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Some people use Phenylpiracetam stacks to help them improve mental function, enhance physical performance, increase energy levels, and boost concentration.
Users report taking this nootropic agent to score better on exams, lift brain fog and make it through tough days at work. It is used to enhance productivity, focus, motivation as well as training intensity for athletes.
Phenylpiracetam is said to be one of the most potent of a class of smart drugs called Racetam Nootropics. It demonstrates mild stimulant-like properties while also supporting memory, brain health and attentional control.
Users often take this nootropic in stacks with other cognitive enhancers to promote synergistic effects. Stacks are designed to both increase potency of effects and to enhance the range of reported benefits.
This article reviews what phenylpiracetam is, how it works, what it used for and some of the most-popular nootropic stacks that include it.
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- Improves attention & alertness
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Phenylpiracetam Overview
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Phenylpiracetam is a derivative of Piracetam, the original racetam nootropic compound.
Piracetam (C6H10N2O2) was formulated by a Romanian chemist, Corneliu E. Giurgea, in the 1960s. It is a cyclic derivative of the neurotransmitter GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid).
Like Piracetam, Phenylpiracetam appears to influence cholinergic neurotransmission and pathways related to memory, focus and brain cell health. Phenylpiracetam is significantly stronger and has some unique ergogenic (athletic performance-enhancing) effects.
The Racetam family of “smart drugs” are a class of over one hundred compounds that all share a 2-pyrrolidone (C4H7NO) core chemical structure. [1]
The “phenyl” in phenylpiracetam denotes a phenyl group ring. Very similar to a Benzene Group, the phenyl group is a functional chemical group where 6 C (carbon) atoms are arranged in a hexagonal ring.
A phenyl group has the chemical formula C6H5. A benzene ring is C6H6. The difference is that the benzene group has one less H (hydrogen) atom.
In organic chemistry, phenyl groups are always bonded to something else. In the case of phenylpiracetam, the phenyl group is bonded to its 2-pyrrolidone skeleton.
The chemical formula for phenylpiracetam (N-carbamoylmethyl-4-phenyl-2-pyrrolidone) is C12H14N2O2. This molecule does not occur in nature. It is synthesized in laboratories.
Phenylpiracetam is commonly sold in Russia as a therapeutic drug under brand names including Carphedon, Phenotropil, and Fonturacetam. [2]
- Shown to support memory & learning
- Improves attention & alertness
- Boosts productivity & mental focus
Phenylpiracetam Stacks
Some people buy phenylpiracetam powder or capsules to include in nootropic, anxiolytic (reduces anxiety), and other performance-enhancing stacks.
This compound is commonly used to enhance mental function and to improve normal cognitive decline associated with aging.
It has been studied for its effects on Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, senile dementia and other forms of brain dysfunction, but is not approved by the FDA as a drug for the prevention or treatment of any medical conditions.
Of the commonly available racetams, phenylpiracetam is said to be the most potent and one of the most popular. It also is generally well tolerated with a low frequency of adverse effects.
Many people say that this is their favorite Piracetam derivative because it enhances mental clarity, reasoning ability, processing speed and motivation while also supporting a positive mood.
Phenylpiracetam can be used alone, but it is more common to take nootropics as part of a stack. When used alone, the typical recommended phenylpiracetam dosage ranges between 100-200 milligrams (mg) daily.
Its effects set in quickly and last about 3-4 hours in most users. Some research suggests it may need to be used for a minimum of one month to observe full benefits. However, there are reports of tolerance and the effects becoming less profound with regular use.
Phenylpiracetam powder is used along with various other nootropic supplements to create synergistic effects. Nootropic stacks will combine several brain-enhancing products that target different areas of mental performance.
Some of the most common phenylpiracetam stacks include Choline, Noopept, and Phenibut. Additional nootropics that may be stacked with this compound include:
- Piracetam
- Oxiracetam
- Pramiracetam
- Aniracetam
- Adrafinil
- Modafinil/Provigil
- Armodafinil/Waklert
- Alpha GPC
- CDP Choline
- Phosphatidylcholine
- Phosphatidylserine
- DMAE
People use these nootropic stacks for: [3]
- Supporting long-term memory formation and recall;
- Increasing resistance to cold temperatures;
- Keeping calm in stressful situations;
- Reducing sleep deprivation effects;
- Reducing anxiety, fear, and stress;
- Improving problem-solving skills;
There are other reasons people use nootropic stacks as well including increasing sex drive and enhancing sexual performance, lessening social inhibitions, heightening the pleasure of music, brightening the mood, increasing visual acuity and many more.
