Whether you’re new to nootropic supplements or already an experienced nootropic enthusiast, you’ve almost certainly heard of racetams. The racetam family of smart-drugs is a widely varied and exciting group of brain-enhancing supplements. In a time when newer and more potent derivative nootropics are being introduced every year, it makes sense to understand the most widely used smart drugs in the market today.
So, if this is your first attempt at using racetam nootropics or you’ve heard about them but still aren’t sure about they are, here’s a simple guide to help you understand what are racetams:
What are Racetams?
Racetams were the first family of nootropics to be discovered when researchers synthesized a molecule designed to fight off motion sickness. This molecule was known as piracetam. The discovery was made in the 1960’s but progressed to cognitive research after users reported that the tablets resulted in a better and clearer state of mind as an additional effect. This is when the concept of cognitive enhancement using Paradigm Peptides supplements was born.
Racetams are a family of synthetic nootropics that share a similar chemical structure and effects on the human brain. These racetam nootropics are known for their effectiveness when it comes to boosting various cognitive functions like memory, focus, learning, mood, and energy, as well as improving overall brain health.
How Do Racetams Work?
Racetams generally work by affecting the production and degradation of the critical neurotransmitter – Acetylcholine. This chemical plays a critical role in the brain and is responsible for a variety of cognitive functions like memory formation, logical thinking, attention, and other vital functions. Here’s a closer look at how racetams work:
- Racetams Enhance Brain Metabolism– Racetams play a powerful role in stimulating oxidative catabolism, turnover and cAMP levels, and improving ATP. These nootropics also encourage long-term memory retention and spatial navigation. Enhanced brain metabolism results in better cognitive performance.
- Better Neurotransmission – Racetam nootropics also increase communication between neurons in the left and right hemispheres of the brain. This encourages a higher level of thinking capacity and problem-solving skills. Enhanced neuro-communications leads to improved alertness, reading, and accuracy, corporation, concentration and awareness.
The Most Popular Racetams Today
What are the best racetams? Given the popularity of racetams in the world of nootropics, we’re going to look at some of the well-known racetams in the market today:
Piracetam
Piracetam, considered the very first nootropic supplement, is still widely used by many people. While it has mild effects compared to more potent racetams, it works perfectly well as an “entry-level” nootropic supplement for those new to smart drugs. This brain-enhancing drug works by stimulating the acetylcholine receptors in the brain to produce more of this vital neurotransmitter.
Research done over the years has shown that piracetam can boost cognitive functions, leading to increased mental energy, enhanced sensory perception, better memory, and increased motivation thanks to improved neuroplasticity. As a racetam nootropic, piracetam also shows great promise for users with age-related mental decline. It’s best used as a solid but mild brain-booster within a nootropic stack. A dosage of 800 mg three times a day is ideal for most.
Aniracetam
Aniracetam is up to 5 times more potent than Piracetam. It’s known to enhance neuro-communication in the brain, boosting creativity and improving focus. The fact that it’s an anxiolytic drug means that it’s good for people suffering from anxiety disorders, especially in social situations, as well as enhancing mood, increasing memory and cognition. Aniracetam is a great “step up” drug from piracetam for those who want to experience better cognitive effects.
Aniracetam is known to have a shorter lifespan of up to four hours, so that means it needs to be taken more frequently to enjoy the benefits. A typical user dosage is 750 mg a day, taken one to three times daily with food. It’s recommended that you supplement this racetam nootropic with a stack of choline to avoid potential side effects like headaches. Considering it’s fat-soluble, it should be taken with fatty acids.
Oxiracetam
Considered the most expensive racetam supplement, oxiracetam is faster-acting than both piracetam and aniracetam. It acts as an effective brain stimulant, though in a different way than stimulants like caffeine. Its effectiveness lies in the release of excitatory neurotransmitters, potentially boosting memory formation and retention, and enhancing logical thinking. Its stimulative effects can also provide a boost of energy.
Oxiracetam is a well-rounded choice for most people and is great for helping the brain perform complex computations. It’s ideal for students studying in STEM fields. The recommended dosage is 700-2400 mg daily. It can be taken at least an hour before engaging in mentally-tasking activities or every 6-8 hours. New users should start with a lower dose and build up slowly. It’s recommended for use for a shorter period of time when necessary.
Pramiracetam
Pramiracetam is by far one of the most effective and strongest racetam nootropics for increased memory and focus. It’s known to increase high-affinity choline uptake in the brain, which is behind its cognitive enhancing effects. Pramiracetam also helps increase blood flow and energy levels in the brain, improve long-term memory formation and increase alertness up to 10 hours after taking it.
It’s a reliable productivity supplement as it helps boost multiple cognitive elements like memory and focus. Users have reported better clarity of thought, and a less likelihood of getting distracted in their work. If you’re looking for the best racetams, pramiracetam is no doubt one of the best nootropics to consider. Considering it’s highly concentrated, users only need a relatively small dose – 400 to 600 mg, taken three times a day to experience the effects.
Fasoracetam
Almost similar to aniracetam but with an almost instantly noticeable effect, fasoracetam helps with mental clarity and motivation, and is a possible aid for users suffering from depression and cognitive problems like Alzheimer’s disease. This racetam nootropic works on the choline centers but also affects GABA receptors in the brain. This often results in a sharper mind, improved moods, and better memory retention. Dosage is from 20-40 mg taken twice a day.
The Bottom Line
While the use of racetams as brain-enhancing drugs is still evolving with more research being done, it’s good to know that taking the recommended dosage is the best way to enjoy the effectiveness of these smart drugs. This also helps avoid potential side effects, which are very rare. Combining racetams with cholines like Alpha-GPC is a great stack choice for enhanced cognitive performance.
If you’re looking to buy the best racetam nootropics available, source them here at Paradigm Peptides.