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Your Piracetam dosage is wrong

June 17, 2013 By Pill Scout 21 Comments

Piracetam is a popular nootropic, or “smart drug,” perhaps because it was one of the first substances to be dubbed “nootropic” due to its studied cognitive-enhancing properties. What’s more, it lacks the negative effects of stimulants and methamphetamine analogues like Adderall, Ritalin, and so on. This is the basic definition of a nootropic — a cognitive enhancer with virtually no negative side effects.

In bulk, Piracetam is a nondescript white powder with an extremely bitter flavor, like grapefruit rind on steroids. Personally, I don’t mind the flavor so much, but if you get into Piracetam and you hate the taste, you may want to consider putting them in capsules yourself.

I’m not going to go in-depth on what Piracetam is right now other than that it’s one of the most tried and true smart drugs on the market. It’s widely-available and relatively cheap. I’m just going to explain what dosage you should be taking and why.

brainpower by piracetam

Piracetam dosage for newbs

Remember all of that stuff about “loading dosage”? That’s just bullshit they say you can buy more piracetam later.

A lot of nerds on the ‘net like to say you should take loading dosages, add more grams every day, etc. All of that is stupid nonsense, and has no effect on cognition. If anything, it has a negative effect.

The most effective cognitive-boosting dosage for piracetam is 4.8 grams every 8 hours. For a normal person, this is just twice a day, ~10 grams total.

This is based off the findings of the following studies:

Study #1 – Basically finds that 4.8 grams is optimal for cognitive enhancement

These segments were tested for direct effects on brain function of three single doses of piracetam (2.9, 4.8 or 9.6 g) and a placebo given double-blind in balanced order. Piracetam mainly affected the map landscape of the time segments following the triplet’s last digit. U-shaped dose-dependent effects were found; they were strongest after [single doses of] 4.8 g piracetam. Since these particular ERP segments are recognized to be strongly correlated to cognitive functions, the present findings suggest that single medium [4.8 g] doses of piracetam selectively activate differently located or oriented neurons during cognitive steps of information processing.

Study #2 – Basically says 4.8 is optimal for cognitive enhancement. Less is pointless, and 9.6 grams is as effective as taking placebo (a.k.a. diddly squat)

Four treatment levels were used: 2.4, 4.8, 9.6 g piracetam and placebo. Brain electric activity was assessed through Global Dimensional Complexity and Global Omega-Complexity as quantitative measures of the complexity of the trajectory of multichannel EEG in state space. After oral ingestion (1-1.5 h), both measures showed significant decreases from placebo to 2.4 g piracetam. In addition, Global Dimensional Complexity showed a significant return to placebo values at 9.6 g piracetam. The results indicate that a single dose of piracetam dose-dependently affects the spontaneous EEG in normal volunteers, showing effects at the lowest treatment level. The decreased EEG complexity is interpreted as increased cooperativity of brain functional processes.

A couple of the studies (cited in the thread linked below) mention that doses such as the 9.6 grams are necessary for therapeutic benefits, but unless you have Alzheimer’s or another degenerative condition, you don’t need to take that much in a single dose.

Remember, just 4.8 grams!

My excellent references

  • [1] Single doses of piracetam affect 42-channel event-related potential microstate maps in a cognitive paradigm.
  • [2] Single-dose piracetam effects on global complexity measures of human spontaneous multichannel EEG.
  • The forum thread that had all of this information to begin with

A parting note: if you’re state-side and you haven’t tried Piracetam yet, you should get yours here.

Pill Scout

Pill Scout is a nutrition enthusiast who strives to find the best substances to enhance the everyday experience.

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Filed Under: Nootropics, Racetam, Supplements Tagged With: Piracetam

  • Peter Phoenix

    What happens when you stack it with other supplements like choline?

    • http://pillscout.com Pill Scout

      Good question.

      Choline (in lecithin form) is great with piracetam because it keeps you from feeling that brainiac rage you get when your mind is on but everyone else seems “off”. It’s also supposed to serve as extra “brain fuel” when the piracetam inevitably kicks your mind up to a higher level, so overall it’s just good and makes your mind feel more “on” than just piracetam alone.

