Benefits of Piracetam
The Original Racetam
Racetams, also known as nootropics, are cognitive enhancers. And Piracetam is the original racetam which is still quite popular and comes highly recommended. One of the benefits of Piracetam for those who are being introduced to smart drugs is that it is the least potent. This gives newcomers to nootropics a place to begin. Starting with Piracetam, you can “self-hack” to discover the benefits of Piracetam personally and decide where to go from there.
Created in Belgium in 1964
Piracetam was developed synthetically by UCB Pharma lab in Belgium in 1964 to improve corpus callosum communication. (This is the section of the brain that controls communication between the brain’s two hemispheres.) The compound (2-oxo-1-pyrrolidine-acetamide) became the very first racetam. Especially relevant, it was the UCB Pharma team of researchers that invented the term “nootropics”, meaning “to bend the mind” in order to describe the effects and benefits of Piracetam.
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What the Science Says
There has been a lot of research with Piracetam with the elderly, demented, schizophrenic, and those suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, stroke, and neurodegeneration caused by head trauma or alcohol abuse. Although little research exists on how it affects young, healthy subjects, the Psychopharmacology journal reportedin 1976 that a daily dose of Piracetam caused noted improvements to working memory and overall recall. Additionally, in 1991, the New Zealand journal, Drugs Aging reported that Piracetam facilitates memory and new learning through callosal transmission. It also found that it improved cholinergic activity.
How Does Piracetam Work?
Scientists believe that Piracetam’s mechanism of action is due to its ability to improve the permeability of cell membranes. It especially improves the delivery of oxygen and the dispersal of oxygen molecules to the brain cells. This results in an increase in circulation to neural tissue. This increased circulation protects neurons and synapses against decay and damage due to aging. And, it has an antioxidant effect by causing waste to be eliminated more quickly.
Increases the Metabolism of Glucose
Piracetam protects against hypoxia by helping to keep cell membranes healthy. This means brain conditions resulting from a lack of oxygen can be prevented, including strokes. By inhibiting the reuptake of glucose, Piracetam increases the metabolism of glucose. The result of an increase in glucose is more alertness and improved cognition.
Stimulates Growth of Neural Connections
There was a report in the journal Pharmacology in 1993 that stated that Piracetam created improved interactivity of L-glutamate and NMDA receptors. These receptors regulate memory and cause new growth in neural connections. This is a key factor in preventing age-related mental decline. Because of its positive effect on calcium in the brain, Piracetam improves overall neurotransmission. Although it is similar to GABA (Gamma-Amino Butyric Acid), it doesn’t interact with GABA receptors. But, it increases cAMP (cyclic adenosine monophosphate) and aids the function of mitochondria.
More Benefits of Piracetam
- Improves the Brain in Stroke Patients–has beneficial effects on intellectual function, memory and concentration in patients with a chronic and progressive lack of blood flow to the brain (cerebrovascular disorders).
- Aids Recovery after Heart Surgery – helps with cognition and prevents neurodegeneration in bypass patients.
- Prevents Neurodegeneration in Alcoholism – In a study with rats, Piracetam impeded neuron loss in the rats’ hippocampus region while they were experiencing withdrawal from alcohol.
- Helps with Depression–Piracetam reduced depression in patients with Cerebrovascular disorders (restricted blood flow to the brain).
- Decreases Cognitive Decline in the Elderly – 30 years of research in the treatment of older subjects shows Piracetam increases short-term memory after only two weeks.
- Reduces Pain – treats pain by reducing inflammation and cytokine production. It can also prevent loss of glutathione.
- Helps Bipolar Patients –has a protective influence on glutamatergic receptors
- Improves Epilepsy – Patients of epilepsy showed significant improvements when treated with Piracetam.
- Protects Against Hearing Loss – 65% of soldiers who had been exposed to gunfire (Acute Acoustic Trauma) experienced a return of their hearing when treated with Piracetam and Prednisone.
