Noopept
Omberacetam · Racetam-adjacent nootropic
What it is
A Russian dipeptide nootropic, far more potent by weight than piracetam, sold freely as a supplement-ish powder in the West. The default "beginner nootropic" recommendation on every forum for a decade.
What human evidence shows
Russian trials in cognitive impairment (post-concussion, vascular) report benefit; healthy-user enhancement data is essentially absent. Animal studies show neurotrophic effects (NGF/BDNF). The gap between forum enthusiasm and published healthy-human evidence is about as wide as it gets.
Risks
Commonly reported: irritability, headache, sleep disruption at higher intakes; some users report emotional blunting with sustained use. No long-term safety data. The potency-per-milligram that makes it "efficient" also makes eyeballed powder dosing genuinely careless.
Legal status
US: unscheduled, sold as a "dietary supplement" in a grey zone (it does not meet the legal definition). Prescription drug in Russia.
Evidence base
emerging literature
Early human evidence: at least one human trial report, and not much beyond it.
- phase 3/4
- 0
- randomised
- 0
- reviews
- 0
- human trials
- 3
Counts are of published papers, not distinct trials, and measure how much research exists — not whether this works or is safe for you.
Research (12)
- Cognitive Enhancer Noopept Activates Transcription Factor HIF-1Dokl Biochem Biophys · 2020
- Effects of noopept on ocular, pancreatic and renal histopathology in streptozotocin induced prepubertal diabetic ratsBiotech Histochem · 2023
- Drug with Neuroprotective Properties Noopept Does Not Stimulate Cell ProliferationBull Exp Biol Med · 2019
- Effects of noopept on cognitive functions and pubertal process in rats with diabetesLife Sci · 2019
- [The original novel nootropic and neuroprotective agent noopept]Eksp Klin Farmakol · 2002
- Neuroprotective Dipeptide Noopept Prevents DNA Damage in Mice with Modeled PrediabetesBull Exp Biol Med · 2019
- Noopept normalizes parameters of the incretin system in rats with experimental diabetesBull Exp Biol Med · 2014
- Noopept; a nootropic dipeptide, modulates persistent inflammation by effecting spinal microglia dependent Brain Derived Neurotropic Factor (BDNF) and pro-BDNF expression throughout apoptotic processHeliyon · 2021
- Effect of nootropic dipeptide noopept on CA1 pyramidal neurons involves α7AChRs on interneurons in hippocampal slices from ratNeurosci Lett · 2022
- Noopept Attenuates Diabetes-Mediated Neuropathic Pain and Oxidative Hippocampal Neurotoxicity via Inhibition of TRPV1 Channel in RatsMol Neurobiol · 2021
- Noopept stimulates the expression of NGF and BDNF in rat hippocampusBull Exp Biol Med · 2008
- [Pharmacokinetics of noopept and its active metabolite cycloprolyl glycine in rats]Biomed Khim · 2018
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