The 8 Best Racetams You Can Buy In The Market Today

If you are new to the world of nootropics and a bit curious about getting information related to drugs like Racetams, then you are in the right place. In general terms, Racetams are a class of drugs that have the same chemical backbone (can say a pyrrolidone nucleus).

They share a 2-pyrrolidone nucleus and are a derivative of gamma-aminobutyric acid also called GABA. Racetams are chemically synthesized, not a naturally occurring substance discovered for different purposes based on their different varieties broadly been defined as a nootropic from the Greek words “noos” for the mind and “tropein” for towards.

Best Racetams

Proper scientific evidence is lacking to determine the effectiveness and safety of any Racetam.

Despite being an unfamiliar medicinal solution for most of us, some companies promote Racetams as smart drugs and nootropic compounds, generally marketed for boosting the production of neurotransmitters. Experts believe that it can bring energy and concentration power to the body and mind of an individual.

1. Piracetam

Piracetam was the first racetam which was discovered in the late 1960s by Dr. Corneliu Giurgea with the intention to develop a calming-type drug for motion illness. Since then, more than twenty Racetam-like substances have been discovered and synthesized, and further developed for cognitive improvement.

From the list of all Racetams, Piracetam is at the top and a widely used drug for the treatment of cognitive impairment and central nervous system disorders.

Also Read: Benefits And Side Effects Of Piracetam

2. Pramiracetam

It was discovered and synthesized at Parke-Davis. Pramiracetam helps to boost high-affinity choline uptake (HACU), helping most deep-cognition skills, memory recall, and concentration capabilities.

Pramiracetam is specialized for its function of a quick increase in the focus and for a boost in confidence to the same extent. The recommended dosage includes 250-400 mg up to 3 times per day. Ideally, consult a doctor and abide by their prescription schedules.

3. Phenylpiracetam

Russian scientists once added a phenyl group to Piracetam in 1983 and they discovered another type of racetam, particularly known as Phenylpiracetam.

It is mainly focused on boosting the physical and mental health of astronauts while traveling in space. Additionally, varied doses are also used for boosting the athletic performance of an individual. Speed, strength, and quick thinking, all receive a substantial spike in performance. In the past decade, Phenylpiracetam has been banned for open sale and comes under the category of “Smart Drugs”.

4. Oxiracetam

Oxiracetam leads to improvement in short-term and long-term memory. It clears the toxic gases that reach the brain, while also increasing the brain’s healing power. In turn, it eliminates ‘brain fog’.

Experts prefer it as a good drug for enhancing brain tendency to improve focus and motivation. This especially helps while learning new material or working through a tiresome task.

5. Nefiracetam

An American survey with 159 heart stroke patients found that 600-900 mg of Nefiractam daily for more than 3 months resulted in a significant improvement in the mood of most severely depressed patients.

Opinions from students report it to be the best racetam for studying as it helps in acquiring a better attention span, fending off stress, and reducing mental fatigue.

6. Coluracetam

Coluracetam is considered as a fat-soluble racetam created by Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma of Japan in 2005. It enhances the brain’s ability to convert choline to acetylcholine (ACH). This leads to better learning and memory retention. Coluracetam increases the effectiveness of glutamate in your brain and proves to help in developing better focus and concentration.

7. L-Theanine

The reason behind the calming and neural relaxing that occurs after having green tea can be attributed to the presence of L-theanine. These natural components are known to directly send signals of relaxation to the nerves. If consumed with caffeine, the effects are even stronger and one can expect an increase in memory and reduction in mental fatigue.

8. L-Tyrosine

Looking to prolong your work hours? Trying to force your brain to focus for longer durations? Racetams that consist of L-Tyrosine will induce your brain with increased energy and let you focus, memorize, recite, and concentrate for longer than you usually could.

This amino acid, L-Tyrosine, encourages your brain to increase the production of neurotransmitters. These constantly formed neurotransmitters will help work around stress, multiple focusing skills, and make mentally strenuous tasks a breeze to handle.

Although prevent taking more than 300 to 500 mg of this supplement a day. Try and consult a doctor to prevent any drug interactions that could affect you in other ways.

Extra Info

Some additional racetams are mentioned below. Although don’t be surprised when you see their side effects.

1. Levetiracetam

Marketed under the trade name Keppra, Levetiracetam is a medication used to treat epilepsy. It is also used in combination with other medications to treat certain types of seizures in adults and children. It is used for partial-onset myoclonic, or tonic-clonic seizures. It is taken by mouth as an immediate or extended-release formulation or by injection into a vein.

The most common side effects seen in test studies include sleepiness, giddiness, feeling tired, and aggression. Severe side effects may include psychosis, suicidal tendencies, and allergic reactions such as Stevens-Johnson syndrome and anaphylaxis. It is unclear whether it is safe to use during pregnancy, but appears to be safe for use when breastfeeding.

2. Seletracetam (UCB 44212)

This is a pyrrolidone-derived drug of the racetam family that is structurally related to levetiracetam (trade name Keppra). It was under development by UCB Pharmaceuticals as a more potent Racetam that comes under the category of anticonvulsant drugs to replace levetiracetam. Its production was halted due to the investigation of a newer antiepileptic agent, Brivaracetam.

It comes as a solution, an immediate action release tablet, or a tablet for the suspension to take directly by mouth. Seletracetam has shown potent seizure suppression in models of acquired and genetic epilepsy and has been well trailed on various animal species.

While similar in structure to nootropic drugs, it is not expected to have immediately effective cognitive-enhancing properties. Seletracetam was in Phase II clinical trials under the supervision of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) which is one more reason for holding its production.

Best Racetams: Conclusion

In summary, racetams have a significant impact on cognition impairment. Research demands to attempt to merge other core ingredients from existing nootropics and try and make all racetams relevant to improving cognitive skills.

Although these are not approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as pharmaceuticals. Nonetheless, they still are getting attention from researchers.

The growing body of evidence and experiments that demonstrate the cognitive-enhancing effects of these supplements and the high rate of usage of these nootropics by the general public should signal the need for more experimental studies in this field.