Piracetam

Benjamin Clanner-Engelshofen is a freelance writer in the medical department. He studied biochemistry and pharmacy in Munich and Cambridge / Boston (USA) and noticed early on that he particularly enjoyed the interface between medicine and science. That is why he went on to study human medicine.

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The active ingredient Piracetam is used to treat dementia and performance disorders caused by organ brain organisms. Since it increases the utilization of sugar and oxygen in the nerve cells of the central nervous system, it is also used to treat tinnitus and sudden hearing loss. Here you can read everything you need to know about Piracetam: effect, use and possible side effects.

This is how piracetam works

The effects of piracetam are not yet fully and comprehensively understood. In animal experiments it has been shown that it stimulates the metabolism in animals with a reduced brain metabolism, increases the utilization of sugar for energy production and stimulates the production of proteins. Experts deduce from this that piracetam improves symptoms in dementia and other brain disorders.

Another, experimentally observed effect of the active ingredient concerns the coagulation and fluidity of the blood. The active ingredient improves the deformability of red blood cells, which makes them easier for them to get through small blood vessels. It inhibits the agglomeration of red blood cells and platelets (clot formation) and lowers the viscosity of the blood plasma (liquid component of the blood without blood cells and platelets). As a result of all these effects, the blood flow in small vessels, which are also found in large numbers in the brain, is improved.

Further studies confirm that the active ingredient piracetam also has a therapeutic advantage in the follow-up care of stroke patients.

The intake to increase memory performance or to improve memory retention in healthy patients is controversial and has not been proven by studies.

Uptake, breakdown and excretion of piracetam

After ingestion through the mouth, the active ingredient is absorbed into the blood through the intestinal mucosa, where it reaches the highest levels after just half an hour. It can cross the blood-brain barrier and get into the brain.

About four to seven hours after ingestion, half of the active ingredient is excreted unchanged via the kidneys.

When is Piracetam used?

The active ingredient piracetam is approved for the treatment of performance disorders that affect the brain, with the symptoms of memory, concentration and thinking disorders, drive and motivation deficiency - but especially in dementia. The intake usually takes place over a longer period of time.

This is how piracetam is used

The antidementia (medicine for dementia) piracetam is usually taken as a tablet. Total daily doses of up to 2.4 grams of piracetam are common, divided into 800 milligrams three times a day or 1.2 grams twice a day. If the patient does not respond adequately to the treatment, the doctor can increase the total daily dose to 4.8 grams.

The tablets are taken with a glass of water with or after a meal.

There are also liquid dosage forms for patients with swallowing disorders or tube feeding.

What are the side effects of Piracetam?

The occurrence of side effects is dose-dependent; higher doses lead to an increased incidence of side effects.

One in ten to one hundred people experience Piracetam side effects such as nervousness, aggressiveness, insomnia, excessive exercise and weight gain.

Occasionally, side effects such as depression, drowsiness, lower or higher blood pressure, a feeling of weakness and increased libido can occur.

What should be considered when taking Piracetam?

Since piracetam is not metabolized or broken down in the body, interactions with other active substances are very rare.

When piracetam is combined with thyroid hormones to treat an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism), increased irritability, confusion and difficulty sleeping have been reported.

The effects of drugs that stimulate the central nervous system (drugs used to treat narcolepsy, ADHD, asthma) may be increased by piracetam. The same goes for the effects of drugs used to treat psychosis and schizophrenia.

Caution should be exercised when using piracetam in patients with bleeding disorders. The anticoagulant properties of the active ingredient can lead to an increased bleeding tendency. For the same reason, caution should be exercised when taking piracetam before surgery and if you have stomach ulcers.

If the active ingredient piracetam is taken to treat convulsions (myoclonus syndrome), it must not be suddenly stopped. Otherwise an acute seizure can occur.

Children and adolescents under the age of 18 as well as pregnant and breastfeeding women should not take piracetam as there are no data on the safety and efficacy of the active ingredient in these patient groups.

In elderly patients (over 65 years of age) and patients with impaired renal function, the dose may need to be reduced, as excretion via the kidneys is restricted. In addition, kidney function should be monitored regularly while treatment with Piracetam.

How to get Piracetam medication

Preparations with the active ingredient Piracetam are only available on prescription in every dosage and pack size. They can be obtained from the pharmacy upon presentation of a doctor's prescription.

How long has Piracetam been known?

Piracetam was first developed by scientists at the Belgian pharmaceutical company UCB in 1964. Leading UCB scientist Corneliu Giurgea created the name “nootropic” for the active ingredient because of its memory-enhancing effect. Piracetam has been approved as a medicinal substance in Europe since the mid-1970s.

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