Building a stack for optimum mental function will almost always include one or more smart drugs from the racetam family of nootropics.
Phenylpiracetam is the strongest racetam nootropic currently available and regularly receives rave reviews from users. It is frequently stacked with Alpha-GPC or Citicoline to potentiate its effects and to ward off acetylcholine headaches, an occasional side effect of racetam use.
Tolerance is known to build with this racetam, and sometimes quickly. To prevent tolerance from building, cycle it with regularity or relegate its use for special occasions like all-night cram sessions or big work projects demanding a lot of creative focus and long hours.
This article will look at the benefits of using a Phenylpiracetam Choline Stack as well as how to take such a stack.



- Shown to support memory & learning
- Improves attention & alertness
- Boosts productivity & mental focus
Phenylpiracetam
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Phenylpiracetam is Piracetam with a phenyl group attached. This small variable gives it 60x increased strength and potency by allowing it to cross the blood-brain barrier more easily.
The addition of the phenyl ring provides benefits which some users describe as a modified Adderall-type effect—namely, a clean sense of stimulation devoid of the coffee jitters and jaw-clenching effect of amphetamines.
Thinking can become much more fluid and clear while users report finding it easy to focus and to absorb information.
Phenylpiracetam is known to increase acetylcholine receptor activity in the hippocampus and it may also stimulate the development of new synapses between neurons. This makes it well-suited for students who want to increase their learning capacity by enhancing neuroplasticity.
Rodent studies showed Phenylpiracetam suppressed anxiety and fear and increased tolerance to stressors, which is beneficial to any study or work being done. It has also been shown to reduce amnesia, provide a higher tolerance to cold and to increase locomotor activity. The effects of sleep deprivation are offset for the duration of its use in many users.
Because Phenylpiracetam is up to 60x more concentrated than Piracetam, you need a much smaller dosage to achieve optimal results. Long-term studies have not yet been done and we suggest users stay within the recommended dosage.
Bear in mind that one racetam may produce effective results for you while another racetam may not produce any results at all. If the expected result is not experienced within the dosage recommendation, then switching to another racetam is a good course of action to pursue.



- Supports memory and synaptic plasticity
- Raises acetylcholine levels
- Promotes brain health and focus
Choline
This essential nutrient is integral to brain function as well as neuronal cell health. The FDA minimum requirements for Choline may be found in adequate amounts in a nutritionally balanced diet, however many studies have found that increasing choline intake can improve cognitive performance.
Foods which are high in Choline include eggs, soy, wheat germ, cow liver and broccoli. To achieve the amounts suggested for stacking with other nootropics, supplementation is usually more cost-effective than using food as your primary source of choline.
Choline started to catch the interest of nutrition researchers when it was found that fetal rats whose mothers didn’t get enough Choline in their diets had less brain development and poorer memories after birth than those whose mothers ate adequate amounts of the nutrient. Other recent research shows Choline may help prevent memory loss associated with aging, though it cannot reverse dementia which has already occurred.
Choline is the precursor to acetylcholine, an important neurotransmitter involved in memory formation and consolidation. Racetams are thought to increase demand for the neurotransmitter Acetylcholine which may explain the occurrence of headache which is often remedied through supplementation with a quality Choline product like Alpha-GPC, Centrophenoxine, or Citicoline.
Because Choline itself is a positively charged molecule, it has poor penetration of the blood-brain barrier which is the filtering system that separates circulating blood from your brain tissue. This means that simple Choline supplements often do not get taken up by your neurons to a degree sufficient to boost brainpower.
Alpha-GPC, Centrophenoxine, and Citicoline are three specially formulate choline supplements designed to have better utilization in the brain. Of the three, Alpha GPC is the highest quality, but also the most expensive. Many users find that Citicoline (also known as CDP Choline) provides a good balance of price and effectiveness for their needs.

