Piracetam vs Noopept

Piracetam vs Noopept

Both Piracetam and Noopept are high quality nootropic, or brain enhancing, drugs. Piracetam is a member of the racetams group, while Noopept is not due to modulations in the chemical structure. Noopept is generally considered to be somewhere between 1000 and 5000 times as potent as Piracetam, due to it having more bio active ingredients, or ingredients that can be easily processed in the body. Nootropics are drugs or supplements that improve mental cognition, intelligence, learning, focus, and memory. Taken in “stacks”, or multiple drugs at the same time in order to increase the overall effects, or alone, these supplements can increase your mental power significantly. Use this article as an informative piece to help you choose which of these drugs is stronger, and to let you form your own opinion on the Piracetam vs Noopept debate.

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More about Noopept

 

Piracetam

 

Piracetam Benefits

 

Piracetam was the first nootropic drug available on the market, and while it is not approved as either a medicine or dietary supplement in the United States, it pioneered the market into nootropic drugs and expanding the possibilities of the human mind, to make users the best they can possibly be. It is still available in pure powder form in the US, but will not be available for sale in premade pills, stacks, or supplements. Like other nootropic drugs, Piracetam works by increasing brain function, and allegedly increases focus, cognitive intelligence, and mental acuity, as well as boosting memory and learning.

 

Side Effects

 

Piracetam is generally held to have few to no side effects, and the ones that have been reported are described as “few, mild, and transient”. Symptoms of general excitability, agitation, nervousness, headache, and anxiety are sometimes reported, but generally only in the short term. Other side effects include depression, weight gain, increased libido, and hypersexuality, although only a very small number of people have ever reported these side effects.

User Reviews

 

Piracetam is highly recommended for those who are just beginning to take nootropic drugs, as it is relatively mild. Users generally feel the effects within about 30-45 minutes, although depending on your body chemistry you may notice effects almost right away. One of the first side effects noted is generally an increase in sensory perception; lights become brighter, sounds clearer, and vision sharper. The effects will likely not be overwhelming at first, and like many drugs of this kind, the exact effects depend heavily on your individual body chemistry, other medicines you are taking, and a variety of other factors. If you don’t feel any effects right away, you can safely take 1.5 to 2 times the normally recommended dosage as an “attack” dosage, to shock your body into reacting. Alternately, you can simply wait, as the drug tends to be more effective the longer it has to build up to a level of efficacy in your body. Generally, people find Piracetam to be very effective, and very safe.

 

Uses

 

Piracetam is used like most other nootropic drugs, for increasing cognition, memory, learning, and focus. It has also been used in clinical trials for elderly adults suffering from dementia, although results are inconclusive at the time of this writing. Overall, however, users of any age have had positive results in improving their mental acuity and ability to learn using Piracetam, particularly if they may be intolerant to other, harsher nootropic supplements.

 

Dangers

 

This drug has an extremely low acute toxicity level, so as long as you use the recommended dosage, with an occasional “attack” dosage to boost efficacy. Piracetam works the best if it is taken regularly, as it is most effective if a blood level is maintained in the body. Due to the fairly short half life, there is no possibility of building a toxic level in the blood as long as you do not take far more than the recommended dosage, which may end up making you sick to your stomach more than anything.

 

Does this nootropic need choline?

 

It is recommended, although not required, to take a choline supplement while taking this nootropic. Not only does choline enhance the effects of Piracetam, but it can protect the neurons in the brain for long term usage. Affecting the neural pathways, as a nootropic does, has the potential to cause damage in the long term, so using choline protects and coats the neurons in order to ensure the effects of Piracetam or any other nootropic last for as long as possible. It is recommended to wait at least two weeks into your Piracetam regimen before adding choline to your stack, as it may take a few weeks for you to fully realize the effects of the drug and change the way your brain accepts information for the better.

Dosages

 

Most studies suggest that users should take between 9.6 and 20 grams per day. The most efficient dosages seem to be between 4.5 and 9.5 grams, administered two or three times a day. Taking 20 grams immediately, particularly if you have never taken a nootropic before is not recommended, and may lead to either building an undesirable tolerance for Piracetam, or one of the transitory but still unpleasant side effects. Therefore, the recommended daily dose is about four or five grams of powder to start with, divided up two or three times daily as this nootropic has a fairly short half life. Many users choose to start with an “attack dose”, which might be double the recommended dose, for up to three days or so before dropping back down to the recommended four or five grams of powder daily. Other users, particularly those who are not used to taking any nootropics at all, choose to start with a half dose in order to allow their nervous system to adjust. Use your best judgement, and if you can feel that something isn’t working, adjust accordingly. Because everyone’s brain and body chemistry are different, it is hard to give a definitive dosage, so adjusting based on the effects you feel will be the best bet.

