As people age, their cognitive abilities tend to decline. Therefore, many people switch to nootropics and brain boosters, often known as cognitive enhancers. These cognitive enhancers are believed to improve memory, sharpen focus, and enhance learning.
Today, we are going to talk about a particular nootropic and cognitive enhancer named Oxiracetam.
Oxiracetam carries a stellar reputation. This “smart drug” has shown sufficient evidence to prove it could enhance cognitive functions. Read on to learn more about how Oxiracetam may help prevent age-related cognitive decline.
What Is Oxiracetam?
Oxiracetam belongs to the racetam family. Racetams are a class of drugs that modulate several neurotransmitters in the brain to offer cognitive benefits. [2] They have been proven to enhance memory by interacting with the glutamate receptors in the central nervous system.
Oxiracetam is chemically derived from piracetam, but it is more potent than its parent compound. This is mainly due to structural differences between the two drugs.. Microscopic analysis has shown that Oxiracetam carries an additional hydroxyl (OH-) group.
Furthermore, it is believed that Oxiracetam may also help reduce the intensity of dementia in people who experience it. [1]
If you’re curious about racetams with broader cognitive effects, you might also want to explore Aniracetam, known for its mood-enhancing properties.
How Does Oxiracetam Work?
Oxiracetam works as a positive modulator of AMPA-sensitive glutamate receptors in neurons. This means that it increases the probability that an agonist will bind to the targeted receptors. This activates the receptors and increases their efficacy.
Research shows that glutamate receptors perform various crucial functions in the brain. They are responsible for communication between neurons, memory formation, regulation, and learning. Their impairment could result in various neurological disorders.
By activating these receptors, Oxiracetam might help them perform their roles much better.
This may translate into enhanced memory, improved learning powers, and superior verbal fluency for Oxiracetam users. It may also result in added concentration and focus.
Oxiracetam may also increase the release of acetylcholine. A rat study showed that a low Oxiracetam dosage stimulated the release of the neurotransmitter in the rats’ hippocampus.
Acetylcholine slows the heart rate, contracts smooth muscles, and dilates blood vessels. It also plays a crucial role in memory formation and learning.
For enhanced synaptic communication and neuroplasticity, Fasoracetam may also be considered due to its effects on glutamatergic and GABA systems.
Potential Benefits of Oxiracetam
Below are some of the potential benefits related to Oxiracetam:
- Enhances Learning
- Boosts Verbal Fluency
- Improves Memory Retention
- Protects Brain Health
- Increases Cerebral Flow
- Promotes Wakefulness
Enhances Learning
Oxiracetam improves learning by increasing the release of glutamate chemicals in the brain. Glutamate is responsible for strengthening the signaling (communication) between neurons. The improved signaling between neurons boosts learning, mental functions, and problem-solving skills.
What’s more, while there are no clinical studies to prove that Oxiracetam improves learning, multiple animal studies confirm this hypothesis. In two different studies, weight-dependent administration of this drug boosted learning power in mice.
Boosts Verbal Fluency
Researchers have given us a clue about how Oxiracetam boosts verbal fluency. This cognitive enhancer works on glutamate receptors, which are crucial for language comprehension and whose impairment leads to multiple language disorders, such as aphasic stroke syndromes.
Multiple users report a significant improvement in their vocabulary, as well as eloquence and word recall, only a few weeks after they started taking this nootropic supplement.
Improves Memory Retention
Oxiracetam may improve memory retention by blocking PDE4 enzymes. These enzymes are responsible for the breakdown of neurotransmitters acetylcholine and dopamine, both of which have well-publicized links to memory retention and recall capabilities. [1]
Research has shown that dopamine release can help stabilize memory in the hippocampus. The neurotransmitter acetylcholine, meanwhile, enhances the encoding of memory. It is crucial for helping your brain register and recall memories, especially episodic ones.
By preventing PDE4 enzymes from breaking down these neurotransmitters, Oxiracetam helps users experience improved memory retention.
Looking for memory-boosting alternatives? Centrophenoxine is another nootropic praised for its anti-aging and cognitive-enhancing effects.
Protects Brain Health
Various studies have shown that Oxiracetam protects overall brain health. This supplement has been shown to reduce brain inflammation in patients with Alzheimer’s disease. This finding helped the researchers conclude that Oxiracetam may exert a ‘protective’ role in Alzheimer’s disease patients.
Animal studies suggest Oxiracetam may offer neuroprotection after head injuries, but more human research is needed. Head injuries can be very dangerous as they might lead to brain trauma or worse. Research suggests that soldiers with a concussive injury experienced improved motor functions after Oxiracetam therapy.
One study has shown that Oxiracetam alleviates blood-brain barrier dysfunction and protects it against ischemic stroke. An ischemic stroke happens when the artery carrying blood to the brain gets blocked. If untreated, it can be fatal.
