Phenylpiracetam – An Overview

Phenylpiracetam (AKA phenotropil or phenotropyl) is a phenyl derivative of piracetam.

Piracetam was the original racetam nootropic, and phenylpiracetam is a newer version that acts quicker and has higher bioavailability.

It is more potent and has a broader range of use.

Nootropics users take phenylpiracetam for:

• Focus
• Improved Cognition
• Memory and Learning
• Energy and Physical Performance

Many users report strong stimulatory effects from this substance.

In fact, phenylpiracetam is so powerful that it is actually banned by the World Anti-Doping Organization as a performance enhancing drug.¹WADA Prohibited List uasada.com. 2017

Some users use it as a substitute for heavier pharmaceutical stimulants like Adderall.

Phenylpiracetam can provide some of the energy, focus, and motivation, but without the edginess, loss of appetite, or dreaded “Adderall crash.”

Phenylpiracetam modulates acetylcholine (ACh), dopamine, GABA, and NMDA receptors in the brain.

All of these neurotransmitters are heavily involved in learning, memory, focus, attention, and overall mental function.

It seems that this nootropic up-regulates the number of available receptors, making them more responsive. ²Yu. Yu. Firstova D. A. AbaimovI. G. KapitsaT. A. Voronina G. I. Kovalev. The effects of scopolamine and the nootropic drug phenotropil on rat brain neurotransmitter receptors during testing of the conditioned passive avoidance task Neurochemical Journal June 2011

It also seems to be effective as a neuroprotectant. It can be used to treat a range of central nervous system disorders.

It is effective against epilepsy and can help people recover from strokes or cognitive impairment.³Malykh AG, Sadaie MR. Piracetam and piracetam-like drugs: from basic science to novel clinical applications to CNS disorders Drugs. 2010

What Does Phenylpiracetam Do?

Antiepileptic Evidence

There is evidence that phenylpiracetam neuroprotective effects can prevent and treat epilepsy.

It may be able to fix the abnormalities in alpha and beta brain waves associated with convulsions.

One study found that this nootropic significantly reduced seizures and positively affected EEG readings.

They say more positive outcomes compared to patients who only took standard anti-epilepsy medication.⁴Bel’skaia GN, Ponomareva IV, Lukashevich IG, Tikhomirova IN. Complex treatment of epilepsy with phenotropil Zh Nevrol Psikhiatr Im S S Korsakova. 2007

Another study found that cognitive functions in epileptic patients improved to a small extent after taking phenylpiracetam They say more positive outcomes compared to patients who only took standard anti-epilepsy medication.⁵]Lybzikova GN, Iaglova ZhS, Kharlamova IuS. The efficacy of phenotropil in the complex treatment of epilepsy Zh Nevrol Psikhiatr Im S S Korsakova. 2008

This effect on epilepsy could be due to its psychodepressant effects.⁶Bobkov IuG, Morozov IS, Glozman OM, Nerobkova LN, Zhmurenko LA. Pharmacological characteristics of a new phenyl analog of piracetam–4-phenylpiracetam Biull Eksp Biol Med. 1983

Cognitive Enhancement

Phenylpiracetam is well known for its cognitive-enhancing effects in the nootropics community.

Many users report sharper focus, better ability to stay on task, and more energy when taking this supplement.

Some even compare the feeling to a much milder form of Adderall.

Some users report improvements in depression and anxiety when taking phenylpiracetam.

There is clinical evidence to support this.

In a study of patients who had suffered brain lesions, phenylpiracetam improved higher brain functions, memory, attention.

They also reported lower discomfort, anxiety, and depression.⁷Savchenko AIu, Zakharova NS, Stepanov IN. The phenotropil treatment of the consequences of brain organic lesions Zh Nevrol Psikhiatr Im S S Korsakova. 2005

Phenylpiracetam also improved the cognitive performance in patients with chronic vascular encephalopathy.⁸Gustov AA, Smirnov AA, Korshunova IuA, Andrianova EV. Phenotropil in the treatment of vascular encephalopathy Zh Nevrol Psikhiatr Im S S Korsakova. 2006

In an animal study, phenylpiracetam decreased fear and stress responses in rats, while also improving cognitive ability and energy levels.⁹Samotrueva MA1, Tyurenkov IN, Teplyi DL, Serezhnikova TK, Khlebtsova EB.. Psychoimmunomodulatory effect of phenotropil in animals with immune stress Bull Exp Biol Med. 2011

All-in-all, it seems that this nootropic can provide an overall cognitive boost, and increase positive emotions to boot.

We would like to see more clinical trials with healthy, non-impaired human participants, but the existing evidence is pretty strong that phenylpiracetam works.

Phenylpiracetam For Energy

One of this nootropic’s most famous effects is on energy and athletic performance. After all, there’s a reason the World Anti-Doping Agency bans it!

Phenylpiracetam is one of the few nootropics that you can feel when it kicks in. It is not a subtle effect that takes weeks to build up in your system, like many other nootropics.

Depending on what you’re looking for out of a supplement, that may be a pro or a con.

Phenylpiracetam is an ideal supplement for people suffering from diseases that cause low energy.

