What Is Oxiracetam?
Oxiracetam is a nootropic and very mild stimulant in the Racetam family. Commonly, Oxiracetam is used to promote cognitive function as research has shown the compound to cause increased effects on mental energy, attention span, and memory. There have been no findings linking Oxiracetam to affecting dopamine, serotonin, or other receptors associated with the two, meaning that Oxiracetam cannot be used to treat mood disorders like most other nootropics.
Oxiracetam works like other drugs belonging to the Racetam family, meaning it affects both the Cholinergic and Acetylcholine systems of the brain. This reaction causes stimulation to both the NDMA and AMPA, which allows Oxiracetam the classification of an Ampakine. Oxiracetam is a potent stimulant and considered a ‘pure’ nootropic as its effects are restricted to cognitive function alone.
History
Oxiracetam was originally developed in 1977, with the first of the Racetam family, Piracetam, being manufactured just a decade before. The creation of the Racetam family as a whole was a happy pharmacological accident, as developers had intended the compound to be used for motion sickness.
It was soon discovered that Racetams offered a major increase in learning enhancement abilities along with resistance and healing of physical and chemical injuries to the brains of users while having an absence of negative side effects during use. Oxiracetam has never been extensively researched and put through the trials of other the nootropics in its family although the compound has been tested a few different times over the decades to find out the effects it can have on such cognitive disorders as Alzheimer’s, ADHD, Dementia, and Post-concussion syndrome, among others.
During the limited research and use of Oxiracetam, it has been determined to be safe for the use of long periods of time with no real short term or long term negative side effects noticeably during testing.
What Is This Used For?
Oxiracetam has a long history being used off label for increasing cognitive function, as a mild stimulant, and for treating cognitive disorders such as dementia and Alzheimer’s. Officially the Food and Drug Administration has not authorized Oxiracetam to be used in a medical capacity but this hasn’t stopped a growing market for the nootropic on the internet as many people have had luck with Oxiracetam providing the cognitive abilities they were seeking.
Oxiracetam has become a popular product in the nootropics market and is used for a variety of its effects including improving memory formation, increasing mental energy and concentration, reducing cognitive decline brought upon by such disorders as Alzheimer’s and dementia, and for its mild psycho-stimulation. Although Oxiracetam accelerates and increases mental abilities far greater than any of the other nootropics in the Racetam family, Oxiracetam does not offer the same mood elevation properties as the rest of its family members.
How Long Does it Last?
Unlike many other nootropics, Oxiracetam’s half-life in the system is a rather long eight hours, give or take a few hours depending on how your system breaks down the compound, with the peak effects of Oxiracetam usually being felt around the one to three-hour mark after administration. Understanding the half-life and lasting effects of the compound will help you better understand how to schedule a dosing cycle and the administration of Oxiracetam. Though some prefer three dosages per day, with Oxiracetam’s long half-life it is common for users to only administer the drug twice daily.
Benefits
Oxiracetam is considered a true cognitive enhancer as it has not been shown to have any effects on mood or anxiety. Oxiracetam influences the production of both Glutamate and Acetylcholine which affect the central nervous system culminating in increased learning abilities as well as short term memory.
Oxiracetam has been shown to boost memory, attention, focus, concentration, and motivation, as well as improving overall cognitive functions such as the ability to think clearer, faster, and more fluidly. Several tests and studies have also shown Oxiracetam’s improved effects on learning, with both spatial and contextual learning abilities increasing for users. Oxiracetam has demonstrated to work as a neuroprotective, making neurons healthier and preventing damage from outside sources. Oxiracetam has also been shown to work as an anti-oxidant as it rids the brain of toxic chemicals and poisonous waste.
Many people also experience increased sensory perceptions when taking Oxiracetam. These experiences vary from user to user but usually, this increase in perception tends to affect sight and hearing more than other senses. Users who have experienced this effect say that they are able to relate to the world differently. Colors become clearer and brighter while sounds become richer and deeper. While this does not directly relate to Oxiracetam’s cognitive effects, it does provide an example of neurons heightened sensitivity while using Oxiracetam.
Recommended Dosage
Most users of Oxiracetam recommend dosing with 600-3,000 mg of the drug each day. However, new users should always start at the lowest dosage and move up slowly and as needed until you know the effects Oxiracetam will have on your body. Generally, new users are advised to divide their dosages into two even administrations throughout the span of the day. This dosing schedule begins with administering one dose of Oxiracetam upon on waking, and one several hour later as needed.
