Noopept

Noopept, also known as GVS-111 is by far the most popular nootropic compound of the peptide class. While noopept is often referred to as omberacetam, it is technically not a member of the racetam family due to not having a 2-oxo-pyrollidine skeleton. That said, noopept is a dipeptide conjugate of piracetam and shares one of the most fundamental characteristics with the racetam compounds in that it modules the acetylcholine system.

Its synthesis has been first reported in 1996 in Russia, where it remains available as  medication.

One of the often cited study in rats stated that noopept exerts its neuroprotective action via the “antioxidant effect, the anti-inflammatory action, and the ability to inhibit the neurotoxicity of excess calcium and glutamate, and to improve the blood rheology”. Is is also often hypotehesized that some of its pharmacological properties stem from the fact that it activates hypoxia-induced factor (HIF-1). Recent findings, however, indicate that noopept is essentially a prodrug to an endogenous dipeptide cycloprolylglycine, which exerts neuroprotective effects dependent upon AMPA- and TrkB-Receptor activation and has been found to increase BDNF levels.

Dosage-wise, noopept is estimated to be ca. 1000 times more potent than piracetam in terms of achieving comparable cognitive benefits.

Noopept has gained recognition mainly due to its memory enhancing effects, which have been scientifically proven in both human and animal populations. For instance, in multiple studies in rats with varying type and severity of brain damage, noopept was able to facilitate the restoration of learning capacity and memory, also showing anti-amnestic action. In addition to that, a 2008 study showed that noopept prevented memory deficits in rats caused by scopolamine and mecamylamine (a standard experimental procedure employed to assess the potency of neuroprotective agents).

Interestingly enough, beneficial effects of noopept are not limited to cognitive function. Many anecdotal reports from people suffering from depression consistently mention mood improvement. There are also multiple online accounts of experiencing substantial relief from anxiety and increased ability to overcome trauma.
These subjective claims are not unsubstantiated, as studies in patients with mild cognitive impairment found that besides the amelioration of its core symptoms, noopept reduced anxiety, fatigue, irritability and apathy over 56 days of treatment. In one of such studies, mood improvement was experienced in some subjects treated with noopept as soon as after the initial week, while some needed three weeks to achieve it.

Experimental studies in rats using the learned helplessness paradigm model of depression demonsrtated that noopept was able to reduce their levels of learned helplessness and enhanced their active coping skills, which strongly support the hypothesis of antidepressant effects of noopept.

Benefits of taking noopept

• enhanced memory and learning;
• mood improvement;
• substantially reduced or eliminated anxiety;
• improved social skills;
• increased concentration and focus;
• enhanced reasoning;
• better thought organization;
• increased cognitive flexibility;
• boost in resiliency;
• enhanced problem solving skills;
• possible aid in overcoming trauma.

Side effects

The below adverse effects tend to be rare and are more likely to occur with high doses and after prolonged use.

• brain fog;
• confusion;
• drowsiness;
• lack of focus;
• mild dissociation;
• irritability;
• fatigue;
• seizures.

Dosage

Noopept is usually taken in doses of 10 to 30 milligrams per day. For many people, a dose as low as 10 or 20 mg per day is sufficient. However, some say they need as much as 60 mg to experience the nootropic benefits of noopept.

Typically, noopept is ingested orally, two or three times a day. Some people, however, prefer the sublingual or intranasal route in order to increase its bioavailability.

While some individuals notice its action after a single dose, it is not uncommon to observe its effects after a week or a little longer.