Noopept vs. Piracetam: Differences & What’s Better

Updated on February 25, 2024
 by — reviewed by Jason Williams, PhD (Contributor: George Collins / Editor: Yoko Hill)
A comparison of Noopept and Piracetam, highlighting their unique impacts on brain function and neural connections.

Nootropics, also known as smart drugs, are supplements used to improve cognitive function. Healthy people take these drugs to improve mental performance.

Two of the best nootropics in the market are Piracetam and Noopept.

These are synthetic nootropics, which means they are produced similarly to the other over-the-counter (OTC) drugs found in pharmacies, laboratories, or factories.

Synthetically produced nootropics are more affordable than natural nootropics or natural stimulants, and its effects can be felt in minutes rather than hours or days.

To the new user, there may not be much of a difference between Piracetam and Noopept. Although both provide the functions of a nootropic, each has its pros and cons. We covered many of those in our Noopept critique.

Noopept vs. Piracetam Overview: Benefits and Side Effects

Let’s dive into this topic.

Noopept

Noopept has the generic name n-phenylacetyl-l-prolylglycine ethyl ester. It was developed in the late 90s as a cognitive drug to improve memory problems such as Alzheimer s disease and other types of dementia.

Noopept is a fast-acting synthetic nootropic that increases brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels in the brain. It can easily cross the blood-brain barrier making it more potent than other nootropics.

BDNF is a compound that promotes the growth of healthy brain cells. Due to the development of new cells, Noopept speeds up our brain processes and memory retrieval.

Clinical studies on humans show that Noopept is well-tolerated in the human body. When taken at the recommended dose, Noopept shows to have no observable side effects and low toxicity.

However, at high doses, one may experience any of the following symptoms:

  • Headaches
  • Insomnia
  • Fatigue
  • Nausea
  • Gastrointestinal problems

Noopept has many animal studies showing its generally positive effects. There are studies on humans suffering from brain injuries where Noopept has made recovery quicker.

However, more studies have to be done on healthy people to evaluate Noopept as a nootropic.

Noopept has also been used as an anti-anxiety and mood enhancement supplement. Users claim that Noopept has helped treat depression, although these have not been verified by medical studies that undergo peer review.

The United States’ FDA has not given out a license for Noopept. However, Noopept is a prescription drug used to treat Russia’s cognitive function problems, where it was first synthesized.

As Noopept is unlicensed in the US, it makes it cheaper to acquire Noopept, but users have to purchase it from trusted sellers due to the unlicensed status.

Biohackers and nootropic users strongly advise buying from suppliers who can provide a chemical analysis report, like spectroscopy, showing that their supply is 97% pure (pharmaceutical grade).

Piracetam

Piracetam is the brand name for 2-oxo-1-pyrrolidine. It was developed in Belgium in the 1960s to help improve cognitive problems suffered by the elderly population.

Multiple studies prove the efficacy and safety of a nootropic, and Piracetam is an older synthetic nootropic that satisfies these qualifications.

Although it has many studies, only a few are considered of good quality. Most of the studies show that Piracetam is useful for patients with age-related memory decline.

However, there is no proof that it gives any long-term benefits for healthy patients. More peer review studies have to be done to provide better insight into its properties.

Users get the same benefits as other nootropics, like preventing age-related neuro-decline, improving sensory protection, and enhancing moods.

The mechanism of action in the body is not yet fully understood. However, a popularly accepted theory is that it works by enhancing neuronal function. To do this, it must improve membrane fluidity, resulting in increased mitochondrial function. An increase in mitochondrial function then helps general brain function.

Like Noopept, Piracetam is well-tolerated in the body. But at high doses, side effects may be observed, such as the following:

  • Insomnia
  • Drowsiness
  • Agitation
  • Headaches

Piracetam is not licensed under the US FDA. Like Noopept, caution must be exerted when looking for vendors.

Make sure your vendor can provide third-party chemical analysis to ensure that you are buying pharmaceutical grade Piracetam.

