Piracetam

Piracetam
Clinical data
Trade namesBreinox, Dinagen, Lucetam, Nootropil, Nootropyl, Oikamid, Piracetam, others
AHFS/Drugs.comInternational Drug Names
Routes of
administration
By mouth, parenteral, inhalation
ATC code
Legal status
Legal status
  • AU: S4 (Prescription only)
  • CA: Unscheduled
  • UK: POM (Prescription only)
  • US: Unapproved drug, use in dietary supplements, food, or medicine is unlawful; otherwise uncontrolled[1]
Pharmacokinetic data
Bioavailability~100%
Onset of actionSwiftly following administration. Food delays time to peak concentration by 1.5 h approximately to 2–3 h since dosing.[2]
Elimination half-life4–5 hours
ExcretionUrinary
Identifiers
IUPAC name
  • 2-(2-Oxopyrrolidin-1-yl)acetamide
CAS Number
PubChem CID
IUPHAR/BPS
DrugBank
ChemSpider
UNII
KEGG
ChEMBL
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)
ECHA InfoCard100.028.466
Chemical and physical data
FormulaC6H10N2O2
Molar mass142.158 g·mol−1
3D model (JSmol)
Melting point152 °C (306 °F)
SMILES
  • O=C1N(CC(=O)N)CCC1
InChI
  • InChI=1S/C6H10N2O2/c7-5(9)4-8-3-1-2-6(8)10/h1-4H2,(H2,7,9) Y
  • Key:GMZVRMREEHBGGF-UHFFFAOYSA-N Y
  (verify)

Piracetam is a drug that has efficacy in cognitive disorders, vertigo, cortical myoclonus, dyslexia, and sickle cell anemia; sources differ on its usefulness for dementia.[3][4][5] Piracetam is sold as a medication in many European countries. Piracetam in the United States is not approved for general use.[6]

Piracetam is in the racetams group, with chemical name 2-oxo-1-pyrrolidine acetamide. It is a cyclic derivative of the neurotransmitter GABA[4] and shares the same 2-oxo-pyrrolidone base structure with pyroglutamic acid. Related drugs include the anticonvulsants levetiracetam and brivaracetam, and the putative nootropics aniracetam and phenylpiracetam.

  1. ^ "Piracetam". DrugBank database.
  2. ^ Leaflet of Piracetam.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference (eMC) 2017 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference Winblad2005 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Flicker L, Grimley Evans G (2001). "Piracetam for dementia or cognitive impairment". The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2012 (2): CD001011. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD001011. PMC 12016011. PMID 11405971.
  6. ^ Cohen PA, Zakharevich I, Gerona R (March 2020). "Presence of Piracetam in Cognitive Enhancement Dietary Supplements". JAMA Internal Medicine. 180 (3): 458–459. doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2019.5507. PMC 6902196. PMID 31764936.