Side Effects
Oxiracetam has been regarded as being non-toxic and safe for use, as with most other members of the racetam family. No dependency issues have been noted during research and Oxiracetam can be taken without the worry of it leading to addiction.
The side effects associated with Oxiracetam are usually fairly mild and are common among members of the racetam family. These side effects include dizziness, headaches, nausea, insomnia, nervousness, gastrointestinal disease, and headaches. Most of these side effects are usually only seen by users taking well above the recommended dose, but if side effects present themselves or persist, discontinue or reduce the dosage of Oxiracetam, if only for a limited amount of time.
Long-Term Use
The long-term use of Oxiracetam has been shown to cause very few negative side effects in users and ultimately may help increase long term cognitive abilities. Oxiracetam has been shown to lengthen short term memory, aid in long term memory, heighten focus and concentration, enhance sensory awareness, protect and feed neuron channels, and advance technical thinking when taken long term. Users that have experienced negative side effects with Oxiracetam usually experience them in short term, such as headache and dizziness, but cease after some time using the compound. If the side effects don’t stop it may be necessary to lower your dosage of Oxiracetam or discontinue use for a short time.
Short-Term Use
In short-term use, some users have reported side effects such as headaches, dizziness, insomnia, and nervousness with the Oxiracetam. Although these negative effects have generally been associated with extremely high doses, everyone’s body reacts and breaks down chemicals differently and it is important to know how your system will react to Oxiracetam or any other nootropic before moving beyond the low dosing cycle recommended for beginners. However, these negative effects are uncommon and unlikely with most users reporting memory enhancement, increase in learning ability, and increases in sensory perception even during short term usage of Oxiracetam.
Research
Studies have shown that usage of Oxiracetam is safe for even high doses administered for long periods of time although the mechanism of action for the Racetam family still requires some research to be fully understood. Some research has been done into applying Oxiracetam for treating symptoms of dementia. Though researchers have said no convincing results were obtained from the studies, which were based upon giving patients suffering from Alzheimer’s dementia eight hundred milligrams of Oxiracetam twice daily, many Alzheimer’s patients have used the nootropic off the label with great success in treating the symptoms of their ailment.
Research has also determined that Oxiracetam increases hippocampally mediated learning performance, as mice treated with the compound showed an increase in spatial learning when compared to control mice, as demonstrated by the Morris Water Navigation Task. Though Oxiracetam has not been approved for any official medical use in the United States through research by the Food and Drug Administration, high demand for the nootropic has been met by online markets for people using the compound to treat cognitive decline and mental disorders as well as giving an added boost to healthy cognitive abilities.
Pricing
On the online market for nootropics, prices for Oxiracetam show a great range according to how the user prefers to administer the drug. For 25 g of Oxiracetam powder, it is not uncommon to pay upwards of ten dollars plus shipping with prices reflecting that for every 25 g added. If the preference is in capsule form, users can pay up to $45 plus shipping for one hundred, 600 mg, capsules though these prices may vary depending on potency and quantity of the Oxiracetam powder or capsules chosen.
Safety Concerns
Research data for Oxiracetam have shown little negative side effects in short term use of the compound and no real long term negative effects when used correctly, making the drug safe for long term use if using the right dosing cycle and avoiding overdosing. Although it is unlikely to cause health problems related to overdosing, as research has shown it would take many hundred times the recommended dosage, it is important to consider dosage limitations and how your body reacts to Oxiracetam when administering the compound. As with all members of the Racetam family, Oxiracetam could possibly lead to Choline depletion if not used with a Choline supplement or with enough Choline contribution to your diets, such as meat and eggs.
Final Thoughts
Ultimately, according to studies and data from researchers and reports and testimony of users, Oxiracetam is a nootropic with low risk of safety or health issues and extremely helpful in aiding learning abilities, memory, sensory perception, and neuroprotection. Though extensive research has yet to be completed on Oxiracetam, the nootropic has been shown to help people experiencing a variety of different cognitive disorders as well as enhance already healthy cognitive functioning. It is my opinion that throughout the next several year’s further studies of Oxiracetam will allow researchers to observe just how the compound affects cognitive abilities and be able to apply Oxiracetam to a plethora of ailments as well as using it to preserve and protect healthy cognition.
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