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Both Piracetam and Aniracetam are Nootropics that have been reported to have positive effects on memory, learning, cognition, and more. The brain is truly the most important organ in the human body and many people are interested in ways to improve its functioning.
Adding nootropic compounds to your daily routine that may help support optimal mental functioning makes sense. Piracetam and Aniracetam are by far the two most popular Racetams in the class of Nootropics. But which compound gives you more positive results and which is better for your specific needs: Piracetam vs. Aniracetam?
It should be noted that in the United States, both Piracetam and Aniracetam are unscheduled, unregulated compounds. As the parent compound of the Racetam family, Piracetam has been used for years in various countries around the world as either an over-the-counter drug or a prescription drug (depending on regulations in specific countries).
However in the US, the FDA has not approved Piracetam or Aniractam as drugs to prevent or treat any conditions. These compounds also do not meet the qualifications of a dietary supplement and cannot be sold as such.
However, it is legal to buy, own, and use these racetams in the US. But due to FDA regulations surrounding the distribution, sale, and labeling of unregulated compounds such as Racetams, there are not many vendors within the US that still sell them.
Some online specialized nootropic stores based in the US stock Racetams such as Piracetam and Aniracetam, however the number of these stores is limited. If they can’t get what they want from domestic stores then many users will instead import their nootropics from countries where the sale of racetams is legal.
Memory
Attention
Brain Health- Promotes neuron health & synaptic plasticity
- Supports memory recall & learning
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Piracetam Introduction
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Piracetam was the first of the Nootropics developed back in the early 1960’s.
In many research studies it has been seen to have a number of reported benefits, although in many cases these can seem to be quite subtle. The hypothesis about its basic mechanism of action is that it helps Acetylcholine receptors to work more efficiently.
This is accomplished by raising the production of Acetylcholine (converted from choline sources either within the body or through supplementation).
As the body produces more of the powerful neurotransmitter Acetylcholine, it binds more effectively to receptor sites. Since your brain uses neurotransmitters to communicate between the 100 billion neurons in your brain, even a small increase in the efficiency of Acetylcholine can lead to a noticeable difference in brainpower.
This is believed to be primarily responsible for most of the cognitive benefits associated with Piracetam. While most typically used by young, cognitively healthy individuals, in research studies many elderly patients suffering from degenerative cognitive issues like Alzheimer’s disease and dementia have also received a number of benefits from Piracetam usage.
There is also an improved neuron energy effect associated with Piracetam. The compound is believed to improve the uptake and use of oxygen and glucose. Both of these substances also help to increase the amount of mental energy that many users experience.
This effect may also lead to enhanced protein synthesis and improved cell membrane fluidity. As key proteins are able to move more freely, neuronal communication is improved, leading to an improved overall cognitive function.
Motivation Memory
Mood- Heightens focus & motivation
- Supports memory formation & recall
- Shown to enhance mood & reduce anxiety
Aniracetam Introduction
Aniracetam was developed in 1970 as a modified version of Piracetam.
This Racetam is much more potent than Piracetam, requiring much less be taken to ensure an effective dose. It is also fat soluble (Piracetam is water soluble), so it should be taken with food in order to achieve its full effect.
Just as with all Racetam family members, it is able to cross the blood-brain barrier easily and reach its target within the brain very quickly.
Like Piracetam, Aniracetam is also believed to work by modulating the Acteylcholine receptor system. This makes the neurotransmitter much more efficient, producing notable effects in the areas of memory, learning, cognition, and more.
Many users and scientific studies have also shown that Aniracetam has a number of anti-anxiety related benefits as well. In addition to being a Racetam, Aniracetam also falls into the Ampakine class of nootropics because it stimulates AMPA receptors which respond to Glutamate.
Because Glutamate is used in the synthesis of GABA – a neurotransmitter which is associated with relaxed and calm feelings – taking Aniracetam is said to have anxiolytic (anti-anxiety) properties.
Benefits Of Piracetam
The main benefits associated with Piracetam are cognitive. This includes enhanced memory and improved learning capacity. It is very often used by students who are looking to make sure that they remember everything before an important test.
Although effects can be subtle, there is also the benefit of being able to think more clearly while taking Piracetam. It is known to improve mental energy (possibly due to the enhanced oxygen and glucose uptake), focus, concentration, and attention.
Sensory perception can often be improved. These are often some of the first effects to be felt while taking Piracetam, and may effect different users in different ways. It could make the sense of sight much more clear and intense. Other users note their hearing becomes particularly sensitive.
Benefits Of Aniracetam
Aniracetam normally supplies all of the same cognitive benefits offered by Piracetam, but with more intensity. This is not especially surprising considering the fact that it is about 10 to 30 times more potent.
User reviews often report improvements in memory recall, focus, concentration, and attention, as well as increased learning capacity and mental energy. Overall cognition is often found to be enhanced, including the ability to think more clearly.
Sensory perceptions are also usually improved. Unlike with Piracetam, these benefits are more pronounced and less subtle. With Aniracetam, many users say they experience extremely enhanced visual and hearing processing.
Some users also report that their stress and anxious thoughts are reduced when using Aniracetam. While this can also happen on Piracetam, it is more common and stronger with Aniracetam. Additionally, this effect (and really all of them) last a bit longer, despite tests showing that Aniracetam actually has a shorter half-life chemically in the body.
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Reasons For Choosing Piracetam
The biggest reason for choosing Piracetam vs. Aniracetam is likely that you are a first-time Nootropics user. It might not be a great idea to start out with something as potent as Aniracetam, even though both have been proven very safe and well-tolerated.
Possibly you are looking for something that will have some noticeable but mild effects and benefits. You might also prefer a more general cognitive enhancer rather than one that works specifically in a few more focused areas. If this sounds like you, then Piracetam is the nootropic to choose.
Reasons For Choosing Aniracetam
Aniracetam, on the other hand, is certainly more potent and has longer lasting effects. Despite many of the effects of Aniracetam vs. Piracetam being similar, the potential anti-anxiety response is a notable exception. If you are feeling a bit stressed out and anxious, then this may be a better Racetam choice for you. Some people use Aniracetam to help them relax and generally improve their mood.
Aniracetam is also favored by people who experience social anxiety because they say it can help to lessen social inhibitions and improve verbal communication skills. Another reason to give Aniracetam a try is if you have experience with Piracetam or other nootropics already and are looking for something that is more potent.
Which Is Better – Piracetam vs. Aniracetam
Many people are interested in comparing the cost of these two Racetams to make a decision, but this often isn’t a helpful deciding factor. While Piracetam is much cheaper than Aniracetam on a per gram basis, it is much less potent and requires much larger dosages. When these factors are taken in to consideration, the cost of the two compounds is often not significantly different.
Which one you ultimately choose should depend upon your goals for using nootropics – something which is best determined by sampling and experimentation. Ultimately, Aniracetam is stronger and has the added benefit of helping with stress and anxious thoughts. Piracetam might be a better bet for someone new to the world of cognitive enhancers.
If you really cannot decide between the two, you might want to consider a Piracetam Aniracetam stack in which you use these compound together to experience synergistic benefits of both. This should only be tried if you have tested out both nootropics separately and have found them to work well for your physiology and needs.
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Article last updated on: March 13th, 2018 by Nootriment
2 Comments
I have just purchased 100g of powdered Aniracetam. I don’t have a scale for measuring. Will you please tell me how much in volume 1000mg will yield me? Perhaps by the 1/8tsp?
Thank You
be sure to take at least 1/2 tsps if you have no kidney disease! Aniracetam is not cocaine))