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How long does it take for nootropics to kick in and when can you expect to see results?
Nootropics are a class of supplements used for cognitive enhancement, memory, focus, mood and energy levels.
Nootropic drugs and supplements are said to support brain health and are considered to be very safe for most users. Some who are considering beginning to use one of these “smart drugs” are curious about how long it takes them to work, and how long their effects last once noticed.
While some nootropic agents can begin to take effect right away after using your first dose, others can take longer for benefits to be observed. This will depend on the mechanism of action as well as the pharmacokinetics of the substance used.
This article looks at the onset times, half-life times, duration of effects and some recommended usage tips for certain popular nootropics. Special attention is given to a subclass of nootropics called racetams.
How Long Do Nootropics Take To Work?
There are a wide variety of different nootropic supplements and drugs available. Some nootropic drugs are used to treat Alzheimer’s disease, senile dementia and some other conditions marked by cognitive decline.
Others are dietary supplements that can be purchased over-the-counter and do not require a doctor’s prescription in most countries.
Nootropics are generally used for enhancing cognitive functions like memory formation and recall, intentional thinking, motivation, mood balancing, and maintaining mental and physical energy.
Some nootropic agents have been well-researched with significant evidence of efficacy and safety. Others are not as well researched and have little to know data available from double-blind placebo-controlled human trials.
How long does it take for nootropics to become effective? The answer depends on various factors. It is first necessary to know which type of supplement or drug is in question.
In many cases, more research is needed to understand their mechanisms of action, long-term effects, and possible benefits. Here is what we do know about how nootropics work and the results that have been observed.
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Types Of Nootropics
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Not all nootropics work in the same ways or produce the same benefits. This will affect how long it can take to experience positive effects. The main types of nootropics include: [1]
- Cholinergics that increase the activity or production of the acetylcholine neurotransmitter in the brain;
- Glutamatergic agents that affect the activity at NMDA and AMPA receptors for the glutamate neurotransmitter;
- Dopaminergics that increase dopamine production or activity in the brain;
- Serotonergics that increase levels of the serotonin neurotransmitter;
- Adaptogens that help to regulate stress, improve mood balance, maintain brain health and performance;
- Nutrients that optimize the brain’s energy production or cellular function;
- Stimulants that increase wakefulness and alertness;
- Herbal extracts that affect a variety of factors related to neurotransmission.
Each type of nootropic drug or supplement can induce unique effects on distinct pathways in the brain. Some will begin to act very quickly, within 15-20 minutes in some cases.
For example, caffeine has a very fast onset of effects with some improvements to mental stimulation being experienced within 5 minutes of oral consumption. It can take 15-45 minutes to experience peak effects in the body.
Other nootropics will take longer to be absorbed from the gut, get into the bloodstream and then cross the BBB (blood-brain barrier) into the brain. Some nootropics must first go through hepatic metabolism to become effective. This has to do with differences in their pharmacokinetic profile.
Piracetam has a relatively slow onset of effects, which is in part affected by its poor absorption from the gastrointestinal tract. This nootropic can take between 30 – 90 minutes for the effects to kick in after ingestion.
Adrafinil (the pro-drug for Modafinil) has a slower onset of effects because it must first be metabolized or processed by the liver to become active in the body. Aniracetam is another nootropic that promotes most of its effects via its metabolites.
Finally, some nootropics need to build up in the body over a long period of time for effects to be observed. Their may be a loading period or accumulation phase, or they may produce cumulative effects that only become noticeable after regular use.
Bacopa monnieri is an herbal supplement widely used to improve focus and cognition. It works by increasing the growth of connections between neurons and promoting faster communication in the brain. In research studies, it can take up to 8-12 weeks for improvements to be measured with little to no effects if you use it for short periods of time.
It is important to note that many nootropics will have both acute or short-term effects as well as long-term effects. For example, in clinical trials it has been shown that Aniracetam can promote improvements in focus, attention and mood within several days of beginning to take this nootropic drug.
However, benefits in memory performance, general cognitive function and learning can take longer to develop. Depending on your desired goals, you may need to take a brain supplement for two to four weeks to experience the full range of benefits.
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How Long Do Racetams Take to Work?
Some of the most popular nootropics are the Racetams, which are all based on the original drug Piracetam (Nootropil).
All members of the Racetam family have a common pyrrolidone nucleus and affect similar systems in the brain. Racetams increase activation of receptors for a neurotransmitter called acetylcholine (ACh).
