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Piracetam, Aniracetam, Oxiracetam and Pramiracetam are the four most popular racetam nootropics used for improving cognitive abilities and boosting brain power. All four of these nootropics offer great value for the results that they provide and have been proven to work both by extensive research studies and by thousands of user reviews.
But which is the best one of the four based on overall performance and price? This article will compare the benefits of Piracetam vs. Aniracetam vs. Oxiracetam vs. Pramiracetam to help you pick the one you should buy.
Before starting, it is important to discuss the legality and availability of Racetams in the United States. The Racetams are unregulated, unscheduled compounds in the US.
Piracetam specifically (as the parent compound of the whole class of Racetams) has been used for many years in various countries around the world as a either an over-the-counter or a prescription drug. However in the US, the FDA has not approved Piracetam as a drug to prevent or treat any conditions. The same goes for the other Racetams as well.
Additionally, they do not meet the qualifications of dietary supplements, and cannot be labeled or sold as such.
It is legal to buy and own these compounds for personal use though. However, buying Racetams, and especially Piracetam, within the US can be difficult due to FDA laws surrounding the sales, distribution, and labeling of unregulated compounds.
There are some specialized nootropic stores online based in the US that sell Racetams, however they are limited. Also, while they may carry some Racetams, they often do not carry Piracetam, which is often the beginning nootropic that many first-time users like to start off using. Because of this, many people will instead import from countries where the sale of Piracetam and other Racetams is legal and regulated.
Memory
Attention
Brain Health- Promotes neuron health & synaptic plasticity
- Supports memory recall & learning
- Boosts focus, visual perception & attention
Piracetam
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Piracetam is a great beginner nootropic and is available at the cheapest price of all four racetams. It is thought to work by stimulating two kinds of receptors in the brain that control how much neurotransmitter production occurs in the brain.
Specifically, Piracetam is believed to increase the amount of Acetylcholine and Glutamate in the brain – two substances which can improve your ability to think, learn, remember, concentrate, and focus.
In research, short term Piracetam effects have been seen to result in greater motivation, better sensory perception and awareness, increased alertness, and an overall feeling of having more mental energy.
Another great feature is that Piracetam side effects are quite rare and relatively minor, consisting of headaches or nausea in some cases.
Piracetam is in fact the original nootropic and was the first Racetam ever discovered. This explains why even to this day it is the best-selling nootropic online.
Since then, racetams have become much more concentrated and more powerful which is why many people start by taking this nootropic and then move on to more potent racetams.
Piracetam might win on the pure affordability per grams scale, but it typically is only recommended to people who are not familiar with nootropics already. If you have some degree of nootropic experience, then you may be more interested in the more powerful racetams available.
- Promotes neuron health & synaptic plasticity
- Supports memory recall & learning
- Boosts focus, visual perception & attention
Aniracetam
Aniracetam is a step up from Piracetam because it is fat soluble instead of water soluble. What this means is that Aniracetam is better able to penetrate what is known as the blood-brain barrier that typically separates chemicals you consume from entering the brain.
Aniracetam is thought to offer very similar benefits as Piracetam, but the effects typically last longer and are felt more rapidly. Aniracetam also has a stronger impact on increasing the attention span, ability to concentrate, memory recall, and on overall energy.
Aniracetam differs from Piracetam because it is a better stimulant that can better raise oxygen levels in the brain by increasing blood flow. This is why many people use it as a studying aid especially for subjects like math and the sciences which involve a lot of logic and reasoning ability.
In research Aniracetam has also been seen to have an anxiolytic effect in some users. This is not an effect that is seen with the less potent Piracetam. Some people will use Aniracetam as a mood enhancer to lessen the feeling of social anxiety or depression.
Oxiracetam
Oxiracetam and Aniracetam are fairly similar in their potency when both compared to Piracetam. Some reviews and user experiences suggest that Oxiracetam has a slight edge over Aniracetam when it comes to concentration and focus while Aniracetam performs better on the subject of mood enhancement.
Oxiracetam is a great stimulant that users says can give you a significant boost as a concentration aid while also increasing memory capacity and synaptic plasticity.
