Piracetam is the research name for a cognitive enhancement substance developed in 1964 by a Bulgarian scientist.
Its discovery is actually cited as the event that lead to the founding of the class of compounds known as “Nootropics”.
These substances are more colloquially referred to as brain supplements, smart drugs, and cognitive enhancers.
Although Piracetam is the most well-known and studied of all the so-called smart drugs it still lacks recognition outside of the scientific community and current Nootropics users. It is becoming more and more popular every day, but the average person on the street is not likely to recognize the name of this supplement.
This inevitably leads to concerns about Piracetam dangers among anyone who has never tried it or who has not had a chance to view the academic literature on this supplement.
So the question is, are there any dangerous effects that can occur when taking Piracetam?
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Piracetam is an extremely non-toxic and incredibly safe substance that offers far more benefits for the brain than risk of damage.
It has been called one of the least toxic pharmacologically active compounds ever discovered and has a lower LD 50 toxicity score than table salt or caffeine.
Administering as much as 8 grams per kilogram of bodyweight (equivalent to a 500 gram dosage for a 150 lb person) did not result in overdose even though this is 100x a standard dosage recommendation.
In several studies conducted to assess the risk of side effects, individuals given a placebo sugar pill actually reported more side effects than those taking Piracetam.
In other studies, rodent subjects were administered a lethal toxin along with Piracetam while another group received the toxin without Piracetam. The group that did not get Piracetam saw 90% of their members perish. On the contrary, the group given Piracetam saw only 10% of their group perish with a 90% survival rate.
Not only is piracetam unlikely to cause dangerous side effects, it can in fact prevent them and improve the health of your brain.
Despite these facts, there are still those who think that Piracetam could have dangerous effects. Most of these claims center on the fact that there are very few long-term usage studies. This is more like an argument from lack of evidence than anything else.
- Improves memory and learning
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It is true that Piracetam changes your brain chemistry in such a way that increases activity in certain key areas. We do know that Piracetam enhances the effects of other drugs such as alcohol, Adderall, Ritalin or Modafinil. As such, it should be avoided in concert with large doses of these substances.
However, Piracetam by itself is exceptionally safe and exceptionally non-toxic.
Part of the reason for the USA’s decision not to officially adopt use of Piracetam is a medical bias against supplements or so-called lifestyle drugs. The FDA does not approve drugs unless they specifically treat or improve certain diseases or illnesses.
Since Piracetam is taken by non-impaired individuals to improve cognitive performance, it does not fall under the FDA’s guidelines of what qualifies as a drug. They prefer to take the stance that healthy individuals should not be taking synthetic compounds unnecessarily, even if there are known benefits to brain performance.
This is often attributed to the risk of unknown Piracetam dangers, but most experts think that risk is negligible. This is also likely the reason why you will find that your doctor does not know about Piracetam or other Nootropics for that matter.
The Argument in Favor of Piracetam
Piracetam itself is often considered as the mildest Nootropic, since there are now much more potent varieties on the market. One of the classic signs of a Nootropic agent is that it offers the ability to help protect the brain.
In the case of this supplement it has been shown to help protect and even reverse the damage done to brain cells as a result of alcohol abuse. It helps to enhance oxygen utilization which rapidly deteriorates during consumption.
It is also thought to impede the destruction of neurons in the hippocampus during periods immediately following alcohol withdrawal. It can even reduce short-term memory loss associated with marijuana use and the hypoxia that can occur due to tobacco smoke.
Piracetam is also quite effective at boosting cognition. This includes heightening memory formation and increasing learning capacity. Many users also experience a much faster rate of thought processing and even an expanded attention span and ability to concentrate.
Some users note that they have heightened sensory perceptions, especially in areas of sight and sound (colors are more vibrant and sounds fuller and richer).
There are also people who swear by Piracetam as helping them to achieve a state or condition known as lucid dreaming, in which they are actually aware of the dream and can control it as the dream unwinds itself.
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How Piracetam Works:
Smart Drugs, including Piracetam, typically work by helping the brain to utilize neurotransmitters more effectively.
In this case, the supplement crosses over the blood-brain barrier and then is taken up into the central nervous system. From here it helps to stimulate the production and release of a number of different neurotransmitters, which mediate cognitive and mental processes.
