Ingredient profile
Bacopa Monnieri in Zeaxan
Zeaxan lists bacopa monnieri 4th of 11 ingredients, as an extract standardized to 20%, with no amount printed. Bacopa is a traditional herb sold for memory, not eyes, and its human trials are small and mixed. It can upset the stomach, is not advised with thyroid medicine, and may change how the liver handles some drugs.
Written by the Zeaxan editorial teamUpdated
The basics
What is bacopa monnieri?
Bacopa monnieri is a traditional herb sold for memory and focus. In Zeaxan it is the 4th of 11 ingredients, which makes it one of the heavier parts of the 600 mg blend.
The label does not say why a memory herb is in an eye formula. It also does not give the amount. The table shows what the label does tell you, next to the research.
| Label name | Bacopa Monnieri (20%) |
|---|---|
| What it is | Bacopa monnieri herb, standardized to 20% (compound not named) |
| Form | Herbal extract |
| Place in the blend | 4 of 11 (heaviest first) |
| Amount per 2 capsules | Not published (listed 4th) |
| Amount used in research | No eye trials; small, mixed memory trials |
| Strength of evidence | Limited and mixed (memory, not eyes) |
| Why it is in the formula | A traditional herb sold for memory and focus |
| Main caution | Upset stomach, nausea, diarrhea; not for people on thyroid medicine; may affect how the liver handles drugs. |
Reading the label
What does "Bacopa Monnieri (20%)" mean?
It means the bacopa extract is standardized to 20% of some compound, not that bacopa makes up 20% of the capsule. The label does not name the compound.
Because blends list ingredients by weight (21 CFR 101.36), our arithmetic says the 4th ingredient can weigh at most 150 mg. Zeaxan does not publish the real figure. Learn how to read every line on the Supplement Facts page.
The research
Does bacopa work for memory or eyes?
The evidence is thin for memory and absent for eyes. Human studies of bacopa are limited, often small and of poor quality, and no benefit has been confirmed in high-quality studies (MSD Manual, bacopa).
- Trials in people are small, and their results are mixed (StatPearls, bacopa).
- We found no trial of bacopa for eye health.
- No trial has tested bacopa as part of the Zeaxan blend.
That does not mean bacopa does nothing. It means nobody can say what it does at the unknown amount in two capsules of Zeaxan.
Side effects
What side effects can bacopa cause?
Mostly stomach and gut effects. MSD Manual lists upset stomach, nausea, diarrhea and fatigue (MSD Manual, bacopa). StatPearls describes bacopa as generally well tolerated, with more frequent stools, nausea and abdominal cramps as the most common complaints (StatPearls, bacopa).
The bottle label and the brand's panel disagree on timing. The label says between meals, while the panel and the eBay listing say after a meal (eBay listing). Follow the label, and ask a pharmacist if your stomach does better with food.
See every timing tip on the how-to-use page.
Try Zeaxan for 90 days2 capsules a day · 3 bottles per pack · today's price on the listing
See today's priceMedicines
Can you take bacopa with thyroid medicine or other drugs?
Not with thyroid medicine, according to MSD Manual, which says people taking it should not use bacopa (MSD Manual, bacopa). Bacopa also inhibits several liver enzymes that process drugs, so other prescriptions may be affected (StatPearls, bacopa).
The table covers every ingredient in Zeaxan, not just bacopa. Look for the two bacopa rows.
| If you take or have | Ingredient to ask about | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Warfarin and other blood thinners (anticoagulants) | Ginkgo | May increase bleeding risk. (NCCIH, ginkgo) |
| Thyroid medicine | Bacopa | MSD Manual says people taking thyroid medicine should not use bacopa. (MSD Manual, bacopa) |
| Prescription drugs cleared by the liver | Bacopa | Bacopa inhibits several liver enzymes that process drugs. Ask your pharmacist. (StatPearls, bacopa) |
| Liver disease, or medicines that can strain the liver | Green tea extract; cinnamon | Green tea extract pills are a rare, well-established cause of liver injury; cassia cinnamon has coumarin. (LiverTox, green tea) (NCCIH, cinnamon) |
| A past stroke, or stroke risk factors | AGP choline (alpha-GPC) | A large observational study linked alpha-GPC to higher stroke risk. Not proof, but worth asking about. (Lee et al., 2021) |
| Metformin | Vitamin B12 | Metformin can lower B12. The blend's B12 amount is not published, so it cannot replace a blood test. (NIH ODS, B12) |
| Other eye vitamins, B-complex or multivitamins | Lutein, zeaxanthin, B6 | Count totals. High-dose B6 for a year or longer can damage nerves; the upper limit is 100 mg a day. (NIH ODS, B6) |
Step by step
How can you try Zeaxan carefully because of the bacopa?
