Aniracetam and Pramiracetam are two popular racetam nootropics that are considered to be beneficial for memory, cognition and focus. Both are members of the Racetam family and more powerful derivatives of the original nootropic Piracetam.
Which is the stronger nootropic between Aniracetam and Pramiracetam? Many of their effects and benefits are similar, but which one will work best for you depends on your individual goals.
Aniracetam was the second racetam developed, found to have benefits for mood, anxiety, confidence, behavioral issues and feelings of well-being. Pramiracetam has been shown to increase mental performance and is reported to promote high-intensity focus, attentional control and executive function.
Both are fat-soluble racetams with high oral bioavailability and good safety profiles. Both appear to enhance cholinergic neurotransmission, increase blood flow to the brain and have memory enhancing effects.
Pramiracetam appears to have some stimulant-like properties and may be better at increasing alertness and mental energy. It is also more potent, meaning that it requires a lower dosage.
Aniracetam has a greater influence on creative or holistic thinking and has been used more widely in clinical applications, such as in the treatment of age-related memory loss and Alzheimer’s disease. There is more research into the effects and mechanisms behind this nootropic agent.
Which is the best racetam nootropic: Aniracetam vs. Pramiracetam? Continue reading to learn more about their effects, methods of action, dosages and side effects.



- Heightens focus & motivation
- Supports memory formation & recall
- Shown to enhance mood & reduce anxiety
Aniracetam Benefits
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
- What is Pramiracetam?
- User Review
- Benefits and How it Works
- Dosing Information
- Side Effects
- Experience Reports
- Purchasing Pramiracetam
- Legal Status
Aniracetam was developed shortly after the initial research into Piracetam was conducted. It was synthesized by a research team at the Belgium pharmaceutical company Hoffman-La Roche in the 1970s.
In 1979, it was first introduced to the market as a stronger analog to Piracetam with potential effects on mood and emotional state.
The Aniracetam molecule is similar to Piracetam, except for the addition of a methylated phenyl group where Piracetam has an amide chain.
This modification makes Aniracetam fat-soluble whereas Piracetam is water-soluble. Fat soluble compounds are generally better absorbed from the gut and have higher bioavailability.
Aniracetam is said to be 3-5 times stronger than Piracetam with some of the same effects, but also with a wider range of therapeutic benefits. Like Piracetam, it increases acetylcholine activity in the brain which is linked to memory, attention and reasoning.
Research also shows that this nootropic can improve mood, depression and anxiety on patients with different forms of cognitive dysfunction. User reviews state that this nootropic agent can promote greater ease in social settings and improve verbal fluency.
Aniracetam is primarily known for helping to improve both cognitive functions and mood.
As far as the cognitive benefits, these include increasing the memory, both short-term and long-term.
Aniracetam seems particularly effective at improving memory consolidation and the process by which your short term working memory is converted into long-term memory formation.
Many people also report having a faster recall ability with the feeling that they do not have to think as hard to search for the right answer to a question.
Learning capacity is also expanded through greater synaptic plasticity, making this one of the best Nootropic supplement for students in need of a boost.
Concentration, attention span, selective awareness and general mental energy is also improved as a result of using this Nootropic. In fact, most users report having greater alertness and clarity of thought while taking Aniracetam.
You may find that when you are taking this supplement you do not feel as groggy and drained after a long day of work. Your cognitive energy stores are refreshed much faster and you have a greater stamina for cerebral tasks like reading, writing and performing calculations.
This effect also extends to increasing focus and allowing you to work on one task for an extended period of time without being distracted. That is why it is such a popular supplement among people who have inattentive ADD and ADHD.
In addition to the above listed cognitive benefits, Aniracetam is also considered to be one of the best overall mood enhancers from the world of nootropics. Taking a consistent regimen of Aniracetam may lead to the relief of stress and anxiety.
Aniracetam seems highly adept for remedying social anxiety because both increases verbal processing skills and helps to rid the brain of repetitive negative thoughts. Without the encumbrance of persistently anxious thoughts, you may feel an increase in motivation and drive and less emotional fatigue. In some cases, this supplement has also been beneficial for mild cases of depression.



- Improves focus, productivity & motivation
- Supports cognition & memory
- Heightens alertness & mental acuity
Pramiracetam Benefits:
Pramiracetam is very similar to Aniracetam and many of the benefits you experience will be identical. In fact, Pramiracetam and Aniracetam are the only two popular Racetams that are fat soluble as opposed to the other which are water soluble. However, there are some unique mechanisms of action for each and this can lead to minor distinctions between the strength of different effects.
The main difference between the two is potency level: This supplement is as much as 30 times stronger than Piracetam and as much as 10 time stronger than Aniracetam. Most people also describe being able to “feel” the effects of Pramiracetam more, especially when it comes to concentration, attentiveness and motivation.
When taking Pramiracetam, the majority of benefits are strictly related to enhancing cognitive function though there are positive implications for mood as well. Memory is known to be improved, although this is mainly seen in the area of short-term memory.
Another interesting benefit noted by researchers is the ability for Pramiracetam to help improve fluid intelligence. This is thought to be a more reliable predictor of academic success than your IQ. Clearer thinking, reasoning and problem solving is another hallmark of this supplement.
But the real claim to fame of Pramiracetam has to do with purpose-directed behaviors: you will find your energy being highly directed towards achieving set goals without the sensation of “mental work”. Productivity will just seem to flow easily without having to try too hard.
Blood flow to the brain is increased along with oxygen uptake and glucose metabolism. This also helps to increase general brain energy and may even produce a natural ‘high’ or feeling of well-being. Many people report experiencing more creative or “out of the box” thinking when using Pramiracetam as opposed to Aniracetam.
Pramiracetam is also being used in a number of clinical settings and treatments both with and without prescriptions. The most notable of these is in regards to Alzheimer’s disease. Of course, this research continues, but it looks promising.

