Nefiracetam: How it Works, Benefits, and Possible Side Effects
Cognitive enhancing drugs have become increasingly popular lately as users across the world take them to study better, improve overall brain health, and boost their productivity at work. Nootropics are a broad subject with a plethora of different drugs. Before you start using these medications, you need to get informed about their efficacy first which is why posts like this one come handy. Throughout this post, we’re going to inform you about Nefiracetam and its efficacy.
Nefiracetam Overview
Nefiracetam is a cognitive enhancing drug or nootropic from the racetam family. This is probably one of the least popular racetam drugs which explains why there isn’t much information about it. The drug is sold by brands such as Motiva and Translon, and it was synthesized for the first time by Japan's second largest pharmaceutical company Daiichi Sankyo. Of course, nefiracetam is a synthetic compound, and it doesn't occur naturally in foods or any other sources.
How Does Nefiracetam Work?
Nefiracetam is a very complicated drug. Although it belongs to racetam family and it is considered structurally similar to piracetam, it’s actually more closer to aniracetam. Aniracetam is a fat-soluble molecule in the racetam family, a potent nootropic that enhances cognitive function. Additionally, the drug also has some similarities to drugs such as oxiracetam. Some distinct characteristics of nefiracetam are not observed in its predecessors.
Mechanism of action that nefiracetam uses to exhibit its effects is by opening the calcium channels and increasing the influx of calcium to neurons. The result of this activity is a permanent strengthening of synapses in the hippocampus that leads to a greater ability to store and retrieve memory.
By keeping the calcium channels open, nefiracetam can amplify the message sent by excitatory neurotransmitters thus producing greater levels of communication and memory among different brain areas.
Another mechanism of action is through potentiation of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors which can lead to the release of glutamate and GABA both of which are important neurotransmitters. Acetylcholine and glutamate play a crucial role in the formation of memories, and overall brainpower and is functions. Both neurotransmitters are also connected to the neuroplasticity, and they have the ability to support the formation of new pathways and neurons in a person’s brain.
What are the Benefits of Nefiracetam?
As you can see, nefiracetam is a complex drug that uses different mechanisms of action to help users achieve the desired effects. At this point evidence on this subject is limited primarily because nefiracetam is one of the least popular and most widely overlooked racetams. However, this doesn’t mean the drug has nothing to offer. Below you can see the most important benefits that you can expect with regular (and healthy) use of nefiracetam.
1. Increases Memory
Memory fluctuates, sometimes it’s sharp and recalling information goes smoothly while in other instances it suffers. Nefiracetam, like other nootropics, has a potential to improve your memory but this topic needs to be researched more extensively. One path through which nefiracetam improves memory is the above-mentioned opening of the calcium channel which leads to stronger synapses in the hippocampus. Similarly to oxiracetam, nefiracetam raises the levels of protein kinase C (PKC) and CaM kinase II. Both enzymes are crucial for the formation of memories.
Intake of nefiracetam increases synaptic activity of NMDA and AMPA receptors. This can give you a stronger memory and improve learning. Benefits of nefiracetam are stronger when used long-term rather than short-term. Basically, this drug won't give you a temporary quick fix, and it works to improve the root causes of memory problems and exhibit its results in the long run.
2. Greatly Reduces Anxiety
Anxiety can have a huge impact on a person’s quality of life and their behavior, communication skills, and the way they function in everyday life. Although a serious problem, anxiety can be managed successfully with a proactive approach. What many people don’t know is that some nootropic drugs such as nefiracetam can exhibit anti-anxiety effects. While the exact mechanism through which nefiracetam relieves anxiety is unknown, a possible explanation could be due to increased levels of PKS. You see, a growing body of evidence confirms that this particular protein takes part in the regulation of anxiety-like behavior. Besides anxiety, nefiracetam can also aid depression management as studies show that administration of the drug improves depressive behaviors through activation of CaM kinases.
3. Protects Brain Neurons from Premature Death
Animals studies revealed that administration of nefiracetam increased the presence of types of cells whose concentration is usually higher during cognitive training. Regular intake of the drug can also increase the levels of neuropeptide NGF (nerve growth factor) which is important for healthy growth of new brain neurons and protection of existing neurons from premature death. That way, this nootropic can also protect your cognitive functions and overall brain health because the death of neurons could severely affect them.
4. Reduces Stress
Stress is a natural response that your body uses to adapt to certain changes and situations. This isn't something can avoid entirely, but if we don't do anything about it, then stress will keep getting bigger. It's always important to manage stress rather than wait for it to go away on its own. Every person has a wide range of ways to alleviate stress and nefiracetam can be a useful approach.
Similarly to other nootropics, nefiracetam increases the concentration of important neurotransmitters and supports their balance. Basically, this also means the drug supports your mood and allows you to manage stress more effectively. It’s important to emphasize the importance of studies that would explore the relationship between nefiracetam and stress reduction.
Suggested Dosages
The exact optimal dose of Nefiracetam doesn't exist, at least not yet. While many studies on this subject are still ongoing, it's safe to say we'll need to wait for a while to find out the right dosage that works best for every user. The most frequently taken dosage is 150mg to 450mg over the course of the day. The drug is usually taken in three even doses. Nefiracetam is able to exhibit its effects on the brain within 30 to 60 minutes after oral ingestion. At this point, it is not known whether the drug needs to be taken prior to the cognitive training. Nefiracetam is sold in the form of tablets, capsules, and power. Capsules and tablets usually come in dose 400mg to 600mg each. Bearing in mind Nefiracetam is a fat-soluble compound it's useful to take it with a meal containing healthy fats. Another option is to take the drug with a tablespoon of olive or coconut oil. Most users report that it takes about seven days of regular use to experience the full effects of Nefiracetam. Of course, individual differences apply. We are all different, and we experience things (including drug effects) differently.
Possible Side Effects
Every drug, regardless of its kind, comes with a certain risk of side effects. Adverse reactions of Nefiracetam are similar to those of other racetams. The most common side effects include:
- A headache
- Irritability
- Nausea
- Dizziness
- Fatigue
- Stomach issues
In most cases, side effects of Nefiracetam are mild and go away quickly. As far as headaches are concerned, they usually occur when a person forgets to combine Nefiracetam with a choline supplement. That happens because headaches are oftentimes a sign of choline deficit in the brain.
Conclusion
Racetam family involves a wide range of nootropic drugs or cognitive enhancers. Nefiracetam is a member of that family, but it is not as popular as others. Nefiracetam has a unique structure that makes it both similar and different than its predecessors. Bearing in mind the drug is relatively new compared to others, and its popularity isn't as big as that of other nootropics, there is still a lot we need to learn about this drug. We can expect more studies on the subject in the near future.