No matter if you are studying or working, everything requires intense focus. You need to deeply concentrate to achieve the best results in whatever you are doing. 

With this in mind, research has been done to develop products in the form of nootropics that can help the brain focus, stabilize mood and strengthen memory. 

Today, we are talking about a specific family of nootropics, called the racetam family, and in particular Aniracetam which has the capability to do all of these things at once.

Individuals who want to ace their next exam or who aim to meet their company’s targets, of them require concentration and repeated efforts to solve an issue or look at a problem with intense focus. 

And, trust me, aniracetam is one of the great options to increase mental processes with minimal adverse effects related to overall health.

Let’s read more about what aniracetam offers!  

What is Aniracetam?

Aniracetam is a nootropic, specifically an ampakine nootropic. This nootropic is known by several names, including Draganon, Sarpul, Memodrin, Ampamet and Referan. It is well known scientifically by N-anisoyl-2-pyrrolidinone (1).

Aniracetam belongs to the class of racetam chemicals, which are supposed to help enhance cognitive processes at a greater level. Recently, it has garnered the most interest from scientists seeking a prospective treatment for Alzheimer’s disease.

This drug is sold in Europe as a prescription drug. However, it is important to note that it has been tested mostly on animals. 

It has also been tested and shown promising results for Alzheimer’s patients and has shown benefits to those seeking better cognitive results. 

How does it work?

Aniracetam’s exact mechanism of action is not well known to many, however aniracetam improves brain health and performance in a variety of ways. Two of the most common hypothesis are: 

It operates on an AMPA receptor in a brain cell (neuron). AMPA is an acronym that stands for alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole propionic acid. AMPA receptors aid in the rapid transmission of signals between neurons (2). 

Aniracetam may improve memory, focus, and alertness via activating AMPA receptors. Anxiety is reduced by AMPA receptors. The drug breaks down quickly when it is taken orally. This allows for the effects to be felt quickly as well. 

Second, aniracetam contains certain metabolites, the primary role of which is to affect the glutamate system in the brain. It lowers glutamate receptor desensitization (3). This increases the availability of the neurotransmitter glutamate in the brain.

Now of course, more glutamate means better cognition and memory. Besides, it also accounts for better neuroprotection and repair due to brain injury.

Aniracetam Benefits

One thing to expect from this supplement is that it’s fast-acting. It won’t take forever for you to feel the effects of this nootropic compound. 

Aniracetam for Creativity

The influence on creativity is more related to a clarity of thought than a boost to the actual creative effort. However, some users do see a significant impact on their creativity and ability to just see things from a new perspective, based solely on their daily intake of Aniracetam.

These individuals noted an ability to think more clearly and see a different potential solution to a problem, which can be considered thinking outside the box or having a creative boost. 

Finding solutions to a challenging problem or creating a new opportunity may seem like the individual’s creativity has been improved as well. 

Note that there is no clinical evidence suggesting the potential role of Aniracetam in boosting creativity.

Enhanced Memory and Learning Capacity

Aniracetam’s reputation as a memory booster is supported by research that shows it can improve functional memory and even reverse memory impairment (4). ‍

Aniracetam was found to improve numerous areas of memory in a study involving healthy human individuals, including visual recognition, motor performance, and general intellectual functioning.

Decreasing Anxiety

Aniracetam works best as an anxiolytic (anxiety reducer). Aniracetam effectively reduced anxiety and boosted social interaction in rats, probably by a combination of dopaminergic and serotonergic activities, according to animal research (5). 

There has been no published research on aniracetam’s anxiolytic effect on humans. However, in a clinical investigation on its usage as a dementia treatment, individuals receiving aniracetam reported reduced anxiety. 

Improves Mood

Aniracetam is said to be a mood stabilizer. It provides the user a feeling that is sometimes described as a “high.” This feeling is comparable to completing an exhilarating obstacle course or accomplishing a goal you have been working long and hard to reach.

These activities trigger the release of dopamine which is helpful to improve mood and help an individual avoid feeling depressed or sad (6). 

Dementia Treatment

One of the few human studies on aniracetam reveals that it could be a beneficial treatment for dementia patients (7).

