Nootropil 800 mg and 400 mg tablets are some of the best-selling nootropic products online today.
But which is a better option to buy if you are looking to achieve the type of intelligence-boosting effects reported in Nootropil reviews?
As with any other type of compound, it is important to consider the dosage used.
In many cases a nootropic that is effective at a certain strength or level will have entirely different results if taken at a strength that is much higher or lower.
This is why manufacturers come out with recommended dosing levels. In this article we will consider the effects of Nootropil and whether 800mg or 400mg pills should be used, as well as other options.
This also demands a bit of an understanding as to what Nootropil is, how it works, what an effective dosage might be, and ways to use this nootropic.



- Promotes neuron health & synaptic plasticity
- Supports memory recall & learning
- Boosts focus, visual perception & attention
What Is Nootropil?
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Piracetam is a compound that was developed in the early 1960’s and is considered to be the first of so-called cognitive enhancers or “nootropics.”
Nootropics is a term created by the scientist who developed Piracetam. It comes from Greek words, and means “to turn the mind.”
Nootropil, also sometimes spelled Nootropyl, is the most popular prescription brand-name version of the generic Piracetam.
Piracetam is the most popular and researched of all Nootropics. Many different studies and research tests have been conducted into how Nootropil affects the nervous system and it has been determined to be entirely safe and non-toxic.
The compound is also very well-tolerated for human consumption and can be used by healthy adults as well as those suffering from specific cognitive diseases and conditions. One specific condition that doctors will prescribe Piracetam for is myoclonus, a type of involuntary muscle spasms.
While Piracetam has been sold and used for years as either a prescription drug or an over the counter drug in various countries around the world, in the United States the FDA has not approved Piracetam as a drug to prevent or treat any conditions.
It also does not meet the qualifications of a dietary supplement. In the USA, Piracetam is considered an unregulated, unscheduled compound.
While it is legal to buy and own Piracetam for personal use, it can be hard to actually buy it within the US. Selling Piracetam in the US is difficult due to FDA laws surrounding the sales, distribution, and labeling of unregulated compounds like Piracetam.
There are still some specialized nootropic stores online based in the US that sell Piracetam and other Racetams, however these stores are limited. If they cannot get what they want from an online domestic store, many people will import from countries where the sale of Piracetam is legal. There are often no issues when importing an amount considered for “personal use,” often a three month or less supply.
How Does Nootropil Work?
Nootropil is believed to work by modulating the chemical structure of certain post-synaptic receptors in the brain. Although the actual mechanism of action is still not entirely understood (this serves to underscore how little modern medicine really knows about the brain), the most popular theory is that it works by modulating areas of the brain known as Acetylcholine receptor sites.
Nootropil binds to these receptor sites on your neurons to make them more sensitive to two important neurotransmitters in the brain – Acetylcholine and Glutamate. In essence, this increases what is known as the “resting potential” of your nerve cells so that they communicate more efficiently and faster.

- Promotes neuron health & synaptic plasticity
- Supports memory recall & learning
- Boosts focus, visual perception & attention
Nootropil (Piracetam) is able to cross the blood-brain barrier much easier than many of the other compounds we used as cognitive enhancers today.
Work continues by inhibiting the breakdown of Acetylcholine, that can greatly influence memory, learning, and overall cognitive processes.
Nootropil is thus thought to increase the activity between your neurons and even cause more of these connections called synapses to develop.
Some of the other benefits of Nootropil include increasing the supply of oxygen to the brain. In this process it also enhances the uptake of glucose (sugar) and overall brain metabolism. This improves the level of brain energy and has a number of additional effects.
The beneficial effects of Nootropil vary from person to person, as is the case with any supplement or drug. Sometimes the increase in memory and learning capacity are very subtle and sometimes the changes are incredibly robust.
Other people may also see improvements in their sensory perceptions, especially enhanced visual acuity and hearing. Most users report and an increase in overall mental energy and attention span. It may also lead to improved focus and concentration.
Finally, a number of users have even reported improved levels of motivation and confidence.
