Piracetam is the very first nootropic ever developed and it effectively laid the standards for other smart drugs to follow. As a matter of fact, Dr. Corneliu Giurgia, the biochemist who was credited with developing Piracetam, was also the same person who coined the term “nootropic” to refer to substances that imparts cognitive enhancing effects to the users.
According to Dr. Giurgia, in order for a substance to be considered as a nootropic, it should be able to help with the formation, retention, and protection of memory; it should be able to protect the brain, it must not have psychotropic effects, and it must not be toxic. Based on these standards set by Dr. Giurgia for nootropics, anyone familiar with the practice of using cognitive enhancers will agree that not all substances being marketed as smart drugs can be considered as a nootropic.
PIRACETAM HISTORY
Piracetam was developed way back in 1964 in the laboratories of UCB, a Belgium-based multi-national company where Dr. Giurgia was doing his research. This smart drug was initially being observed for its anti-motion sickness effect and not so much for its nootropic effects. The research into the nootropic abilities of Piracetam was jumpstarted after it was observed to have neuroprotective effects in laboratory rats. This discovery also led to more even more research into nootropics and the development of other smart drugs. Piracetam was released to the public under the brand name Nootropil in the early 70s.
Despite being developed some four decades ago, Piracetam still figures very prominently in current trends of nootropic use. Smart drugs that were developed right after Piracetam are still comparing their potency to it and appears to be fittingly so. This is because despite the development of newer and much more potent nootropics, Piracetam is still considered as one of the most versatile smart drugs around.
MECHANISM OF ACTION
Until now, the mode of action of Piracetam has not been fully established but there are a few theories as to how it imparts its cognitive enhancing abilities. One of the plausible theories is that it restores and promotes neuroplasticity, making neurotransmitting activities in the brain much more efficient. Others believe that it modulates steroid sensitive protein synthesis that is part of the process of memory formation and retention. Since rat subjects were observed to have an increased ability to learn, Piracetam is also believed to interact with AMPA receptors.
THE BENEFITS OF PIRACETAM SUPPLEMENTATION
Piracetam has been studied and was proven to some degree to benefit the user in the following aspects:
- Memory functions.
- Learning abilities.
- Improvement of other cognitive abilities.
- Delaying, stopping, and even reversing cognitive decline.
- Neuroprotection.
- Recovery from stroke.
- Recovery from cocaine and alcohol abuse.
As a smart drug, the effects of Piracetam are considered these days as mild, especially with the development of other nootropic agents that are significantly more potent than Piracetam. Be that as it may, many nootropic users still use Piracetam and it is used often to form the base of their smart drug stacks. Apart from enhancing memory and improving learning abilities, users report that Piracetam also helps improve focus and attention.
There are those who overlook Piracetam because it is not as potent as newer nootropics. However, when it comes to smart drugs, stronger does not always necessarily mean better. It is true that users may generally require higher doses of Piracetam in order to enjoy its nootropic benefits. The benefits of Piracetam in this regard is that the users can adjust their dosage easier in fractions that better suit their requirements for potency. Doing the same with the doses in significantly more potent smart drugs is virtually impossible.
Piracetam is widely available and cheap. It is easily the most affordable racetam and one of the more affordable smart drugs today. It can be stacked with other racetams in order to enjoy more benefits and has also been observed to be synergistic with other nootropic agents. Piracetam has a very low toxicity profile and its side effects are mild and only lasts a short time.
The typical dosage for Piracetam supplementation is between 1.2 to 4.8 grams daily preferably divided into three doses taken at different times of the day. Although Piracetam is generally well-tolerated, it will be wise to consult your doctor before starting with supplementation.
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