Dementia patients treated with aniracetam had dramatically improved cognitive performance, function, and mood as well as emotional stability.

Is Aniracetam Legal?

In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration has not set regulations or legal parameters for this drug. Because there is no FDA approval for this drug, it is available without a prescription in nutrition stores and through other online vendors.

Supplements that have not been approved by the FDA are simply not studied enough. Therefore, it is a simple matter to find this drug through reputable nutrition stores or online vendor sites that have a good reputation as well. 

There is no prescription required, which means you can obtain and use the drug without a doctor’s recommendation.

Dosage

Aniracetam is not regulated by the FDA. For this reason, there are no specific guidelines for dosage based on age or weight. 

Generally, users have found great success with a dosage somewhere between 600 mg and 3,000 mg, with most users taking less than 1,000 and finding significant benefit, even when taking the same amount for a significant period of time.

It is important not to increase the dosage drastically as eventually, it will cause more issues, like brain fog. 

Again, what would I recommend is starting with a low dose and then climb your way up. 

How to Use Aniracetam?

The easiest method to take Aniracetam seems to be either a capsule or pill. However, it is also available in powder form.

Taking 750 mg seems to be the most optimal dose for users. Some have found success in taking 750 mg in the morning and then adding another dose as needed in the afternoon if they have a big project or other reason to need mental clarity in the later part of the day.

Many users tend to gravitate toward taking the supplement in pill form. This is easy, since it can be swallowed and the effects still begin relatively quickly. The drug is absorbed through the stomach or intestine, which means its effects are felt quickly if it is digested quickly.

Taking Aniracetam Sublingually

Taking this drug by placing it under your tongue is beneficial because in order to get optimal effects, the mucous membrane of the tongue is very helpful for absorption. 

Aniracetam is easy to find for oral administration but may or may not be easy to find for sublingual use.

Taking It Orally With Food

This tends to be the most popular and most successful method of drug intake. This is because it has a short half-life, requiring more than one dosage per day. Also, the drug is absorbed optimally when taken with food and with a lipid of some sort. 

This also is a good method so you do not forget to take your one or two daily doses. Pairing it with meals helps with absorption and also helps create a routine that you can maintain because you don’t forget to eat. 

Side Effects

Despite the benefits that this nootropic provides, it has a fair share of cons as well. For some people, the side effects are minimal or not even worth mentioning. For others, the side effects far outweigh the benefits of the drug. 

It is important to note that the most commonly reported side effect is a headache. This is usually related to taking a higher dosage than necessary, which leads to headaches. 

High doses of aniracetam can result in a feeling of excessive nervousness, digestive discomfort, or both. If either of these effects occurs, the dosage should be reduced.

Some users have also reported insomnia as well. 

Safety, Interactions and Tolerance 

Avoiding alcohol is recommended when taking Aniracetam because aniracetam may interact with alcohol. The increased blood flow in the brain due to the drug means a more significant impact from the alcohol in a shorter period of time. For some, this is a great feeling and does not lead to significant issues afterward.

For others, this also means an increased hangover once the alcohol wears off. This is not a pleasurable experience and the benefits are far outweighed by the issues. 

Building a tolerance to Aniracetam is a possibility, as with any drug. Nevertheless, the greater challenge when it comes to the racetam family of drugs is to find the ideal dosage without overdoing it to lose the maximum benefits of the drug.

Half-Life

Now the half-life of Aniracetam is reported to be two hours. Meanwhile, the effects of the drug can be noted for as long as four to five hours after taking a dose. For those who prefer to keep the cognitive effects enhanced during the day, it is a logical progression to take a dose in the afternoon that can help keep your thinking enhanced, creativity levels up and socialization efforts at maximum results from minimal effort. 

For the ones who report feeling a high when taking this medication, that late afternoon dose could have an impact on your sleep patterns. 

Meanwhile, those who tend to see the effects wear off more quickly or even feel they take longer to kick in might be experiencing the slow buildup of a tolerance to the drug. If this is the case, a slight adjustment to dosage needs to occur.

Reviews & User Experience

In today’s world of technology, there’s no better way of knowing about the effects of the supplement than by reading other users’ reviews. That’s exactly where we come in. We have listed the effects to let you know what you can expect from this racetam compound, based on reports from users.