Clear your medicines first, then watch your stomach for two weeks. These four steps keep it simple.
- 01
Check your medicines
If you take thyroid medicine, do not start without your doctor. Ask a pharmacist about any other prescription drugs.
- 02
Take it between meals
Follow the label: 2 capsules a day between meals. Never double up to catch up on a missed day.
- 03
Watch your stomach
Note any nausea, cramps, loose stools or tiredness during the first two weeks.
- 04
Stop and report
If side effects do not settle, stop taking it and tell your doctor which supplement you used.
Our take
Is bacopa a reason to choose Zeaxan?
No. Bacopa is a memory herb with small, mixed trials and no eye research, so it adds cautions more than benefits to an eye formula.
If you still want to try Zeaxan, the steps above and the full side effects page will help you do it safely. Then compare the other ingredients below.
FAQ
Bacopa questions
What is bacopa monnieri used for?
It is a traditional herb usually sold for memory and focus. Human studies are limited and small, and no benefit has been confirmed in high-quality trials (MSD Manual, bacopa). We found no research on bacopa for eyes, and the Zeaxan label does not explain why it is included.
Does bacopa upset your stomach?
It can. Upset stomach, nausea and diarrhea are among its most common side effects (MSD Manual, bacopa), along with more frequent stools and abdominal cramps (StatPearls, bacopa). If these do not settle after a short time, stop taking Zeaxan and tell your doctor.
Is bacopa safe with thyroid medication?
No, according to MSD Manual. It says people taking thyroid medicine should not use bacopa (MSD Manual, bacopa). Because Zeaxan lists bacopa 4th of 11 ingredients, it is not a trace amount, so talk to your doctor before taking Zeaxan if you take any thyroid medicine.
Does bacopa interact with other drugs?
It may. StatPearls says bacopa inhibits several liver enzymes that process drugs (StatPearls, bacopa), which can change how much of a medicine stays in your body. Show your pharmacist the Zeaxan bottle and your full medicine list before you start. Ask before your first dose, not after.
How much bacopa is in Zeaxan?
The amount is not published. Bacopa is the 4th of 11 ingredients in a 600 mg blend, so by our arithmetic it can weigh at most 150 mg per 2 capsules. The "20%" on the label describes the extract's strength, not its share of the capsule.
Can bacopa make you tired?
Yes, fatigue is a listed side effect (MSD Manual, bacopa). If you feel unusually tired after starting Zeaxan, keep a short note of when it happens and talk to your doctor. Tiredness has many causes, so do not assume the supplement is the only one.
Is bacopa good for your eyes?
There is no evidence that it is. Our sources describe bacopa trials for memory, not eyes, and even those are small and mixed (StatPearls, bacopa). For eye health, regular exams and not smoking have far stronger support than any herb in this blend.
Who wrote this
Written and reviewed by
Plain-language pages built from the bottle label and linked medical sources.
Last updated . Read our editorial standards and how we check reviews. This website is run by an authorized U.S. retailer, not by the manufacturer. We are paid a commission when you buy through our order links.
Keep reading
More about Zeaxan
Side effects
Every ingredient's known side effects, the medicines to check, and what to do if Zeaxan does not agree with you.
Read moreHow to use
The Zeaxan dose, the best time to take it, missed doses, storage and when to stop.
Read more
Supplement Facts
The whole Zeaxan label typed out, with what each line means and what the label does not tell you.
Read moreUSA authorized Zeaxan retailer
Ready to try Zeaxan?
The listing sells one 3-pack: 180 capsules, 90 days at 2 a day. Check today's price, delivery and return terms on the listing before you pay, and keep your eye exams.
- eBay Money Back Guarantee
- 30-day returns, as listed
- Free 2-4 day delivery, as listed