Summary
Piracetam is the prototype for racetam supplements, which are a group of synthetic supplements intended to provide a cognitive boost.
Piracetam has a history of being used to treat cognitive impairment. According to a meta-analysis on human studies, piracetam improves general cognition when supplemented by people in a state of cognitive decline, such as the kind that comes with aging. Though piracetam may be a useful supplement for improving longevity, it offers limited benefits for healthy people.
Healthy people supplementing piracetam do experience little to no cognitive benefit. Though piracetam supplementation in healthy people is understudied, preliminary evidence suggests that piracetam is most effective for older people. Piracetam supplementation has also been found to reduce the chances of a breath-holding spell in children.
Piracetam enhances cellular membrane fluidity. This mechanism explains why piracetam is able to improve cognition, particularly in elderly people.
Piracetam is as effective as aspirin when it comes to preventing blood clotting, which makes it a useful supplemental intervention after cardiovascular trauma.
What are other names for Piracetam
- Pyracetam
- Pyrrolidone acetamide
- 2-Oxo-1-pyrrolidine
- Memotopril
- Fezam (with cinnarizine)
- UCB6215
Dosage information
The standard piracetam dose for children is between 40-100mg per kilogram of bodyweight. This dose is intended for the treatment of breath-holding spells, though it has also been used for children with dyslexia. The lower end of the range (40-50mg/kg) is used most often.
The standard piracetam dose for adults is between 1,200-4,800mg a day. The largest effective dose is 1,600mg, taken three times a day for a total of 4,800mg.
Examine Database: Piracetam
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Research Breakdown
Examine Database References
- Breath Holding Spell Episodes - Sawires H, Botrous ODouble-blind, placebo-controlled trial on the effect of piracetam on breath-holding spellsEur J Pediatr.(2012 Jul)
- Breath Holding Spell Episodes - Matloob Azam, Nasera Bhatti, Naheed ShahabPiracetam in severe breath holding spellsInt J Psychiatry Med.(2008)
- Breath Holding Spell Episodes - Donma MMClinical efficacy of piracetam in treatment of breath-holding spellsPediatr Neurol.(1998 Jan)
- Cognitive Decline - Itil, T.M., G.N. Menon, M. Bozak, and A. SongarThe effects of oxiracetam (ISF 2522) in patients with organic brain syndrome (a double-blind controlled study with piracetam)Drug development research.()
- Cognitive Decline - Kretschmar JH, Kretschmar CH[On the dose-effect relationship in the therapy with piracetam (author's transl)]Arzneimittelforschung.(1976)
- Cognitive Decline - Israel L, Melac M, Milinkevitch D, Dubos GDrug therapy and memory training programs: a double-blind randomized trial of general practice patients with age-associated memory impairmentInt Psychogeriatr.(1994 Fall)
- Cognition - E Sinforiani, M Iannuccelli, M Mauri, A Costa, P Merlo, G Bono, G NappiNeuropsychological changes in demented patients treated with acetyl-L-carnitineInt J Clin Pharmacol Res.(1990)
- Memory - Dimond SJ, Brouwers EMIncrease in the power of human memory in normal man through the use of drugsPsychopharmacology (Berl).(1976 Sep 29)
- Cognitive Decline - Waegemans T, Wilsher CR, Danniau A, Ferris SH, Kurz A, Winblad BClinical efficacy of piracetam in cognitive impairment: a meta-analysisDement Geriatr Cogn Disord.(2002)
- Cognitive Decline - Croisile B, Trillet M, Fondarai J, Laurent B, Mauguière F, Billardon MLong-term and high-dose piracetam treatment of Alzheimer's diseaseNeurology.(1993 Feb)
- Stroke Recovery - Güngör L, Terzi M, Onar MKDoes long term use of piracetam improve speech disturbances due to ischemic cerebrovascular diseasesBrain Lang.(2011 Apr)
- Cognitive Decline - Abuzzahab FS Sr, Merwin GE, Zimmermann RL, Sherman MCA double blind investigation of piracetam (Nootropil) vs placebo in geriatric memoryPharmakopsychiatr Neuropsychopharmakol.(1977 Mar)