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Piracetam is a great nootropic on its own and can give you solid results for memory and focus even when not used in a stack.
However, most people prefer to stack Piracetam with a source of Choline which can not only increase the potency of Piracetam, but it can also stop some of the headaches that are common with this nootropic.
Piracetam works primarily by activating acetylcholine receptors in the brain which require Choline in order to synthesize this neurotransmitter.
There are many different Choline supplements available, though it is generally accepted that straight Choline is not particularly effective because it gets broken down in your intestines and is not readily capable of crossing over into the brain.
One of the better Acetylcholine supplements you can use is DMAE which is protected from bacteria in the enzymes and is more bioavailable. What are the benefits of using a DMAE Piracetam Stack and how might you want to combine these two supplements?
Memory
Attention
Brain Health- Promotes neuron health & synaptic plasticity
- Supports memory recall & learning
- Boosts focus, visual perception & attention
What is DMAE?
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Dimethylaminoethanol is a naturally occurring substance and can be found in many seafoods such as sardines and squid.
Many consider it to have nootropic effects such as boosting concentration, reducing anxiety and bettering the mood of people who take it.
As a source of Choline that is not degraded in the gut, it can ensure there is enough of this nutrient available for your brain to make the acetylcholine neurotransmitter.
DMAE is methylated once it reaches the brain where it then acts as a precursor to acetylcholine. It can also replace choline to generate phosphatidyl-dimethylaminoethanol which is then incorporated into cell membranes.
This has the effect of increasing neuronal fluidity, improving maintenance of brain cells and possibly enhancing communication in the brain.
More recently, studies have raised doubts about whether DMAE may in fact convert into acetylcholine according to previously predicted models. This remains an on-going topic of debate in the field of neuroscience.
What is Piracetam?
Piracetam is a nootropic supplement with the full chemical name 2-oxo-1-pyrrolidine acetamide. It’s a derivative of GABA, Gamma-Aminobutyric acid, but has almost no effect on GABA in the brain. Instead, Piracetam works by modulating receptors for the acetylcholine neurotransmitter so that they experience a heightened level of activity.
Piracetam is prescribed for treating a condition known as myoclonus, characterized by involuntary muscular twitches, but it used by many people around the world as a dietary supplement for its nootropic effects.
Using Piracetam is said to boost fluid intelligence, promote better learning and improve memory retention and recall. Reviews of this supplement often state that it gives users an increased sense of mental clarity and is helpful for eliminating brain fog.
Piracetam supplements are also observed to increase blood flow to the brain as well as facilitate communication between the two hemispheres of the brain. This can contribute to better problem solving, lateral thinking and creative thought.
Studies have further found that Piracetam dosages can enhance your mood, lessen anxiety, improve attentiveness, and make you feel more focused.
Focus
Brain Health
Anti- Aging- Found to enhance mental concentration
- Supports memory by boosting acetylcholine
- Neuroprotective with anti-aging effects
What is a Nootropic Stack?
Stacks are combinations of dietary supplements that usually have complementary effects.
Many companies sell pre-assembled stacks, such as Onnit’s flagship product “Alpha Brain.” However, many people prefer to create their own stack to experiment and because it is often cheaper.
When stacking two compound together, you want to pick supplements that can synergize with each other so that they effectively amplify the benefits of each other. Another common stack strategy is to mix supplements with distinct mechanisms of action so that a wider array of benefits is garnered.
In the case of stacking DMAE and Piracetam, the goal is to intensify the effects of Piracetam by providing a source of Choline.
What are the benefits of a DMAE Piracetam Stack
Piracetam has been proven to boost memory and concentration in a study conducted on healthy college students over a period of two weeks. As such, it is safe to say that Piracetam’s nootropic benefits are well documented, more so than DMAE’s.
Piracetam has also shown promise in treating aphasia following a stroke, epilepsy, vertigo, dyslexia and even sickle cell anaemia. It has been shown to be useful in combatting hypoxia, a deficiency of oxygen in tissues around the body, and arrhythmia, an abnormal heart rhythm or rate.
This nootropic is considered to be neuroprotective meaning that it can help to keep your brain healthy and young even as you age.
On its own, DMAE is said to have many nootropic benefits such as boosting memory and mood and reducing anxiety in those who suffer from it. While some studies have backed up these observations, others have found that it only works in impaired individuals.
