Picamilon is a synthetic research smart drug developed by Russian scientists from the All-Union Research Institute. The drug was developed in the 1960s, and it started being used as a prescription drug in Russia in 1986. Russian doctors prescribed it to improve brain functions such as memory, attention, and learning. It was also used for treating chronic alcoholism, brain trauma and to improve brain blood circulation.
Outside Russia, Picamilon is not as widely used as other nootropics. The drug is yet to be approved by the Food and Drug Administration in the United States. However, many people can still buy it as a dietary supplement, but it’s very hard to find a store selling Picamilon.
What Does Picamilon Sodium Do?
Picamilon is also called nicotinoyl-gamma-aminobutyric acid, Pikamilon, or Pikatropin. It is a combination of a neurotransmitter called GABA and nicotinic acid or Niacin (Vitamin B3). The goal of this drug is to increase GABA levels and stimulate GABA receptors. However, taking GABA alone is not beneficial because it cannot cross the blood-brain barrier. To solve that issue, scientists combined GABA with Niacin.
You should know that taking GABA and Niacin separately, or as a stack, does not allow GABA to cross the blood-brain barrier the same way Picamilon does. This drug’s unique formula bonds GABA to Vitamin B3, and once it crosses the blood-brain barrier, it gets hydrolyzed into Niacin and GABA. The GABA activates the GABA receptors to produce some of the effects Picamilon is known for. Niacin, on the other hand, acts as a vasodilator, i.e., it relaxes the blood vessels to improve blood flow. Improved blood circulation is good for the brain because it feeds the cells with oxygen and nutrients.
Picamilon is a unique GABA booster. Niacin, which does more than crossing the GABA through the blood-brain barrier, gives Picamilon an extra edge over other similar drugs. For instance, this drug improves cerebrovascular activities better than other nootropics like Piracetam and Vinpocetine. It’s even better than some prescription drugs like papaverine, xanthinol niacinate, and cinnarizine.
Some people also prefer Picamilon to Phenibut because it is not sedating.
Picamilon Sodium Benefits
Low levels of gamma-aminobutyric acid cause various health conditions like anxiety, insomnia, stress, panic attacks, restlessness, poor mood, etc. By boosting GABA and improving cerebrovascular activities, Picamilon treats all those conditions. It also reverses the effects of poor cerebral circulation.
In summary, scientists believe that Picamilon can help with:
- Anxiety
- Panic attacks
- Hypertension
- Convulsion
- Insomnia
- Stress
- Muscle spasms
- Tourette’s syndrome
Studies also show that Picamilon can improve cognition. In fact, some reports say that it can be effective enough to slow down the progression of Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s. It could also protect people from these and other types of dementia.
According to scientists, Picamilon boosts cognition in two main ways. First, it improves the blood supply and ATP energy levels in the brain cells. Second, it increases GABA, which helps in maintaining healthy Glutamate levels. This benefits your brain’s energy, learning ability, memory, attention, and other cognitive functions. It can also fight chronic fatigue syndrome, depression, and fibromyalgia.
The downside with Picamilon is the seriously limited clinical research. Most of the studies investigating this drug were done by Russian scientists, and you can hardly find any data on these studies in international medical databases. There have also been reports claiming that the drug may cross the blood-brain barrier, but it might not be hydrolyzed into GABA and Niacin, which means it cannot interact with the GABA receptors or boost cerebrovascular activities as claimed.
Side Effects
The lack of comprehensive clinical trials on this drug makes it really hard to pinpoint the potential long-term effects of taking it. However, anecdotal data shows that it’s a well-tolerated drug that rarely causes severe adverse reactions.
A few users have reported mild side effects like nausea, dizziness, headaches, and some flushes.
Picamilon can be very dangerous at high levels. It can cause acute hypotension or low blood pressure. It can also interact with other drugs, so make sure to consult a licensed physician before taking it if you are using other medications.
Pregnant and breastfeeding women should avoid Picamilon.
Dosage
Picamilon is available in capsule, tablet, and powder form. Retailers do not provide any clear guidelines on how to dose the drug. Trials are also unclear on the appropriate dosages to use, and that’s because most of the studies are done in test tubes.
With that said, most people use between 50 to 100mg of Picamilon taken twice or thrice a day. We will advise you to consult a licensed medical practitioner for a clearer dosage guideline.
Final Thoughts
The evidence on Picamilon Sodium is fundamentally weak; no wonder the FDA has not approved the drug yet. With so many other GABA boosters out there, it will be ill-advised to go for a drug that is not backed by enough clinical trials. Finding a reliable vendor of Picamilon in the US is a struggle by itself, especially. You should consult your physician for better alternatives.