Noopept vs. Piracetam Comparison

Let’s compare the two compounds:

Potency and Bioavailability

Based on the available research, Piracetam is most effective for those with existing cognitive problems.

Piracetam is absorbed and utilized well by the human body. This shows its good bioavailability. It has a longer half-life than other nootropics like aniracetam.

Noopept, when compared to Piracetam, does not have very good bioavailability. Thus, Noopept is best taken sublingually for its better absorption into the human body.

Others often stack it with Alpha GPC to achieve better results. Despite its low bioavailability, Noopept is more potent than Piracetam as it uses lower concentrations and its effects show up faster.

Dosage and How to Use

The recommended dose for Noopept is 10-30 mg per day. Like most drugs, this depends on the user’s age and cognitive decline.

Users weighing less than 140 lbs are advised to take 10 mg/day. Those between 140-200 lbs could take 20 mg/day, while users weighing above 200 lbs can handle 30 mg/day.

The dose is to be spaced out within the day, to be taken three times over 24 hours. This means those who can tolerate a 30 mg/day dose should be taking three 10 mg doses throughout the day.

Piracetam requires a larger dose. A conservative dose falls between 1,600-4,800 mg per day. Once this dose is tolerated, experienced users can work up to 9,600 mg per day.

Noopept is water-soluble and can be taken orally or dissolved in water or water-based substances (like tea and juices). However, it is recommended to take it in a sublingual method and to stack Noopept with Choline. This is by placing the pill at the bottom of your tongue, allowing your saliva to dissolve it to your mouth floor.

Piracetam is also water-soluble. However, it can be taken the oral route with water or other water-based substances. There are existing drug interactions with Piracetam, so it is best to avoid using alcohol or recreational drugs.

Types of Users

Different types of people use nootropics. A person’s preference for Noopept and Piracetam depends on their tolerance, experience, and help gauge the right dose for you.

  • New users — users who are starting with nootropics can start with Piracetam. It takes more time to show its effects, which is great for users who would like to gauge their tolerance and preference in using cognitive stimulants.
  • Experienced users — users who have used Piracetam can proceed to use Noopept for a different experience. As Noopept’s effects show up in a shorter amount of time, it provides a new adventure. This option is good for users who have built a tolerance for Piracetam and no longer see any positive effects or for those who want to experience a faster effect from their nootropics.
  • Memory enhancers — users who use smart pills to boost their memory find it helps to combine Noopept and Piracetam. Many people use this technique and receive positive results.

People in this category may be biohackers or those experiencing or wanting to prevent any memory problems.

Noopept vs. Piracetam: Which is Better?

Nootropics like these depend on the goals and conditions of the user. Medical advice for Piracetam and Noopept is generally scattered and still being researched to understand further how they work for the body.

Piracetam is a tried-and-tested nootropic but is not as potent as Noopept. On the other hand, Noopept is a newer nootropic but has gained popularity in the biohacking and nootropics community for its potency.

There is even Noopept Reddit, where Redditors who use it can discuss their experience, share their nootropics source, and further discuss other biohacking advice.

Personally, Noopept wins the Piracetam vs. Noopept comparison. Although both are similar, the former can be taken at lower doses than Piracetam. It also provides a faster effect than

Piracetam, which is important if the user is looking into nootropics to increase productivity and brain function.

Conclusion

Piracetam and Noopept are the synthetic cognitive stimulants that encapsulate the nootropic definition.

Although both drugs are very similar in terms of structure and function, Noopept is considered the better nootropic as its effects on brain performance is observed faster than Piracetam.

Noopept also requires lower doses than Piracetam.

When using stimulants like these, it is important to seek medical advice if they are for you. Both stimulants are not yet licensed under the US FDA. Thus, users need to seek trusted vendors for their nootropics.

Further research is being done to help understand the roles of nootropics in cognitive function. This makes it an exciting topic to watch out for.

With increased knowledge of nootropics, memory enhancement enthusiasts are hopeful that medical advice for these cognitive stimulants may be more positive in the future.

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