0
4
2
Piracetam is a nootropic compound that is best known for boosting learning and memory.
It also thought to have some mood enhancing effects which is why some individuals will use Piracetam for depression and other related mood disorders.
In fact a 2010 article in the medical journal Drugs made the claim that Piracetam actually poses more benefits for reducing depression than it does for pure cognitive function.
However, there are other nootropics that are slightly more powerful than Piracetam and are recognized as being better for boosting your mood.
Chief among these is Aniracetam which is similar to Piracetam but with a slightly modified mechanism of action. That being said, Piracetam is generally regarded as the best nootropic to start with if you have never used these compounds before.
The following article discusses how this compound acts in the body, how some people use Piracetam for depression and to boost the mood, some Piracetam stacks for mood enhancement, as well as some alternative Racetams to consider.
It should be noted that in the USA, Piracetam is an unregulated, unscheduled compound. While Piracetam has been used for years as either an over the counter or a prescription drug in various countries around the world, in the United States the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved Piracetam as a drug to prevent or treat any conditions.
Piracetam also does not meet the classification standards of a dietary supplement, and it cannot legally be labeled or sold as one.
It is fully legal to buy and own Piracetam for personal use in the United States. However, the sale of Piracetam is quite restricted due to FDA laws surrounding the sales, distribution, and labeling of unregulated compounds if they are to be sold for human consumption.
There are still some specialized online nootropic stores based in the US that stock Piracetam, however the number of these stores is quite limited. Instead, many people will import this nootropic from countries where the sale of Piracetam is legal and allowed.
Memory
Attention
Brain Health- Promotes neuron health & synaptic plasticity
- Supports memory recall & learning
- Boosts focus, visual perception & attention
Piracetam for Depression
Related Topics
- What is Piracetam?
- What is Nootropil?
- User Reviews
- What to Expect
- Effects and Benefits
- How to Take
- Suggested Dosages
- Side Effects
- Dangers & Safety
- Top Piracetam Uses
- Effects on Memory
- Piracetam for ADHD
- Where to Buy
- Bulk Piracetam Powder
- Is Piracetam Legal?
- Piracetam vs. Aniracetam vs. Oxiracetam vs. Pramiracetam
- Comparison to Noopept
- Top Piracetam Stacks
- Stacking with Choline
Piracetam (Nootropil, Lucetam, Memotropil) is a GABA-derivative that was first developed in the 1960’s by a Romanian scientist in Belgium for the UCB pharmaceutical company.
It is believed that Piracetam’s primary effect is to increase the activity of the muscarinic Acetylcholine receptors which are involved in the processes of learning and memory.
For this reason, it is often used by students who want help getting better grades and elderly people who want to boost their memory.
Piracetam has also been seen to increase blood circulation to the brain resulting in better oxygenation of neural tissue and improved brain metabolism. This may result in better mental energy levels, increased concentration, and more motivation.
Piracetam is also thought to be neuroprotective and may help reduce damage to brain cells occurring from stroke, trauma, and aging. It also has been seen to have antioxidant effects, and can remove free radicals, toxins, and waste products from the body.
While most people who take Piracetam are using it as a brain enhancer to increase their intellect, researchers believe it also offers a number of benefits for reducing anxiety, improving the mood, and even treating depression.
In research studies, Piracetam has been seen to increase levels of circulating Dopamine, which is one of the neurochemicals that is associated with producing happy feelings. Many people diagnosed with depression have chronically low levels of Dopamine so this mechanism of action may be particularly beneficial for them.
Another manner in which Piracetam may help individuals suffering with depression is by promoting better energy levels. Common signs of depression include persistent feelings of fatigue and weariness when awake.
This nootropic has been clinically proven to increase blood flow to the brain, resulting in increased oxygen supply and better metabolism.
Oxygen and glucose are two of the nutrients your brain needs the most to ensure proper functioning. By improving the energy supply of your brain, it is hypothesized that you may positively affect mental alertness and possibly avoid some of the feelings of tedium that come with depression.
Several different studies have looked at the effects of Piracetam on depression and anxiety in the past few decades. One study found that Piracetam alleviated symptoms of depression by 32% in patients with Dementia and Alzheimer’s.
Another study in Neuroscience Behavioral Physiology found that Piracetam (memotropil) was useful in treating depression in patients with certain cerebrovascular disorders.
Another study in the Indian Journal of Experimental Biology observed an increase in Serotonin levels in the brain when taking a high dosage of Piracetam.
There have been other trials which have further established a GABA-mimetic action of Piracetam which may be why this compound can reduces symptoms anxious thoughts and increases feelings of calm.
- Promotes neuron health & synaptic plasticity
- Supports memory recall & learning
- Boosts focus, visual perception & attention
Reviews of Piracetam for Depression
While the initial studies are promising, the most abundant source of information about use of Piracetam for depression currently comes from online reviews and user logs.
In general, it is better to rely on clinical trials and data from formal studies, but when that is currently lacking, anecdotal evidence may be a good substitute in understanding the typical Piracetam user experience.