Effective Total Nootropil Dosage
Nootropil is a compound where it is vitally important to get the dose right. Too little and you are not likely to see any effects at all. Too much and it could result in side effects like headaches, nervousness, and gastrointestinal distress.
The dosing range is quite large, with most falling somewhere between 1.2 grams and 9.6 grams per day. Most experts recognize that the minimum effective dose is fairly high, much higher than a single 400 mg or 800 mg pill per day.
Most research studies have used dosages in the range of 4 to 5 grams per day (4,000 to 5,000mg), often split into two or three dosages. User reviews often cite larger dosages, often around 4.8 g per dosage, taken two and sometimes even three times a day (for a total daily dosage of 9.6 up to 14.4 g).
Safe dosages of up to 24 g per day have been used in research studies and for medical conditions such as myoclonus, however this is considered too much for normal consumption.
The key mistake many users make is to take too little and then give up once they do not see any type of measurable results. Nootropil takes time to build up in the system, often at least two weeks of consistent daily dosage before noticeable effects are seen.
Overall, most users will take at least 4 grams per day, in evenly divided administrations. For some people 5 grams or more would be even better, however that is up to personal sensitivities and the reason for taking this nootropic. It is often recommended to start with a lower dosage and to then increase your dosage gradually if you are not seeing the benefits you would like.
How To Use Nootropil
The most commonly recommended way to use Nootropil is to split your daily doses into even segments several times a day. Start out in the morning, then again around the middle of the day, and finally in the early evening.
The main reason for spreading the doses out like this is due to the short half-life of Nootropil. It is estimated to only last for about 2-3 hours. Of course, different people will still experience different results, so it may be effective for an extra hour or two within your system.
It is also recommended that you do not take Nootropil too late in the day as it may keep your mind awake and alert which may make it difficult to fall asleep at night. You can prevent this simply by ensuring your last dosage is taken around 4 PM and no later.
Nootropil 800mg or 400mg vs. Piracetam powder
One question that many users have is whether or not they should choose capsules that contain either 400mg or 800mg of Nootropil, or if they should simply use generic Piracetam.
For the Nootropil 400 or 800 mg pills, assuming both are purchased from a reputable source, they contain the same formulation, so the only real difference will be how many pills need to be consumed on a daily basis.
This ultimately comes down to a personal decision. Assuming a daily dose of 4.8 grams, this means that you would need to take twelve of the 400mg capsules, or only six of the 800mg capsules.
Capsule or pill formats of Nootropil are convenient and easy to take, however you pay significantly for that convenience. To give you an idea of how much cheaper bulk Nootropil is, consider that the average Nootropil 400 mg tablet is priced around $0.30. That means you are paying $3.00 to get a dosage of 4 grams of Nootropil.
If you were to instead buy Piracetam bulk powder, you can get often get a price of about $0.32 for 4 grams. That means that it is 10x more expensive to purchase the brand name Nootropil tables than it is to purchase Piracetam powder. This is because the actual process of capping pills can be quite expensive and the packaging adds considerably to the cost.
Another factor to consider is that name-brand Nootropil is exceptionally hard to find, even more so then Piracetam can be. Nootropil is often only available as a prescription drug, even in countries that sell Piracetam as an over-the-counter drug. Therefore trying to find it for sale it solely as a nootropic without a prescription can be very difficult.
Many people will instead just opt for generic Piracetam. It is the same formulation as Nootropil branded products, is easier to find, and is often much cheaper, even if bought in pill or capsules formats.
Piracetam is legal to own for personal use in many countries in the world including the United States and the United Kingdom. However, due to regulations it can sometimes be hard to find for sale within your own country, or may require a prescription. Look into your local laws surrounding Piracetam before considering trying this nootropic.
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Article last updated on: March 13th, 2018 by Nootriment
1 Comment
My ENT suggested using Nootropil 400g [teaspoon? x 2] instead of serc24 for my vertigo problem. In everything i’ve read so far, this medicine is to improve brain power, etc. pp. but nothing about vertigo/dizziness or whatever condition I have with balance problems.
Please advise.