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The legal status of nootropics is a matter subject to a lot of confusion and contradiction online.
There is a lot of conflicting information about there about whether nootropics are legal which might make you apprehensive about buying these highly effective cognitive enhancement supplements.
Part of the reason for the confusion has to do with the fact that there are so many supplements that can be classified as nootropics and each one of these may have its own policy.
Two compounds that are almost identical in their effects and chemical make-ups may in fact be legislated differently. Further inconsistencies are seen in international laws where some countries may have banned certain substances while others have approved them to be sold without a prescription.
In general, most of the nootropics you will encounter on a daily basis are legal to use around the world. The stricter laws are only in place regarding the sale, marketing and importation of these supplements and are targeted more at suppliers and retailers.
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- Are Nootropics Legal?
There is a difference that needs to be understood in US law between being legal and regulated.
The legality of a certain substance has to do with whether or not it is a scheduled or controlled substance under federal or state law.
Prescription drugs, for example, are considered controlled substances and depending on their particular status will have a different schedule associated with them.
For the most part, Nootropics like Piracetam, Aniracetam, Oxiracetam, Alpha GPC, CDP Choline, Noopept, Adrafinil, Phenibut and almost all others are not scheduled and therefore not considered controlled substances in the USA.
This means there are no limits to possession and it is legal to use and own these compounds without any restrictions for personal consumption. But just because they are legal does not mean they have been strictly approved by the FDA.
In order for something to be considered approved in the eyes of the FDA (the chief regulatory agency for drugs and other chemical products in the US) it must have undergone a regulatory process. These products also fall into several different categories.
For example, certain Nootropics might actually be considered food products or supplements. This category would not require any type of regulation at all, other than to ensure their safety in terms of spoilage, purity and things of that nature.
In other situations, supplements may fall under the category of nutritional supplements and/or prescription medications. If something is considered to be a nutritional supplement, then it does qualify for regulation, but only in terms of its production and methodologies.
In other cases, they may even be considered as prescription medications, but not regulated in terms of their possession (this is the situation for most of the Nootropics currently available). Others may even be classified as orphan drugs or substances. In these cases there is no actual law against either the possession or use, but it can be a little more complicated regarding their sale.
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Do You Need a Prescription to Buy Nootropics
The bottom line is really whether or not prescriptions are needed to buy these supplements.
While the answer is no, at least for now, it should be understood that from a technical standpoint most Nootropics are supposed to only be sold as research chemicals or substances.
What this means is that they cannot be marketed in the way that traditional supplements are marketed. Piracetam falls into this category and this is why you will not be able to purchase Piracetam on places like Amazon and eBay.
However, there are several companies that allow you to purchase Piracetam as a research compound so long as you agree to follow their terms of service. These restrictions really only impact the companies looking to sell these supplements, since there are few regulations against actual purchase.
Racetams, the most popular and widely used Nootropic category, may be purchased and possessed by anyone in the USA. There is no restriction on the amount, either, as long it was purchased domestically.
There is, however, a three-month supply (as defined by customs) limitation if they are being purchased from overseas. What that means is if you want to import your Racetams (Aniracetam, Oxiracetam, Pramiracetam or the related Noopept) from China or another big supplier of bulk Nootropics, you have to buy less than a three month supply at a time.
This is not exactly a clear purchase limit since there are no dosages or monthly supply quantities established for these supplements. However, you should use your best judgment in determining what would be a reasonable amount to import.
Or to save yourself the possibility of these supplements being seized by customs, stick to purchasing Nootropics from websites based out of the USA.
The situation in foreign countries is a bit different. For example, in the UK, Canada, and Australia all Racetams are considered to be prescription drugs. The only legal way to acquire them, since they do not have the proper coding to enter their health systems, is by importation. They also limit the amounts to a three-month supply.
In Australia, Piracetam is actually regulated on a special list and considered to be a “poison” which is comical when you consider that it is less toxic than both salt and caffeine! To be on the safe side, you might want to switch out Piracetam for a related nootropic like Aniracetam or Pramiracetam which are completely legal in Australia.
Clinical Uses of Nootropics:
It is interesting that in much of the Western world Nootropics are not being used for clinical or medicinal purposes.
However, in Russia and other Eastern European countries these drugs are actively prescribed for a number of cognitive disorders.
Researchers in the US are currently looking at many nootropics as options for ADHD, dementia, and even Alzheimer’s disease.
There are also certain Nootropics that help to reduce stress and anxiety, lessen depression and potentially improve overall brain health. Some of the more powerful Nootropics can even reduce the risk of stroke and repair brain damage from physical or chemical trauma like alcohol consumption and concussions.
The US Military has even looked at taking the nootropic Modafinil for as wakefulness agents when they are on missions for 30+ hours at a time and need to be highly alert.
Are Some Nootropics Illegal?
There are a few very specific types of Nootropics that are actually considered to be prescription drugs. This classification includes Modafinil and so-called “smart drugs” like Adderall. These controlled substances within the US, although their status in other countries may vary. As a result, it is sometimes possible to purchase these drugs online from international pharmacies.
However, this is not recommended at all as you should have a prescription in order to legally use these compounds. Since these are also some of the more powerful and potentially dangerous supplements on the market, it would not be a good idea to order them from foreign sources whose quality is difficult to determine.
You also run the risk of losing money if the drugs are seized by customs officials. Of course, by staying away from this last category, you could certainly buy and use a wide variety of Nootropic supplements without any trouble from the law.
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Article last updated on: February 23rd, 2018 by Nootriment