Below are some reviews from people who used Piracetam for depression posted on various online communities and forums dedicated to depression, nootropics, and supplements. Remember that nootropic compounds and/or supplements will affect everyone to a different degree and your results may not reflect those seen below:
“I definitely did notice that piracetam provided a mood stabilizing effect, and that I would be unusually upbeat despite stress. Negative emotions still occur, but it seems like long lasting bad moods aren’t as common.” – Dr. Chocoholic
“I’ve noticed my mood always seems less irritable and less depressed when I am on piracetam.” – DiabolicScheme
“When I started to use Piracetam, I noticed some stimulating effects like increased mental and physical activity, decreased fatigue and trouble sleeping. Later on my severe mood swings (because of BPD), impulsivity and inadequate behavior started to disappear. I became more active, very productive, no more sluggish in the morning, positive and noticed that depressive symptoms are gone.” – Parapsychiatrist
“Before I started taking [Piracetam] I was having a lot of ups and downs but my mood feels much more stable on it.” – 10ftgp
- Focus longer, clear brain fog & feel more motivated
- Boost energy, alertnes & memory
- Contains 12 safe and natural nootropic ingredients
Piracetam Stacks for Mood Improvement
Piracetam may have positive effects for you on its own but in most cases better results can be achieved using a Piracetam stack. The concept of Nootropic stacks simply involves combining several nootropic compounds and/or supplements together to create a synergistic effect.
Taking different mood enhancing compounds together may amplify your benefits above and beyond using them independently.
What you use in your Piracetam stack is up to you depending on your personal needs. One of the best compounds to stack with Piracetam is a choline source like Alpha GPC or Citicoline. This combinations may help prevent the most common side effect seen with Piracetam use, headaches that are thought to be caused by depleted Acetylcholine stores.
However, while choline supplements may improve the learning and memory effects of Piracetam, they have not directly shown benefits for depression and other mood disorders.
The following is a small selection of nootropic that may improve your mood when used alongside Piracetam:
- Inositol: This compound is a pseudovitamin that is similar to the the B vitamin complex and known to increase GABA inhibitory neurotransmitter levels. Boosting GABA is associated with producing feelings of calmness and relation. In fact, alcohol works to reduce anxiety and stress by binding to GABA receptor sites.
- Lemon Balm: This herbal supplement is known to both increase GABA activity as well as bind to GABA receptors directly and act in a similar manner as endogenous GABA.
- Sulbutiamine: Sulbutiamine is a synthetic compound made of two vitamin B1 molecules bound by sulfur. It is believed to affect levels of Dopamine, Glutamate, and Acetylcholine in the brain causing stress relieving effects and counteracting feelings of fatigue.
- Modafinil: This nootropic works like a stimulant to promote alertness and increase drive and ambition. Many people will take Modafinil to improve the low energy levels associated with depression.
Alternatives to Piracetam
What are some of the nootropics that may be better than Piracetam for mood enhancement?
Aniracetam is a slightly more potent version that is sometimes referred to as Piracetam’s big brother. It has a concentration approximately 5 times greater than this original Racetam, but it also has a slightly different mechanism of action. Aniracetam is a better stimulator of AMPA receptors, and may do a better job of boosting Serotonin and Dopamine.
Another Nootropic that you may want to consider for mood enhancement is Phenylpiracetam which is reported to be 60x stronger than Piracetam. This newer nootropic is very closely related to Piracetam with only a slightly modified chemical structure that makes it more potent.
Finally, Noopept also shows benefits for mood improvement. However, this potent compound should not be taken if you do not have prior experience with nootropics as it is said to be 1000x stronger than Piracetam.
Free shipping
- Flicker L, Grimley Evans G. Piracetam for dementia or cognitive impairment. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2001;(2):CD001011.
- DiMario FJ Jr. Breath-holding spells in childhood. Am J Dis Child. 1992 Jan;146(1):125-31.
- Akhondzadeh S, et al . A double-blind placebo controlled trial of piracetam added to risperidone in patients with autistic disorder. Child Psychiatry Hum Dev. 2008 Sep;39(3):237-45.
- Keil U, et al . Piracetam improves mitochondrial dysfunction following oxidative stress. Br J Pharmacol. 2006 Jan;147(2):199-208.
- Sawires H, Botrous O. Double-blind, placebo-controlled trial on the effect of piracetam on breath-holding spells. Eur J Pediatr. 2012 Jul;171(7):1063-7.
- Moriau M, et al . Platelet anti-aggregant and rheological properties of piracetam. A pharmacodynamic study in normal subjects. Arzneimittelforschung. 1993 Feb;43(2):110-8.
- Buresová O, Bures J. Piracetam-induced facilitation of interhemispheric transfer of visual information in rats. Psychopharmacologia. 1976;46(1):93-102.
- Wurtman RJ, Magil SG, Reinstein DK. Piracetam diminishes hippocampal acetylcholine levels in rats. Life Sci. 1981 Mar 9;28(10):1091-3.
- Winnicka K1, Tomasiak M, Bielawska A. Piracetam--an old drug with novel properties? Acta Pol Pharm. 2005 Sep-Oct;62(5):405-9.
- Giurgea M. Piracetam: toxicity and reproduction studies Farmaco Prat. 1977 Jan;32(1):47-52. .
Article last updated on: March 13th, 2018 by Nootriment