ACh is a primary excitatory chemical in the CNS (central nervous system), which is the complex system of nerves and tissues that consists of the brain and spinal cord. It facilitates signaling between neurons involved in thinking, attention, learning as well as moving.
The acetylcholine neurotransmitter is known to be important for cognitive functions like retaining new information, recalling long-term memory, analyzing information, performing complex calculations, remaining attentive, and overcoming inhibitions.
In general, racetam nootropics act to increase acetylcholine activity in the brain’s hippocampus by increasing a process called HACU (high-affinity choline uptake). They increase the rate at which the dietary nutrient choline is used to synthesize this chemical messenger.
Note that racetams like Piracetam, Aniracetam, Oxiracetam, Phenylpiracetam, and Pramiracetam do not significantly increase ACh levels in the brain. Rather, they make the brain’s acetylcholine receptors more sensitive so that they are better able to relay neuronal information transfers.
Different racetams induce different effects. Most of them work, at least in part, by increasing cholinergic activity inside the brain.
Other effects can include increasing blood flow to the brain, enhancing neuron membrane fluidity, protecting against oxidative damage, increasing activation of glutamate receptors and affecting levels of neurotransmitters such as dopamine and norepinephrine.
Some racetams have been observed to improve neuronal plasticity and increase synaptogenesis. Over time, this benefit may become stronger with regular use.
Racetams also differ in terms of their bioavailability and pharmacokinetics. Some are rapidly absorbed by the body and immediately cross the blood-brain barrier. Others take longer to be assimilated into the bloodstream and have poorer transportation across the BBB.
Some nootropics like Piracetam and Oxiracetam are water-soluble while others like Aniracetam and Pramiracetam are fat-soluble. Generally, the fat-soluble compounds are better absorbed from the gut and start to work in a shorter amount of time.
Aniracetam is often considered to be one of the fastest working racetams with users saying that it starts to work within 45 – 90 minutes after using it.
Phenylpiracetam appears to exert its effects faster with sources reporting that it takes 30 – 60 minutes to experience benefits.
The lesser-known compound Coluracetam is reported to work within 15-30 minutes of ingestion. This nootropic is very potent and only requires a 20 mg dosage to be effective.
Nootropics Onset of Effects
Below is a chart that describes the onset of effects for several different Racetams and other Nootropic agents. Not everyone will experience the same results based on individual differences in sensitivity, metabolic function, digestion how the nootropics are used and more.
| Nootropic | Kick-In Time |
|---|---|
| Noopept | 20 – 60 minutes |
| Piracetam | 30 – 90 minutes |
| Pramiracetam | 30 – 90 minutes |
| Aniracetam | 45 – 90 minutes |
| Oxiracetam | 30 – 90 minutes |
| Phenylpiracetam (Phenotropil) | 30 – 60 minutes |
| Coluracetam | 15 – 30 minutes |
| Adrafinil | 1 – 2 hours |
| Modafinil | 20 – 60 minutes |
| Armodafinil | 20 – 60 minutes |
| Alpha GPC | 45 – 75 minutes |
| Citicoline | 1 – 2 hours |
How to Make Nootropics Work Better and Faster
There can be significant variation in how long it takes nootropics to work in humans. How long it takes for a given supplement to become active in an individual user will depend on numerous factors unique to that person.
No two nootropics users will have the same experience. Some factors that affect how long it takes a nootropic to work, how long it lasts, or the effects it will or will not have include:
- Individual tolerance and sensitivity;
- Baseline cognitive function;
- The amount of exercise you get regularly;
- The foods and beverages you consume;
- Your state of hydration;
- Current state of health;
- Your bodyweight;
- Your gender;
- Your age;
Note that many nootropics cause cumulative effects over time. It is not uncommon for a compound to seem like it is not working for up to 2 weeks after starting to use it.
What are some of the ways that you can make cognitive enhancers work faster in the body? One common strategy is to stack multiple nootropic supplements together to enhance the effects.
Another option is to combine faster-acting products like phenylpiracetam, modafinil and noopept with compounds that can take longer to work.
One recommendation is to take nootropics like Aniracetam or Pramiracetam on an empty stomach. Consuming these fat-soluble racetams with a meal can actually slow their absorption from the gut and cause more to be excreted.
Some supplements work best when combined with Piperine (Bioperine) – a natural extract from the pepper plant that appears to improve transportation across the gut barrier for certain compounds.
Making lifestyle changes such as eating healthier and being more active can also help. It is important to get enough sleep at night, surround yourself with a stimulating environment and take time to meditate during the day.
How Long Do The Effects Of Nootropics Last?
