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Oxiracetam is a nootropic “smart drug” that is often sought out in Australia to promote memory, learning and focus.
Based on research in humans and animals, it has cognitive enhancement effects and may support attentional control, energy levels, long-term memory formation as well as informational processing.
Before you buy Oxiracetam online, you may be wondering about its legal status and whether you require a prescription to import it to Australia.
Oxiracetam has not been approved for therapeutic use in Australia and is currently unregulated. It is not considered a controlled substance, which means that it is legal to buy, possess and use.
However, this unscheduled drug cannot be sold within Australia. This means that nootropic users will typically order it over the internet from other countries.
In this article, we will discuss the legality of Oxiracetam for residents of Australia as well as guidelines for purchasing and using this nootropic. Note that this nootropic has a different legal status compared to Piracetam.
Alertness
Memory
Cognitive Function- Heightens focus, alertness & perception
- Promotes analytical thinking & memory
- Boosts energy & reduces mental fatigue
Oxiracetam in Australia
Related Topics
- What is Oxiracetam?
- Dosage Guide
- Reviews
- Oxiracetam Effects
- Side Effects & Safety
- Experience Reports
- Where to Purchase
- Is Oxiracetam Legal?
- Best Oxiracetam Stacks
- Using Oxiracetam Capsules
- Oxiracetam Choline Stack
- Oxiracetam Piracetam Stack
- Aniracetam Oxiracetam Stack
- Pramiracetam Comparison
- Noopept Comparison
- Aniracetam Comparison
Oxiracetam is described by users as enhancing mental performance and helping them concentrate better at work and school.
A number of users say that this racetam nootropic agent helps them learn faster, be more productive and increases their mental clarity and stamina.
Oxiracetam is a derivative of Piracetam and is sometimes called 4-hydroxypiracetam. Piracetam was the first nootropic agent ever identified in the 1960’s.
Dr. Cornelieu E. Giurgea coined the term “nootropic” meaning a mind-tuning agent to describe the effects that this drug had on brain function. Piracetam was shown to support memory, alertness and brain health without causing serious side effects.
Oxiracetam is made by attaching a hydroxyl group to the 2-pyrrolidinone ring in the Piracetam molecule. This slight modification resulted in a more potent drug, said to be 3-5 times stronger than Piracetam.
Oxiracetam has similar mechanisms of action to Piracetam. Both of these nootropics potentiate or amplify signals in the brain that are mediated by the neurotransmitters acetylcholine and glutamate.
Oxiracetam has been shown to increase cholinergic and glutamatergic activity in the hippocampus and cerebral cortex. These areas of the brain are implicated in memory encoding, consolidation from short-term to long-term memory and behavioral control.
Research in healthy rats and mice show s that Oxiracetam can speed up learning acquisition on a number of tasks. It has also been found to address neurophysiological symptoms of dementia, degenerative brain disorders and Alzheimer’s disease.
Users often take this nootropic agent to promote executive functioning. The executive functions refer to a set of brain processes involved in regulating goal-directed behavior. For example, the ability to direct attention and pursue goals falls under this category.
While there are a number of proposed medical uses for Oxiracetam, it has not been approved by authorities in Australia for use as therapeutic drug. Most people who take racetam nootropics in Australia are using them off-label and without a prescription.
Is Oxiracetam Legal in Australia?
Oxiracetam is an unscheduled and unregulated drug in Australia. This means that it is legal to purchase, possess and consume it.
You do not need a prescription to use this nootropic agent. It is not a controlled substance and is legal to buy without a prescription.
However, there are restrictions on its sale in Australia. These restrictions apply to suppliers or vendors and not to consumers.
Oxiracetam has not been approved by the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods. This means that it cannot be marketed or sold in Australia for human use. It can only be sold as a raw research chemical.
As such, you will not see this product sold in local supplement or health food stores. It is also not carried by Australian pharmacies as it has not been approved for distribution as a pharmaceutical drug.
Most Australians who buy Oxiracetam will purchase it online from other countries. They will then import the nootropic agent in either bulk powder or encapsulated form.
It is legal to import unscheduled medicines for personal use in Australia. A number of customers report that they have not had difficulty importing it, even without a prescription accompanying the package.
This is regulated under the “Personal Importation Scheme” laid out by the Department of Health. According to their website, “Individuals can legally import most therapeutic goods for personal use under the Personal Importation Scheme.”
- Heightens focus, alertness and perception
- Promotes better analytical thinking and memory
- Boosts energy and reduces mental fatigue
Importing Nootropics for Personal Use
According to Australian government guidelines, personal importation occurs when, “an individual arranges from within Australia for a therapeutic good to be sent to them from an overseas supplier or family/friend.”
The imported products must be for the intended use of the individual arranging shipment or someone in his/her immediate family. It is not allowed to supply or sell the medicine to other people.
Whenever importing unregulated substances, there is a risk of your package being delayed or seized at the border by customs agents. Generally, if shipping small amounts that qualify under “personal use”, your order should get through the border without issue.
According to the TGA, importation is legal so long as “the total quantity of the goods imported within a 12 month period does not exceed 15 months supply of the goods (for medicines, at the maximum dose recommended by the manufacturer).”
Ordering larger amounts or quantities greater than a three-month supply may increase the risk of having your shipment confiscated or returned. To minimize this risk, you should not buy more than $200 at a time.
