If you're looking for a powerful nootropic that may be able to give you laser-like focus and improve your ability to memorize new information without affecting your mood, you're in the right place.

Pramiracetam is an powerful nootropic that users report can increase learning, enhance focus, improve memory, increase logical and technical thinking, and improve overall cognitive performance.

The reason why a lot of people like pramiracetam is that it is able to do these things without affecting mood or anxiety levels. Many people are looking for a way to boost cognitive performance without changing the way they feel. This is where pramiracetam really seems to shine for some people.

In this science-backed post we're going to take an in-depth look at pramiracetam. We'll explore how it works, the nootropic benefits people are reporting from it, and a lot more. But first, let's see what pramiracetam is exactly.

What Is Pramiracetam?

Pramiracetam is a powerful nootropic, a mild stimulant, and a member of the racetam family. These are a group of chemically similar substances, many of which are popular nootropics. As far as the racetams go, pramiracetam is one of the most powerful. In fact, it's considered to be between 15 and 30 times stronger (maybe even more) that the prototypical racetam, piracetam.¹

Unlike many of the other nootropic racetams, pramiracetam exerts its cognition-boosting effect without changing mood or anxiety levels. This may be due, at least in part, to its ability to influence the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. Pramiracetam increases high affinity choline uptake (HACU) which allows the brain to synthesize more acetylcholine.² This neurotransmitter is known to play a vital role in memory and learning.

But while pramiracetam has a strong effect on acetylcholine, it doesn't seem to have much of an effect on any of the neurotransmitters associated with mood or anxiety. Research has shown that pramiracetam does not have much affinity for serotonin, dopamine, GABA, or norepinephrine receptors in the brain.³

In some European countries, pramiracetam is a prescription drug. It's sold under the brand name Pramistar and is used to treat memory and attention problems in elderly populations with certain types of dementia.⁴

Pramiracetam was first discovered in the late 1970s and researchers have been studying its potential benefits ever since.⁵ Let's now take a look at some of the nootropic benefits of pramiracetam that users are reporting and see what the science has to say about it.

Pramiracetam Benefits

It has been claimed that pramiracetam provides a number of cognition-boosting effects. These effects have been reported by many users, some of which the science seems to support. Here are some of the nootropic benefits of pramiracetam that people have been reporting:

• Increased focus
• Improved working and long-term memory
• Enhanced learning
• Advanced logical/technical thinking
• Higher sensory awareness/perception
• Overall improved cognitive performance

There has been a bit of research done that supports many of these claims. A study published in 1994 found that pramiracetam improved the memory of both old and young men.⁶ The participants (two groups of twelve males, one young, one old) were given the drug scopolamine which is known to cause amnesia. Then they were given either pramiracetam or a placebo. Regardless of age, the men in the pramiracetam group show reduced amnesic effects while those in the placebo group did not.

Another study published in 1991 set out to see if pramiracetam would help young men who had sustained brain injuries.⁷ The participants were either given 400 milligrams (mg) of pramiracetam three times a day (TID) or a placebo. The results showed that participants in the pramiracetam group showed clinically significant improvements in memory, particularly in delayed recall, while those in the placebo group did not. And the improvements of the participants in the pramiracetam group lasted the entire 18-month length of the study.

Lastly, a study published in 1996 looked at how pramiracetam compared to memory training at improving learning and memory.⁸ Healthy, elderly subjects were broken up into four groups: pramiracetam only, pramiracetam and memory training, memory training only, and a control group. The participants in the pramiracetam groups performed significantly better than those in the memory training only or control group.

As you can see, several human studies have demonstrated pramiracetam's memory, learning, and overall-cognition-boosting properties. And in all of the studies mentioned above, the participants given pramiracetam did not report any serious unwanted effects.

