Tanakan 40 mg coated tablets – for cognitive impairment and mild dementia

Tanakan 40 mg coated tablets is a herbal medicine whose active substance is a standardised dry extract of ginkgo leaf (Ginkgo biloba L.). According to the approved leaflet, it is used to improve age-related cognitive impairment and quality of life in mild forms of dementia.

The medicine belongs to the group of psychoanaleptics – other anti-dementia drugs. It is available in packs of 30 and 90 coated tablets, and treatment is planned over a longer period – at least 8 weeks.

What is Tanakan 40 mg used for and how should it be taken?

Key facts about the medicine

What is Tanakan used for?

According to the patient leaflet and the Summary of Product Characteristics, Tanakan is a herbal medicine intended for:

• improving age-related cognitive impairment (e.g. memory and concentration)
• improving quality of life in mild forms of dementia

If you do not feel better or feel worse after 3 months of use, you should see a doctor.

How is it used and dosed?

Before first use the leaflet advises you to consult a doctor. Usual dosage for adults and the elderly according to the leaflet:

• 3 coated tablets of 40 mg (120 mg in total) twice a day, or
• 6 coated tablets of 40 mg (240 mg in total) once a day
• the maximum daily dose is 240 mg (6 tablets)

• Method of administration: swallow the tablets whole, without chewing, with enough liquid (preferably a glass of water).
• Relation to meals: the tablets can be taken with or without food.
• Duration: treatment should last at least 8 weeks; if there is no improvement after three months or symptoms get worse, the doctor should assess whether continuing treatment is still justified.

Special patient groups

• Children and adolescents: the medicine is not intended for children and adolescents, as there are no relevant indications in this group.
• Elderly: the same dosage as for adults applies.
• People with kidney or liver impairment: the leaflet gives no specific dose-adjustment recommendations; ask your doctor.

Contraindications – when the medicine must not be used

Do not take Tanakan:

• if you are allergic (hypersensitive) to ginkgo leaf extract or to any of the excipients
• if you are pregnant

Precautions and warnings

• If symptoms get worse during use, consult a doctor or pharmacist.
• Increased tendency to bleed (haemorrhagic diathesis) or concomitant treatment with anticoagulants: use the medicine only after consulting a doctor.
• Planned surgery: tell your doctor that you are taking Tanakan; as a precaution you may stop taking it 3–4 days before the procedure.
• Epilepsy: consult a doctor before use, as medicines containing ginkgo may trigger epileptic seizures.
• The medicine contains less than 1 mmol (23 mg) sodium per tablet, i.e. it is essentially "sodium-free".

Interactions with other medicines, alcohol and food

Tell your doctor or pharmacist about all medicines you are taking. According to the leaflet:

• anticoagulants and antiplatelet medicines (coumarin anticoagulants, clopidogrel, acetylsalicylic acid and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) – Tanakan may affect their action
• warfarin – your doctor may want to monitor you, especially when starting or stopping Tanakan or when the dose changes
• dabigatran – its effect may be increased; consult your doctor before starting treatment
• nifedipine (for heart conditions and high blood pressure) – its effect may be increased, with dizziness and stronger hot flushes
• efavirenz (for HIV infection) – concomitant use is not recommended because the effect of efavirenz may be reduced

The tablets can be taken with or without food. The leaflet does not mention specific interactions with alcohol.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Tanakan must not be used during pregnancy – there may be an increased tendency to bleed and there are insufficient safety data.

Due to a lack of data, use during breastfeeding is not recommended.

Driving and using machines

No appropriate studies on the effect on the ability to drive and use machines have been performed. As dizziness is a common side effect, do not drive if you experience it.

Possible side effects

• Very common (more than 1 in 10 patients): headache.
• Common (up to 1 in 10 patients): dizziness, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting.
• Frequency not known: allergic skin reactions (redness, swelling, itching, rash), hypersensitivity reactions (allergic shock), bleeding from individual organs (eye, nose, brain, digestive tract).

Suspected side effects can be reported to a doctor, pharmacist or the Medicines and Medical Devices Agency of Serbia (ALIMS).

Overdose, missed dose and stopping treatment

• Overdose: if you have taken more than you should, consult a doctor or pharmacist; no cases of overdose have been reported.
• Missed dose: take it as soon as possible, unless it is almost time for the next dose – in that case skip the missed dose. Do not take a double dose.
• Stopping treatment: if you stop taking the medicine, tell your doctor or pharmacist.

Further information

• Ginkgo biloba – what it is, what it is used for and which ginkgo is best

Composition, packaging and manufacturer

• One coated tablet contains 40 mg of standardised dry extract of ginkgo leaf (35–67:1), corresponding to 8.8–10.8 mg flavonoids (as flavone glycosides), 1.1–1.4 mg ginkgolides A, B and C and 1.0–1.3 mg bilobalide; less than 5 ppm ginkgolic acids. Extraction solvent: acetone 60% (m/m).
• Excipients – core: microcrystalline cellulose; croscarmellose sodium; magnesium stearate. Film coating: hypromellose (E464); macrogol 6000; red iron oxide (E172).
• Appearance: round, biconvex, reddish-brown coated tablets.
• Pack: carton with 2 blisters (30 tablets) or 6 blisters (90 tablets), 15 coated tablets per blister.
• Marketing authorisation holder: PharmaSwiss d.o.o., Belgrade. Manufacturer: Beaufour Ipsen Industrie, Dreux, France.

Storage

• Store below 25 °C in the original package to protect from light and moisture.
• Keep out of the sight and reach of children; do not use after the expiry date.
• Return unused medicine to a pharmacy that collects unused medicines.

Frequently asked questions

How quickly does Tanakan start to work?

The leaflet states that treatment should last at least 8 weeks. If there is no improvement after three months or symptoms get worse, the doctor should assess whether continuing treatment is justified.

How is Tanakan taken – once or twice a day?

Adults and the elderly take 3 tablets of 40 mg twice a day or 6 tablets once a day. The maximum daily dose is 240 mg (6 tablets). Swallow the tablets whole with water, with or without food.

Can Tanakan be taken with blood thinners?

Only on a doctor's advice. The leaflet states that Tanakan may affect the action of anticoagulants, clopidogrel, acetylsalicylic acid and other NSAIDs, may increase the effect of dabigatran, and that with warfarin your doctor may monitor you.

What is the difference between the 30- and 90-tablet packs?

Composition and strength are the same (40 mg extract per tablet); only the number of tablets differs. At a dose of 6 tablets a day, a pack of 30 tablets lasts 5 days and a pack of 90 tablets 15 days.

Sources

• ALIMS – Patient leaflet Tanakan, 40 mg, coated tablets (30 tablets; March 2025)
• ALIMS – Summary of Product Characteristics Tanakan, 40 mg (authorisation 001101475 2024, 13.03.2025)
• ALIMS – Patient leaflet Tanakan, 40 mg, coated tablets (90 tablets; authorisation 001101540 2024)

Date sources were checked: 23 October 2026.