Many users online have said that it helps them concentrate and it improves their mood, but no official studies on its nootropic effects proved conclusively that it was effective. It is effective however, in treating patients suffering from ADHD, so that may lend some credibility to claims that it affects concentration and focus.
However, similar studies conducted with DMAE and patients suffering from Alzheimer’s and Huntington’s disease found that it was ineffective at treating memory related disorders such as those.
The theory behind combining Piracetam with DMAE is that the choline in DMAE will lead to higher levels of acetylcholine so that Piracetam’s effects become more noticeable.
Think of DMAE like adding wooden logs to a fire while Piracetam is a propellant. Without material to burn like wood, a propellant like gasoline will not lead to a sustained fire. By mixing the two, you are giving Piracetam more material to work with.
Because there are some legitimate questions about how effective DMAE is, most neuroscience research has focused more so into the effects of Centrophenoxine which is a DMAE derivative with a much higher potency. Many studies and user reviews will attest to the effectiveness of Centrophenoxine, especially when combined with Piracetam.
If you do decide to try a DMAE Piracetam Stack and are not happy with the results, you could upgrade to a Centrophenoxine Piracetam Stack to see if that works better for you.
- Promotes neuron health & synaptic plasticity
- Supports memory recall & learning
- Boosts focus, visual perception & attention
Dosages & How to Use
It is recommended to stack Piracetam with DMAE in a 10:1 dosage ratio. If you were to use 2,000 mg of Piracetam then you would want to use 200 mg of DMAE. With larger dosages of Piracetam, you may find that a 20:1 ratio works better.
You should not exceed a maximum of 500 mg of DMAE in a single day. It may require some experimentation in order to arrive at the proper doses. Not many people use DMAE and Piracetam in stacks together, so the combination is not well documented.
If you are looking for alternatives to a DMAE Piracetam Stack, nootropic supplements like CDP Choline, Alpha GPC or Hydergine tend to be more popular over DMAE. Before creating your own stack, look at all of the available options and see what works for you.
While there is less evidence supporting DMAE, many swear by its ability to increase concentration and better their mood. Results will vary from person to person. It is extremely important to contact a physician before taking supplements in any sort of combination to ensure that there are no adverse effects related to their combination and to ensure that you are taking the right dose for your age, weight and health level.
There are few side effects associated with DMAE, but they may include headaches, confusion, insomnia, overly vivid dreams, or constipation. It is not known how DMAE interacts with women during pregnancy or lactation, and as such it is advised that any women that are breastfeeding or pregnant should steer clear of it. Finally, anyone suffering from schizophrenia or similar disorders should also avoid the substance.
Piracetam has little to no adverse side effects, though some users have reported symptoms such as anxiety, insomnia, headaches, irritability or agitation. A large scale trial over twelve weeks with a high dose of piracetam found no more negative side effects occurred in the group with piracetam than did in the group taking the placebo, so any adverse side effects are extremely unlikely.
One common mild side effect of Piracetam is headaches. This is said to result from inadequate levels of acetylcholine available in the brain and may be alleviated when combining it with a choline source. If you do experience persistent headaches, a Piracetam DMAE stack could offer you relief from this unpleasant side effect.
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Article last updated on: March 13th, 2018 by Nootriment
3 Comments
I’d like to make a slight correction to your article.
The correct word is ‘complementary’ rather than ‘complimentary’.
This appears in the paragraph “What is aNootropic Stack?”
Also, I’m sort of curious about something. Can DMAE be stacked with Aniracetam instead of Piracetam?
I have purchased some Aniracetam, but didn’t find it had much (if any) effect when I’ve tried it on its own (without stacking). So I’m hoping that if I can stack the Aniracetam with the DMAE, maybe it’ll have the beneficial effect I’m looking for.
Hi Glenn,
Thanks for catching that! Definitely you can stack Aniracetam with DMAE instead of Piracetam. Since DMAE is a choline source, it can be stacked effectively with all of the Racetams. What dosage of Aniracetam are you taking? If you still find that the effects are not very noticeable, you could use a stronger Choline source like Centrophenoxine (which is a derivative of DMAE) or Alpha GPC.
Actually, I’m not using any nootropics at the moment. I’d tried using aniracetam in the past (I don’t know the dosage), but it was absolutely useless.
I’ve since learned that the company I bought it from sells worthless products.
I want to try aniracetam from another company and see if I get better results, but I’v never used any in a stack.
Thanks for the info.