Overview

Sulbutiamine is a man-made chemical similar to vitamin B1 (thiamine). Unlike vitamin B1, which dissolves in water, sulbutiamine dissolves in fats. Sulbutiamine is able to increase thiamine levels in the brain. It is thought to have mild stimulant effects.

Sulbutiamine is used for weakness, fatigue, to enhance athletic performance, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.

In December 2019, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration added sulbutiamine to the Dietary Supplement Ingredient Advisory List. The ingredients on this list might not be lawful to include in dietary supplements. For this reason, people may want to avoid using supplements containing sulbutiamine.

How does it work ?

It is not fully understood how sulbutiamine works. However, it seems to have various effects on the brain that might improve memory and reduce feelings of weakness.

Uses & Effectiveness ?

Insufficient Evidence for

  • Nerve pain in people with diabetes (diabetic neuropathy). Early research shows that taking sulbutiamine (Arcalion) for 6 weeks doesn't reduce nerve pain in people with diabetes.
  • Fatigue. Early research found that taking sulbutiamine daily for 15 days is linked with improved fatigue in people with an infection.
  • Fatigue in people with multiple sclerosis (MS). Some people with MS who take sulbutiamine seem to feel less tired.
  • Alzheimer disease.
  • Athletic performance.
  • Erectile dysfunction (ED).
  • Memory.
  • Weakness.
  • Other conditions.
More evidence is needed to rate sulbutiamine for these uses.

Side Effects

When taken by mouth: Sulbutiamine is POSSIBLY SAFE when taken by mouth, short-term. A dose of 600 mg daily has been used safely for up to 2 months. A small number of people taking sulbutiamine have reported nausea, headache, tiredness, and inability to sleep.

There isn't enough reliable information to know if sulbutiamine is safe to use long-term.

Special Precautions and Warnings

When taken by mouth: Sulbutiamine is POSSIBLY SAFE when taken by mouth, short-term. A dose of 600 mg daily has been used safely for up to 2 months. A small number of people taking sulbutiamine have reported nausea, headache, tiredness, and inability to sleep.

There isn't enough reliable information to know if sulbutiamine is safe to use long-term. Pregnancy and breast-feeding: There is not enough reliable information about the safety of taking sulbutiamine if you are pregnant or breast feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.

Psychiatric disorders: People with certain psychiatric disorders, including bipolar disorder, may be more likely to abuse drugs. These individuals may be more likely to abuse sulbutiamine. Until more is known about sulbutiamine, people with psychiatric disorders should use sulbutiamine cautiously. These patients should not discontinue use of their prescribed treatments.

Interactions ?

We currently have no information for SULBUTIAMINE overview.

Dosing

The appropriate dose of sulbutiamine 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 sulbutiamine (in children/in adults). 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.