Before looking closer at specific phenylpiracetam stacks, it helps to know a bit about how this Russian-developed compound works inside the body and brain.
How Phenylpiracetam Works
Phenylpiracetam (Phenotropil) was developed in Russia as a stronger alternative to the original nootropic agent Piracetam (Nootropil).
Unlike Piracetam, Phenylpiracetam is lipophilic which means it can form a solution in fats or lipids. Fat-soluble molecules generally have better absorption from the gut and better ability to reach brain cells.
The phenyl group ring in phenylpiracetam does not dissolve well in water. It is a hydrophobic (water-fearing) substance. As such, it does not mix well with water or other non-lipid-containing liquids. [4]
Phenylpiracetam powder or capsules are recommended to be taken orally along with a source of healthy fats. A teaspoon of organic coconut oil or olive oil works well.
According to various sources, lipophilic substances like phenylpiracetam are better able to cross into the brain than hydrophilic (water-soluble) substances.
The hydrophobic phenyl group in phenylpiracetam is said to increase its oral bioavailability and its ability to cross the blood-brain barrier: the filtration mechanism that keeps potentially-harmful organisms and toxins from entering the brain.
Aside from its nootropic (cognitive function-enhancing) effects, phenylpiracetam is also considered a psychostimulatory substance.
That means it induces CNS (central nervous system)-stimulation effects. However, this molecule does not cause stimulant effects like an amphetamine (cocaine, caffeine, methamphetamine, Adderall, etc.) drug does.
Instead, phenylpiracetam capsules act to increase wakefulness and attentiveness as a eugeroic aid. It does this without causing amphetamine-like side effects like jitteriness, nervousness, or restlessness.
In the United States, Canada, and most other countries, amphetamine drugs require a doctor’s prescription to be legal.
Currently, phenylpiracetam is legal to buy, use and possess in North America, the UK, and many other countries. However, as of February 2018, it is a controlled substance in Australia.
Many phenylpiracetam user reviews state that this nootropic supplement provides a clean stimulatory effect. While it is not as potent as other stimulants, the effects are still noticeable, and it is generally better tolerated.
Phenylpiracetam is reported to be safe for most healthy people with low rates of adverse side effects. Some people do experience negative effects, but anecdotal evidence suggests it is less prone to causing side effects compared to other nootropics like Aniracetam or Piracetam.
It is important to observe the effects of a single nootropic agent like phenylpiracetam before combining it with other substances in stacks. This will help to prevent potential adverse reactions.
Always begin taking a new supplement at the low end of its recommended dosage. For phenylpiracetam, that low-end dose is 100 mg/day, divided into 2-3 smaller doses throughout the day (every 3-4 hours). [1]
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Phenylpiracetam and Choline Stack
As with other racetams, the most popular nootropic stack including this compound is the Phenylpiracetam-Choline Stack.
Phenylpiracetam facilitates cholinergic neurotransmission in the brain. Using it alongside a choline source is said to both promote positive effects for memory and mental clarity while also reducing reports of side effects like headaches.
Choline (C5H14NO) is a natural dietary nutrient that serves as the precursor of the brain neurotransmitter acetylcholine (ACh).
Neurotransmitters are chemicals that facilitate neuronal (nerve-based) communications. They send signals between synapses in the brain and are responsible for many of our neurological functions.
Acetylcholine is an excitatory neurotransmitter that plays a role in memory, cognition, perception and more. Some of ACh’s roles include:
- Acts as a neurotransmitter and neuromodulator inside the brain;
- Released in motor neurons in the CNS to activate muscular contractions (movement);
- Internal transmitter in both the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems;
- Affects brain functions like arousal, motivation, memory, and attention;
- Enhances ANS (autonomic nervous system) communications;
Some of the ways that Phenylpiracetam works include increasing acetylcholine activity in parts of the brain that are linked to memory formation and promoting the conversion of choline into acetylcholine.