 

Research

 

Many studies have been done on the effects and possible usages of Piracetam since its development in the late 60s. As the first nootropic drug, and a racetam which pioneered a field of study, people have been seeking to further understand and utilize the power of this drug. There are hopes that in the future this drug will be able to mitigate the effects of such devastating diseases as dementia or Alzheimer’s, or perhaps prevent them in the first place by allowing neural pathways to form that may prevent memory loss and confusion later in life. Studies have shown that Piracetam is effective in increasing cognition in healthy adults as well, and research continues to be done to see how this nootropic might be applied in every day life. Increasing the power of the human brain is in everyone’s best interest for the good of humanity in general, so there is a heavy investment in making everyone smarter and functioning at a higher level.

 

History

 

Piracetam was the first nootropic, and it was discovered in the late 1960s. The exact mechanisms for how Piracetam and other nootropics work is still not entirely understood, although we do know these supplements manipulate the way certain hormones are accepted and utilized in the brain. In time, these changes actually form new neural pathways and strengthen existing ones to improve overall cognition.

 

Long Term Effects

 

If taken regularly, the long term effects of using Piracetam are nothing but positive. Neural pathways are built or strengthened, and over time this increases the power and function of the brain. Because Piracetam is such a safe, nontoxic supplement, it is safe to take for long periods of time without possible damage. This drug has been around for a long time and at worst the long term effects are negligible, not dangerous; no one has reported damage from taking Piracetam even for many years as long as they take it at the recommended dosages and don’t stack with other, counterindicated drugs.

 

Short Term Effects

 

When you first begin to take Piracetam, you may begin to feel effects immediately, or it may take a few days or weeks for the effects to kick in. The effects of this drug are highly personal, so only you will be able to tell what and how strong the effects are. Be persistent, adjust the dosage as needed, and you will soon see results. Some people suggest keeping a diary so that you can track how the supplement “feels”, particularly in the first few months until it’s totally stabilized in your body. That way, you can go back and look at how each dosage felt, and adjust according. Make a note of when you adjust your dosage and why; keeping such detailed records will only serve you well in the end, so that if you need to adjust up or down, you’ll be able to tell how you were feeling at every dosage that you’ve tried.

 

Noopept

 

Benefits of Noopept

 

Unlike its older cousin Piracetam, Noopept is a synthetic racetam supplement that is many times more potent than Piracetam. Developed in Russia, it is currently legal for sale as a supplement in the United States and as a medicine across much of the rest of the world. Noopept is considered one of the best, if not the best nootropic available due to its high potency and relative safety. Noopept is also extremely neuroprotective, meaning it can prevent or even reverse brain damage that has already been done due to age, oxidation, or even potentially damage from cranial injury or birth defects.

 

Side Effects

 

Although few to no side effects are often reported, the most commonly experienced side effect is GI distress, although this is generally minor. A very small number of users experience irritability, likely due to an interaction between existing neurochemistry and the glutamate interactions of using Noopept, or potentially an interaction between other supplements, particularly nootropics, that someone is already using. Using a nootropic supplement is also not recommended for those under the age of 18, when brain chemistry is still developing, and pregnant women, as the effects on fetal development are not fully understood. Other noted side effects are insomnia, fatigue, or nausea. As with other nootropics, the effects (and side effects) of using these substances are extremely personal. Doing your due diligence before hand is crucial; read as many reports of other users’ experiences with the supplement, and if possible, discuss adding a supplement to your nutritional program with your doctor.

User Reviews

 

Many people have had amazing successes while using Noopept. They report that the feeling of “brain fog” so many of us suffer through each day is gone, the confusion and lack of clarity that clouds most of our days evaporated. As with other nootropics, mental acuity, learning, intelligence, and focus are notably improved while taking Noopept. Due to its high potency, users can take a lot less Noopept powder as compared to other nootropics and still reap the same benefits. This is not only economical, but it increases compliance to a supplemental program. When users must take only a few milligrams of powder a day, instead of up to twenty grams, they are much more likely to stick with it, even if the effects are similar.