      The best form of choline is from lecithin, and in supplement form, you can’t beat sunflower lecithin. When I have the time I’d just eat handfuls of sunflower seeds or make sure to get plenty of egg yolks that day, both are excellent sources of lecithin and choline.

      Other forms of choline (bitartrate, CDP choline, etc.) might be a buck cheaper but they are inferior and have strange side effects, particularly depressive states of mind. For that reason I no longer take those forms of choline (which happened to be included in one nootropic capsule I used to take) if I’m not taking the lecithin form with it.

      • http://gravatar.com/peterthephoenix Peter Phoenix

        Wow thanks for the detailed response! I had no idea you had such a depth of experience about this matter.

        I’m curious about what supplements you currently implement in day to day use.

        • http://pillscout.com Pill Scout

          Thanks man. I’ll write about that soon. I rotate a lot of things in and out of my daily stack.

  • http://brandonjameshollow.wordpress.com/ brandonjameshollow

    Lecithin is the lowest grade Choline supplement (in pill form, not healthy food) with only 12-16% bioavailability per dose. I am not trying to be pretentious, apologies if it comes off that way. I also don’t buy into the whole “Alpha GPC is the new black” theory. It is so not worth the money. Centrophenexine and Citocholine are great and even Standard Choline Bitartrate has about 50-55% per dose and costs the same as Phosphatidyl or Soy Lecithin. To each his own though.

    : )

  • http://Tony Keytar

    thank you for a very simple and straightforward set of instructions! For research purposes, I also purchased pure phenibut powder. Do you have a recommendation for combining piracetam with it?

  • ruthlessdj

    @brandonjames

    what choline source you use?

  • Tarasco

    Watch out for the addictive effects and horrible withdrawl of Phenibut….when they recommend a washout….pay attention…!

  • http://gravatar.com/jaftraining physical, mental and emotional strength

    I’ve bought the piracetam powder…How much do I measure out for my first time? The poser amount is 125G..I am nervous to try it sense I have tried fat burners and BS things in my past that gave me anxiety attacks. My boyfriend has reassured me it won’t do this…What do you suggest as a first time user of piracetam? And should I take it with my bulletproof coffee or separate?

    • http://pillscout.com Pill Scout

      Hi,

      Piracetam is an anxiolytic, so it shouldn’t cause you any issues if you take it with a bit of choline or lecithin. Personally I think the lecithin has the most profound effect on lowering anxiety along with any nootropic and is my go-to cholinergic if I don’t have any choline sources on hand. As always, your mileage may vary, since some people are sensitive to choline (like me) so experiment when you can.

      You can take it with coffee if you wish, but I recommend not mixing it into anything you don’t mind having an awful taste! I’d shoot it down with water. Measure out 4.8 grams for the recommended research dosage. Usually 1 g of choline would go along with this (if you aren’t overly sensitive to it), or 2 g lecithin.

      Enjoy!

      – Pill Scout

  • Lillian B

    Hello,
    I’m very curious to try piracetam, I don’t have any cognitive or mental impairment and I’m not on any other medication but I also don’t want to take it every day or anything like that. I’m curious to know whether you can take it only on the day that I think I might need it or if I need to have it for a while before it starts working. This might sound stupid but I’m just curious to try it so I can see what I can achieve, I don’t really plan on taking it every day (unless I have to to make it work) I want to know if you have any recommendation for this sort of use.
    You mentioned that 4.8g every 8 hours was the optimal uptake, would this be the same for a first-time user who just wants to give it a go and see what happens? I also noticed there’s a generic called noortropil that contains 400 or 800 milligrams, in this case would it be alright to take 12 pills every 8 hours? I’m really sorry if this sounds completely idiotic, I would like to get my facts straight.
    Thank you in advance.

    Best wishes,
    Lillian B.

    • http://pillscout.com Pill Scout

      Yes, you don’t have to take it every day. Some people will tell you otherwise, but I don’t think this is the case.

      The dosage is based on studies (posted in this very article) where less than 4.8 g did virtually nothing, and more than that was as effective as placebo. It’s assumed that this 4.8 is the same for everyone who wants cognitive enhancement from piracetam.

      If you have to take capsules to get that dosage, then yes. A choline source is always recommended too.

      • Lillian B

        Thank you for your prompt response!

