4 replies to this topic

[jorgy72]

I have just finished reading a few abstracts on Ginkgo Biloba. It appears that Ginkgo increases prefrontal dopamine levels in the rat through inhibition of NE uptake with chronic intake. Here are a few of the abstracts:

Study 1

Study 2

Study 3

What amount of Ginkgo would a human need to take to get the same doses as the rats and mice? I found the time delay in dopamine increase interesting as the ADHD drug Atomoxetine tends to take a while to kick in as well and many people quit early which seems to be the case with Ginkgo as well. Does anybody have positive things to say about Ginkgo, especially at higher doses?

thanks

[stablemind]

I heard it also increases the risk of celebral hemmorhage, which is why I'm hesitant to use it as a long term supplement.

[chrono]

Good topic. Here's another paper:

Ginkgo biloba treating patients with attention-deficit disorder.
Niederhofer H.

Various medications such as clonidine facilitate calming, enhance frustration tolerance and reduce aggression in attention-deficit disorder (ADD) patients. The use of Ginkgo biloba was studied as an herbal alternative. Six psychiatric outpatients diagnosed with ADD were rated at baseline and while taking Ginkgo biloba to determine its efficacy as a treatment for ADD. Comparisons of Wender Utah ratings within subject were used to measure behavioral changes in the subjects. During Ginkgo biloba treatment, the patients' mean scores improved significantly overall and in hyperactivity, inattention, and immaturity factors. This preliminary study indicates that Ginkgo biloba might be a beneficial and useful treatment of ADD, with minimal side effects.

PMID: 19441138 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Unfortunately it was quite preliminary, and used a test that measures behavioral changes. But perhaps the full text indicates dosage used?

It seems ginkgo does have the possibility of causing cerebral hemorrhage.

Haemorrhage due to Ginkgo biloba?

(1) About 20 detailed reports of haemorrhage (usually cerebral, ocular, or postsurgical) in patients using Gingko biloba extracts have been published. One-third of these patients were also taking drugs that increase the risk of bleeding (anticoagulants or antiplatelet drugs). (2) Some substances contained in Gingko biloba have been shown to have an antiplatelet effect. (3) In practice, patients with risk factors for bleeding (anticoagulant or antiplatelet treatment, surgery, etc.) should avoid using Gingko biloba extracts.

PMID: 18383637 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

I'll do some more reading on this, but it seems relatively safe if you don't overdo the dosage, don't combine it with other vasodilators, and aren't at risk for bleeding.

[gamesguru]

We're still getting mixed results. Personally, ginkgo isn't very effective and it has a few minor side effects. I'm going to continue it a few more weeks. Since my grandmother has had strokes after her fMRI (due probably to the radioactive dye), I'm afraid of the hemmoraging and will discontinue ginkgo if it doesn't improve my symptoms over the next few weeks. I've been taking 55-65 mg twice (6 am & 1pm) for a week, with not much to brag about.

This study noticed some benefits at 80-120 mg/day, which seems reasonable. I've tried huge doses ~500 mg daily for a few days, but the adrenaline was too much. I think it's nonsense to say straterra and NRI's are completely not stimulants.

Ginkgo biloba for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in children and adolescents: a double blind, randomized controlled trial.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Although stimulants are highly effective in controlling the symptoms of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), some children will not respond to, or are intolerant of stimulants. Thus, the desire for safe and effective nonstimulant medications has risen during the past several years. Ginkgo biloba has been suggested in the treatment of dementia and memory impairment. We hypothesized that G.biloba would be beneficial for treatment of ADHD, and this could be evaluated in a double blind, randomized, parallel group comparison of G.biloba (Ginko T.D. Tolidaru, Iran) and methylphenidate.
METHODS:

Fifty outpatients (39 boys and 11 girls) with a DSM-IV-TR diagnosis of ADHD were study population of this trial. Subjects were recruited from an outpatient child and adolescent clinic for a 6 week double blind, randomized clinical trial. All study subjects were randomly assigned to receive treatment using tablet of Ginko T.D. at a dose of 80-120 mg/day depending on weight (80 mg/day for <30 kg and 120 mg/day for >30 kg) (group 1) or methylphenidate at a dose of 20-30 mg/day depending on weight (20 mg/day for <30 kg and 30 mg/day for >30 kg (group 2) for a 6 week double blind, randomized clinical trial. The principal measure of outcome was the Teacher and Parent ADHD Rating Scale- IV. Patients were assessed at baseline and at 21 and 42 days after the medication started.
RESULTS:

Significant differences were observed between the two groups on the Parent and Teacher Rating Scale scores. The changes at the endpoint compared to baseline were: -6.52+/-11.43 (mean+/-S.D.) and -15.92+/-11.44 (mean+/-S.D.) for Ginko T.D. and methyphenidate, respectively for Parent ADHD Rating Scale. The changes at the endpoint compared to baseline were: -0.84+/-6.79 (mean+/-S.D.) and -14.04+/-8.67 (mean+/-S.D.) for Ginko T.D. and methyphenidate, respectively for Teacher ADHD Rating Scale. The difference between the Ginko T.D. and methylphenidate groups in the frequency of side effects was not significant except for decreased appetite, headache and insomnia that were observed more frequently in the methylphenidate group.
CONCLUSION:

The results of this study suggest that administration of G.biloba was less effective than methylphenidate in the treatment of ADHD

[wiwi1212]

I took 225mg of gingko daily for 4 weeks.

I didn´t notice any benefit while trying to study.

I was distracted as always, couldn´t concentrate for longer periods or anythings, just as usual.

I could feel sometimes a bit of discomfort in the sides of my parietal zone.

Edited by wiwi1212, 10 May 2013 - 07:55 PM.