If there is insufficient choline available to manufacture acetylcholine in brain cells, this could result in depletion of acetylcholine stores. This is hypothesized to cause a common side effect reported by phenylpiracetam users.
Racetams are generally considered quite safe and most users seem to have no serious side effects with them. However, some people experience Acetylcholine Headaches shortly after taking their dosage.
Users attribute these headaches to depletion of ACh at nerve terminals in the brain. Using Phenylpiracetam in a stack with a source of choline may help to prevent this adverse reaction.
According to anecdotal user reviews, taking a quality choline supplement like Alpha GPC, Choline Bitartrate, or Citicoline seems to reduce headaches that results from racetam use.
Not everyone will experience benefits from combining Phenylpiracetam with choline. Those who continue to experience headaches should seek medical advice and discontinue use of this nootropic.
A common recommendation for beginning to use the choline stack is 100 mg Phenylpiracetam to 250 mg Citicoline (CDP Choline).
Pay close attention to any side effects that may occur. If you do not experience side effects, users can increase their total daily phenylpiracetam dosage by 50 mg gradually, up to a maximum of dose 250 mg/day.
Higher dosages do not necessarily produce better results and may increase the risk for negative effects.
If you do not experience benefits from this stack, you may want to adjust your choline ratio or try a different form of this supplement like Alpha Glyceryl phosphoryl choline, which is a highly bioavailable phospholipid form of the molecule.
Phenylpiracetam Noopept Stack
Phenylpiracetam is sometimes used with Noopept, which is a Piracetam derivative that is said to be 1000 times more potent than its archetype. Comparatively, Phenylpiracetam is said to be about sixty times as potent as this original racetam drug.
Noopept is very cost-effective compared to other nootropic compounds and requires low dosages to experience positive effects.
Noopept (C17H22N2O4) is not technically a racetam molecule because it lacks a 2-oxo-pyrrolidone structural core.
However, because it does have several similarities in its effects, it is commonly grouped together with racetams in the nootropic community.
The scientific name of Noopept is N-Phenylacetyl-L-prolylglycine ethyl ester. It is a prodrug of an endogenous dipeptide called cycloprolylglycine. [4]
This compound is used as a therapeutic drug in Russia and other Eastern European countries. Most research to date has focused on the effects of Noopept for protect neurons in the brain from certain forms of damage and to induce anxiolytic effects.
Some of the most popular reasons for using Noopept include increasing focus and concentration, enhancing long-term memory formation, and improving overall cognitive function.
While there is no clinical data available to evaluate the efficacy of the Phenylpiracetam-Noopept Stack, anecdotal evidence suggests that these compounds can work together synergistically to enhance the brain-boosting effects.
Users report that combining these nootropics can promote energy and mental stimulation, without causing over-excitation or hyperactivity. This stack can make it easier to focus for long periods of time without developing mental fatigue.
You should get to know the effects of Phenylpiracetam and Noopept separately before using them together in a nootropic stack.
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Phenylpiracetam Phenibut Stack
Phenylpiracetam is sometimes stacked with Phenibut to promote stress-relief, mental calmness and to make it easier to focus while using this anxiolytic compound.
Phenibut (C10H13NO2, beta-phenyl-gamma-aminobutyric acid) is an analog of the GABA neurotransmitter. It is thought to work primarily by agonizing GABA-B receptors. [5]
Phenibut works similarly to other GABA-B receptor agonists like Baclofen, Gabapentin, GABOB, and Pregabalin. It can reduce feelings of anxiety, but does not appear to cause sedation of the Central Nervous System at low doses.
In Russia where it was formulated in the 1960s, Phenibut is still a prescription-only pharmaceutical used medicinally for:
- Preventing fear and anxiety before and after surgery or painful diagnostic tests;
- Alcoholism and Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome;
- Vestibular (inner ear/balance) disorders;
- PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder);
- Preventing motion sickness;
- Loss of strength (asthenia);
- Stuttering and tics;
- Meniere’s disease;
- Depression;
- Dizziness;
Common brand names of phenibut include Noofen, Fenibut, and Anvifen. It is legally sold as an over-the-counter nootropic in North America and some other parts of the world.