  • http://twitter.com/GoodLookingLosr Good Looking Loser (@GoodLookingLosr)

    Good post, I mega-dosed piracetam when I was studying for the LSAT in 2006 and when taking other “stuff” through the years.

    The megadosing did nothing other than make me want to gag more.

  • http://twitter.com/GoodLookingLosr Good Looking Loser (@GoodLookingLosr)

    and the “loading” that others suggest is silly – the stuff isn’t like creatine that has to get into your muscles .

  • http://jeremiezulaski.com Jeremie Zulaski

    Longtime nootropic stack user. At 4.8g how would you suggest someone ingest this dose daily? I have been filling 00 capsules at roughly 750mg for years but have not ingested 7 at a go. Do you do so, or mix powder with fluid and it seems as though dissolution is unlikely.

    PS: Odd lead-in to the links provided to bolster your post but I am old-fashioned I guess…

    • http://pillscout.com Pill Scout

      Hey Jeremie, thanks for writing.

      Unless it tastes like something awful and/or it’s only fat-soluble like Pramiracetam I take my nootropics straight. Even Piracetam, I pour all 5 grams right onto my tongue and chase it with juice. I’ve mixed it into a beverage or glass of water before, and it just seems to make you taste it more unless you chug it down quickly.

      Understandably most people do not like the taste of Piracetam let alone most nootropics, this is why I prefer the ones that are much smaller in dose (and sometimes more affordable) like Noopept or Phenylpiracetam. But for something like piracetam if you don’t want to take 7 capsules, you could try “parachuting” which is putting the dose onto a thin sheet of toilet paper (yes, some people do this) and washing it down.

      Unfortunately there are few effective or affordable alternatives to this besides switching to a lower-dose nootropic.

  • ed

    Hey great post, I just ordered 30g or aniracetam, at 5g per dose that means I only get 6 doses out of the bottle?

    • http://pillscout.com Pill Scout

      No, Aniracetam uses smaller doses than Piracetam. This post only addresses Piracetam. They are different substances with similar effects.

      For Aniracetam it’s usually just 750 mg and more or less depending on your body mass and when you last ate.

      See: Powder City – Aniracetam Dosage

      Aniracetam + cycling off Noopept

  • cavusboston

    There seems to be a link to Alzeimer’s in my family and two different
    sites (SNDpediaLinks & Promethease) has suggested that someone with
    my genetic background should take Piracetam. I found this very cool but
    then I learned that I carry something called MSUD (Maple Syrup Urine
    Disease — dumb name) which is a gene defect where people people cannot
    breakdown amino acids Leucine, Isoleucine and Valine. All my life I knew
    I mostly disliked most of dairy and now I know why. I also became
    lactose intolerant in my 20s which my DNA test confirmed as something
    that would likely happen in my adult life. As a kid, I enjoyed ice-cream
    but ever since my 20s it feels like my stomach is being stabbed to
    death. (This is all in regards to Lecithin also being linked to coronary
    heart-disease due to fact that gut-bacteria turns Lecithin into trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) — metabolite of phosphatidyl choline.) so I would like to find something safer for myself.

    Anyway.. my issue is that I already bought 120 pills worth of Piracetam
    from Romania and also 120 pills worth of Lecithin as I read that those
    two are good to pair up together. Now, I will likely finish all of this
    Lecithin because I don’t want to waste money but I need to know what
    subsitutes for Lecithin can I take to use it with Piracetam? I am
    obviously sensitive to Leucine, Isoleucine and Valine so what are my
    other options?

    Thank You very much in advance. Looking forward to any type of insightful information you may be able to provide.

    • http://pillscout.com/ Pill Scout

      Wow, that’s an interesting condition, the name is silly. I also was not aware of this issue with lecithin. According to Chris Kresser, the connection is tenuous re: lecithin from eggs, but it’ll be something I’ll look into.

      Since lecithin is not an immediately brain-available choline source, you could try choline sources like Alpha-GPC, CDP Choline or ALCAR (Acetyl L-Carnitine) as these actually cross the blood-brain barrier. Bear in mind that some people may not need these when taking piracetam, but they can be useful if one experiences side effects of diminished acetylcholine. I would try ALCAR first as it is most affordable.

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