It is illegal to import bulk quantities of Oxiracetam powder with the intention to sell or distribute it. Commercial sale of this compound has not been approved.
According to nootropic suppliers that regularly ship to Australia, some products pose a higher risk of being seized than others. Piracetam, Phenibut, Modafinil and Adrafinil fall under different regulatory categories in Australia and cannot be imported for personal use.
Nootropics Laws
What are the general laws on the sale of nootropic supplements and drugs in Australia?
A number of commonly used nootropics are sold as dietary supplements and can be purchased over-the-counter in local stores or from online retailers. Bacopa Monnieri, L-Theanine, Caffeine, Ginkgo Biloba, Alpha GPC and CDP Choline fall under this category.
Synthetic compounds that do not exist in nature are considered to be drugs. In order for a pharmaceutical drug to be licensed for sale in Australia, it must be approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration.
Oxiracetam, Aniracetam, Pramiracetam, Noopept and Phenylpiracetam have not been approved by the TGA. Therefore, they cannot be sold within the country.
However, as they are not controlled substances, it is legal to import them for personal use. You do not need a prescription to import these substances because they are not medicines listed in Schedule 4 or 8 of the Poisons Standard.
Conversely, Piracetam has been approved by the TGA and is sold domestically under the brand name Nootropil. It may be prescribed for the treatment of epilepsy as an adjunct therapy.
It is considered to be a Schedule 4 substance, which means that it requires a prescription to purchase. Importing from other countries also requires a prescription from an Australian-registered medical practitioner.
If you order Piracetam and Oxiracetam at the same time from an online nootropic seller based on the US, your shipment may be delayed at the border.
While these nootropics are not widely used in Australia, there are some doctors who will prescribe them for the treatment of cognitive dysfunction. It is recommended to consult with a doctor before taking any nootropic to determine if these products are right for you.
How to Buy
Oxiracetam can be purchased online from suppliers based in countries where it is legal to sell without a prescription. It is typically sold in the form of bulk powder or oral capsules and tablets.
Pills usually contain 400, 600, 750 or 800 mg of active ingredient per dose. The bulk powder tends to have a lower cost per dose by between 5 – 10 cents. Below are some of the companies that carry this nootropic drug:
- AbsorbHealth
- Ceretropic
- Intellimeds
- NootropicsDepot
- NootropicsCity
- Nutrivitashop
- PeakNootropics
- PowderCity
- Pure Nootropics
- SmartDrugsforThought
- SmartPowders
You should make sure that any vendor you purchase from provides a Certificate of Authenticity (COA) showing that their product has been tested for purity by third-party labs.
Oxiracetam is also sold as an ingredient in some supplement stacks, including the TruBrain Think Drink products. This is a liquid shot product that combines Oxiracetam with Piracetam, Noopept, Centrophenoxine, Caffeine and other cognition-boosting ingredients.
- Focus longer, clear brain fog & feel more motivated
- Boost energy, alertnes & memory
- Contains 12 safe and natural nootropic ingredients
How to Take Safely
Oxiracetam is reported to be safe in dosages between 800 – 2,400 mg per day. It is typically used at 1,600 mg per day split into two administrations.
Human research studies report that it is well tolerated, but some people do experience side effects. In one study, this amounted to 10% of users.
Some of the negative effects related to this nootropic include headache, stomach pain, nausea, dry mouth, dizziness, nocturia, changes in mood, over-stimulation, irritability, anxiety and difficulty falling asleep.
Some people report experiencing fatigue and brain fog after taking this nootropic. Others say that it impairs their memory and worsens feelings of depression.
It is unclear why some people respond negative to the effects of this racetam. Responses are variable and your results may not be the same as those reported by others in user reviews.
To reduce the risk of adverse effects, it is best to start with a low dose and gradually increase until the desired amount. Some studies have started treatment with an initial dose of 400 mg per day and increased every week by 400 mg.
Oxiracetam is reported to work best when stacked with a source of choline. This supplement raises choline uptake in neurons and increases the rate at which the neurotransmitter acetylcholine is used.
Stacking it with a high-bioavailability form of choline can ensure there is sufficient amounts of this micronutrient to meet the increased demand for it in brain cells. Use of Alpha GPC, CDP Choline or Centrophenoxine is recommended to avoid the “choline depletion” headaches that can occur with Racetams.
Oxiracetam stacks may also include other racetams like Aniracetam and Pramiracetam. It is also combined with Sulbutiamine, Caffeine, Modafinil or Adrafinil, L-Theanine and Noopept.
Use of Oxiracetam is contraindicated for some people, including individuals with severe renal impairment. It may interact with certain medications used to treat epilepsy. It may worsen the symptoms of Huntington’s disease.
While Oxiracetam does not require a prescription to buy in Australia, it is still recommended to consult with a physician before taking it. Your physician can inform you of potential health risks based on your medical history as well as precautions for use.
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- Personal importation scheme. Australian Government, Department of Health, Therapeutic Goods Administration. 18 March 2015.
- What are 'therapeutic goods'? Therapeutic Goods Administration. Department of Health. Australian Government.
- Green RC, Goldstein FC, Auchus AP, Presley R, Clark WS, Van Tuyl L, Green J, Hersch SM, Karp HR. Treatment trial of oxiracetam in Alzheimer's disease. Arch Neurol. 1992 Nov;49(11):1135-6.
Article last updated on: July 17th, 2018 by Nootriment