5 Benefits of Piracetam (Plus
Side Effects)
Ryan Raman, MS, RD
Nootropics, or smart drugs, are natural or synthetic substances
intended to improve your mental performance.
Piracetam is considered the first nootropic drug of its kind. It can be
purchased online or in health food stores and comes in both capsule
and powder form (1Trusted Source).
Itʼs a popular synthetic derivative of the neurotransmitter gammaAminobutyric acid (GABA), a chemical messenger that helps slow
down activity in your nervous system.
However, piracetam doesnʼt appear to affect your body in the same
way as GABA.
In fact, researchers still arenʼt entirely sure how it functions
(1Trusted Source).
That said, studies link the drug to several benefits, including
improved brain function, reduced dyslexia symptoms, and fewer
myoclonic seizures.
Here are 5 benefits of piracetam.
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1. May boost brain function
Research suggests that taking piracetam may enhance brain
function. Though itʼs unclear why, animal studies provide potential
reasons.
For example, animal studies indicate that piracetam makes cell
membranes more fluid. This makes it easier for cells to send and
receive signals, which aids communication (2Trusted Source,
3Trusted Source).
That could be a reason why its effects appear to be stronger in older
adults and people with mental issues, as research shows that their
cells membranes tend to be less fluid (4Trusted Source).
Other studies observe that piracetam increases your brainʼs blood
supply, as well as oxygen and glucose consumption, especially in
people with mental impairment. These are other factors that may
improve brain function (5Trusted Source, 6Trusted Source, 7Trusted
Source, 8Trusted Source, 9Trusted Source).
In one study in 16 healthy people, those taking 1,200 mg of
piracetam daily performed better at verbal learning tasks than
people in the placebo group after 14 days, though no differences in
memory and cognition had been detected after 7 days (10Trusted
Source).
In another 21-day study in 16 adults with dyslexia and 14 healthy
students, taking 1.6 grams of piracetam daily improved verbal
learning by 15% and 8.6%, respectively (11Trusted Source).
Additional research in 18 healthy, older adults found that
participants performed significantly better in a variety of learning
tasks when taking 4,800 mg of piracetam per day, compared to
when not supplementing with the drug (12Trusted Source).
Meanwhile, an analysis of three studies looked into the effects of
piracetam on people undergoing coronary bypass surgery, a
procedure that restores blood flow to the heart.
Brain impairment can be a side effect of this surgery. However,
piracetam improved short-term mental performance in people postsurgery, compared to a placebo (13Trusted Source).
That said, most human studies on piracetam and brain function are
fairly dated. More recent studies are needed before it can be
confidently recommended.
Summary Piracetam may improve mental performance, but its
effects take time to appear. Human studies on piracetam and
cognition are dated, and newer studies are needed.
2. May reduce dyslexia symptoms
Dyslexia is a learning disorder, which makes it harder to learn, read,
and spell.
Research indicates that piracetam may help people with dyslexia
learn and read better.
In one study, 225 children with dyslexia aged 7–13 were treated with
either 3.3 grams of piracetam or a placebo daily for 36 weeks. After
12 weeks, children taking piracetam showed significant
improvements in their ability to read and understand text (14Trusted
Source).
In another study, 257 boys with dyslexia aged 8–13 received either
3.3 grams of piracetam or a placebo daily for 12 weeks. Those
treated with piracetam significantly improved in reading speed and
short-term listening memory (15Trusted Source).
Additionally, a review of 11 studies in over 620 children and young
people with dyslexia observed that taking 1.2–3.3 grams of
piracetam daily for up to 8 weeks significantly improved learning
and comprehension (16Trusted Source).
However, most studies on this nootropic in people with dyslexia are
rather dated. Newer studies are needed before it can be
recommended as a treatment for dyslexia symptoms.
Summary Piracetam appears to aid learning and comprehension
in children and adults with dyslexia, but newer studies are
needed before it can be recommended.
3. May protect against myoclonic seizures
Myoclonic seizures are described as sudden involuntary muscle
spasms. They can make day-to-day activities like writing, washing,
and eating difficult (17Trusted Source).
Multiple studies have found that piracetam may protect against
myoclonic seizures.
For example, a case study in a 47-year-old woman who experienced
myoclonic seizures noted that taking 3.2 grams of piracetam daily
stopped her myoclonic jerks (18Trusted Source).
Similarly, a study in 18 adults with Unverricht-Lundborg disease, a
type of epilepsy that causes myoclonic seizures, showed that taking
24 grams of piracetam daily improved symptoms and signs of
disability caused by myoclonic seizures (17Trusted Source).
In another study, 11 people took up to 20 grams of piracetam daily
for 18 months alongside their existing medication to further help
reduce myoclonic seizure symptoms. Researchers found that
piracetam helped reduce the overall severity of myoclonic seizures
(19Trusted Source).
Summary Piracetam may reduce myoclonic seizure symptoms,
which include impairments in the ability to write, wash, and eat.
4. May reduce dementia and symptoms of
Alzheimerʼs disease
Dementia describes a group of symptoms that affect your memory,
ability to perform tasks, and communicate.
Alzheimerʼs disease is the most common cause of dementia.
