Aniracetam

What is Aniracetam prescribed for?

First developed in Belgium during the 1970s, Aniracetam is a nootropic drug of the racetam class. Being one of the original derivatives of Piracetam, Aniracetam is one of the oldest and most widely used smart drugs.

Although not approved by the FDA in the United States, it is approved, and commonly prescribed, in Europe for issues such as cognitive impairment and decline, depression, anxiety, and memory loss.

What Is Aniracetam Used For?

Aniracetam is one of the most commonly used Nootropics, with both user reports and clinical studies indicating that it has noticeable cognitive enhancement properties. While the majority of its use comes from individuals ordering it online for use in the Nootropic ‘stack’, Aniracetam is commonly prescribed for a variety of issues, which are listed below.

Depression: Although it is not formally approved for the treatment of depression, Aniracetam is routinely used as an off label auxiliary treatment for depression, with several studies showing it may be an effective treatment.

Anxiety: Doctors have been known to prescribe aniracetam for anxiety with some success. While not much research has been done on this topic, some preliminary research and case studies show promising results. There have also been some anecdotal reports of doctors prescribing aniracetam for social anxiety and other anxiety-related disorders. Because of the limited amount of research conducted on Aniracetam as a treatment for anxiety, there is no standard aniracetam dosage for anxiety. Most people start with a dose of 1200 – 1800 mg and adjust accordingly.

Cognitive Decline: The primary clinical use of all drugs in the Racetam class is for treating cognitive impairment and decline. Studies have shown that Racetams, combined with Cholinesterase inhibitors, can be effective in slowing down the cognitive decline and impairment caused by neurological disorders such as Alzheimer’s and Dementia.

Aniracetam Chemical Properties

The chemical structure of Aniracetam is very close to its parent compound Piracetam. Instead of having an amine group situation at its lone para position, the way Piracetam does, it has an additional anisoyl ring with an attached Hydroxy group. This minor change in structure makes Aniracetam an estimated 3 – 6 times more potent than Piracetam and increases its bioavailability.

As with most Racetams, some people may require higher or lower doses than others in order to benefit from its cognitive enhancing properties. Most users take somewhere between 800 – 2500 mg over the course of the day, usually split up into three evenly spread periods.

Many users take choline supplements with Aniracetam. The reason for this is that like all Racetams, Aniracetam modulates the release of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter closely associated with cognition and memory forming. Because of the increase in acetylcholine production, the user needs to ensure they are consuming enough choline, a precursor of acetylcholine. While some people choose to increase their choline intake by making dietary changes, others prefer to consume Choline supplements instead. The exact aniracetam choline dosage has not been studied in-depth, but most users take somewhere around 650mg of Choline Bitartrate in the morning.

Aniracetam Dosage

Low: 500 – 1200 mg

Common: 1200 – 1800mg

High: 1800 – 2400mg

Benefits Of Aniracetam

Increased Cognitive Function: Like all Racetams, the benefits of it can be most clearly observed by looking at its effects on cognition. Cognitive functions such as spatial intelligence, verbal fluidity, and increased memory recall have all been observed in individuals who have consistently consumed it. As previously mentioned, there is also evidence to show that Aniracetam can help with cognitive decline resulting from CNS and Neurological disorders.

Decreased Anxiety: It has excitatory effects on AMPA receptors in the brain, known to play a major role in chronic anxiety issues. While its exact mechanism of action is not yet known, it has been shown in both clinical and case studies to be effective for some individuals in the management of long term anxiety. This is a particularly novel aniracetam benefits and is not observed in all compounds in the Racetam family.

Improved Memory: Because of the way it interacts with neurotransmitter production and their corresponding receptors, it has been demonstrated to aid in the formation of new memories. Users report having faster and more vivid memory recall while supplementing with it.

What Are Warnings And Possible Side Effects Of Aniracetam?

As with most Racetams, it is well tolerated and users rarely experience side effects. Safety studies and anecdotal reports from the nootropic community suggest that it is safe even when taken in high doses over long periods. When side effects do occur they are usually mild and stop upon discontinuing consumption. The most common Aniracetam side effects include.

-Headaches

-Anxiety

-Insomnia

-Scattered thinking

-Restlessness

It effects people differently and anyone consuming it should be closely monitoring themselves throughout the first week or two of intake. The effects of it on developing brains has not been studied and as a result is not recommended for people under the age of 19.