Oxiracetam performs very well in tests of memory under long periods of mental strain whereas Aniracetam is more of a short-term booster that works best for periods of under three hours. As with the previous two racetams, Oxiracetam is also considered very safe. It has an extremely low risk of mild side effects such as jitters and insomnia, similar to what you may experience when taking an energy drink.
- Focus longer, clear brain fog & feel more motivated
- Boost energy, alertnes & memory
- Contains 12 safe and natural nootropic ingredients
Pramiracetam
Oxiracetam and Aniracetam are considered good mid-level nootropics, but if you want one of the most powerful racetams then Pramiracetam may be right for you.
Pramiracetam is considered to be 30 times stronger than Piracetam. It does cost more for the same volume, but because it is more concentrated you will need a smaller dosage of it.
Another benefit to using Pramiracetam is that you can take it by itself instead of using it in a nootropic stack for best results like the other racetams.
Pramiracetam is thought to raise neurotransmitter levels just like Piracetam to increase communication between the hemispheres of your brain and make it easier for your brain to make new connections between neurons. This leads to better learning, memory formation, memory recall and improved logical processing and reasoning.
Pramiracetam works for up to 8 hours after you take your initial dosage and greatly increases blood flow to the brain leading to more mental energy. The most common experience when taking Pramiracetam is that basic tasks like reading and writing become much easier with less mental strain or fatigue. You may experience yourself in a state of “flow” with more motivation and inspiration to get work done.
A standard dosage of Pramiracetam ranges from 100 mg to 1,200 mg depending on your personal needs. Not everyone will need the power of this nootropic, but if you want the absolute strongest cognitive enhancement from a racetam then you should consider buying Pramiracetam online.
Piracetam vs. Aniracetam vs. Oxiracetam vs. Pramiracetam
As you can see, each of the racetams offers its own distinct benefits and degree of effectiveness. If you want to buy a nootropic for the first time then Piracetam is a good place to start. If you want to step it up a bit from there then Aniracetam or Oxiracetam will be your next best nootropic options.
If you don’t mind spending more money for additional benefits then Pramiracetam is the strongest and most well-rounded performer of these four nootropics. No matter which one you choose, you should see your brain power increasing considerably, making it easier for you to excel in your daily life.
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Article last updated on: March 13th, 2018 by Nootriment
16 Comments
Having tried Aniracetam several times and had NO effect or benefit from it at all, I am wondering what the story is with it. I mean, if it’s stronger than piracetam, and it had no effect, then I’m not even going to waste my time with the piracetam.
As such, I’m not sure I want to waste my money on this oxiracetam either.
I’m starting to feel like this stuff is nothing more than ‘snake-oil.’
Hey Glenn,
How long did you take Aniracetam or Piracetam for? Generally Piracetam needs about 2 weeks to notice effects and some say Aniracetam will take a week or more. Dosages are also important when you start out which is why some will use a mega-dose at first. It is possible that you’re a non-responder to the Racetam class in general and there are certainly others who do not feel effects when taking Aniracetam. It might be the case that a stronger Ampakine like Sunifiram would be more effective or a Racetam like Pramiracetam or Phenylpiracetam. They are more expensive though, especially for daily use. Hope that helps a bit.
Exactly , and I agree with the reply . To me it exactly took 14 days , two weeks to see the effects . I experienced improvement in my cognitive performance . Before it was hard to remind even the known names , but now I feel that Piracetam has normalized my memory . It helped my ADHD be improved and also reduced the anticholinergic side effects of try cyclic immipiramine antidepressant which my doctor has prescribed me . I practice brain train drills devised by professor Kawashima which is based on his 20 years of research on brain performances . I have added soy lecethin including phosphorylate to my regiment ( two pills a day ) hoping to reduce the fatigue which is made by depression . I have been in this way for one year and during this time my cognitive performance has been satisfactory .
Regrading Piracetam m I can say it made my cognitive performance normal .But what I am looking for to achieve my objectives and dreams
is a safe way to work with high performance just like Fereud when he was on Cocaine ! unfortunately Cocaine is destructive and illegal and hence it cannot be seen as a solution for the purpose .Is Semax can be considered as the solution ? Why it is produced only in Russia and no manufacturers in other countries has not introduced it to the market yet ?
