Policosanol is a natural extract derived from yam, sugar cane or bee’s wax. This substance is often used as a supplement in order to lower bad cholesterol, increase good cholesterol and aid in preventing the artery walls from thickening due to a build-up of fatty tissue.
There are studies that suggest that policosanol can be as effective as statin medications at improving cholesterol without the unpleasant side effects like muscle atrophy and liver dysfunction that typically go along with them. It is speculated that policosanol accomplishes this by preventing cholesterol from forming in the liver. However, the exact mechanism that causes this is unknown.
There has been much interest surrounding policosanol in recent years, especially in South American countries such as Cuba. While many of the clinical studies have been funded by the Cuban government, which owns the patent for policosanol, other studies in various Latin countries as well as the United States have proposed that policosanol may have many practical applications. However, results are far from conclusive.
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Policosanol Benefits Studies have shown that policosanol can increase levels of HDL (high density lipoproteins), decrease LDL (low density lipoproteins), lower the over-all cholesterol level and prevent blood clots by reducing the aggregation of the blood platelets. It is the aggregation, ... more
Studies have shown that policosanol can increase levels of HDL (high density lipoproteins), decrease LDL (low density lipoproteins), lower the over-all cholesterol level and prevent blood clots by reducing the aggregation of the blood platelets. It is the aggregation, or tackiness of the platelets that causes blood to clot.
The suggested dosage of policosanol use to treat cholesterol is between 5 and 10 milligrams twice daily. This final dose should be taken with dinner as cholesterol biosynthesis is more effective overnight. 20 milligrams is the maximum daily allowance.
According to studies policosanol can take up to two months to begin showing effects. More research is needed to thoroughly prove policosanol’s effectiveness in lowering cholesterol levels and it should in no way be used as a replacement for proper nutrition and lifestyle efforts to combat cholesterol problems.
The normal dose that is effective in regards to lessening blood clots is 10 milligrams two times a day taken with food.
Before starting policosanol or any other supplement or medication you should consult your physician. Certain people, such as pregnant or breastfeeding women, children, hemophiliacs or people with allergies to bees, beeswax, sugar cane or yams should refrain from taking this drug.
Because of policosanol’s ability to reduce the amount of platelet aggregation caution should be taken if you are on any sort of blood thinner such as aspirin, heparin, warfarin, or supplements such as ginkgo, garlic or high doses of vitamin E.
Some evidence suggests that policosanol may magnify the effects of the drug Levodopa, which is used to treat Parkinson’s disease. While this may sound favorable, policosanol also magnifies the side effects, so it should be avoided.
Common side effects encountered in animal studies included headache, skin rash, weight loss, insomnia, and intestinal problems, however, human testing reports that this medication is tolerated quite well with short lasting, mild side effects.
There are some rare but dangerous side effects involving policosanol. Occasionally, symptoms of hemorrhagic stroke can be observed. These symptoms are:
These side effects are severe and necessitate direct medical intervention. They also undoubtedly indicate that you should stop your intake of policosanol immediately. Policosanol may also interfere with other medications and supplements that may cause severe health risks, up to and including coma and death. Therefore, it is wise to only take policosanol after referring to your doctor in order to circumvent any side effects.
Although little material exists about the conceivable symptoms of an overdose on policosanol, some information can be presumed, based on the various side effects and hypothetical evidence about how this drug works. Going by this information, it is realistic to accept that an overdose might escalate the danger of bleeding, due to the fact that the drug decreases the aggregation of blood platelets, which normally causes them to stick together (a vital step in the creation of a blood clot). This can cause a number of different complications from minor bruises and scrapes that won’t stop bleeding in the expected amount of time to more serious issues involving internal bleeding.
There is no data on what the best treatment for policosanol overdose may be, though it will very likely involve treating the symptoms rather than the actual overdose itself. In the case of internal bleeding there are specific procedures and medications that can be administered in order to control blood loss
It is crucial that you pursue immediate medical care if you think that you might have overdosed on policosanol or any other medication or supplement. Compare this and other nutrition options using the free supplement finder now!
| Changes In Speech |
| Changes In Vision |
| Headaches |
| Insomnia |
| Intestinal Problems |
| Loss Of Feeling In Arms And Legs |
| Skin Rash |
| Weight Loss |
| Interaction With Other Medications |
| Dangerous For Some Allergic Interactions |
| 32-C, Dotriacontanol, Heptacosanol, Hexacosanol, Nonacosanol, Octacosanol, Polycosanol, Tetracosanol, Tetratriacontanol, Triacontanol |
| Cholesterol Regulation |
| Prevents Blood Clots |