Different nootropics will have different biological half-lives referring to the amount of time the body takes to eliminate half of the original amount consumed.
Some people confuse the half-life of a nootropic with the amount of time it takes to lose half its effectiveness. However, it simply refers to how long it takes the body to metabolize 50% of it.
Some supplements have very short half-life times. For instance, Noopept has a reported half-life of just 45-60 minutes in humans (16 minutes in rats). Others like Modafinil, have long half-life times of 15 hours or more.
The reported half-life for Pramiracetam is about 6 hours. For Piracetam, it is roughly 5 hours. These times only refer to how long it takes to measure half the original amount in a blood sample.
Further, some nootropics get metabolized into other neuroactive substances. For instance, the nootropic Adrafinil is a chemical precursor of a much more potent drug called Modafinil.
Aniracetam has a half-life of 0.5 hours, but has a duration of effects between 1 – 2.5 hours. This is because most of the effects are mediated by its metabolites, so it remains active even after it is eliminated from the body.
Noopept gets broken down or converted into cycloprolylglycine – a neuropeptide that is responsible for some of the positive effects of this smart drug. This explains why the total duration of effects for this substance is 3 – 5 hours even though it has a half-life of 45-60 minutes.
Many nootropics users report feeling the effects of these substances for significantly longer than their half-lives suggest.
Effect onset and duration will vary depending on numerous user-specific factors as listed above. Information provided above is based on research studies and user reviews.
What is important is how a specific nootropic affects you personally, not how it is reported to affect others in user reviews; although this information can serve as a useful reference.
Your personal experience may vary and you may find that certain supplements provide much longer or shorter durations of efficacy compared to other users. Some nootropics produce significant results in certain people but little to no effects in others.
What to Do if Nootropics are Not Working for You
Nootropics do not work for all people equally. It can be discouraging for new users who take their first dose of Piracetam or Aniracetam only to not feel any discernable effects right away.
Some users do report benefits such as improved visual acuity and color perception developing within a day or two of starting a new regimen. However, others see no signs of improvement for several days or weeks.
As a rule of thumb, if you do not notice any benefits after taking a nootropic supplement for at least four weeks, then you might want to consider trying a different compound of stack
Some nootropics can take longer to accumulate into your system and begin causing desired effects. In research studies, Aniracetam can take up to 60 days for significant changes in cognitive ability to be reported.
It is not known why some people react to nootropics very strongly, and other not at all. There are many unknown variables at work in the CNS, and more research is needed to understand these cognition-enhancing supplements.
If you have used a nootropic for a minimum of four weeks and do not experience any changes in your cognitive function or mental state, you may be a non-responder to that specific class of substances.
For example, someone who eats a lot of food sources of choline may not benefit from using cholinergic supplements like Alpha GPC or Citicoline. However, they may see positive effects from the Ampakine class of compounds that increase activity at glutamate receptors.
Some users take Attack Doses of nootropic supplements in order to more-quickly saturate their cells with the substance, and thereby minimize the time needed to recognize noticeable effects.
In the 1991 book “Smart Drugs & Nutrients”, Dr. Dean Ward and John Morgenthaler recommend that certain racetams be used in high dosages to start so that the effects kick in over a shorter period of time.
However, attack doses are not recommended for all nootropics and can be dangerous with some substances. In general, you should begin using a supplement at the low end of its recommended dosage range. Then, if needed, you can gradually increase the amount you take. Larger doses increase the risks for tolerance and adverse side effects.
There are also unlimited possibilities for combining different supplements, herbs, nutrients and smart drugs in Nootropic Stacks. Stacking simply refers to using more than one supplement to achieve synergistic effects.
If you use aniracetam or pramiracetam and do not feel these substances working, you may need to add choline to your stack or adjust your dosage ratio. If you take piracetam and find that it makes you feel sleepy or unmotivated, using sulbutiamine can counteract this effect.
There is no standard answer to the question “How long do nootropics take to work.” The time it takes for effects to onset, how long the effects last and the types of results you can expect will depend on the specific nootropic being used, how it is taken as well as the person using it.
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- Nootriment Staff. How Long Does Aniracetam Take to Work? [Duration of Effects]. Accessed Feb 27, 2018
- Nootriment Staff. How Do Nootropics Work and Enhance Cognitive Ability? Accessed Feb 27, 2018
- Nootriment Staff. What are the Different Nootropic Effects and Mechanisms of Action? Accessed Feb 27, 2018
Article last updated on: March 12th, 2018 by Nootriment