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Aniracetam is a nootropic agent that is reported to improve mood, increase focus and support brain power.
Also known as Ampamet, Draganon or Memodrin, this nootropic drug was first developed in 1979 by the Belgian Holffmann-La Roche company. Since that time, it has been the subject of ongoing research and clinical use.
User experiences with Aniracetam describe improvements in anxiety and depressive thoughts, greater mental energy and ability to concentrate deeply.
This nootropic is also described as enhancing color perceptions, the sensation of listening to music, alertness, social interactiveness and improving resistance to distraction or irritation.
Not all Aniracetam experiences are positive and some people seem more susceptible to side effects than others. In some, it can cause worsening feelings of anxiety, mental fatigue, low moods and agitation
If you are interested in using this racetam nootropic supplement, a good place to start is by reading user reviews and Aniracetam experience logs.
Below we have collected some of the most common experiences, benefits and side effects that you may encounter when taking Aniracetam. Buy Aniracetam online at this link.
Motivation
Memory
Mood- Heightens focus & motivation
- Supports memory formation & recall
- Shown to enhance mood & reduce anxiety
Cognitive Benefits & Experiences:
Related Topics
- What is Aniracetam?
- User Reviews
- Effects and Benefits
- Aniracetam for Anxiety
- Dosage Suggestions
- Using Aniracetam Powder
- Best Way to Take
- Side Effects
- Aniracetam for Sale
- Buyer's Guide
- Is Aniracetam Legal?
- Stacking with Piracetam
- Stacking with Choline
- Comparison to Piracetam
- Comparison to Oxiracetam
- Comparison to Pramiracetam
- Comparison to Noopept
Many individuals who take Aniracetam use it for its purported mental performance-enhancement effects.
In clinical studies, Aniracetam has been observed to promote memory, cognition, attention, focus, behavioral control and learning.
In animal studies, it has been shown to upregulate Brain-derived Neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which is involved in neural plasticity and memory encoding.
It also stimulates the release of neurotransmitters connected to neurological stimulation, alertness, arousal and ability to concentration while ignoring distractions.
Subjective user reviews say that it helps them to feel more creative and increases holistic thinking and the ability to form new connections.
Some describe it as giving them more stamina for mental processing, increasing the ability to learn, adapt and problem solve. Others say that their brain feels like its firing on all cylinders when they take Aniracetam capsules.
Students and people studying new concepts have said that this cognitive enhancers increase in their memory and information retention. These experiences range from subtle to significant.
Based on aniracetam reviews, some users find it easier to remember and recall small details. It may support verbal fluidity, semantic memory and general cognitive function as well.
- Improves memory and learning
- Heightens focus and motivation
- Enhances mood and reduces anxiety & stress
Mood & Anxiety Experiences:
A number of users take Aniracetam to boost their mood and for its anxiolytic properties.
Reviews describe experiencing stress relief and relaxation with this nootropic supplement. It has been reported to minimize the over-stimulating properties of smart drugs like Adderall and Modafinil (Provigil).
Others say that it promotes general feelings of well-being, a sense of focused calm and a sensation of “smooth” or balanced energy.
It has been described as producing a “natural high” feeling and enhancing motivation and confidence in some users. This is particularly the case when engaging in social scenarios that might otherwise produce anxiety.
Aniracetam promotes the release of neurotransmitters involved in mood regulation, including dopamine and serotonin. Dopamine is linked to positive feelings, enjoyment, pleasure and a sense of reward. Serotonin is linked to feelings of satisfaction, contentment and happiness.
Clinically, Aniracetam was used in Japan to treat anxiety and depression linked to cerebral stroke. It has also been found to enhance mood and sociability in patients with cognitive decline.
User experiences note a positive mood-lifting effect and inhibition of negative, stressed or nervous thoughts. Not everyone experiences this benefit and some people feel that it makes their anxiety worse.
Some report that this nootropic causes them to feel nervous, irritable, agitated, hostile and paranoid. These symptoms may be more prevalent in individuals already diagnosed with a mood disorder.
