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Aniracetam
N-Anisoyl-2-pyrrolidinone
Draganon, Sarpul, Ampamet, Memodrin, Referan
Aniracetam is a nootropic pyrrolidinone compound of the racetam family that acts on the central nervous system. Developed by Roche Pharmaceutical, it is among the earliest known synthesized derivatives of piracetam and is structurally related to nefiracetam. Research into its efficacy in humans remains limited. Although generally less potent than noopept by dosage, it is reported to offer comparable benefits. Afternoon use may cause insomnia in some individuals.
Dosage & Duration
Dosage
Doses are population estimates that vary widely between individuals.
Threshold350 mg
Light500-1200 mg
Moderate1500 mg
Strong1800-2400 mg
Heavy2400+ mg
Duration
Onset45-90 minutes
Total3-5 hours
Subjective Effects
Subjective Effects not written up yet
Pharmacology
Pharmacodynamics
Aniracetam acts as a positive allosteric modulator of AMPA receptors. It is thought to increase acetylcholine release in hippocampal cells and has also been shown to modulate GABAergic and dopaminergic neurotransmission. Nonselective monoamine oxidase inhibition has been observed in rats.
Pharmacokinetics
Following oral ingestion, aniracetam is rapidly broken down through first-pass hepatic metabolism. Its primary metabolic products are N-anisoyl-GABA, accounting for 70-80%, and 2-pyrrolidinone plus p-anisic acid, accounting for 20-30%. During the first few hours after oral administration, reported plasma concentrations are generally 5-15 μg/L for aniracetam and 5-15 mg/L for the active metabolite N-anisoyl-GABA.
Dangerous
Highest riskThese combinations are considered extremely harmful and should always be avoided. Reactions to these drugs taken in combination are highly unpredictable and have a potential to cause death.
MAOIs
Tolerance
Tolerance timelines are rules of thumb, not exact schedules, and vary widely between individuals and use patterns.
Full Tolerance
Tolerance to many effects develops with prolonged, repeated use, requiring increasingly large doses to achieve the same effects.
Baseline Reset
Tolerance returns to baseline after approximately 1-2 weeks without further use.
Half Tolerance
Tolerance is reduced to approximately half after 3-7 days without further use.
Cross Tolerance
Possible cross-tolerance with racetam nootropics, including coluracetam and piracetam
Harm Potential
Toxicity
Lethal Dosage
The exact toxic dosage is unknown.
History & Culture
Aniracetam was first synthesized by Hoffmann-La Roche in the 1970s and was among the earliest known derivatives of piracetam.…
Legality
By Country
Controlled / restricted3
United StatesRestrictedFederal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act §§ 201(g)(1), 201(p), 301(a), 301(d), 502(f)(1), and 505(a) (21 U.S.C. §§ 321(g)(1), 321(p), 331(a), 331(d), 352(f)(1), and 355(a)); FDA Warning Letter 557887 (Feb. 4, 2019)10
FDA's enforcement determination concerns federal interstate marketing of the exact named product and does not classify aniracetam under the Controlled Substances Act. Personal possession and state-law treatment fall outside its scope.
JapanRestrictedMHLW Pharmaceutical Safety and Environmental Health Bureau Monitoring and Narcotics Control Division Notice Yakusei-Kanma 1126 No. 3 (26 Nov 2018), effective 1 Jan 20191
Aniracetam is subject to an import-specific restriction that does not classify it as a narcotic or scheduled drug.
SingaporeRestrictedAniracetam is expressly named in the current Poisons Act Schedule. The Act’s general prohibition provides that a person must not import, possess for sale, sell, or offer for sale a poison without a licence. Aniracetam is therefore subject to a poison-licensing restriction, but is not thereby classified as a controlled drug, and the provision does not prohibit all personal possession.
Prescription1
AustraliaPrescription onlyTherapeutic Goods (Poisons Standard—June 2026) Instrument 2026 (Standard for the Uniform Scheduling of Medicines and Poisons No. 48), F2026L0063356
The current federal Poisons Standard expressly lists ANIRACETAM in Schedule 4. Schedule 4 describes substances whose use or supply should be by, or on the order of, persons permitted by State or Territory legislation to prescribe and which should be available from a pharmacist on prescription. The Standard states that scheduling is implemented through relevant State and Territory legislation.
Legal / decriminalized1
FinlandLegal (regulated)Lääkealan turvallisuus- ja kehittämiskeskuksen päätös lääkeluettelosta 230/2025 (Finland Medicine List), issued under Medicines Act 395/1987, section 6234
Current Finnish Medicine List decision 230/2025, in force since 19 May 2025, expressly lists Aniracetam under its Finnish and Latin names among substances used as medicines and considered medicines. Aniracetam therefore has regulated-medicine status, but the decision does not designate a specific Finnish Aniracetam product as prescription-only.
References
Source Pages
Citations
Further Reading
Cumin et al. 1982 - Effects of aniracetam on impaired learning and memory in rodents
Examine: .com - Aniracetam overview- Kaneko et al. 1991 - Effects of cerebroprotective drugs on NMDA channel function
- Lee & Benfield 1994 - Aniracetam: pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic properties review
- Ling & Benardo 2005 - Nootropic agents enhance fast GABA inhibition in neocortex
Nakamura & Kurasawa 2001 - Anxiolytic effects of aniracetam in mouse models- Nakamura et al. 2000 - Pharmacokinetics of aniracetam in healthy volunteers
- Paterniti et al. 2010 - Aniracetam as an anxiolytic AMPAkine
- PubChem: 2159
- PubChem: Aniracetam (CID 2196)
- Stancheva & Alova 1988 - Effect of aniracetam on monoamine oxidase activity
- Zhao et al. 2001 - Nootropic drug modulation of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors
Article Status
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