Listol Interactions

What is Listol?

Listol is an all-natural supplement for treating ADHD. It is formulated from a potent mix of essential minerals, amino acids, a vitamin, and an herb extract.

Different studies found Listol to provide positive benefits for people diagnosed with ADHD through the protective effect of its ingredients on memory and learning.

Although Listol is safe, some of its ingredients could interact with other medications on which its users are placed. However, before examining such interactions, it is important to know the contents of Listol.

Listol contains 10 mg Vitamin B6, 250 mg Calcium (supplied as the carbonate), 2.5 mg Iron (as the citrate), 300 mg Magnesium (as the oxide), 5 mg Zinc (as the oxide), and 0.5 mg Copper (as the gluconate).

Other contents of Listol include 100 mg of Phosphatidylserine, 75 mg Dimethyl Glycine, 500 mg Glycine, 250 mg GABA, 350 mg Dimethylaminoethanol, and 1 mg of Huperzine A extract.

All these ingredients help increase the attention span and mental focus of ADHD sufferers.

Benefits of Listol’s Ingredients for People Diagnosed with ADHD

Vitamin B6 or Pyridoxine HCl is the most important member of the Vitamin B complex for maintaining the proper functioning of the nervous system. Its efficacy for treating ADHD was established by a 2004 study involving 52 children diagnosed with ADHD.

In that study, Vitamin B6 in combination with magnesium helped reduces the signs of hyperactivity throughout the 6-month study.

Magnesium has also been separately investigated for possible efficacy in treating people suffering from ADHD.

In one study, a deficiency in the mineral was strongly tied to the development of ADHD. Another study found magnesium supplementation to help reduce the symptoms of ADHD.

Iron deficiency is also associated with ADHD especially in children. Levels of ferritin, the form in which iron is found in the serum, are used to determine the extent of ADHD symptoms. Similarly, iron supplementation was found to improve ADHD symptoms in children.

Zinc is also another mineral whose serum levels determine the severity of ADHD symptoms. Different studies treated ADHD subjects with different salts of zinc and found the same result: zinc supplements reverses the symptoms of ADHD.

Copper, on the other hand, is tied to zinc. Increased absorption of zinc could easily lead to copper deficiency. Considering the negative effects of copper deficiency, its supplements are usually taken alongside zinc supplements.

The amino acids, on the other hand, show more specific benefits for ADHD patients. Dimethylglycine, for example, treats hypoglycemia.

Since abnormal glucose metabolism is a major component of ADHD, it is important to maintain balanced glucose levels.

When people experience hypoglycemia, the body compensates by craving glucose. Therefore, these people will eat more sugary foods which will contribute to hyperactivity when the blood sugar levels are raised.

Amino acids such as Dimethylglycine help maintain a glucose balance that does not push ADHD patients towards sugars.

GABA or gamma-aminobutyric acid is a neurotransmitter found naturally in the central nervous system. It inhibits the excitatory response produced by some other neurotransmitters. When there is not enough of this brain chemical, ADHD sufferers become easily excitable and hyperactive.

Glycine, on the other hand, reduces excitability by inhibiting the effects of dopamine in the brain.

Phosphatidylserine and DMAE bitartrate have similar activities. They are important to the production of phospholipids in the brain.

Phospholipids make up the sheaths of neurons and the cell membranes of cells. Therefore, they are essential for the normal functioning of the nervous system.

DMAE is also known to serve as a source of choline which goes on to become acetylcholine, an important neurotransmitter in the brain. DMAE is known to produce improved alertness and to positively affect moods.

Huperzine A extract is taken mostly from Huperzia serrata. It is an alkaloid also referred to as ZT-1. Huperzine A is a pro-drug. This means that it is converted to the active form in the body.

This herbal extract inhibits the activity of a class of enzymes called acetylcholinesterase. These enzymes break down acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter known to antagonize the excitatory effects of some other neurotransmitters.

By inhibiting these enzymes, Huperzine A ensures that the brain has its optimal supply of acetylcholine which has a calming effect on the hyperactivity of excited neurons.

Huperzine A is currently sold as a memory enhancer but it is also studied for possible use in treating Alzheimer’s disease. The herb is highly effective for improving memory and increasing focus and attention span.

Possible Interactions with Vitamin B6

If you are currently being treated with any of the following medications, you should consult with your doctor before taking any Vitamin B6 supplements. 