Taking an aniracetam dosage may have different effects on different people. Using a large dose can cause euphoric and manic feelings in some users or result in depressive and lethargic or tired moods in others.
Motivation & Drive
A number of user reviews state that this nootropic agent boosts their ambition and drive to complete goals. One user wrote that Aniracetam helped him to take control of his actions and improved mental clarity, focus and sense of purpose.
Other users state that it makes them feel less motivated, more relaxed and calm. It is unclear why different people respond to the effects of this nootropic differently.
One research study examined the effects of aniracetam on motivation in aged rats in a choice reaction task. Rats that had a restricted food supply were found to maintain their performance on the task over a long period of time.
When those rats were satiated with free feeding of food (such that they could eat as much as they wanted), task performance began to decrease.
The researchers then administered 30 mg/kg of Aniracetam orally for 14 days to the aged rats. This resulted in a partial improvement in task performance, particularly by increasing accuracy and lever response, but not by increasing impulsivity or responding speed.
This suggests that Aniracetam can improve motivation under conditions where it is reduced by satiation.
The researchers wrote that, “Aniracetam may restore motivation, probably by improving poor behavioral states (daily attentional and vigilance failures), thereby creating the driving force.” [1]
It is likely that the effect this nootropic drug has on dopamine plays some role in the restoration of motivation. Dopamine is linked to the motivation to act and improved control over behavior.
Sensory Perceptions
As with Piracetam, one of the first signs that this racetam is working may be changes in sensory perception.
Aniracetam is known to affect the function of acetylcholine in the brain, which plays a role in transmitting sensory signals.
This nootropic is reported to increase the vividness of perceptions of sight and sound. Many users report brighter color, greater contrast between colors and being able to pick out more detail.
Listening to music becomes an more pleasurable, all-encompassing experience. Sounds are richer, fuller and more vibrant.
Negative Experiences
Not everyone who takes Aniracetam has a positive experience. Some feel nothing at all, even when taking this cognitive enhancer for up to one or two weeks.
Some experience adverse effects that are mild and transient. Others experiences unwanted side effects that cause them to stop taking this nootropic agent.
In the category of mild and temporary side effects, some of the commonly reported ones include:
- Headaches
- Jaw tension
- Jitters
- Feeling “spaced out”
- Brain fog
- Irritability
- Nervousness
- Nausea
- Indigestion/Diarrhea
The most frequently reported negative side effect is a headache. This may be abated by taking Aniracetam with a choline source to ensure adequate acetylcholine levels in the brain.
Not all choline supplements are equally effective. Supplements that contain a phospholipid form of choline are more bioavailable and have nootropic effects of their own.
The two best forms are Citicoline and Alpha GPC. Stacking these with Aniracetam in the right dosage ratio can help to reduce the prevalence of headaches.
Some users say that taking this nootropic makes them feel unfocused and like they are in a waking dream state. Some say it causes them to have problems concentrating.
Others say that it produces a feeling of over-excitation, agitation, restlessness and jitters. In severe cases, it can lead to manic thought and hyperactivity.
Some Aniracetam experiences describe jaw and muscle tension following use. Others describe feelings of muscle aches. This may be related to increased activity of acetylcholine at the neuromuscular junction.
Users may experience gastrointestinal-related side effects subsequent to oral administration of this smart drug. This includes nausea, abdominal discomfort, diarrhea, bloating and epigastric irritation.
Taking it with a meal or using capsules instead of bulk powder may reduce these symptoms. Aniracetam powder has a bitter taste and may not be well tolerated if you have a sensitive digestive system.
In some user reviews, this nootropic is described as causing a worsening of mood, depressive thoughts, emotional blunting and anhedonia. Some say that it causes them to feel more anxious or nervous and can in rare circumstances result in a panic attack.
Aniracetam can also cause sleep disruptions, based on user testimonials. It has caused vivid dreams and nightmares, low quality sleep and a worsening of insomnia.