Pramiracetam Dosage

Different studies have used slightly different pramiracetam dosages. Between 3-400 mg three times a day seems to be the most common and often results in an improvement in memory and learning. Alternately, you could take 5-600 mg twice a day which should also be effective.⁹

Pramiracetam is fat soluble.¹⁰ However, it has not been scientifically demonstrated whether or not pramiracetam absorbs best on an empty stomach or when taken with food. But being a fat-soluble nootropic, pramiracetam probably is absorbed best when taken with a small meal. Aim for something that has at least 10 grams of fat (ideally unsaturated fat).

The nootropic effects of pramiracetam can often be noticeable after the very first dose. However, it may take days or even weeks of daily dosing to experience the full nootropic benefits of pramiracetam.

Like with any time you start a new supplement, medication, exercise program, or behavioral routine, it's a good idea to talk to a licensed medical professional. Most doctors don't know what pramiracetam is, so you may have to educate yours a bit. The references at the bottom of this page is a good place to start.

Stacking Pramiracetam

Taking more than one nootropic at a time is common among experienced smart-drug users. This is called stacking. While pramiracetam can be quite effective on its own, users often stack it with other nootropics to further increase their cognitive performance.

Pramiracetam seems to stack well with most other nootropics. There are positive reports of users stacking it with other racetams, various adaptogens, and even modafinil. But the type of nootropic that seems to offer the largest benefit when stacked with pramiracetam is various choline sources.

As we discussed above, pramiracetam increases HACU. By stacking pramiracetam with a choline source, you give the brain everything it needs to synthesize acetylcholine. Choline is a precursor to acetylcholine.¹¹ That means the brain uses choline to make acetylcholine, a powerful neurotransmitter involved in learning and memory.

While there are a variety of choline sources out there, two have remained at the top of the list: Alpha-GPC and CDP-choline. There are countless reports of users stacking one of these choline sources with pramiracetam and getting good results.

Pramiracetam Negative Effects

Pramiracetam is generally well-tolerated and has few potential negative effects at recommended dosages. However, some mild unwanted effects can occur. Some users have reported headaches, upset stomach, insomnia, and other mild negative effects after taking pramiracetam. These seem to go away as soon as pramiracetam is stopped.

If you experience a headache after taking pramiracetam, it may be due to insufficient choline levels. That's why a lot of users stack it with a choline source. Many people who have reported getting headaches from pramiracetam say that adding a choline source like alpha-GPC makes the headaches go away.

Several studies have demonstrated pramiracetam's safety. Published in the Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, researchers noted that pramiracetam “demonstrated a wide margin of safety in animals and was well tolerated in normal human volunteers.”¹²

Another study looked at how a single dose of pramiracetam affected normal volunteers.¹³ The participants were either given 400 mg, 800 mg, 1,200 mg, or 1,600 mg of pramiracetam on an empty stomach or a placebo. The researchers found pramiracetam to be free of negative effects at all dose levels.

Where To Buy Pramiracetam

You generally won't find pramiracetam in brick-and-mortar stores or on places like Amazon. It is only available from online nootropic vendors. If you're interested in buying pramiracetam, it can often be found in both powder and capsule form.

If you're looking to buy pramiracetam capsules, Cosmic Nootropic offers brand-name Pramistar caps that are 600 mg each. Cosmic Nootropic is one of the oldest, most-trusted online nootropic vendors. They have a vast selection of high-quality nootropics, reasonable prices, fast shipping, and excellent customer service. You can read a review of this company here: Cosmic Nootropic Review.

If you're looking to buy pramiracetam powder, both Science.bio and Pure Rawz offer it. Both companies have a wide selection of nootropics and other products. And they've both established themselves as trusted suppliers in the nootropics community.

Conclusion

If you want a nootropic that can improve memory and learning without affecting mood or anxiety levels, pramiracetam might be just what you're looking for. Numerous scientific studies have shown it to be safe and effective. And there are countless anecdotal reports around the internet of people using pramiracetam to boost cognitive performance.

Have you tried pramiracetam? If so, what has your experience with it been like? Please leave your answer in the comments section at the bottom. To see how pramiracetam stacks up to the other nootropic racetams, check out this article: The Best Racetams – A Comparison.

References