Let’s see what some Reddit users have experienced in regard to this drug. 

“Well, it’s only been about 5 days since I started taking Aniracetam daily but the results are already quite staggering. Decreased anxiety, cheerier attitude, better focus, less frustration, better sleep. I’m not sure why it’s affecting me the way it is so far but I only hope that it keeps up as time goes on.

So far the only downside is the second and third day I felt a bit dissociated but after cutting out the choline entirely on the fourth day I’ve found that the benefits increased dramatically. I think I get enough choline in my diet that I don’t need to supplement that and it may have been the cause of that dissociation.”

Enzor

“One thing I’ll have to admit though, Aniracetam kind of dumbs you down compared to other nootropics… While it does mitigate anxiety, it made me stare off into space a bit, which is unusual for me. I would definitely recommend mixing Aniracetam with a focus-based nootropic to prevent being dumbed down. Since Aniracetam lacks stimulant properties and has a short duration, it did not interfere with sleep.”

Selasce

“This is the first time I’ve ever taken something that truly has improved my cognitive capacity. My mind has never been so clear. This was my first day taking it. I took 750mg, 3x throughout the day. I have been battling with severe stress, anxiety and depression. For the first time I feel optimistic. I could actually bear myself and complete my studying/work. 

Usually: things don’t work on me, I am a real drug pessimist. I am absolutely blown away by how therapeutic this is for me. I am able to see things clearer and make better decisions. I know for some people, they don’t feel Aniracetam for up to a month. But I couldn’t imagine this getting any better. I am almost excited about waking up early and being productive tomorrow.”

Canibeyourdoctor

“Aniracetam – doses of 1.5g. This stuff really worked. Unlike the other racetams I’ve tried, I felt this stuff instantly. The first couple days of taking it I felt like I was on some kind of mild hallucinogenic. Where piracetam made colors more vibrant, this stuff made my vision seem significantly clearer, as if everything was in a higher resolution. I’d notice so much detail in everything. The outline of all the leaves on the trees was very apparent. Textured surfaces looked more interesting. Everything seemed so much more detailed and interesting. For a couple of days after class, I’d just drive around looking at stuff for fun.

Unlike the other racetams, aniracetam actually gave me energy instead of making me tired and out of it. After the first several days the effects became much more subtle but still positive.”

Clide024

Well it’s quite clear that aniracetam benefits more than causing problems. 

Aniracetam Stacks

Stacking works pretty well for this nootropic. It will require you to have a few off days in order to find the best combined dosages for mental clarity and optimal mood stabilization. 

If you don’t want to mess around with your own stacks, I would recommend taking a proven stack like CogniShield which has a balanced blend of 4 nootropics that work very well together.

Aniracetam and Oxiracetam

Aniracetam enhances memory and improves mood, while Oxiracetam improves the individual’s ability to think related to specific functions, like mathematical equations and logical processes. 

With these two combined, an individual can benefit greatly.

Aniracetam and Piracetam

Piracetam is the predecessor to Aniracetam and is less effective, by as much as 30 times in some cases. With this in mind, some people may consider combining the two in a stack to provide better cognitive functioning and improve chances of socializing at a higher rate and also allow for a better mood.

Users who have combined the two in a stack have found they experience more peace of mind and less stress, as well as improved thought processes and memory. 

This is because Piracetam has been found to act as a boost to other drugs in the racetam family. This leads to more open oxygen pathways in the brain and a correlating improvement in the effects of Aniracetam.

Aniracetam and Choline

This combination is commonly used by those who hope to improve cognitive abilities and memory with the use of Aniracetam. This stack, in particular provides improved benefits and decreased risk of side effects. 

It is important to note, however, that a combination with Choline may be the cause of fatigue and a sleepy feeling.

When considering a stack of Aniracetam and Choline, there are three viable options for Choline. Those are: 

• Alpha GPC Choline– increases the amount of acetylcholine produced in the brain, which helps with memory and cognitive function, as does Aniracetam. 
• CDP Choline, also known as Citicoline–becomes both Choline and cytidine when ingested. The cytidine becomes Uridine, which promotes cognitive abilities. 
• Centrophenoxine– supplies Choline to the body and allows for better memory processes and cognitive functioning boosts.

