COMPOUND

Compounds / Cognitive

Noopept

Omberacetam (N-phenylacetyl-L-prolylglycine ethyl ester, GVS-111)

Cognitive Oral · Sublingual Approved outside the US

Small dipeptide-derivative nootropic developed in Russia by JSC LEKKO in 1996. Marketed in Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, and several CIS states as a prescription cognitive enhancer for mild cognitive impairment, post-concussion syndrome, and asthenia. In the US it sits in a regulatory gray zone: FDA-classified as an unapproved drug analog of piracetam, but widely sold as a 'dietary supplement' or 'research chemical' online. Hungary scheduled it as a controlled psychoactive substance in 2020.

At a glance

Half-life
~30 min Parent Noopept t½ ~30 min in plasma. Active metabolite cycloprolylglycine has a longer functional duration (~3-4 h) and is responsible for sustained subjective effects. Effective duration of action 4-6 h per dose.
Routes
Oral · Sublingual
Vial sizes
10 mg · 20 mg
Evidence base
3 studies 2 human · 1 review

Mechanism

Prodrug: rapidly metabolized to the active metabolite cycloprolylglycine (CPG), an endogenous dipeptide. CPG appears to act on AMPA / NMDA glutamate receptor subunits (positive modulation), upregulate BDNF and NGF expression, activate HIF-1α, and provide anti-oxidant + anti-glutamate-excitotoxicity protection. Structurally NOT a classic racetam despite being marketed alongside them. Better anxiolytic and autonomic effect vs piracetam in MCI. In a post-stroke MCI trial (20 mg/day for 8 weeks), cognitive improvement was reported.

Dosing

Any amounts shown here are reported from published studies only. 2 of 3 catalogued studies involved human subjects. COMPOUND does not publish its own dosing guidance.

Where a study reports an amount, it appears in that study's entry below, attributed to the source.

Published evidence

  1. Human RCT 2009

    Comparative studies of Noopept and piracetam in the treatment of patients with mild cognitive disorders

    Neznamov GG, Teleshova ES Neurosci Behav Physiol

    Russian comparative trial: Noopept 20 mg/day vs piracetam 1200 mg/day in mild cognitive impairment. Both improved cognition; Noopept showed better anxiolytic + autonomic effect.

    PMID 19234797

  2. Human observational 2011

    Noopept in the treatment of mild cognitive impairment in patients with stroke

    Amelin AV, Iliukhina AY, Shmonin AA Zh Nevrol Psikhiatr Im S S Korsakova

    Open-label Russian clinical study: Noopept 20 mg/day x 8 weeks improved cognitive scores and reduced anxiety in post-stroke MCI patients.

    PMID 22500312

  3. Review 2008

    The original novel nootropic and neuroprotective agent noopept

    Ostrovskaya RU, Gudasheva TA, Voronina TA, Seredenin SB Eksp Klin Farmakol

    Comprehensive review by the developing lab: mechanism, PK, preclinical and clinical findings.

    PMID 19240853

Reported side effects

Headache
Occasional Mild · Often dose-related. Choline supplementation (alpha-GPC, CDP-choline) may reduce.
Irritability / restlessness
Occasional Mild · Reported with higher doses (>30 mg/day) or chronic use.
Insomnia
Occasional Mild
Mild blood pressure elevation
Rare Mild · Per Russian PI: caution in uncontrolled hypertension.
Allergic skin reaction
Rare Moderate · Per Russian PI.

Interactions

  • Caffeine Synergy

    Subjective synergy with caffeine + L-theanine. No formal PK study.

Storage

Tablets / powder stable at room temp, protect from moisture and light. Shelf-life 3 years.