The side effects are variable and change from person to person. Some people take this nootropic and experience no adverse effect at all. Others find that its side effects do not outweigh the potential benefits.
While some research shows it has benefits for anxiety and depression, other clinical trials discuss patients reporting symptoms of anxiety and depression.
Your response can be influenced by a number of different factors. Your experience with this nootropic may also be different from day to day.
This is why most nootropic users will experiment with different combinations, protocols and cycles to find what works best for them.
- Focus longer, clear brain fog & feel more motivated
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Does Aniracetam Really Work?
Most of the data presented above comes from anecdotal user reviews and experience logs from individuals taken Aniracetam. This data has value in terms of understanding how people feel when they take this nootropic.
However, due to the potential for a placebo effect, experiential information cannot be used to draw conclusions about the efficacy of this nootropic. We need to rely on research studies to understand whether Aniracetam actually works.
The majority of studies on whether Aniracetam works have been conducted in humans diagnosed with some form of cognitive impairment or under temporary circumstances that produce a decline in mental function. Examples include studies involving healthy adults under hypoxia or after taking scopolamine.
This research can be used to support the claim that Aniracetam does have a positive effect on mechanisms related to memory and learning in cases where some type of deficit is present.
However, there is a difference between the ability of a nootropic agent to restore cognition under circumstances causing impairment versus enhancing performance in healthy people with normal brain function.
There have only been three studies examining the effects of Aniracetam in healthy subjects, all of which have used rats and mice. Two studies have found negative effects and one has found positive effects. But these studies cannot be used to make broader claims about whether Aniracetam works.
The one study that found Aniracetam improved learning performance used rats in a Y-maze avoidance task. The rats were given an intrahippocampal treatment of aniracetam, which means the nootropic drug was infused directly into the brain.
The hippocampus is part of the brain directly involved in memory formation as well as spatial navigation. It is a small organ in the medial temporal lobe of the brain. In patients with damage to this organ, long-term memory storage is impaired.
The hippocampus is believed to be involved in consolidating short-term memory into long-term memory as well as accessing stored memories. Researchers in this study specifically looked at neurons in the perforant pathway of rats that terminate in the dentate gyrus, an area specifically implicated in memory.
The researchers found that administering aniracetam enhanced the signals sent to this part of the brain. Aniracetam is known to increase activity at AMPA receptors and was shown in this study to enhance basal synaptic transmission in the perforant path.
This resulted in improve performance in the Y-maze learning task when given 5 minutes before being trained on this task. This shows that Aniracetam facilitates long-term potentiation in dentate gyrus through hippocampal AMPA receptors.
While this suggests that Aniracetam can improve memory in healthy rats, note that the method of administration involved direct injection into the brain. This study cannot be used to make general conclusions of how this nootropic will work when taken orally, which is the typical route of administration.
Another study examined the effects of orally administering 50 mg/kg of Aniracetam in healthy adult C57BL/6J mice. The mice were then tested across a number of tasks including the Morris water maze test, fear conditioning test, accelerating rotarod test, open field test and odor discrimination.
The researchers found no significant differences in the group given the nootropic treatment compared to the placebo and naïve control group. Aniracetam did not improve learning or memory on these tests.
In the discussion of the results, the researchers suggest several reasons why their study did not find a benefit. One reason may be due to the time between when aniracetam was administered and when the learning tasks occurred, which was longer than the elimination half-life of the drug.
This study also used a 50 mg/kg dosage while other studies used 100 mg/kg dosages. In addition, this study used C57BL/6J Mice as the test subjects and not rats. There are differences in how these species metabolize the drug. However, other mice studies have shown positive benefits from Aniracetam in impaired subjects.
Also note that this study involved a one-time dosage as opposed to repeated administrations of this racetam nootropic. In human studies, researchers have described benefits as improving with long-term use.
Does this mean that Aniracetam does not work to improve cognitive function or memory in healthy adults? It shows that in this specific study design it was ineffective. Making broader conclusions opens the risk to introducing error.
