PrometheusGeneral

Compound or practice · Supplement

Piracetam

The original 'nootropic' — decent evidence in cognitive impairment, thin data in healthy people, and unapproved as a supplement in many places.

Overall grade
Grade C
Last revised
2
graded outcomes
0
references listed
Compare with another entry

A structured monograph in Prometheus's bundled library. Its grades are the monograph's own reading of the evidence, not a peer-reviewed review.

1 at grade C · 1 at grade D — 2 graded rows

What is known

Each outcome with its grade (how strong the evidence is, A to D), the size of the effect where the entry records one, and how often studies agree.

  • Cognition (impairment/elderly)Evidence grade C

    Better than in healthy

    Smallmixed

  • Cognition (healthy young)Evidence grade D

    Weak

    Triviallow

What is uncertain

Read off the same rows as above. Nothing here is added that the entry does not itself record.

  • Thin evidence: Cognition (impairment/elderly) (grade C); Cognition (healthy young) (grade D).

Interactions

Documented pairings with supplements and medicines. A medicine on this list is a conversation for whoever prescribes it.

The evidence in words

What it is

Piracetam is the first racetam, a synthetic compound studied since the 1970s for cognition.

How it works

It modulates neuronal membrane fluidity and cholinergic/glutamatergic signaling and improves microcirculation; the mechanism is still not fully pinned down.

What the evidence shows

Reasonable evidence for cognitive benefit in older adults with impairment, dementia, or after stroke; evidence in healthy young people is weak. Its regulatory status is murky — a prescription drug in some countries, an unapproved supplement in others.

Safety & interactions

Generally well tolerated; headaches (often eased by adding choline) are common. Citicoline (CDP-Choline) — Choline sources reduce racetam headaches and may aid effect.

Bottom line

Real evidence in cognitive decline, weak in healthy users, and legally grey. Not a proven study aid for the average person.

Goes with

Related reading

Entries that share this one's tags or conditions.

  • OxiracetamA stimulating racetam with sparse, dated human evidence.Evidence grade D
  • Oxiracetam for CognitionEvidence grade D — SparseEvidence grade D
  • AniracetamA fat-soluble racetam with an anxiety-and-mood reputation and mostly preclinical human backing.Evidence grade D
  • Methylene BlueA century-old dye and drug repurposed as a low-dose mitochondrial nootropic — real pharmacology, serious MAOI-level interactions.Evidence grade C

Sources

This entry lists no references of its own.

Last revised . A grade is this entry's reading of the evidence, not medical advice.