 

Uses

 

Many users like using nootropics simply to enhance the power of their own brains, but recently Noopept has been tapped for research in preventing or reversing Alzheimer’s and other neuro-degenerative disorders. There is some evidence that Noopept may help in the treatment of headaches, amnesia, and many other mental problems. The research is inconclusive at this time about exactly how these treatments will function, but there is great hope that they will be highly effective in the future.

 

Dangers

 

Because Noopept is so highly bioavailable, meaning it is able to be absorbed almost entirely by the body, the toxicity levels are remarkably low. Additionally, due to the very short half life, there is little to no chance of addiction or dependence on this drug. The only noted danger is irritability in some subjects but this often fades as the body becomes used to a new supplement, other supplements are phased out, or the dosage is reduced.

 

Does this nootropic need choline?

 

Like with almost any nootropic, choline is recommended to reduce possible long term side effects such as acetylcholine fatigue, headaches, and so forth. Up to 85% of people are choline deficient anyway, and because choline makes nootropics more efficient, there are really no down sides to using choline as part of your nootropic stack. You may wish to wait a few weeks before adding choline to your supplement routine; some users find it more effective to fully feel the effects of the drug first, in order to determine the correct dosage for you.

Dosages

 

Noopept is vastly more potent than other nootropics, and therefore can be taken in much smaller dosages. The recommended dosage of Noopept powder is 10 mg, taken twice a day. You can go up to as much as 20 mg, taken three times a day, but more is not recommended. At a certain point, efficiency saturation is reached anyway and taking any more of this supplement is no longer beneficial. It may not be harmful, but it is wasteful, as taking any more isn’t going to increase the benefits you see at all.

 

Research

 

Noopept is the subject of many research projects right now, into expanding and repairing the power of the human brain. Since it is fairly new, and was developed as an alternative to more traditional racetam drugs such as Piracetam. Noopept is a synthetic racetam alternative; although it works similarly in the brain, the potency and bioavailability are much higher.

 

History

 

This nootropic was developed in Russia in the late 90s as an alternative to traditional racetam family nootropics. Throughout much of Europe and Asia, it is still sold as a medicine, and a potential cure or treatment for mental problems such as degenerative disorders or mental retardation, as well as in its nootropic usage. It is fairly new, as far as medications go, but so far it has shown a lot of promise.

 

Long Term Effects

 

Because Noopept has not been available for a long time, no one is exactly sure of the long term effects. However, it has been around long enough to know that toxins do not build up in the body, and the effects over time are much the same as they are when the drug first reaches an effective blood level in the body. Although no one is exactly sure yet, there is significant research to indicate that the neural pathways formed while someone is taking Noopept may remain after the supplement is discontinued, as long as the pathways are used again and again, the thought patterns reinforced. Much like muscle memory, pathways in the brain we want to encourage must be reinforced in order for them to stay strong; otherwise, they will shrivel and become less effective or useless.

 

Short Term Effects

 

In the short term, Noopept has many of the same effects as other nootropics – increased mental clarity, focus, memory, learning, and even perceived intellect. It’s truly incredible, what harnessing the power of the mind can do. Many people also report increased energy and a general sense of well being in addition to the mental benefits.

 

Final Comparison of Noopept vs Piracetam

 

In the end, it seems that Noopept and Piracetam function much the same as other high quality nootropics, but the difference mainly lies in personal tolerance, other supplements you may be taking, and if you have taken nootropics before. Piracetam is a good starter if you have never taken any brain enhancing supplements before, and are looking for something easily tolerated by the body, in order to ease your nervous system into functioning at a higher level. If you have been taking nootropic supplements for a while and are not finding them as efficient anymore, you take other supplements and feel that a milder solution may not work for you, or you simply need a more potent solution right away, then Noopept is probably the right choice. As with anything, consult a doctor before beginning any supplemental program, and monitor your own body closely. Nootropics are highly personal in their effects, and it’s impossible to tell for certain how you personally will react to any nootropic without trying it. So whichever you choose, know that you aren’t doing any harm, and may be doing a world of good.

 

Final Thoughts

 

Nootropics seem almost like science fiction; take one little pill or a bit of powder, and suddenly you’re smarter, can learn better, and are more eloquent in conversation. But they are very real and they have fascinating implications for the future of our species, the way we treat and think about the brain, and beyond. Imagine if nootropic supplements were as common as vitamins on grocery store shelves, that everyone was able to easily harness the full potential of their brain. There’s no telling what we as a species might innovate, learn, explore, or discover. Remember to listen to your body while taking any supplement, find the dosage and kind that works best for you, and there’s no telling what you can do.

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