There is strong evidence it can improve fatigue as well as the associated depression in patients suffering from MS and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

It seems to perform better than regular piracetam in this regard.¹⁰Popova NF, Kamchatnov PR, Riabukhina OV, Batysheva TT, Zaĭtsev KA, Boĭko AN. Omaron in the complex treatment of patients with multiple sclerosis Zh Nevrol Psikhiatr Im S S Korsakova. 2010

It can also improve energy levels in patients who have suffered mild brain trauma. One clinical trial saw positive results in as little as a week.¹¹Kalinskiĭ PP, Nazarov VV.. Use of phenotropil in the treatment of asthenic syndrome and autonomic disturbances in the acute period of mild cranial brain trauma Zh Nevrol Psikhiatr Im S S Korsakova. 2007

Neuroprotective

Like all of the racetams, phenylpiracetam has neuroprotective benefits for the brain.

This nootropic may increase myelin, which is the protective sheath around brain cell axons (the part that transmits information from neuron to neuron).

Myelin is critical for proper brain function.

However, sometimes, it can get damaged, such as by a stroke, and this can lead to major problems.

Luckily, there is evidence that phenylpiracetam can repair and regrow damaged myelin.¹²Kalinskiĭ PP, Nazarov VV.. Use of phenotropil in the treatment of asthenic syndrome and autonomic disturbances in the acute period of mild cranial brain trauma Zh Nevrol Psikhiatr Im S S Korsakova. 2007

Other trials also suggest that phenylpiracetam can significantly improve recovery and quality of life post-stroke.

This could be due to phenylpiracetam increasing blood flow to the brain as well.¹³Koval’chuk VV, Skoromets AA, Koval’chuk IV, Stoianova EG, Vysotskaia ML, Melikhova EV, Il’iaĭnen EV. Efficacy of phenotropil in the rehabilitation of stroke patients Zh Nevrol Psikhiatr Im S S Korsakova. 2010

Phenylpiracetam For Eye Health

Interestingly, phenylpiracetam may be able to improve eye health, making it unique among racetams.This could be due to phenylpiracetam increasing blood flow to the brain as well.¹⁴S.N. Basinskii, A.S. Basinskii. Neuroprotective effect of Fenotropil in unstabilized primary glaucoma РМЖ «Клиническая Офтальмология» №4 от 24.10.2007

How Phenylpiracetam Works In The Brain

According to research, phenylpiracetam has a nootropic effect on acetylcholine, dopamine, GABA, and NMDA neurotransmitters.

All of these transmitters work together to regulate your attention, mood, arousal, memory, and general brain function.

It is critical that all of your receptors are working properly and communicating effectively with each other.

However, as we age, we tend to lose receptors in the brain. This makes our neurotransmitter systems less responsive and can lead to all sorts of cognitive problems.

Fortunately, phenylpiracetam can actually increase the density of these critical neurotransmitters.

his means your brain can transmit signals efficiently, and you can operate 100%. It reverses the inevitable degradation that comes with age.

Phenylpiracetam can also modulate alpha and beta brainwaves, although researchers are still unsure exactly how it does this. This could be why it works as an anti-epileptic.¹⁵Gower AJ, Noyer M, Verloes R, Gobert J, Wülfert E. ucb L059, a novel anti-convulsant drug: pharmacological profile in animals Eur J Pharmacol. 1992

How Much Phenylpiracetam Should I Take?

The ideal range for phenylpiracetam dosage is 50-100mg, once or twice a day.

Keep in mind that this substance is very stimulating as far as nootropics go. We advise you to take the smallest effective dose needed to get the required effect.

Phenylpiracetam Potential Side Effects

As with all racetams, the main side-effect of phenylpiracetam is a headache. This is due to how it uses up choline stores in the brain to make ACh.

This can usually be remedied by staking it with a good source of choline, such as citicoline or Alpha GPC.

The racetam/choline duo is a classic in the nootropics community. They have a synergistic effect on one another, and can significantly boost memory and learning.

Some users report a bit of edginess or overstimulation at higher doses. We do not recommend taking it too close to bedtime for this reason.

Tolerance can be a factor with phenylpiracetam. We recommend cycling this nootropic, perhaps only taking on weekdays, or days when you really need to pump out work.

This keeps phenylpiracetam working well when you need it.

Phenylpiracetam Reddit Reviews

[su_quote cite=”u/DeceasedActor” url=”https://www.reddit.com/r/Nootropics/comments/6dogcw/phenylpiracetam_is_the_real_deal/”]Confidence like you wouldn’t believe. You’ll walk so tall and with confidence you’ll feel like you’re 6’5” tall. Friendly. Flirty. If you’re in a job interview you’re like “I got this”. You know what I mean?[/su_quote]
[su_quote cite=”Anonymous” url=”https://www.reddit.com/r/Nootropics/comments/21z0r2/phenylpiracetam_as_a_stimulant/”]Phenylpiracetam is like no other nootropic I’ve tried. It actually works. Not in the sense that it improves my dual n-backs by x percent, but in the sense that it makes me both productive and social at the same time. Multitasking is effortless.[/su_quote][su_quote cite=”mezmezik” url=”https://www.reddit.com/r/Nootropics/comments/3lp8of/i_took_phenylpiracetam_ed_for_three_month_straight/”]Phenylpiracetam is the best mood enhancing nootropic I tried, by far! The main reason I’m taking this one everyday is because it make me feel like I can achieve everything I wan’t, I feel like I’m at the top of my world while on it. It also gives you a clean energy and a bit of focus. It has also a great anxiolytic effect.[/su_quote]

Wrapping Up

Do you have questions about, supplementing with Phenylpiracetam? Do you have experience supplementing with Phenylpiracetam? Please share your thoughts in the comments below.

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