- Shown to support memory & learning
- Improves attention & alertness
- Boosts productivity & mental focus
Phenylpiracetam Choline Stack Ratio
We recommend trying the Phenylpiracetam and Choline stack without combining any other racetams to the stack in the beginning. It is important to find the lowest dose which produces the desired effects within your individual neurochemistry.
Cost-wise, Phenylpiracetam is on the higher side, but because of its amplified potency, it requires lower doses, making it more cost-effective over time. Finding the lowest dose which will work for you is important because of the tolerance factor with this particular racetam. We recommend starting with: 100mg Phenylpiracetam and 250mg Citicoline.
There is a synergistic effect which can occur when combining two cognitive enhancing substances, thereby optimizing some, or all, of the effects of both components. Keeping track of your results will be beneficial to fine-tuning your nootropic stack to your own brain and body, as time goes on.
If no effects are experienced on the first day, increase Phenylpiracetam by 50mg and allow time for the effects to be experienced. You can increase dosage up to a maximum of 250mg, though most individuals should experience results at lower doses.
The half-life is about 3-5 hours, so dosing a second time during the day is a viable option if needed. Sleep disturbances have been reported for those taking this smart drug later in the day.
Overall, the Phenylpiracetam Choline stack is an excellent choice for students cramming for exams or for those who are preparing for a big project at work or those working long hours. We recommend reserving this racetam for special occasion use, which will allow your brain to maintain its sensitivity to the potent effects of the Phenylpiracetam Choline stack.
Choline Side Effects
Choline is rated as Likely Safe when used orally at appropriate dosages, according to the Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database.
It has a tolerable upper intake level (UL) of 3.5 grams per day. In dosages of greater than 3.5 grams daily, it is rated as Possibly Unsafe due to a higher risk of adverse effects.
Choline bitartrate is generally well tolerated by most people who take it. However, negative effects can include increased sweating, a fishy odor, gastrointestinal discomfort, vomiting or diarrhea (particularly if used in high doses).
One study found a greater risk of colorectal cancer in women among those who had elevated consumption of choline from dietary sources. More research is needed to understand this risk.
Choline supplements can interact with Atropine, which is a medication that is used to treat nerve agent or pesticide poisoning. Choline may cause this drug to become less effective.
This dietary nutrient may also increase the risk of urinary incontinence if taken at excessively high dosages, greater than 9 grams per day.
If using Alpha GPC as your source of choline, the NMCD rates this as Possibly Safe when taken orally and appropriately. Dosages of 400 mg taken three times per day for up to 12 months was found safe in two studies.
Users may experience minor side effects including heartburn, upset stomach, nausea, dizziness, diarrhea, skin rash or headache.
A similar safety profile is reported for CDP Choline (Citicoline). It is rated as Possibly Safe in doses of 1 – 2 grams per day for 60 to 90 days.
Adverse reactions can include nausea, diarrhea, insomnia, constipation, headache, changes in vision, chest pain, heart palpitations, low blood pressure (hypotension), changes in heart rate and skin rash. However, NMCD notes that in studies involving CDP Choline, these side effects did not occur more frequently than in those taking a placebo.
Anecdotally, some users say that taking a choline supplement in their nootropic stack can lead to fatigue, brain fog, irritable mood, anxiety or depression. If you experience any of these effects while using a Phenylpiracetam Choline stack, it is recommended to adjust your dosages or stop taking choline for a few days.
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- Nurk E, Refsum H, Bjelland I, Drevon CA, Tell GS, Ueland PM, Vollset SE, Engedal K, Nygaard HA, Smith DA. Plasma free choline, betaine and cognitive performance: the Hordaland Health Study. Br J Nutr. 2013
- Gonzales MM, Tarumi T, Kaur S, Nualnim N, Fallow BA, Pyron M, Tanaka H, Haley AP. Aerobic fitness and the brain: increased N-acetyl-aspartate and choline concentrations in endurance-trained middle-aged adults. Brain Topogr. 2013
- Deminice R, Rosa FT, da Silva LE, Jordao AA. Taurine supplementation does not decrease homocysteine levels and liver injury induced by a choline-deficient diet. Life Sci. 2014
- Blusztajn JK, Mellott TJ. Neuroprotective actions of perinatal choline nutrition. Clin Chem Lab Med. 2013
- Akhapkina VI, Akhapkin RV. [Identification and evaluation of the neuroleptic activity of phenotropil]. Zh Nevrol Psikhiatr Im S S Korsakova. 2013
- Ratnikov VI, Ostrovskaia RU, Vazhenina ZP, Skoldinov AP. [Effect of piracetam derivatives on antibody formation]. Biull Eksp Biol Med. 1985
- Savenkov AA, Badalian OL, Avakian GN. [Nootropics and antioxidants in the complex therapy of symptomatic posttraumatic epilepsy]. Zh Nevrol Psikhiatr Im S S Korsakova. 2013
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Article last updated on: March 14th, 2018 by Nootriment
3 Comments
Im taking the above stack which is alpha gpc and phenylpiracetam but the problem is instead of not having a headache while combining both, i actually do. Now when i don’t take alpha i usually go on not feeling any kind of sife effect. Please advise on what might be the problem.
Hey Abdul,
What dosages are you taking? Some people do find that using Alpha GPC with Racetams produces headaches as opposed to prevents them and this may be due to your normal dietary intake of choline or personal sensitivity levels. By all means, if Alpha GPC is causing you headaches then you can certainly use Phenylpiracetam without it and see good results. Though it might just be a matter of tinkering with the dosages a bit to hit the right level.
He adquirido el polvo y se me recomendó que solo tomara 2 dosis de 70 mg a la semana y pero uds recomiendan que sea diario en un mínimo de 100 mg, entonces mi pregunta es; cual es la dosis correcta para resultados óptimos?? gracias y espero su comentario