Research suggests that damage caused by the build-up of amyloidbeta peptides may play a role in its development. These peptides
tend to clump together between nerve cells and disrupt their
function (20Trusted Source, 21Trusted Source).
Test-tube studies show that piracetam may protect against
dementia and Alzheimer's disease by preventing damage caused by
amyloid-beta peptide build-up (22Trusted Source, 23Trusted
Source, 24Trusted Source).
Human studies also indicate that piracetam may help boost mental
performance in older adults with dementia, Alzheimer's disease, or
general brain impairment.
For example, an analysis of 19 studies in approximately 1,500 adults
with dementia or brain impairment revealed that 61% of people
taking piracetam showed improved mental performance, compared
to only 33% with the placebo treatment (25Trusted Source).
In addition, a study in 104 people with Alzheimer's disease found
that taking 4.8 grams of piracetam for 4 weeks, followed by 2.4
grams for 2 weeks, improved memory, reaction speed,
concentration, and other markers of brain health (26Trusted
Source).
Still, other studies observed no effect (27Trusted Source).
Whatʼs more, most human studies on piracetam are short, which
means its long-term effects in people with Alzheimer's disease and
dementia remain unknown (28Trusted Source).
Summary Piracetam may improve mental performance in people
with dementia, Alzheimer's disease, and brain impairment.
However, its long-term effects on mental performance in these
groups are still not well understood.
5. May reduce inflammation and provide pain
relief
Inflammation is a natural response that helps your body heal and
fight diseases.
Nonetheless, persistent, low-level inflammation has been linked to
many chronic conditions, including cancer, diabetes, and heart and
kidney disease (29Trusted Source).
In animal studies, piracetam has been shown to have antioxidant
properties, which means it can reduce inflammation by helping
neutralize free radicals, which are potentially harmful molecules that
can damage your cells (30Trusted Source).
Whatʼs more, animal studies indicate that it can restore and
enhance your brain's natural antioxidant defenses, such as
glutathione, a powerful antioxidant produced by your body that
tends to become depleted with age and disease (31Trusted Source,
32Trusted Source).
Whatʼs more, piracetam helped reduce inflammation in animal
studies by suppressing the production of cytokines, which are
molecules that stimulate an immune response and trigger
inflammation (33Trusted Source, 34Trusted Source).
Piracetam also reduced swelling and pain related to inflammation in
animal studies (33Trusted Source, 35Trusted Source).
However, human studies are needed to determine whether the drug
can reduce inflammation and pain in people.
Summary Animal studies show that piracetam may reduce
inflammation and provide pain relief, but human studies are
needed before it can be recommended for this use.
Side effects
Generally speaking, piracetam is considered safe with little risk of
side effects.
In long-term studies, doses of up to 24 grams daily have had no
adverse effects (19Trusted Source, 36Trusted Source).
That said, some people may experience adverse effects, including
depression, agitation, tiredness, dizziness, insomnia, anxiety,
headaches, nausea, paranoia, and diarrhea (37Trusted Source).
Piracetam is not recommended for pregnant women or people with
kidney disorders (1Trusted Source).
Moreover, it may interact with medications, including blood thinners
like warfarin (38Trusted Source).
If youʼre taking any medications or have a medical condition, speak
with your healthcare provider before taking piracetam.
Summary Piracetam appears to be safe for most people, but
speak to your healthcare provider if youʼre on medication or have
any medical conditions. Pregnant women or people with kidney
disorders should not take piracetam.
Dosage and recommendations
Piracetam is sold under a variety of names, including Nootropil and
Lucetam.
Though the drug is not illegal in the United States, itʼs not approved
by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and may not be labeled
or sold as a dietary supplement.
You can purchase it from a number of online suppliers, but in some
countries, including Australia, you need a prescription.
Be sure to look for a product that has been tested by a third party to
ensure its quality.
Because of a lack of human studies, thereʼs no standard dosage for
piracetam.
Still, the following doses appear most effective based on current
research (1Trusted Source, 10Trusted Source, 12Trusted Source,
16Trusted Source, 17Trusted Source, 19Trusted Source, 26Trusted
Source):
Cognition and memory: 1.2–4.8 grams daily
Dyslexia: up to 3.3 grams daily
Mental disorders: 2.4–4.8 grams daily
Myoclonic seizures: 7.2–24 grams daily
Itʼs best to speak with your healthcare provider before taking
piracetam for any medical condition. In many cases, a more suitable
medication may be available.
Summary There is no standard dosage for piracetam. Though
the drug is legal in the United States, itʼs not approved by the
FDA as a dietary supplement. In some countries, you need a
prescription. Ask your healthcare provider before taking
piracetam.
The bottom line
Piracetam is a synthetic nootropic that may boost mental
performance.
Its positive effects on the brain seem more apparent in older adults,
as well as people with mental impairment, dementia, or learning
disorders, such as dyslexia.
That said, very few studies on piracetam exist, and most of the
research is dated, so new research is needed before it can be
recommended.
Piracetam is relatively safe for most people. Still, if youʼre taking
medication or have any medical disorders, speak to your healthcare
provider before trying this drug.