In order to understand whether or not Aniracetam promotes cognitive enhancement in normal functioning humans, double-blind placebo controlled studies involving humans are required. More research is needed before we can validate or disprove this claim.
Best Way to Take
The nootropic effects that you experience when taking Aniracetam will depend considerably on how it is used.
Aniracetam is fat-soluble and works best if taken with a source of fat such as whole-fat milk, fish oil, olive oil, MCT oil or a meal. It does get well-absorbed from the intestinal tract on an empty stomach, but coadministration with lipids is believed to increase absorption.
This nootropic is typically taken in a dosage of between 700 and 3,000 milligrams. It is most frequently used at a dosage of 750-1500 mg daily.
The best strategy when beginners start taking Aniracetam for the first time is to start with a low dosage and gradually scale up over a week or two. This is recommended to gauge your individual response and to reduce the risk of negative effects.
Acute effects from Aniracetam may be observed within 30 – 60 minutes following oral ingestion. It has one of the fastest kick-in times of the Racetam nootropic supplements.
However, the major therapeutic benefits of Aniracetam are believed to take 60 days to four months in order to develop. This nootropic is purported to increase synaptic plasticity and long-term memory formation, but these benefits may require continuous use to be noticeable.
This one of the more stimulating racetam compounds due to its ability to increase noradrenaline and dopamine release. It is advised to use your last dosage early in the afternoon to avoid disruption to your sleep patterns.
Aniracetam has a very short half-life of 1-2.5 hours. It is typically readministered two to three times a day to maintain the benefits.
In addition to choline supplements, it may be stacked with other nootropics like Oxiracetam, Piracetam, Noopept, Pramiracetam and smart drugs like Modafinil or Adderall.
You can buy Aniracetam online from nootropic vendors based in the USA and have it shipped to most places around the world.
If you have used this product, please share your positive and negative Aniracetam experiences below. What did it feel like when you took it and how are you currently using it?
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- Nakamura K1, Kurasawa M. Aniracetam restores motivation reduced by satiation in a choice reaction task in aged rats. Pharmacol Biochem Behav. 2001 Jan;68(1):65-9.
- Kimura M, Okano S, Inoué S. Effects of aniracetam on impaired sleep patterns in stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats. Psychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2000
- Wang YF, Li CC, Cai JX. Aniracetam attenuates H2O2-induced deficiency of neuron viability, mitochondria potential and hippocampal long-term potentiation of mice in vitro. Neurosci Bull. 2006
- Xiao P, Staubli U, Kessler M, Lynch G. Selective effects of aniracetam across receptor types and forms of synaptic facilitation in hippocampus. Hippocampus. 1991
- Papandreou G, Zorpas K, Archontaki H. Development and validation of a liquid chromatographic method for the simultaneous determination of aniracetam and its related substances in the bulk drug and a tablet formulation. J Pharm Biomed Anal. 2011
- Bartolini L, Casamenti F, Pepeu G. Aniracetam restores object recognition impaired by age, scopolamine, and nucleus basalis lesions. Pharmacol Biochem Behav. 1996
- Staubli U, Ambros-Ingerson J, Lynch G. Receptor changes and LTP: an analysis using aniracetam, a drug that reversibly modifies glutamate (AMPA) receptors. Hippocampus. 1992
- Nakamura K. Aniracetam: its novel therapeutic potential in cerebral dysfunctional disorders based on recent pharmacological discoveries. CNS Drug Rev. 2002
- Satoh M, Ishihara K, Iwama T, Takagi H. Aniracetam augments, and midazolam inhibits, the long-term potentiation in guinea-pig hippocampal slices. Neurosci Lett. 1986
- Rao Y, Xiao P, Xu S. Effects of intrahippocampal aniracetam treatment on Y-maze avoidance learning performance and behavioral long-term potentiation in dentate gyrus in rat. Neurosci Lett. 2001
Article last updated on: March 13th, 2018 by Nootriment