Enhances Cerebral Blood Flow
Oxiracetam boosts blood flow toward and within the brain. This enables this supplement to promote wakefulness (explained in detail below). The increase in cerebral blood flow also leads to increased mental energy.
Yet another benefit of increased cerebral circulation is that it leads to the quick removal of carbon dioxide and other waste products from your brain.
These waste products are replaced with nutrient- and oxygen-rich blood. This, in turn, allows the neurons to rev up, leading to cognitive enhancement.
Promotes Wakefulness
Oxiracetam might have what it takes to help people stay awake. In animal studies, this supplement has been shown to promote wakefulness by reducing sleepiness. Rats administered Oxiracetam showed increased alertness and responsiveness. [2]
Oxiracetam Side Effects
- Headaches
- Insomnia
- Nausea
Oxiracetam Dosage
You can purchase Oxiracetam in powder form, capsules, or tablets. You can take supplements orally or sublingually (under the tongue).
Given the fact that this drug is unregulated, the US Food and Drug Administration has yet to approve it. We don’t have any official guidelines on how much Oxiracetam you should take per day. All we have are suggestions from users or guidelines from studies involving this supplement.
In human clinical trials, patients were administered 700 – 2400 mg of Oxiracetam per day. Beginners should stick to the lower end of this range.
Make sure to avoid drinking alcohol 24 hours before and after taking this drug. A few users suggest that alcohol diminishes this supplement’s effects.
Try to take Oxiracetam early in the day, as this drug promotes wakefulness. If you take it late in the evening, it might disturb your sleeping routine. Try dividing the daily dosage into three equal parts.
For instance, if you’re taking the maximum dosage (2,400 mg) every day, divide it into three 800 mg doses. Regular users recommend a month-long break after 2–3 months of daily Oxiracetam use.. Or, at least, switch to a lower dosage for 30 days.
Recommended Oxiracetam Stacks
There are multiple reasons why you might want to stack Oxiracetam with other supplements. The first of them is that stacking it with other supplements will help you enjoy more significant benefits. That’s because two nootropics reinforce each other’s effects when combined.
Another is that Oxiracetam might cause headaches at higher doses. Combining this nootropic with a choline supplement may help prevent headaches. Aside from that, choline is an essential nutrient that helps with memory, muscle movement, and mood, so you’d get these effects as a bonus.
Here are some user-recommended Oxiracetam stacks:
Stack #1: Oxiracetam + Alpha GPC
Combining Oxiracetam with Alpha GPC will help you kill two birds with one stone. On the one hand, it will enable you to keep headaches at bay. Alpha GPC is rich in choline, which, in turn, is known for its ability to prevent headaches, one of Oxiracetam’s most reported side effects.
This stack might offer other benefits, too. These include improved memory formation, better memory recall, and enhanced memory retention. That’s due to the fact that Alpha GPC increases acetylcholine levels in the brain, a key neurotransmitter that regulates memory formation and recall.
Users recommend stacking 750 mg Oxiracetam with 300 mg Alpha GPC in up to two doses a day.
Stack #2: Oxiracetam + Piracetam
Both of these nootropics have similar actions. Oxiracetam is derived from piracetam, and while it contains one extra hydroxyl group, both of these racetams offer incredible cognitive benefits.
Once you combine Oxiracetam with piracetam, you may experience greater benefits than using either of them individually.
We have stated in our piracetam review that it works as a vasodilator (expands blood vessels), an effect that lets it potentiate the benefits Oxiracetam has to offer.
Users recommend stacking 1,600 mg of Piracetam with 400 mg of Oxiracetam in up to two doses a day.
Where Can You Buy Oxiracetam?
If you are looking for high-quality oxiracetam, below are the recommended vendors:
| Vendor | Rating | Buying Link | Verdict |
| PureRawz | 4.8/5 | Buy Oxiracetam from PureRawz | High-quality, trusted vendor |
| Rcdbio.co | 4.7/5 | Buy Oxiracetam Powder from RCDBio.co | Excellent reputation among users |
| BC9.co | 4/5 | Buy Oxiracetam Powder from bc9.co | Great services with excellent customer support |
You may also want to read our detailed PureRawz Review for insights into product quality and reliability.
Conclusion
Oxiracetam is widely regarded as one of the most effective nootropics available. This supplement improves memory formation and recall, sharpens analytical thinking and mental clarity, and provides a significant boost to overall cognitive function.
References
- Itil, T. M., Menon, G. N., Songar, A., & Itil, K. Z. (1986). CNS pharmacology and clinical therapeutic effects of oxiracetam. Clinical Neuropharmacology, 9 Suppl 3, S70-2. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3594458/
- Rozzini, R., Zanetti, O., & Bianchetti, A. (1992). Effectiveness of oxiracetam therapy in the treatment of cognitive deficiencies secondary to primary degenerative dementia. Acta Neurologica, 14(2), 117–126. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1414555/