- Improves Symptoms of Dyslexia – In dyslexic children, there was an increase in reaction time and ability to recognize language prompts when treated with Piracetam over a 36-week period.
- Antithrombotic – Piracetam has anti-clotting effects through the vessel wall, plasma, cell membranes and platelets.
Feeling Grouchy?
One of the benefits of Piracetam is that it elevates the mood and motivation. Studies have shown positive results with patients of depression. Cerebrovascular, particularly in old age, can cause depression, but when Piracetam was administered to elderly stroke patients, it had the additional effect of brightening their mood. This is due to improvements in blood circulation to the brain. There has also been improvements in anxiety disorder and sleep disorders with this supplement.
Fresh Air Wakes You Up
A little fresh air can wake you up. —So can oxygen to the brain. Following a dose of Piracetam, the brain is able to utilize oxygen which reduces fatigue and improves your attention span. Oxygenation is thought to prevent damage to the neurons and may help treat alcoholism. Additionally, Piracetam treats your brain to a serving of nutrient-rich blood. In fact, this nootropic is administered as a prophylaxis following a stroke to prevent brain damage due to clotting. Blood clotting prevention is just another one of the benefits of Piracetam.
A Rose by Any Other Name
Over the past four decades, Piracetam has gone under many prescription names such as: Nootron, Cerebrospan, Encefalux, Nootropil, Stimucortex, and Psycotron. These days, it’s being used to prevent cognitive decline and boost cognitive function in younger, healthy minds. Regular people are using it to improve their memory and focus, speed up their learning and reduce their stress. In fact, Piracetam has been used by millions around the world.
Let Piracetam Color Your World
One of the things a first-time user of Piracetam might report is an increase in the vibrancy of colors. They may also experience an enhanced ability to recall visual, auditory and olfactory memories. 600 dyslexic children were given Piracetam in 7 double-blind studies. The result was that their reading comprehension and verbal reasoning were greatly improved.
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References:
- Medicines.org.uk; Nootropil 800mg & 1200mg Tablets and Solution. (UCB Pharma Limited; August 2005) electronic Medicines Compendium. Datapharm Communications.
- Nickolson VJ, Wolthuis OL. Effect of the acquisition-enhancing drug piracetam on rat cerebral energy metabolism. Comparison with naftidrofuryl and methamphetamine. Biochem Pharmacol. 1976 Oct 15;25(20):2241-4.
- Malykh AG, Sadaie MR. Piracetam and piracetam-like drugs: from basic science to novel clinical applications to CNS disorders. Drugs. 2010 Feb 12;70(3):287-312.
- Rameis H, et al. Pharmacokinetics of piracetam: a study on the bioavailability with special regard to renal and non-renal elimination. Int J Clin Pharmacol Ther. 1994 Sep;32(9):458-65.
- Tacconi MT, Wurtman RJ. Piracetam: physiological disposition and mechanism of action. Adv Neurol. 1986;43:675-85.
- Keil U, et al. Piracetam improves mitochondrial dysfunction following oxidative stress. Br J Pharmacol. 2006 Jan;147(2):199-208.
- Heiss WD, et al. Effect of piracetam on cerebral glucose metabolism in Alzheimer’s disease as measured by positron emission tomography. J Cereb Blood Flow Metab. 1988 Aug;8(4):613-7.
- Grau M, Montero JL, Balasch J. Effect of Piracetam on electrocorticogram and local cerebral glucose utilization in the rat. Gen Pharmacol. 1987;18(2):205-11.
- Domaska-Janik K, Zaleska M. The action of piracetam on 14C-glucose metabolism in normal and posthypoxic rat cerebral cortex slices. Pol J Pharmacol Pharm. 1977 Mar-Apr;29(2):111-6.
- Copani A, et al. Nootropic drugs positively modulate alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid-sensitive glutamate receptors in neuronal cultures. J Neurochem. 1992 Apr;58(4):1199-204.