Aniracetam

What is Aniracetam?

Aniracetam, also known under the trade names Ampamet, Memodrina and Pergamid, is a piracetam-like drug within the nootropics group which is used to enhance cognitive performance. Aniracetam is cholinergic, meaning it increases levels of acetylcholine and choline within the body. Acetylcholine and choline are important neurotransmitters that help to improve overall mental performance by facilitating communication across nerve cells in the brain.

Effects of Aniracetam

Aniracetam is believed to have many nootropic properties. Standing out most from these properties are increased cognitive functions. Especially memory, learning ability and logical thinking. Anecdotally people like to refer to one of its benefits, as being able to ‘put the pieces of a puzzle together’. Through increased blood flow, when taking Aniracetam, the brain is sufficiently supplied with nutrients and oxygen to raise general activity performance levels. Besides this, Aniracetam appears to have neurological benefits such as GABAergic, cholinergic and dopaminergic neurotransmission as well as neuroprotective properties to alleviate damage done to memory or learning impairment caused by some agents and traumas. In healthy humans Aniracetam is thought to improve cognitive functions and learning ability above the average level.

How does Aniracetam work?

Aniracetam appears to be metabolized very quickly. It is usually absorbed within 30 minutes of administering. Since Aniracetam is fat soluble, its bioavailability within the body is presumed to be higher when taken along with fatty acids. Furthermore, Aniracetam is heavily metabolized into N-anisoyl-GABA, one of the major metabolites of aniracetam that is similarly known to increase performance [2].

Studies on Aniracetam

Aniracetam has been studied since early 1990 and is still being actively being studied. Studies cover many different areas of cognitive performance. So far, its effects on impaired learning abilities, decay of memory while aging and the compounds that Aniracetam is able to metabolize into [3], have been studied.

Side-Effects of Aniracetam

Although Aniracetam is generally well tolerated by most people, a few side effects may occur including dizziness, incoordination, headache, cognitive disorders, nervousness, vertigo

Recommended Dosage / Usage Instructions

Recommendations vary but most sources suggest 500-1000mg Aniracetam twice daily.

Aniracetam powder is extremely bitter in taste. To avoid this aniracetam is also sold in capsule form.

References

[1] - Clinical efficacy of aniracetam, either as monotherapy or combined with cholinesterase inhibitors, in patients with cognitive impairment: a comparative open study - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22070796

[2] - Aniracetam enhances cortical dopamine and serotonin release via cholinergic and glutamatergic mechanisms in SHRSP. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11597608

[3] -       Determination of aniracetam and its main metabolite, N-anisoyl-GABA, in human plasma by high-performance liquid chromatography - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2079514