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Piracetam is one of the most well-known of all the Racetam nootropics, and any potential users may be interested in researching Piracetam side effects.
Research has demonstrated that it may improve mood and boost memory, cognitive function, mental acuity, and attention. Users online share highly positive reviews on this compound claiming that it enhances their focus, intelligence, and productivity.
Not only has it received considerable study and attention, but it is regarded as quite safe and non-toxic. The vast majority of Piracetam user reviews do not report having ever had any side effects. It has been estimated that only 10% of Piracetam users report any side effects at all.
Despite all of this there are still several possible Piracetam side effects. These can include increases in weight; feeling anxious, nervous, or shaky; sleep issues; and headaches.
Memory
Attention
Brain Health- Promotes neuron health & synaptic plasticity
- Supports memory recall & learning
- Boosts focus, visual perception & attention
Anxiety, Nervousness, or Shakiness
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Piracetam works by influencing receptors of several powerful neurotransmitters in the brain.
Acetlycholine and Dopamine are known to affect mood and movement.
In some cases, the body may have a bit of difficulty adjusting to the extra jolt of these chemicals which are now being produced.
Normally people will use Piracetam for anxiety and nervousness, but this can backfire for some users.
If this adverse Piracetam side effect occurs, make sure to lower your dose immediately. Hopefully this should improve the effects and you may be able to slowly increase your dosage again at a later time.
However if it does not help, or you keep having issues anytime you try and increase your dosage, you may want to consider either eliminating Piracetam, doing an on-off type of cycle, or speaking with your doctor to explore further options.
You should also consider other supplements that you are stacking with Piracetam to see if any of them are the cause.
Sleep Issues
Another uncommon side effect is to feel overly sleepy. This is the other side of the coin from feelings of nervousness, an overreaction of the body to an excessive level of neurotransmitters.
Conversely, some people have reported being unable to sleep when taking Piracetam.
Once again, if these effects occurs, immediately reduce your Piracetam dose and possibly consider halting administration of the compound altogether.
- Promotes neuron health & synaptic plasticity
- Supports memory recall & learning
- Boosts focus, visual perception & attention
Headaches
The most commonly reported of all Piracetam side effects is headaches. However, while it is the most common side effect, it still is a relatively rare occurrence, having been reported in less than 10% of all users.
However, in some cases these headaches can be very irritating and cause people enough concern that they give up taking Piracetam.
In most cases where headaches occur, this is simply a temporary situation that does end up correcting itself in a week or two.
Why do headaches occur at all? The main theory is that as additional Acetylcholine is produced, the receptors become used to getting extra amounts. Then, if Acetlycholine levels become depleted, the receptors eventually ‘burn out’ causing the Piracetam headache.
If you are a new Piracetam user then there are several options to try and solve this issue. First, simply do nothing and hope that your body will naturally find a new equilibrium. Second, lower the dosage or even stop taking the cognitive enhancer.
The most generally accepted solution is to add a choline source to your supplementation regime in addition to the Piracetam. The idea is that since the body needs more Acetylcholine, take a substance that rapidly converts into this chemical to satisfy the need. The best choline supplements to use include Citicoline, Alpha GPC, or Centrophenoxine.
On the other hand, sometimes people start out taking a Piracetam choline stack right away. If you are doing this and have been experiencing headaches, then you may need to test and see which compound is actually causing you problems. While it most commonly is the Piracetam that causes headaches, choline can also cause headaches in some people.
First stop taking the choline to determine if the Piracetam alone is causing your headaches. If your headaches stop when using Piracetam alone, then just continue with that. If you continue to have headaches though, add back in the choline.
If you continue having headaches with both the Piracetam and choline, then you may need to switch to another, possibly higher quality, choline supplement. You may want to consider stopping Piracetam use while you are testing out different choline supplements to help determine a choline source that works well for you and doesn’t cause headaches.
If after trying different Piracetam and choline combinations you are still having headaches, then you most likely need to stop Piracetam use entirely. Possibly switching to another Racetam or other nootropic may work better for your physiology.
- Focus longer, clear brain fog & feel more motivated
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- Contains 12 safe and natural nootropic ingredients
Increases in Weight
On rare occasions, Piracetam users will experience a sudden increase in weight. This is one of the more unusual effects and little is known as to why this does occur, though it is not believed to be dangerous.
Possibly it is because the compound may effect areas of the brain that control movement. With the chemicals balance within the brain, it is thought that perhaps the body reacts by storing more food as fat.
If this negative effect is happening to you, the best solution is to examine your diet. Make sure to eat better and include a number of fruits and vegetables and cut down on the sugar. You may also want to consider reducing the dosage of Piracetam for a week or two as well.
Other Piracetam Side Effects
Some other rare but potential Piracetam side effects include:
- Hallucinations
- Difficulty balancing and unsteadiness when standing
- Confusion
- Depression
- Weakness
- Vertigo
- Gastrointestinal distress (stomach pain, diarrhea)
- Swelling of the skin, especially the face
- Skin rash and itching
If after experiencing a negative effect you have lowered your dosage but are still suffering side effects the best course of action is likely to stop. At the very least take a break and then maybe return later, noting if any symptoms return. Sometimes the body just needs to build up a tolerance level or adjust to the production of new chemicals.
If symptoms persist, especially more serious ones, consider talking to a doctor or qualified medical professional. In general, Piracetam side effects are not considered serious, and this nootropic is considered to be very safe, however everyone’s personal physiology is different and it is possible that Piracetam is just not right for you.
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- Mattie-Luksic M, Javornisky G, DiMario FJ. Assessment of stress in mothers of children with severe breath-holding spells. Pediatrics. 2000 Jul;106(1 Pt 1):1-5.
- Mindus P, et al . Piracetam-induced improvement of mental performance. A controlled study on normally aging individuals. Acta Psychiatr Scand. 1976 Aug;54(2):150-60.
- Kampman K, et al . A pilot trial of piracetam and ginkgo biloba for the treatment of cocaine dependence. Addict Behav. 2003 Apr;28(3):437-48.
- Garg RK. Piracetam for the treatment of breath-holding spells. Indian Pediatr. 1998 Oct;35(10):1034-5.
- 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.
Article last updated on: March 13th, 2018 by Nootriment
1 Comment
It cause hallucinations