Table of Contents
Aniracetam is a top synthetic nootropic that belongs to the family of Racetams. The drug is known by other brand names, including Ampamet, Draganon, Sarpul, and Referan. You will also notice that its name is almost similar to another popular nootropic called Piracetam. They both belong to the same family of drugs. However, they don’t have the same impact. Piracetam was the first synthetic racetam nootropic. Its derivative Aniracetam has proven to be more potent.
Aniracetam is also closely related to other racetam nootropics, including Adrafinil, Phenylpiracetam, and fasoracetam. All these drugs share many similarities, especially at chemical levels, but they produce relatively different results and at different potency.
Aniracetam is legally available in most European countries. However, you need a doctor’s prescription to buy and use it in most of these countries. In the US, Aniracetam is not approved by the Food and Drug Administration. That doesn’t mean you can’t get it, though. Most people acquire the drug easily from online stores where it is sold as a dietary supplement.
Although Aniracetam is popular for boosting cognitive functions, its benefits go well beyond that. Some people use the drug to ease issues such as fatigue and stress.
How Does Aniracetam Work?
Since its development back in the 1970s, Aniracetam has been subjected to extensive studies investigating its mechanism of action and potential uses and benefits. These studies have produced a lot of data on the drug, but they still don’t provide a comprehensive picture of how exactly it affects the brain. What’s understood at this point is that it modulates several key neurotransmitters.
Acetylcholine is one of the neurotransmitters that benefit from the use of Aniracetam. When you ingest this drug, it gets absorbed into your system and crosses the blood-brain barrier. This allows it to interact with acetylcholine receptors, where it fights receptor desensitization and boosts the release of acetylcholine. An increase in acetylcholine results in a boost in several brain functions, including learning, concentration, and memory.
Aniracetam also boosts glutamate transmission. Glutamate is a neurotransmitter that modulates neural activation. Aniracetam interacts with AMPA and Kinase receptors to improve glutamate transmission.
Finally, trials show that Aniracetam stimulates the release of dopamine and serotonin. It binds to the dopamine and serotonin receptors to prevent the breakdown and imbalance of these neurotransmitters.
Benefits of Aniracetam
- Improves Memory
Studies suggest that Aniracetam can improve memory formation and retrieval. This drug interacts with Kinase and AMPA receptors, which play a vital role in memory formation and storage. By interacting with these receptors, Aniracetam can improve your ability to create and store new memories. It may also boost your ability to retrieve old memories.
Additional clinical research is necessary to determine how big of an impact Aniracetam can make on memory formation and storage.
- Boosts Cognition
Research shows that Aniracetam can improve cognitive functions and performance in individuals with cognitive impairment. Studies on Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia continue to investigate the possible benefits of using this drug. It could help boost memory and attention, which would improve the quality of life of people living with these conditions.
- Improves Attention and Awareness
Aniracetam can improve your attention span and overall awareness of your surroundings. The drug can help you retain your mental focus even when you are distracted by a myriad of factors. Scientists believe this nootropic can help people with mild attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and other forms of attention disorders. However, you may have to take the drug consistently for a long time to enjoy this benefit.
- Relieves Anxiety
Animal trials have linked Aniracetam to reduced anxiety. It can help with different types of anxiety, including social anxiety.
One key advantage of using this drug for anxiety is that it works pretty fast. Aniracetam is a fast-acting drug that gets into your system and produces the intended results much faster than most nootropics. It is even faster than Piracetam.
- Eases Depression
Aniracetam has antidepressant properties, which can be very beneficial for people with depression. The drug boosts dopamine and serotonin levels, hormones that are closely associated with happiness and satisfaction. This means that it doesn’t just get rid of depression, but it also improves your mood.
- Improves Symptoms of Alzheimer’s and Dementia
Due to this drug’s cognitive enhancing abilities, scientists believe that it can also be used to prevent or ease the symptoms of Alzheimer’s and dementia. The drug improves memory, learning, problem-solving, attention span, and other brain functions that dementia patients struggle with.
Sadly, the research on the effects of Aniracetam on dementia is very limited; no wonder the FDA has not approved the medical use of the drug.
Other potential benefits of using Aniracetam include:
- May improve brain recovery after a traumatic injury.
- Can boost concentration
- Improves sleep quality because it fights anxiety and depression
- Offers neuroprotection
Side Effects of Aniracetam
Aniracetam can produce some side effects if used in excess. It can cause:
- Irritability
- Jitteriness
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Headaches
- Insomnia
- Vertigo
- Diarrhea
Being such a potent racetam nootropic, Aniracetam may not be the best option for beginners. If you’ve never used these drugs before, the smart decision would be starting with Piracetam, which is much milder. You can then graduate to Aniracetam later on when you are sure about your tolerance to these drugs.
Stop taking the drug right away if the side effects persist.
Pregnant and breastfeeding women are advised against using Aniracetam and any other nootropic for that matter.
Aniracetam can interact with other drugs like anticoagulants, anticonvulsants, anesthetics, opiates, sedatives, HIB drugs, Antipsychotics, antihistamines, and benzodiazepines. Consult your doctor before using Aniracetam if you are already taking other drugs.
Aniracetam Dosage
Most of the people buying Aniracetam in the US do so for its nootropic benefits. Sadly, most dietary supplement retailers do not provide a clear guideline on how to dose the drug. Therefore, the best way to know the accurate dosages that will work for you and your unique condition is consulting a medical practitioner.
That said, many clinical studies have used as much as 1500mg per day without any complications. That’s not an ideal dose for a beginner, though. If it’s your first time trying out this drug, take around 750mg per day for several days. This should be enough to get your acclimated to the drug without any adverse reactions. You can then increase the dose gradually while monitoring your response. Note that your “sweet spot” could be less than 1500mg per day, so it’s wise not to jump from 750mg to 1500mg right away.
Going beyond 1500mg per day does not guarantee better results either. In fact, it increases the risk of side effects.
Aniracetam has a short half-life, so you should split the dose into two or three servings.
Where to buy Aniracetam
Aniracetam, like many other nootropics, is not approved by the FDA. While this does not stop many people from using these drugs, it makes it harder to find legitimate retailers stocking safe and effective drugs. It’s up to you to ensure you are getting reliable vendors with quality drugs. Look for stores selling the best brands that are tested and certified by licensed independent laboratories. You should also consult a physician and discuss your medical history and expectations before using this drug.