- Focus longer, clear brain fog & feel more motivated
- Boost energy, alertnes & memory
- Contains 12 safe and natural nootropic ingredients
Method Of Action Comparison:
Both of these supplements have similar effects in the brain in that they increase activity of the cholinergic system relation to the transmission of acetylcholine.
Acetylcholine is one of the neurotransmitters that the brain uses during reasoning, movement and new memory formation. By stimulating these receptors, Aniracetam and Pramiracetam can essentially produce a higher level of brain activity and make your brain work faster.
Both supplements are absorbed through the intestinal tract and then reach full concentrations in the bloodstream within 20 to 30 minutes. The fact that they are absorbed so rapidly has to do with both compounds being fat soluble whereas Piracetam and Oxiracetam are water soluble. Between the two, Pramiracetam is even more soluble in lipids and tends to have a much higher bioavailability.
They both then reach their intended targets in the brain: the Acetylcholine receptor sites. The supplements bind with these receptor sites and prevent the desensitization of the receptors so that they can be activated to a higher degree. Since this neurotransmitter is thought to play a vital role in many important cognitive functions, this can be a great help to those looking to improve memory, learning ability, attention span and overall cognition.
Acetylcholine is also directly related to neuroplasticity which measures how capable your brain is of forming new connections and adjusting to changes. It is also interesting to note that Aniracetam also affects two additional neurotransmitters, Dopamine and Serotonin.
Aniracetam is a positive allosteric modulator (PAM) of AMPA receptors. These are a type of neuroreceptor that respond to the neurotransmitter glutamate.
Aniracetam modulates these receptors in a way that enhances the signal of glutamate at the receptor site. This causes neurons to respond more strongly to the this brain chemical.
User Reviews
In the section below, you will find user reviews from individuals posting on Reddit about their thoughts on Pramiracetam and Aniracetam. Some people also report stacking these compounds for synergistic benefits.
Not everyone responds to racetams in the same way. You may experience different effects when taking Pramiracetam or Aniracetam or you may not feel any effects at all.
Some users report more negative effects than positive effects. While user reviews can give insight into how these compounds affect other individuals, your own results may vary.
….Pram, for example, actually makes listening to music less enjoyable. Aniracetam makes me feel less creative but more focused.” – IMBW89 [2]
Aniracetam – enables me to take everything in stride. I feel more collected when I take it.” – JakeNotCliff [2]
Pramiracetam: I recommend this if Aniracetam doesn’t work. People report strong immediate effects, and increased cognition over the other racetams. I use it in the mornings instead of a large dose of Piracetam, and it helps with memory recall and the formation of new memories.
Pramiracetam, Aniracetam, Noopept: This is my workload stack. It’s for starting the day and going to learn at class, or going to code at work. Pretty much swear by it, and most of the stacks I take involve some form of PAN. I use it to boost my cognition and attention at both work and school.
Dosage: 500mg Pramiracetam, 1500mg Aniracetam, and 10-20mg Noopept. I redose the Aniracetam twice a day, both with 750mg boosters, and a second 10-20 Noopept in the evening.” – TripTipper [3]
Dosage Comparison
Pramiracetam is more potent than Aniracetam and requires a smaller dosage. This does not necessarily mean that the effects of Pramiracetam are stronger than Aniracetam, so long as the different dosage is compensated for.
Some people may experience more profound effects when they take Aniracetam compared to when they take Pramiracetam. It is the response that they create in the user that should be measured to determine strength, not the specific dosage required to achieve beneficial effects.
Aniracetam powder and capsules are typically used at a dose of between 600 to 3,000 milligrams per day. For clinical use, this nootropic drug is typically prescribed at 750 or 1500 mg per day.
The typical dosage range for Pramiracetam is between 400 and 1,200 milligrams per day. Pramistar, the brand name medication that contains this nootropic as its primary ingredient, is sold in 600 mg tablets and taken in one to two doses per day.
Aniracetam has a short half-life and the duration of effects may only last for 3-4 hours. Users will typically split their dosages into 2-4 equal administrations throughout the day.
Pramiracetam has a longer half-life of between 4.5-6.5 hours and may only require one or two doses per day. The onset of effects can take 1 to 2 hours, which is longer than the 30-60 minute kick-in time for Aniracetan’s effects.
When it comes to developing a tolerance, both of these racetams have a potential for seeing their efficacy decline with continued use. Not everyone experiences tolerance, but Pramiracetam is more prone to losing its effects as you continue to take it.
- Racetam Comparison? Reddit.
- Favorite Racetam & why? Reddit.
- Racetams and You: A Guide of the Popular Racetam Family. Reddit.
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Article last updated on: March 13th, 2018 by Nootriment