Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

Update Feb 19, 2015 (2 1/2 years after original post) Thanks for the many comments. I still take Huperzine A and Vinposetine EVERY morning, but no longer bother with the Galantamine because that was a prescription and required unnecessary doctor visits. The headaches I mentioned stopped soon after I wrote the review. Oh sure, I occasionally get one, but just take a single Tylenol and it's gone. I would not do without my daily dose of these two meds... I've accidentally skipped a dose occasionally and I feel it that fast. I still play Spider Solitaire at the highest level just to test my IQ before trying to do something that requires concentration, and my Statistics show out of the last 336 games, I've won 234... that's not bad for a memory-retardee! Those of you that play this game know that score (69%) is difficult to hold for that long, and it's due to the concentration and tenacity the pills give me... I play some games to over 1000 moves just because I know I can win if I hack at it a little longer. I take 1 pill of each. Original Review: Warning: I'm wordy. Things that I like or dislike usually end up with a long review. Others are short or not reviewed. If you want your review 20 words or less, skip this one. I'm 72 and my memory has slowly declined over the last 5 years, as well as my ability to concentrate and analyze. I had a fairly high IQ in my youth, but now sometimes I wonder if someday I'll be the guy I see in movies where the children visit and talk, but I never respond. I also have a blood pressure problem and take 4 meds, 2 of them twice a day. I mention that because when I began the Huperzine A, my BP went up just a bit from it's managed state. Most noticeable was heart rate. When I first went to the doctor for help with my memory problem, he prescribed Donepezil but that made no effect whatsoever. He then tried Galantamine and I'm not sure that helped my memory, but wow my dreams were so good they became my favorite source of entertainment. Last year I tried the Exelon patches, and this was the first medication that actually DID work. I felt the difference in only a few days, my memory better, but more important, my motivation and concentration came back. And combined with the Galantamine, my dreams became virtual High Definition. But Excelon is $250 for a 30 day supply, kind of tough for a guy living on social security. So I kept watch online for new drugs to help out my finances, and a couple of months ago discovered Huperzine A. To compare, I stopped taking the patches and began with 100 micrograms of Hupe each day. I didn't really know how much to take since it wasn't a prescription. So I experimented around, first trying 200mcg, but that was like drinking too much coffee. Then I tried 50mcg morning and evening, but my dreams became overbearing! I would dream something problematic and when I woke, I couldn't shake the stress of it. So I settled on the original 100mcg each morning AND 3/4 of my Galantamine dosage. This seems to put me in about the same place as the Exelon did, I concentrate ok and my memory seems just fine (of course I only remember what I remember :) But I kept reading online from guys trying this who are much younger than me, for study boosts in college, etc. Some of them said that there is a step up from the Hupe, and it's Huperzine A PLUS Vinpocetine... so naturally, being an adventurous type, I ordered that too. Well it is indeed a step up. In fact I'm not sure my brain worked this well before my decline! I measure my mental acuity by playing Spider Solitaire on the top difficulty, and now that I am taking this combination (mind you I'm still doing the Galantamine) I can beat this game often, and the moves just jump out of the screen for me, fast as I can do it. It works! In addition I have more tenacity now, and stick to tasks a lot better. Only downside is the dreams (in combination with Galantamine and Vinposetine). This might be something of interest for some of you, and a GOOD dream in high definition, living color with touch and sound and everything real... yeah that's a trip in itself, but when it's a bad dream, or one that is problematic (like you can't find your child, or you're lost) leaves you in a shaking state for an hour after waking. It's a feeling like you've just been through the actual ordeal and it's hard to jump right out of that and try to do something like driving in traffic or engaging in anything diplomatic. Approach it slowly maybe, just to taste the effect. I take my "mentals" in the morning, but sometimes I take a nap because they don't do a thing for my body, just my brain... and if I do that, even for an hour, I'm going to dream. That, and the increased heart rate, are the ONLY reasons this is not a 5-star rating. One other caveat is that I have mild headaches at times, but nothing a Tylenol can't handle. Good luck! I now have this product and Vinposetine on Amazon Subscription.