For example, Piracetam is a positive modulator of Acetylcholine and Glutamate. Acetylcholine is involved in functions related to memory formation and retention, learning capacity, and even focus and attention.
Piracetam also works by increasing cerebral blood flow and making your neuron membranes more permeable. As a result, nutrients are taken up by brain cells more readily and inter-neuron signaling improves dramatically.
Piracetam and its fellow racetams also act like anti-oxidants. It is known to flush out free radicals and other toxins like lipofuscin.
Lipofuscin is recognizable on the skin as age spots and it represents a build-up of waste materials that accumulate and then have a detrimental effect on cognition and other brain functions. By removing these waste products, Piracetam can improve cellular function in the brain and even slow down the aging process in your neurons.
Rather than being dangerous to the brain, Piracetam is actually highly neuroprotective and can keep your brain functioning at optimal levels late into life.
- Mondadori C, Ducret T, Petschke F. Blockade of the nootropic action of piracetam-like nootropics by adrenalectomy: an effect of dosage. Behav Brain Res. 1989 Aug 1;34(1-2):155-8.
- Chouinard G, et al . Piracetam in elderly psychiatric patients with mild diffuse cerebral impairment. Psychopharmacology (Berl). 1983;81(2):100-6.
- Navarro SA, et al . Analgesic activity of piracetam: effect on cytokine production and oxidative stress. Pharmacol Biochem Behav. 2013 Apr;105:183-92.
- Kretschmar JH, Kretschmar CH. On the dose-effect relationship in the therapy with piracetam. Arzneimittelforschung. 1976;26(6):1158-9.
10 Comments
My husband has short term memory. He is 84. Do you think this will help him?
Hi Lois,
Yes Piracetam has been shown to improve memory in individuals with age-related memory loss. Other supplements that can improve short-term memory include Huperzine A, Alpha GPC and Phosphatidylserine. You should try combining Piracetam with a supplement like Alpha Brain which contains many of these other memory-boosting compounds.
It is alright to use it as a memory enhancer for reviewees or for academic purposes to get good grades at school?
”by a Bulgarian scientist”
I am Romanian and I can confirm that it was a ROMANIAN scientist who invented it. His name is Corneliu Giurgea.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corneliu_E._Giurgea
Is it ok to take Piracetam with L-Methylfolate ? I am taking both and don’t see any side effects?
Thanks
Hi James,
I can’t find any information regarding interactions or safety of use of L-Methylfolate (Deplin) and Piracetam. There is one thread on Longecity with a user describing taking the two of these together, but no noted side effects or safety warnings. Even though L-Methylfolate is naturally produced in the body to cross the blood-brain barrier, there may be a question as to safe dosages when combining these to. For this reason, it is best to discuss with your doctor when combining supplements or drugs.
Hi Sir,
My mom suffers from a brain atrophy, she cannot talk , walk or remember anyone, is there something to help her with?
Thank you.
Yo en una oortunidad en mi época de estudiante llegué a tomar Nootropil (piracetam) ya que leí que esto podía aumentar la capacidad de atención y concentración.
Sin saber en aquella época que tenía síndrome de Asperger, tomaba este fármaco por creer que tendría la mente más alerta (dicho en venezolano “estar más pilas”), pero lo que hizo fue ponerme muy ansioso y acelerado y hacerme más despistado.
Con el tiempo, al descubrir mi síndrome vi que lo que pasaba era que estaba sometido a excesiva presión y eso era lo que explicaba el porqué de mis despistes debido a lapsus mentales.
Hello, I before suffered from autism, although say it is shameful, but in internet not it drop me the face of shame, I am Venezuelan, and I had subnormal levels of sociability, I can attest that taking piracetam combined with acetylcholine off me this disease, but need yet taking the pills, which so far is not scientifically accepted, not even close, until there a cure for autism, then this heal me, and I am immensely grateful to the person that created, companies that manufacture and to you that promoted, but still still a lot of work, as yet no psychiatrist one that indicate to you the pills to solve psychiatric or psychotic or any mental impairment problems, if there is any space to discover more things about science and life, is this. Please by all those who are suffering, bow down to discover this.
I agree with you that Piracetam may be very helpful for the user. However, the only reason of your positive comments about this nootropic are the references you used. All articles are 30 years old, with the exception of one that only talks about analgesic effects.