Lion's Mane vs Oxiracetam for memory
Short answer: For memory, more users report improvement with Oxiracetam — 100% of 23 reports, versus 89% of 130 for Lion's Mane.
Lion's Mane has 4 meta-analyses and 5 randomized trials on PubMed; Oxiracetam has 5 and 19.
Based on 888 reports about Lion's Mane and 254 about Oxiracetam. Not medical advice.
| Lion's Mane Supplement | Oxiracetam Supplement | |
|---|---|---|
| User score | 46 | 49 |
| Verdict | Mixed | Mostly positive |
| Positive of reports that state an outcome | 48% | 69% |
| Reports | 888 | 254 |
| Research | BResearch: Moderate | AResearch: Strong |
| Meta-analyses / RCTs | 4 / 5 | 5 / 19 |
| Mainly used for | ||
| Focus % reporting improvement | 88% (177) | 91% (55) |
| Energy % reporting improvement | 66% (35) | 100% (14) |
| Sleep % reporting improvement | 54% (28) | — |
| Anxiety % reporting improvement | 67% (54) | 62% (8) |
| Mood % reporting improvement | 73% (98) | 64% (11) |
| Memory % reporting improvement | 89% (130) | 100% (23) |
| Performance % reporting improvement | 40% (5) | 100% (5) |
| Recovery % reporting improvement | 67% (3) | — |
| Pain & inflammation % reporting improvement | 90% (10) | — |
| Digestion % reporting improvement | 50% (2) | — |
| Libido % reporting improvement | 4% (49) | — |
| Heart & lipids % reporting improvement | 100% (2) | — |
| Common side effects | vivid dreams, libido loss, anxiety, anhedonia | hypomania, brain fog, anxiety, tolerance |
| Typical dose reported | 900 mg | as needed |
Although commonly unreported, potential side effects of HE include stomach discomfort, headache, and allergic reactions. https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/view/CRD42024571250.
Front Nutr, 2025 ↗“Lions Mane notably lights my brain up (cognitive boost) and helps boost my mood through my typical afternoon lull.”
This study enhances the understanding of the relative benefits and risks associated with various VaD treatments, providing a valuable reference for clinical decision-making.
Front Pharmacol, 2024 ↗“Oxi gave me a significant increase in focus, to the point where I could work for 2-3 hours without even checking facebook. / It also helped me with memory (was clearly retaining more info in both short-term and long-term).”
Related comparisons
Percentages come from first-hand user reports and are not clinical outcomes. Talk to a doctor before starting, stopping or combining anything. How we rate