin)? I think even a strong vitamin B-complex somehow synergized with it. You might suddenly be hit with the Bacopa magic.

Neuro

I actually did try Bacopa with Rhodiola and I'm not sure if it had any effect or not because I still didn't get the Rhodiola honeymoon period. Anyway, I stopped taking Bacopa, it seemed to reduce the effects of dopaminergics.

Galaxyshock

Alright, that's reasonable since it looks like you don't benefit from it.