PlainPill

Tribulus

People mainly take Tribulus for libido, mood, energy. Based on 48 first-hand reports and 13 meta-analyses & systematic reviews in the medical literature. Ranked #462 of 1,974 overall.

28
User score
Mixed
17% positive15% mixed10% negative58% unclear

Of reports that state an outcome, 40% are positive.

Clinical research
AStrong research base
13
meta-analyses
34
RCTs
655
papers

What Tribulus does, according to users

Of the people who reported each effect, the share who said it got better.

What the research says

Systematic reviews and meta-analyses from PubMed, with their published conclusions.

AStrong research base

3+ meta-analyses or systematic reviews and 10+ randomized controlled trials in humans. The grade measures how much human research exists — read the conclusions below for what it found.

Nutrients · 2023 · Meta-analysis / systematic review
Dietary Supplements for Erectile Dysfunction: Analysis of Marketed Products, Systematic Review, Meta-Analysis and Rational Use

Conclusion: Based on the scoring system, 2 (8%) supplements matched with the cluster of higher expected efficacy, 3 (12%) with the lower efficacy cluster and 20 (80%) matched with the criterion of no expected efficacy. DSs marketed in Italy are usually blends of many substances that are frequently employed at a negligible dose or without any evidence.

PubMed 37686709 ↗
Int J Impot Res · 2024 · Meta-analysis / systematic review
Do "testosterone boosters" really increase serum total testosterone? A systematic review

Conclusion: The exceptions were β-hydroxy β-methylbutyrate and betaine, which can be considered effective for male athletes. Eurycoma longifolia, a blend of Punica granatum fruit rind and Theobroma cacao seed extracts (Tesnor™) and purified Shilajit extract (PrimaVie™) can be considered possibly effective for men with late-onset hypogonadism; Eurycoma longifolia and Withania somnifera possibly effective for healthy men; and a non-hormonal aromatase inhibitor (Novadex XT™) possibly effective for male athletes.

PubMed 37697053 ↗
Nutrients · 2025 · Meta-analysis / systematic review
Effects of Tribulus (Tribulus terrestris L.) Supplementation on Erectile Dysfunction and Testosterone Levels in Men-A Systematic Review of Clinical Trials

Conclusion: Therefore, only 2 studies showed significant intra-group increase in total testosterone levels, which had low clinical magnitude (60-70 ng/dL) and involved subjects with hypogonadism. Conclusions: TT supplementation has a low level of evidence regarding its effectiveness in improving erectile function in men with erectile dysfunction, and no robust evidence was found for increasing testosterone levels.

PubMed 40219032 ↗
Drugs · 2018 · Meta-analysis / systematic review
Herbal Dietary Supplements for Erectile Dysfunction: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Conclusion: Encouraging evidence suggests that ginseng may be an effective herbal treatment for ED. However, further, larger, and high-quality studies are required before firm conclusions can be drawn. Promising (although very preliminary) results have also been generated for some herbal formulations. Overall, more research in the field, adhering to the CONSORT statement extension for reporting trials, is justified before the use of herbal products in ED can be recommended.

PubMed 29633089 ↗

Dosage people report

As stated by users — not a recommendation. Follow the label or your doctor.

dailyas reported
consistentlyas reported
cyclingas reported
daily (AM)as reported
250 mgpre-workout
6 yearsas reported

Reported side effects

How often each side effect came up across all reports.

irritability ×1insomnia ×1jitteriness ×1emotional/angry ×1hepatotoxicity ×1

What users say

Verbatim quotes, shortened only — each links to the original discussion.

“2 Capsules Tribulus from Nutra Champs”
Source discussion ↗
“I took those and a selection of other herbal test boosters - ocimum sanctum, d-aspartic acid, tongkat, maca, tribulus - and none of these seemed to do anything.”
Source discussion ↗
“I take nootropics dept TA 10%,HGW 50%, cistanche, ginseng and Tribulus”
Source discussion ↗
“Tribulus is a different, unrelated herb.”
Source discussion ↗
“it feels like a combination of say Jiaogulan+Theanine+Tribulus (MAO-A inhibitor)”
Source discussion ↗
Top discussions (5)

Other options for libido

User data from public discussions; research from PubMed. Information only, not medical advice — talk to a doctor before starting, stopping or combining anything. Data updated October 2, 2026. How we rate