Recreational use of phenibut pills and powder is increasing, especially among college students. It is said to cause feelings of calmness and tranquility in social situations. This compound is also reported to induce euphoria and to be a confidence and mood booster.
Users who have tried the Phenylpiracetam-Phenibut Stack report that phenibut can help to reduce some of the over-stimulation that may occur with large doses of phenylpiracetam.
Some claim that it can promote mental tranquility and give them intense, undivided attention on the task at hand while facilitating a flow state. However, not everyone responds well to this combination.
Some people have experienced positive effects with this stack, but it is not as common as other combinations of nootropics. Furthermore, phenibut poses a higher risk of side effects and is frequently misused.
Note that phenibut and phenylpiracetam are both substances that many users develop a tolerance for quickly. Neither of these nootropics should be taken for long periods of time or at high dosages.
Consult with a doctor to determine whether these nootropics are appropriate for you. Phenibut must be cycled on and off regularly to avoid tolerance, addiction, overdose, withdrawal symptoms, or other dangerous adverse effects.
Combining Phenylpiracetam and Alcohol
Is it safe to consume phenylpiracetam together with alcohol? There is no clinical research available to evaluate the effects of mixing phenylpiracetam with drinking alcohol .
However, there are many user reviews that report using this combination. Anecdotal evidence suggests that phenylpiracetam can influence alcohol tolerance.
Like phenibut, alcohol is a CNS depressant. Alcohol can cause various side effects on its own including slurred speech, motor incoordination, erratic behavior, and vomiting.
Some people claim that taking phenylpiracetam with alcohol makes the effects of drinking seem “cleaner”. Some users state they can drink more after taking phenylpiracetam and have less adverse effects from the alcohol.
However, this should not be used as a license to drink more. It is possible that racetam nootropics may mask the sensation of intoxication linked to drinking alcohol, causing you to feel less drunk thank you actually are.
This is very dangerous if you operate a vehicle or other heavy machinery while under the influence.
Phenylpiracetam has been shown to increase cerebral blood flow. This could increase the amount of alcohol that reaches the brain if taken while drinking an alcoholic beverage.
The results of combining alcohol and phenylpiracetam are largely unpredictable. While some evidence suggests that phenylpiracetam exerts a neuroprotective effect, not everyone responds well to this combination.
Some users report that consuming phenylpiracetam causes them to lose their interest in drinking.
Be careful combining alcohol with phenylpiracetam or any other mind-altering substances. The possibilities for adverse outcomes may be greater than any purported benefits.
Phenylpiracetam Safety
Phenylpiracetam is one of the strongest nootropics available. It is known to be well-tolerated in most users, but some side effects are possible.
As with other racetams, phenylpiracetam can cause acetylcholine headaches in some users. This can normally be avoided or remedied by taking a choline source like Alpha GPC or increasing dietary choline intake.
To avoid developing tolerance or addiction to phenylpiracetam, cycle usage on and off regularly. Many users take this nootropic only on an occasional basis such as before studying for an exam or working a double shift.
Some sources recommend limiting your phenylpiracetam usage to 2 days per week to avoid developing tolerance.
Remember that not everyone responds to nootropic stacks in the same way and a stack that worked for someone else may cause a negation reaction when used by you.
Use caution when experimenting with different nootropic stacks. Consult with a doctor to determine which supplements are appropriate for you to stack with Phenylpiracetam capsules or powder.
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- Nootriment Staff. Phenylpiracetam Choline Stack: Effects, Reviews and Dosages. Accessed March 22, 2018
- Braintropic Staff. PHENYLPIRACETAM. Accessed March 22, 2018
- Lift Mode Staff. How To Stack Phenylpiracetam – Top 5 Stacks Explained. June 30, 2016. Accessed March 22, 2018
- Wikipedia contributors. "Phenibut." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 13 Mar. 2018. Web. 23 Mar. 2018
- Brain Pro Tips Staff. 10 Insights From Years of Phenylpiracetam Usage. Jan 11. 2017. Accessed March 22, 2018
Article last updated on: July 3rd, 2018 by Nootriment