Aniracetam and Noopept

Combining these two may seem ideal since both have the impact of increased cognitive function and help in focus and socialization. 

Users have found that their cognitive abilities were not improved at all when combining these two in a stack. Instead, taking each drug separately had much greater results than attempting to take the two in a stack together.

Where to Buy Aniracetam? 

Because Aniracetam is considerably backed by scientific research, thus you will find this quality nootropic at a couple of online vendors. 

I would love to list down my personal favorite and you can honestly buy from any of them. 

Aniracetam Vs Other Compounds

Certain drugs have comparable effects to the use of Aniracetam. However, those drugs may have more potential side effects or may even be illegal for purchase. 

For this reason, it is a good idea to understand the use of different drugs in the racetam family or other drugs that compare in general effects.

Oxiracetam vs Aniracetam

When it comes to a boost in mental productivity and a mood stabilizer, both oxiracetam and aniracetam are great options. 

Oxiracetam, when compared to Aniracetam, is said to have the ability to optimize the mental processes of the individual taking it. This drug is considered especially beneficial if you are handling mathematical equations or logic problems. The drug also helps improve two of the five senses: hearing and sight.

Oxiracetam seems to affect the activity of two specific neurotransmitters, Acetylcholine and Glutamate. However, it does not significantly influence dopamine and serotonin. Mental energy and productivity are both boosted by Oxiracetam. 

Meanwhile, Aniracetam does have an impact on the activity of dopamine and serotonin. It provides a smooth boost to all mental processes and a smooth transition from anxiety or a depressed mood to an improved state. This can be beneficial in an academic setting, a work setting or numerous other scenarios. 

Another great benefit of Aniracetam is stress relief. This benefit does not seem to come with choosing to take Oxiracetam. 

Noopept vs Aniracetam

Noopept and Aniracetam both improve memory and cognitive functioning. This means both have great benefits when you need to focus to study for an important test or other situation that requires intense focus. 

One notable benefit of Noopept, however, is that the dosage needed to receive the same benefits as Aniracetam is significantly less.

Noopept helps with both long and short-term memory because it helps the brain not only retrieve memories but consolidate them in an appropriate manner. Motivation, drive and even linguistic abilities are improved by this drug. 

One downside of Noopept is the potential side effects which include, Headache, fatigue, lower libido, loss of appetite, dizziness and restlessness. Aniracetam provides similar cognitive benefits when taken at a greater dosage. 

It also can have similar side effects in some people. Care should be taken when taking either of these two drugs, both of which are part of the Racetam family.

Aniracetam vs Pramiracetam

Initially, you may consider these two drugs to be the same. They both provide comparable benefits and both belong to the racetam family.

Pramiracetam provides as much as 10 times more potency than Aniracetam. Mental and cognitive processes can be felt as they are improved. This is also true of emotional stability, as users have reported being able to take note of when the mood changed.

Pramiracetam is said to drastically improve creativity and thinking outside the box. This is due to increased blood flow to the brain, which is something that Aniracetam also provides. However, this comes without the additional mood stabilization offered by Aniracetam. 

In addition to that, Pramiracetam has a longer half-life than Aniracetam and both of these drugs are fat-soluble and absorbed through the intestinal tract. 

One great feature of Aniracetam, however, that Pramiracetam does not is that Aniracetam provides an anti-oxidant that keeps healthy brain cells from aging. This is a benefit to overall health and cognitive processing.

Is Aniracetam Legit?

In all, racetams are the staple of the nootropic world. And aniracetam is among the most popular racetams in the world of cognition-enhancing smart drugs. Every individual has their personal preference when it comes to neurologically active compounds, but aniracetam is one of those that seem to work on most people.

While aniracetam is a great compound with a diverse range of effects, you might also want to stack it with other supplements, depending on what your requirements are. For instance, if you want to boost your cognitive performance, it might not be able to offer top results. 

Even though you don’t really need a doctor’s prescription to purchase this product, it’s advised that you consult your doctor before starting on any sort of supplements that affect your brain.