Piracetam
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| Trade names | Breinox, Dinagen, Lucetam, Nootropil, Nootropyl, Oikamid, Piracetam and many others |
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Oral, parenteral, or vaporized |
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| Bioavailability | ~100% |
| Biological half-life | 4–5 hr |
| Excretion | Urinary |
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| ECHA InfoCard | 100.028.466 |
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| Formula | C6H10N2O2 |
| Molar mass | 142.16 g/mol |
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Piracetam (sold under many brand names) is a nootropic drug in the racetams group, with chemical name 2-oxo-1-pyrrolidine acetamide. It shares the same 2-oxo-pyrrolidone base structure with pyroglutamic acid. Piracetam is a cyclic derivative of GABA (gamma-Aminobutyric acid). Presently piracetam is used in many European countries, Asia and South America. In the United States, it is not approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for any medical use and it is not permitted to be sold as a dietary supplement. In the UK, piracetam is prescribed mainly for myoclonus, but is used off-label for other conditions. Evidence to support its use for many conditions is unclear.
A 2001 Cochrane review concluded that there was not enough evidence to support piracetam for dementia or cognitive problems. A 2002 review and 2005 review concluded that piracetam had some positive effects in older patients with these problems. In 2008, a working group of the British Academy of Medical Sciences noted that many of the trials of piracetam for dementia were flawed.
Some sources suggest that piracetam's overall effect on lowering depression and anxiety is higher than on improving memory. However, depression is reported to be an occasional adverse effect of piracetam.
Peripheral vascular effects of piracetam have suggested its use potential for vertigo, dyslexia and sickle cell anemia. A subsequent Cochrane review of the evidence did not support piracetam's use in sickle cell crisis prevention. Piracetam may have potential for the treatment of the symptoms of childhood autism.
Piracetam has been found to have very few side effects, and those it has are typically "few, mild, and transient." A large-scale, 12-week trial of high-dose piracetam found no adverse effects occurred in the group taking piracetam as compared to the placebo group. Many other studies have likewise found piracetam to be well tolerated.
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Wikipedia