Overview

Homotaurine is an amino acid that is found in some seaweeds. However, commercial products that are sold as supplements are made in a laboratory.

Homotaurine is used for Alzheimer disease, Parkinson disease, and a decline in memory and thinking skills in older people that is more than what is normal for their age, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.

How does it work ?

Homotaurine works in the brain, interfering with the formation of the plaques that contribute to Alzheimer disease. It also interferes with the formation of plaques in blood vessels in the brain, that are associated with a condition called cerebral amyloid angiopathy.

Homotaurine works in the brain, interfering with the formation of the plaques that contribute to Alzheimer disease. It also interferes with the formation of plaques in blood vessels in the brain, that are associated with a condition called cerebral amyloid angiopathy.

Uses & Effectiveness ?

Insufficient Evidence for

  • Alzheimer disease. Research shows that homotaurine does not improve symptoms of Alzheimer disease in most people. However, it might work in people with certain changes in a gene called ApoE. More research is needed to confirm whether or not it is helpful.
  • Decline in memory and thinking skills in older people that is more than what is normal for their age. Taking homotaurine seems to help with very recent memory recall by a small amount in older people with a decline in memory and thinking skills.
  • Parkinson disease. Taking homotaurine doesn't seem to help with most symptoms of Parkinson disease.
  • A group of eye disorders that can lead to vision loss (glaucoma) .
  • Hair loss.
  • Other conditions.
More evidence is needed to rate the effectiveness of homotaurine for these uses.

Side Effects

When taken by mouth: Homotaurine is POSSIBLY SAFE for most people. It can cause some minor side effects such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness, and headache.

When applied to the skin: There isn't enough reliable information to know if homotaurine is safe or what the side effects might be.

Special Precautions and Warnings

When taken by mouth: Homotaurine is POSSIBLY SAFE for most people. It can cause some minor side effects such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness, and headache.

When applied to the skin: There isn't enough reliable information to know if homotaurine is safe or what the side effects might be. Pregnancy and breast-feeding: There isn't enough reliable information to know if homotaurine is safe to use when pregnant or breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.

Interactions ?

We currently have no information for HOMOTAURINE overview.

Dosing

The appropriate dose of homotaurine depends on several factors such as the user's age, health, and several other conditions. At this time there is not enough scientific information to determine an appropriate range of doses for homotaurine. Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult your pharmacist or physician or other healthcare professional before using.

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CONDITIONS OF USE AND IMPORTANT INFORMATION: This information is meant to supplement, not replace advice from your doctor or healthcare provider and is not meant to cover all possible uses, precautions, interactions or adverse effects. This information may not fit your specific health circumstances. Never delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice from your doctor or other qualified health care provider because of something you have read on WebMD. You should always speak with your doctor or health care professional before you start, stop, or change any prescribed part of your health care plan or treatment and to determine what course of therapy is right for you.

This copyrighted material is provided by Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database Consumer Version. Information from this source is evidence-based and objective, and without commercial influence. For professional medical information on natural medicines, see Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database Professional Version.
© Therapeutic Research Faculty 2020.