Summary
Piracetam is the prototype for racetam supplements, which are a group of synthetic supplements intended to provide a cognitive boost.
Piracetam has a history of being used to treat cognitive impairment. According to a meta-analysis on human studies, piracetam improves general cognition when supplemented by people in a state of cognitive decline, such as the kind that comes with aging. Though piracetam may be a useful supplement for improving longevity, it offers limited benefits for healthy people.
Healthy people supplementing piracetam do experience little to no cognitive benefit. Though piracetam supplementation in healthy people is understudied, preliminary evidence suggests that piracetam is most effective for older people. Piracetam supplementation has also been found to reduce the chances of a breath-holding spell in children.
Piracetam enhances cellular membrane fluidity. This mechanism explains why piracetam is able to improve cognition, particularly in elderly people.
Piracetam is as effective as aspirin when it comes to preventing blood clotting, which makes it a useful supplemental intervention after cardiovascular trauma.
What are other names for Piracetam
- Pyracetam
- Pyrrolidone acetamide
- 2-Oxo-1-pyrrolidine
- Memotopril
- Fezam (with cinnarizine)
- UCB6215
Dosage information
The standard piracetam dose for children is between 40-100mg per kilogram of bodyweight. This dose is intended for the treatment of breath-holding spells, though it has also been used for children with dyslexia. The lower end of the range (40-50mg/kg) is used most often.
The standard piracetam dose for adults is between 1,200-4,800mg a day. The largest effective dose is 1,600mg, taken three times a day for a total of 4,800mg.
