The FDA is in the process of declaring vinpocetine an invalid and prohibited over the counter supplement. Should this occur (very likely), those of us suffering from and treating our Meniere's disease will no longer have this very helpful substance at our disposal. Vinpocetine dilates capillaries and increases blood flow; for us, in the inner ear. This helps suppress fluid accumulation there, the hydrops condition that is almost universal in Meniere's disease. There is no other substance that can be substituted for it. Should the FDA prohibition come into effect, I'll have to re-write my treatment protocol: http://www.zoominternet.net/~kcshop/JOH.pdf Most unfortunate.
That stinks . I admit I already hate the government and the growing trend of interference in my life. I want to vote to disband the government.
Yes, vinpocetine should remain stable in the bottle. Vitacost no longer lists their house brand. It's still available from Swanson's. (I've stockpiled a good supply; will use it now only when really needed (not prophylactally).
The FDA article says that several of the brands they tested didn't even have any vinpocetine in them, and the rest had widely varying doses. Is there any brand we know for sure has vinpocetine in it?
The presumption that the majority of supplements have little or no real contents is rather bogus. Yes, a very few have been so-determined, but none from Vitacost or Swanson's, because those firms continually test their ingredients. This would be a particular problem for a company selling vinpocetine, because its effects can usually be readily discerned. After popping a vinpocetine, you will feel a bit more energized and alert. I'd like to see the list of vinpocetine products that were tested and had reduced or absent contents. (This touches upon the concept that only with strict federal regulation and enforcement will over the counter products contain what is labelled. For vitamins, minerals, and supplements, from conventional medical treatment parties not open to ANY alternative approaches, these "watch out, snake oil is just olive oil" pronouncements are legion.)
I just went to the Vitacost website and the Swanson brand of Vinpocetine is not showing up. There are 6 other brands available though.
Vitacost does not sell a competitor's products. Here's the one: https://www.swansonvitamins.com/swanson-superior-herbs-vinpocetine-10-mg-90-caps
Can we be sure of the quality or genuineness of any supplement not regulated by the FDA? I don't think so.
How, then, are you sure of any food you buy at the grocery store? FDA doesn't do safety or taste tests on those, either. More FDA oversight of vitamins, minerals, and supplements than cans and packages of food in stores. If VMSs (vitamins, minerals, and supplements) were generally unsafe or lacked listed ingredients, how can so many billions of dollars of VMSs be sold and purchased each year? Long ago, in 2008, over $6 billion of VMS sales were reported in the US. Probably close to $10 billion now. Clearly, it's just not in the interest of any sustaining company to try to sell mislabeled products. Doesn't happen with the brand names. (And no, the NY state attorney general's report of such a year or so ago was completely false. He had labs try to discover the DNA of the herb products he had tested, and little or none was found. In his scientific ignorance, he then claimed each of these products were flawed. In fact, after processing, many or most herbal products don't have the DNA of the source plant. Resveratrol (very healthy) is a separated molecule, found in wine and knotweed. It is impossible for it to contain any DNA. If it did, it would indicate poor product processing, and/or contamination. It's pure resveratrol, only.)
You can't. You also can't be sure of the quality of the drugs you buy at Walgreens, because while the FDA supposedly regulates them, they rarely test them. In fact, after the initial test for a new generic, it is very rare that the drug ever gets tested again. This is why generic antivirals like Mylan, which is well-known in the AIDS, Herpes and MM communities to be a brand that simply doesn't work, still gets sold like those that do. You live. You learn. You try to do the best you can with what you have.
https://www.vitasave.ca/vinpocetine-10-mg.html Forgot to add that the above link is just one for Canada. Vinpocetine will be available regardless of the FDA.