Piracetam, racetam, oxiracetam… if you are into nootropics and brain-hacking you have probably came across these terms at least once. But what do they really mean? What is Piracetam, what do we use it for and is it good for you or not?
Contents
What is Piracetam?
Also called pyracetam, pyrrolidone acetamide, memotopril or UCB6215, piracetam comes from a class of drugs called Racetams. It is declined into several forms. The first form is the nootropic form. It includes aniracetam, oxiracetam, phenylpiracetam and piracetam. The other derived of racetam are used as anticonvulsant and are usually labeled as levetiracetam and seletracetam.
So what is racetam? Racetam is a group of pharmaceutical drugs that gathers components that have the same chemical structure and produce about the same effects in the human body and brain. They are designed to treat, cure or prevent disease or to promote well-being. You can find these chemicals in several prescription drugs or pharmaceutical supplements.
As we have mentioned above, part of the drugs that we call racetam are used to act as nootropics to enhance brain functions. The reason is that the racetam chemical structure triggers the glutamate and acetylcholine receptors, two of the most important neurotransmitters of the human body.
So Piracetam is mostly used to improve overall cognitive functions and brain health. It is a synthetic drug meant to provide a “brain boost” to its consumer. According to examine.com, Piracetam is used to treat cognitive impairment.
Studies have shown an improvement of cognitive functions on patients with age-associated memory impairment. With such great results on cognitive decline it is no wonder that brain-hackers have started looking into the properties of piracetam and using it as a brain drug to improve cognitive functions.
How to take piracetam?
Piracetam often comes in the form of capsules. The compound itself is water soluble. The recommended dose for children who take piracetam is usually between 40 and 50mg per kilogram of bodyweight while for adults, doctors often prescribe between 1200 and 4800mg per kilogram of bodyweight.
Here one dose of 1600mg taken three times a day would equal to 4800mg a day. But before purchasing and taking piracetam, please talk to your medical practitioner to make sure it is right for you.
The benefits of Piracetam
For those who dream about a sharper mind and faster thinking, piracetam is definitely a must try. Though it takes several days and sometimes weeks to benefit from the full effect of the drug, this chemical may enhance your cognitive functions and improve focus and energy. It is widely used among nootropic fans always seeking to increase their intelligence, memory and mental capacities.
Piracetam is also known to prevent damage on brain cells and protect the overall health of your brain by increasing blood flow and stimulating the glutamate and acetylcholine neurotransmitters. Even though Piracetam seems to have great benefits and it is one of the least harmful smart drug it is still a drug and you should seek medical attention before taking it. Because every body is different, it is safer to talk to your doctor first about the appropriate dosage of Piracetam you should take or not.
The cons
Even though piracetam can seem like a great product to add to your daily supplement regimen, it is NOT approved by the U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for any medical use and it is not permitted to be sold as a dietary supplement. Be cautious of where you buy your product from and make sure that the FDA hasn’t issued a warning letter to their website (you can find out that information online on the FDA’s website).
Like any other drugs, Piracetam also comes with several side effects. Common side effects are: diarrhea, weight gain, depression, insomnia, nervousness, hyperactivity and more. Those are to seriously consider before taking the drug especially if you already have a pre-existing condition and already suffer from insomnia, depression or hyperactivity.
So, Piracetam seems safe in general when taken by healthy adults but the wrong dosage or wrong chemical could make the product ineffective or worst, lead to severe side effects and health issues.
We recommend consulting your medical practitioner before taking Piracetam especially if you are not use to taking nootropics. In general, we would suggest choosing a more natural alternative as herbal nootropics often work very well and offer great results with zero to little side effects.
Back to TheHealthySupps page.
