Noopept
Cognition, Memory
Plasma half-life of the parent compound is about 0.38 h (~23 min) in humans. Its metabolite cycloprolylglycine persists considerably longer, which is why reported effects outlast the parent — so levels modelled from this figure describe the parent only.
In short
- Also called omberacetam. A dipeptide developed in Russia, where it is a prescription medicine; it is not approved in the US, EU, or UK.
- Plasma half-life of the parent compound is about 23 minutes, but its metabolite cycloprolylglycine persists far longer and is thought to carry much of the activity.
- Roughly 1,000× more potent by weight than piracetam in animal models.
- Russian clinical studies exist but are largely unavailable in English and were not conducted to Western regulatory standards.
- Sold in Western markets as a dietary supplement or research chemical, neither of which reflects its actual regulatory status.
Structure
How it works
Noopept is a proline-containing dipeptide structurally related to the endogenous neuropeptide cycloprolylglycine. Its proposed mechanisms include increased expression of BDNF and NGF in the hippocampus, antioxidant activity, and modulation of acetylcholine and glutamate signalling.
A meaningful part of the effect is attributed to its metabolite cycloprolylglycine, an endogenous neuropeptide with anxiolytic and neuroprotective activity — which explains the mismatch between the parent compound's very short plasma residence and reports of longer-lasting effects.
What the research shows
Russian clinical studies report improvement in cognitive symptoms following mild cognitive impairment and post-concussive states, and anxiolytic effects. These are the basis for its Russian registration.
The methodological quality and independence of that literature is difficult to assess from outside, much of it is not in English, and there has been no independent Western replication.
Reports of subjective cognitive enhancement in healthy people are anecdotal.
Dosing in the literature
Figures below are quoted from published studies, with the species or population they were measured in. They are records of what was studied, not recommendations.
| Studied in | Amount | Route | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Human — Russian clinical use, cognitive indications | 10 mg twice or three times daily, typically 20–30 mg per day | oral | PubMed |
| Human — pharmacokinetics | Parent half-life ~0.38 h; Tmax ~15 min | oral | PubMed |
Commonly reported ranges
These are amounts people report using. They are not from any study, have not been evaluated for safety, and are reproduced here only because they circulate widely and are better seen alongside the evidence than instead of it.
| Reported by | Amount | Route |
|---|---|---|
| Commonly reported | 10–30 mg per day, divided | oral or sublingual |
Unusually for this section, the community range and the registered clinical range broadly coincide, because a registered dose exists to coincide with. The parent half-life describes the parent only — the active metabolite is not captured by it, so levels modelled from 0.38 h understate duration of effect.
Handling and storage
Oral, as tablets, capsules, or powder. Sublingual administration is commonly described on the basis of first-pass metabolism, though comparative bioavailability data is not available.
Courses of a few weeks followed by breaks are the pattern described in Russian clinical use rather than continuous indefinite dosing.
Side effects
Commonly reported: headache, irritability, sleep disturbance, and elevated blood pressure. Headache in particular is frequently reported and is often attributed to cholinergic demand, though that explanation is inherited from the racetams rather than demonstrated here.
Russian registration data suggests reasonable tolerability at registered doses. Independent long-term safety data outside Russia does not exist.
Combinations
Commonly combined with a choline source such as alpha-GPC on the assumption of increased cholinergic demand. That assumption is imported from the racetam class rather than established for noopept.
No formal interaction studies exist.
Research status
Developed at the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences and registered in Russia in the 1990s. Published work covers neuroprotection, BDNF/NGF expression, and clinical use in cognitive impairment.
Western independent research is minimal, and the compound has never been through FDA or EMA evaluation.
Legal status
A registered prescription medicine in Russia and some neighbouring countries. Not approved in the US, EU, UK, Canada, or Australia. It does not meet the US definition of a dietary supplement, despite frequently being sold as one — the FDA has stated that it is excluded from that category.
WADA status
Not specifically named on the WADA Prohibited List as of this review date. Verify against the live list before competition.
Conclusion
Noopept occupies unusual middle ground: a genuine registered medicine somewhere, with a real clinical dose, and effectively no independently verifiable evidence base in the languages and regulatory systems most users rely on.
That is considerably better than the compounds here with no human data at all, and considerably worse than an approved Western medicine.
Sources
Track your own Noopept protocol
Peppers logs your doses, models your levels from this half-life, tracks your vials and tells you when you will run out. Free on iPhone.
Reference and educational information only. Not medical advice. Nothing here diagnoses, treats, or prescribes, and nothing here is a recommendation to use any compound. The compounds described are research chemicals and are not approved for human consumption. Legal and anti-doping status change — the review date above is when these claims were last checked. Talk to a qualified clinician about anything you intend to take.