Aniracetam
Aniracetam is a derivative of Piracetam. Research has shown Aniracetam to be up to ten times more potent. It provides many of the same mental benefits as Piracetam, however it works in a slightly different method. This causes the two nootropics to have a strong synergy when taken together.
Benefits:
- Improves the effectiveness of brain training games such as the ones offered by Lumosity
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- Enhances working, spatial, and episodic memory
- Improves the ability to learn and perform complex tasks
- Increases attentiveness and motivation
- May help treat depression, anxiety, and social phobia
- Acts as a neuroprotectant
What Is Aniracetam?
Aniracetam is a nootropic drug of the racetam family. This means it is extremely similar to other racetamic drugs such as Piracetam, Oxiracetam, and Pramiracetam. While its benefits and safety profile are very similar to that of Piracetam, it is much more potent. A given dose of Aniracetam will be up to ten times stronger than a corresponding dose of Piracetam.
Another key difference between Aniracetam and Piracetam is that Aniracetam is fat-soluble whereas Piracetam is not. In addition the two drugs have a slightly different mechanism of action. Because of this, the two drugs share a strong synergy when taken together.
Medical Uses of Aniracetam
Like Piracetam, Aniracetam is used as a prescription medication in Europe, Asia, and South America, and enjoys popular use as a cognitive enhancer in many countries. It is most commonly used to treat mental illnesses such as Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, and cerebral trauma. Its ability as an anxiety reducer is particularly better than that of Piracetam.
Aniracetam has also been used occasionally to treat alcoholism, stroke symptoms, vasospastic disorders, and ischemia.
Using Aniracetam
Aniracetam is a commonly taken nootropic often used by people who aren’t satisfied with the results they are getting from Piracetam and would like a less subtle boost in mental ability. Because it possesses such strong synergy with Piracetam the two are often taken together. Other people use Aniracetam more for its mood improving and anti-anxiety properties, but still enjoy a boost in cognitive performance.
How to take Aniracetam
Because Aniracetam is fat-soluble, best results will be achieved if it is taken with food. As with Piracetam, it is important to stay hydrated while using Aniracetam.
The two main ways to take Aniracetam are in either capsules or in a bulk powder form. Capsules are more convenient, but also more expensive. Unlike Piracetam, bulk powder Aniracetam does not mix well with liquids, so it is easiest to drop the powder in your mouth with a spoon then take a few sips of water to wash it down.
Most people find the taste of Aniracetam to be much more tolerable to that of Piracetam, so this method should be pretty easy to do. Of course, if you are willing to invest in a capping machine, you can easily pack Aniracetam powder into homemade capsules. This is ideal for people who can’t make it home in the afternoon to take a second dose, and don’t want to bring their Aniracetam with them.
Dosing Aniracetam
Like Piracetam, the ideal dose of Aniracetam can vary considerably from person to person. Generally a starting dose of between 500-700 mg taken two or three times per day is recommended. This dose should then be adjusted until the most effective dose for you is discovered. It is very hard to overdose on Aniracetam, however its effectiveness starts to wane when doses become too high. When taking Aniracetam in combination with other racetams or nootropics with similar mechanisms of action, it should be taken at a lower dose than usual.
How Does Aniracetam Work?
Aniracetam is a fat soluble ampakine. Ampakines are known to strongly react with the glutamatergic AMPA receptor. The AMPA receptor mediates fast synaptic transmissions in the central nervous system with glutamate. Aniracetam binds to the AMPA receptors in the brain which facilitates the transmissions of glutamate at these receptors and promotes synaptic plasticity. [5] This translates to better cognitive performance.
Synaptic Plasticity the ability of the synapse between two neurons to chance in strength, while an ampakine is a class of compound known to facilitate leaning while enhancing memory, attention span, and alertness.
Safety and Side Effects of Aniracetam
Like most commonly used nootropics in the ‘racetam family, Aniracetam is extremely safe. It is very non-toxic, and can be taken at doses far exceeding what is recommended with no serious side effects. Taking Aniracetam daily poses no long term health risks, in fact because of its neuroprotective properties doing this will actually improve your mental health. Aniracetam is not addictive and no withdrawal symptoms exist when its use is stopped, besides the return to one’s previous cognitive state.
A common side effect of Aniracetam is mild, but persistent headaches. These occur because taking any ‘racetam causes the brain to use up reserves of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine at a faster rate then usual. People who don’t ingest enough choline in their diets can easily alleviate these headaches by taking a choline supplement.
Aniracetam FAQ
Below are some of the most commonly asked questions about Aniracetam. If you have a question that’s not on this list, send it to us at email address and we will answer it for you.
Aniracetam is an extremely safe and effective nootropic, and is recommended for anyone who wants to improve their overall cognitive abilities while improving the health of their brain. The following types of people will particularly benefit from using Aniracetam:
1) Students and professionals looking to improve performance:
Aniracetam provides a myriad of cognitive benefits including improvements in memory, ability to learn complex tasks and concepts, and better attentiveness and ability to focus. These benefits fit perfectly with the demands of a high credit class schedule or mentally taxing profession. Aniracetam is safe for chronic use, and meant to be taken daily. A student taking it before class will notice that it is easier to pay attention and that they will recall more of information taught in lectures on the exam. Professionals using it prior to work will be able to stay focused and work more accurately and efficiently.
