VITAMINS & SUPPLEMENTS · GUIDE
Vinpocetine: Regulatory Status and Pregnancy Warning
What the US FDA says about vinpocetine supplements, why it advises pregnant women and women who could become pregnant not to take it, and what studies have found.
Content last updated . This page has not been medically reviewed.
Back to NootropicsEvidence labels used here: insufficient evidence, promising but limited, preclinical (animal or lab work) and marketing claim. For the wider picture, see What are nootropics?.
What vinpocetine is
FDA describes vinpocetine as a synthetic compound: "Instead, it is synthetically produced." [1] It is a semisynthetic derivative of an extract of the lesser periwinkle (Vinca minor). [3] Supplements sold for memory, focus or "brain support" may contain it. FDA says it "has not evaluated whether vinpocetine is effective for any of these uses." [1]What the FDA page says
Pregnancy warning
"On June 3, 2019, FDA issued a safety warning for women of childbearing age about vinpocetine." [1]
Advice
"Accordingly, FDA is advising pregnant women and women who could become pregnant not to take vinpocetine." [1]
Legal status (2016)
FDA published a Federal Register notice on its tentative conclusions that vinpocetine does not meet the definition of a dietary ingredient. [1]
Current status
The page we read describes tentative conclusions from 2016. It does not state a final ruling, so we do not state one.
These are statements of one regulator, the US FDA. Whether other countries (for example the UK's MHRA, the European Union or Health Canada) treat vinpocetine differently is not described in the sources we read, so we do not state it. See how supplements are regulated and supplement regulation by country for general differences.
Why pregnancy is the main concern
Researchers at the US National Toxicology Program gave vinpocetine by mouth to pregnant rats and rabbits. In rats they saw more pregnancy loss, lower fetal weights and more heart-wall (ventricular septum) defects, and rabbits showed similar effects at higher amounts. [3] The authors wrote that the data suggest "a potential hazard for pregnant women who may be taking vinpocetine." [3] Animal findings are preclinical. They do not give a human risk number, and the study amounts are not human amounts. Breastfeeding safety is not described in the sources we read. Talk with a clinician before any supplement in pregnancy: pregnancy and breastfeeding safety.What research found
Dementia
Insufficient evidenceA 2003 Cochrane review found three trials (583 people, all before the 1990s). It judged the evidence "inconclusive" and not supportive of clinical use. [2]
Acute ischemic stroke (a hospital treatment question)
Promising but limited, and a medical setting, not a supplement questionA 2022 meta-analysis of four placebo-controlled trials found less disability at 1 and 3 months, and said more trials are needed before routine recommendations. [4]
Memory or focus in healthy adults
Insufficient evidenceProper evidence not found. We searched PubMed for vinpocetine reviews and trials and found none in healthy adults among the records we read.
The Cochrane review also said the drug "seems to have few adverse effects at the doses used in the studies." [2] That is about old trials in people with dementia, not about supplements bought without supervision.
Products and labels
A 2015 study tested 23 US supplements labelled as containing vinpocetine. Seventeen contained it, in amounts from 0.3 to 32 mg per recommended daily serving, and six contained none. [5] The authors concluded consumers cannot get accurate information from these labels. [5] See reading supplement labels and quality testing and certifications.Who should be especially careful
- Anyone pregnant, trying to become pregnant or able to become pregnant: see the FDA advice above.
- Anyone taking prescribed medicines: interactions are not described in the sources we read, so none is claimed either way. Ask a pharmacist and see medication interactions.
- Children, older adults, people with kidney or liver conditions, and anyone facing surgery: safety is not described in the sources we read. Tell your surgical team about every supplement (supplements before surgery).
- Memory change, confusion or stroke symptoms: sudden face drooping, weakness or speech trouble is an emergency, call 911 in the US. Ongoing memory change needs evaluation: memory change and when to get help.
Frequently asked questions
Is vinpocetine safe in pregnancy?
The FDA advises pregnant women and women who could become pregnant not to take it. [1] Animal studies showed pregnancy loss and fetal effects. [3]
Is vinpocetine legal in the United States?
FDA tentatively concluded in 2016 that it does not meet the definition of a dietary ingredient. [1] The page we read does not give a final ruling.
Does vinpocetine improve memory?
A Cochrane review called the evidence in dementia inconclusive. [2] In healthy adults: Proper evidence not found.
Is vinpocetine the same as a plant extract?
FDA says it is synthetically produced. [1] It is derived from a compound found in lesser periwinkle. [3]
Do supplement labels show how much vinpocetine is inside?
Not reliably. In one 2015 US sample, six of 23 labelled products had none. [5]
References
- US Food and Drug Administration. Vinpocetine in Dietary Supplements (page content current as of 2023-02-22). Read 2026-10-23.
- Szatmari SZ, Whitehouse PJ. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2003. Vinpocetine for cognitive impairment and dementia. Read 2026-10-23.
- Catlin N et al. Birth Defects Res 2018. Embryo-fetal development studies with the dietary supplement vinpocetine in the rat and rabbit. Read 2026-10-23.
- Panda PK et al. Neurocrit Care 2022. Safety and Efficacy of Vinpocetine as a Neuroprotective Agent in Acute Ischemic Stroke: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Read 2026-10-23.
- Avula B et al. Drug Test Anal 2016. Identification and quantification of vinpocetine and picamilon in dietary supplements sold in the United States. Read 2026-10-23.