I am an older woman who has been on adderall for some years for attention deficit problems. I often add a nootropic to the mix to level mood swings caused by the adderall. I notice that several of the nootropics cause increased blood flow to the brain, and I understand the benefit… but my concern, and question .. does this increased blood flow make the possibility of a stroke more likely?
Hello and thanks for your question. I would recommend speaking to your doctor to get personalized advice on this matter. High blood pressure in the brain can increase the risk of stroke, however many of the nootropics that increase blood flow to the brain have a vasodilation effect on cerebral blood vessels which means that even though circulation is improved, blood pressure does not rise. Several nootropics like Centrophenoxine are given to stroke victims to help prevent a second stroke and it is possible they may reduce the risk of stroke in healthy individuals as well. There is limited research on the Racetams and the risk of stroke, but nothing I have read so far would suggest a higher likelihood of stroke from these nootropics.
Admin,
I got a bottle of Aniracetam in 750 mg dose capsules. The bottle dosage suggested to take 1-2 twice a day. I don’t know that I took more than 2 per day, but that’s because I didn’t know too much about it and was more concerned about bad side-effects than benefits.
There’s only about 6 capsules remaining from a bottle of 60. I don’t know, maybe I didn’t take it for long enough to have an effect.
Also, I don’t know anything about the company (Smart Drugs for Thought).
For all I know, they filled the capsules with flour.
Or, as you said, maybe I just don’t respond to this product.
Right now I’m trying some alpha-gpc to see if that will help. Do you know if aniracetam can be safely stacked with alpha gpc (300 mg) ?
How about stacking alpha-gpc with one of the other racetams you suggested?
Piracetam is working for me now. The first week consisted of nothing but brain fog which caused me to feel more anxious. I took a break from it for about a week and gave it another go. This time I used a far less than recommended dose. I’m talking about maybe 200 mg. Now it seems to calm my mind and increase my concentration more. Not to a huge amount but I seem to find that getting in the zone is easier than before. One benefit that I really find helpful is more fluid speech. I’m usually tripping over my words in a conversation with people I don’t know that well but not so much anymore while taking this. Also on another note, I find that taking Choline at the same time gives me headaches. So I take Choline a few hours after I take the Piracetam without getting the headaches. Question that I have for the Admin is if some people require much less amounts due to sensitivity like I experience?
Hey Nathan,
Thanks for your comments! Great to hear your review.
There is definitely a wide range of sensitivity when it comes to combining Choline and Piracetam. Some people consistently get headaches unless they combine the two while others might only get headaches if they take them at the same time like you. There haven’t been any formal studies into this, but the anecdotal reports suggest that choline sensitivity varies considerably. Some have used the phrase “Choline dominant” to explain individuals who don’t need the added choline when using Racetam nootropics. It can also depend on what form you are using – some may only get headaches when taking Alpha Glycerylphosphorylcholine but might not get the same reaction if they take Choline bitartrate or Citicoline.
Once beginning to take any of these products will they become a daily ongoing need or can a person succeed in improving symptoms to a point of not needing to continue taking the medication?Or do the symptoms return after discontinued use of the medication?
can anyone answer here please???
Hy,
I think I have poor circulation to the brain – I am 65 male, reason being – difficulty speaking in very cold weather also insomnia. Can I try one of the acetams if so which one please? From UK
Kind regards
Mr L Badman
Hi Lawrence,
Piracetam has been observed to increase oxygen and glucose consumption to the brain. Vinpocetine is another nootropic that has a cerebrovasodilation effect to increase circulation in the brain. Speak to your doctor before trying any supplements or nootropics!
Hi,
I haven’t tried any smart drugs except for modafinil and was looking for a nootropic that may compare to modafinil in its effects such as increased concentration, mood enhancement etc. I’ve heard Phenibut is good, what’s your opinion on it?
Cheers
Hi Wentworth,
The effects of Phenibut are quite opposite from Modafinil. It is more effective for relaxation and as a sleep aid. The most comparable nootropics to Modafinil would be Adrafinil or Phenylpiracetam in my opinion.
I wanted to know which is the best Nootropics.that I should take
What about pao stack for newbie
pao stack + Alpha gpc + L-theanine + Caffeine