2) Beginners to taking nootropics:
Many beginners who first try nootropics begin by taking just Piracetam and Choline. While many people notice improvements from these two nootropics, others may want a more potent boost. In this case, adding Aniracetam is almost always a good idea.
Aniracetam is very similar to Piracetam in the benefits it provides, however it is fat soluble where Piracetam is water soluble, and also works on the brain in a slightly different manner. This means that taking both Aniracetam and Piracetam together will produce benefits far exceeding what either drug could do alone.
3) People suffering from anxiety or depression:
While there is little research proving Aniracetam’s effectiveness as an anti-depressant or for treating anxiety in humans, many people have reported that taking it has cured anxiety problems and depression. Studies on animals back up its anti-anxiety effects. While not everyone who tries Aniracetam will have this effect, its lack of side effects compared to prescription anti-depressants means there are no downsides to trying it.
Like with Piracetam, it can take a few weeks of regular use before the full benefits of Aniracetam are noticed. However unlike Piracetam, most people who try Aniracetam report feeling improvements fairly quickly, many people even notice immediate benefits.
Most people who are taking a racetam nootropic will also most likely need to be taking a choline supplement. Use of Aniracetam causes your brain to use up choline at an abnormally fast rate. Many people who take Aniracetam without choline experience mild, but persistent headaches. To make sure your choline levels remain normal, take a choline supplement.
Taking uridine with choline helps your cells build phosphatidylcholine (PC). PC is a layer around your cells that they need to function properly. If too much choline is used up, your body will start to take away from your cells’ PC layers. Uridine helps keep these PC layers strong and is also converted to CDP-choline which further enhances aniracetam’s effects.
Mixing different racetam nootropics can also produce an synergistic effect. Especially if you mix a fat soluble racetam with a water soluble one.
All the racetam nootropics effect the neurotransmitter ACh in some way. Aniracetam also has an effect on AMPA receptors, just like piracetam. Scientists have yet to discover the exact mechanism behind aniracetam, although it is known that its effect on AMPA receptors are slightly different than piracetam’s.
When deciding whether to use Aniracetam, there are two important differences to consider:
1. Aniracetam has a much shorter half-life than piracetam. Aniracetam’s half-life is only 1-2 hours while piracetam’s half-life is 4-5 hours. This means that aniracetam does not last as long as piracetam does.
2. People report feeling a more noticable effect much quicker when taking aniracetam. You dont have to take aniracetam for weeks to feel an effect. That being said, anecdotal evidence suggests that both oxiracetam and pramiracetam are more potent than aniracetam.
Yes. I would recommend starting with lower then recommended dosages. I would also suggest you mix a fat-soluble racetam with a water-soluble racetam. Piracetam and Oxiracetam are water-soluble. Pramiracetam and Aniracetam are fat-soluble.
While some people get enough Choline in their diets, others will need to supplement in order to avoid the side effect of mild headaches. If you experience these headaches you should supplement with Choline.
The most commonly suggested ratio is 1:2. So if you take 1000mg of Aniracetam, take 500mg of choline. If you are getting headaches then you should change your ratio to 1:1 (1000mg choline for ever 1000mg of Aniracetam). You may have to use a 1:1 ratio of you lack choline in your diet. A healthy adult should get around 500mg of choline each day through their diet.
Click here to view a list of foods with high concentrations of choline.
Aniracetam will last for 4-5 hours. This is because it has a half-life of about 2 hours. In other words, aniracetam will have lost half of its potency 2 hours after consumption. This is a short half-life when compared to other racetam nootropics. You will have to take at least three doses a day if you want to feel the effects from sunrise to sundown.
There has never been a reported case of overdose on Aniracetam. It is far easier to overdose on Caffeine than it is to overdose on Aniracetam.
It is completely safe to drink while taking Aniracetam, however anecdotal evidence suggests that it may alter the potency of alcohol. Some people posted that they felt as though they could drink more while on Aniracetam. Other people said that they got sick faster and had worse hangover. If you havent combined the two before, it would be wise to start slowly to make sure drinking while on Aniracetam produces an enjoyable effect.
Aniracetam improves memory and the ability to understand complex concepts, so it will certainly make time spent studying more productive. That said, it does not provide the razor sharp focus that popular study drugs such as adderall or ritalin do. If you are planning on studying for a long period of time taking some Sulbutiamine as well will improve your mental stamina and prevent early burnout.
This completely depends on the person, everyone will experience slightly different results. What I can tell you is that it wont turn you into a genius overnight. You will likely have an easier time remembering things, paying attention, and solving problems. You will have to give it a try to find out exactly to what extent it will help.
After taking Aniracetam for a few days uou should feel a noticeable effect. Most people report feeling more clearheaded and being able to focus better, as well as having an easier time grasping difficult concepts. Some people also report being more verbally fluent.
Yes, Aniracetam is not only safe to take every day, but is intended to be taken daily. Aniracetam is not addictive, and long-term use has been shown to improve the health of the brain.
If you want even stronger benefits, and want to stay inside the racetam family of nootropics give either Oxiracetam or Pramiracetam a try. These are more potent ‘racetams. If Aniracetam’s effects are too pronounced, Piracetam will produce more subtle benefits.
Other alternatives depend on what specific benefits you are looking for. For more information on what nootropics best meet specific needs, check out the Meet Your Goals entry on the main navigation bar at the top of this page.