Vitamin B6 preparations might interact with cycloserine (Seromycin), an antibiotic used for tuberculosis. It might also worsen any seizures and nerve cell damage caused by the drug. 

Vitamin B6 might also interact with theophylline medications (Elixophyllin, Theolair, Truxophyllin, Aquaphyllin, and many others) for asthma or other lung diseases. 

Possible Interactions with Calcium

Calcium can interact or interfere with certain medicines that you take, and some medicines can raise or lower calcium levels in the body. 

If you are currently being treated with any of the following medications, you should consult with your doctor before taking any Calcium supplements. 

When taken together, Calcium can reduce the absorption of these medications – bisphosphonates; antibiotics of the tetracycline and fluoroquinolone group; levothyroxine, used to treat low thyroid activity; phenytoin, an anticonvulsant; and tiludronate disodium, used to treat Paget's disease. 

Antacids containing aluminum or magnesium might increase calcium loss in the urine. Mineral oil and stimulant laxatives reduce calcium absorption. 

Possible Interactions with Iron 

Iron can interact or interfere with certain medicines that you take, you should consult with your doctor before taking any supplements containing iron. 

Iron might decrease the absorption of antibiotics. Taking iron along with some antibiotics might decrease their effectiveness. 

Some of these antibiotics that might interact with iron are ciprofloxacin, enoxacin, norfloxacin, sparfloxacin, trovafloxacin, and grepafloxacin. 

Iron might also decrease how much bisphosphate the body absorbs. It might interact with bisphosphonates such as alendronate, etidronate, risedronate, tiludronate, and others.  

Possible Interactions with Magnesium 

Taking magnesium preparations along with certain antibiotics might cause muscle problems. Some of the antibiotics that you must avoid are amikacin, gentamicin, kanamycin, streptomycin, tobramycin, and others. 

Magnesium might also decrease the number of antibiotics that the body absorbs. Some of these antibiotics that might interact with magnesium are ciprofloxacin, norfloxacin, enoxacin, trovafloxacin, sparfloxacin, and grepafloxacin. 

Magnesium might lower blood pressure so you must avoid taking magnesium with high blood pressure medications such as nifedipine, verapamil, diltiazem, isradipine, felodipine, amlodipine, and others. 

Possible Interactions with Zinc 

If you are currently being treated with any of the following medications, you should consult with your doctor before taking any zinc preparations. 

Antibiotics (Quinolone antibiotics): Zinc might decrease the effectiveness of some antibiotics. Some of these medications that might interact with zinc are levofloxacin (Levaquin), ciprofloxacin (Cipro), moxifloxacin (Avelox), ofloxacin (Floxin), norfloxacin (Chibroxin, Noroxin), gatifloxacin (Tequin) enoxacin (Penetrex), trovafloxacin (Trovan), sparfloxacin (Zagam), and grepafloxacin (Raxar). 

Antibiotics (Tetracycline antibiotics): Zinc might decrease the effectiveness of tetracyclines. Some tetracyclines that might interact with this product are minocycline (Minocin), demeclocycline (Declomycin), and tetracycline (Achromycin, Sumycin). 

Possible Interactions with Copper  

We are unaware of any interactions with this supplement. 

Possible Interactions with Phosphatidylserine 

Phosphatidylserine might interact with drying medications, known as anticholinergics. You must not take phosphatidylserine preparations with the following anticholinergics: 

Atropine, belladonna, benztropine, clozapine, diphenhydramine, hyoscyamine, clidinium, darifenacin, homatropine, scopolamine, and ipratropium. 

Phosphatidylserine also interacts with medications having cholinergic effects, such as ambenonium, donepezil, bethanechol, edrophonium, galantamine, guanidine, methacholine, succinylcholine, and rivastigmine. 

Possible Interactions with Dimethylglycine 

We are unaware of any interactions with this supplement. 

Possible Interactions with GABA Powder 

We are unaware of any interactions with this supplement. 

Possible Interactions with DMAE Bitartrate 

We are unaware of any interactions with this supplement. 

Possible Interactions with Huperzine A Extract (Huperzia serrata) 

Huperzine A Extract contains chemicals that can affect the brain and heart. It might interact with drying medications called anticholinergic drugs (scopolamine, atropine). 

It might also interact with some medications used for allergies (antihistamines), and depression (antidepressants).