Verified by Dr. Sundru M. Devi.
M.D. Microbiology, PhD Biotechnology, Mar 1, 2019
A new member to the racetam family, Coluracetam is a nootropic believed to be beneficial in enhancing memory, learning, improving vision, and supporting the treatment of anxiety and depression.
Overview of Coluracetam
Coluracetam is a drug that falls in the racetam family. The way it works and its structure are different from other racetams. Despite it being in the racetam family, this drug has gained a widespread reputation on its uniqueness in memory boosting and reduction of anxiety and depression. It is popular in the nootropic community to raise optic properties.
However, additional studies are needed to realize the mechanism that supports these benefits. It was initially synthesized in 2005 by the Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation in Japan as a probable cure for Alzheimer’s disease. Brain Cells, Inc. later licensed it for more study after it did not make to reach its clinical endpoint.
Brain Cells began to conduct experiments on its effects. Most of these tests were on rats due to lack of enough participants to undertake the clinical trial. From the clinical analysis carried out, coluracetam showed to improve memory retention and relieve anxiety.
Although it is a new nootropic in comparison to classic racetams such as Piracetam, over the past few years, it gained popularity due to its practical use.
Phenylpiracetam – as the name indicates, is a derivative of piracetam, with the phenyl addition. Which is why it shares so many properties with piracetam. However, it seems to be much more powerful. It is anywhere between 30 to 60 times more potent, and therefore effective, in its action.
Phenylpiracetam (Phenotropil, Carphedon) is a scarcely studied piracetam derivative. It’s notable for its stimulatory subjective effects. It appears on the list of banned substances for Olympic sports. In-vitro experiments suggest phenylpiracetam binds to nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. In animal models phenylpiracetam seems to increase NMDA and nicotinic acetylcholine receptor density, which may suggest it has potential as a cognitive enhancer.[204] Similarly, in animal experiments phenylpiracetam seems to exert anti-depressant effects. [111] No studies have been done to show phenylpiracetam improves cognitive performance in otherwise healthy individuals. Phenylpiracetam seems to be the most stimulatory piracetam derivative.
Reddit’s Begginer Guide
Coluracetam Benefits
- Improves Memory and Learning
- Reduces Treatment-Resistant Depression
- Reduces Anxiety
- Promotes Neurogenesis
- Helps with Schizophrenia
- Enhances Eyesight
Supporting research:
Improves Memory and Learning
Coluracetam benefits proves to work in enforcing cognitive and memory function in rats and similar effects on humans. Brain Cells Inc. conducted a study which reveals an improvement of mind in rats after receiving AF64A for eight days. The development continued to last even beyond treatment. Alzheimer’s disease leads to lower levels of acetylcholine. By growing acetylcholine in the hippocampus, coluracetam will increase symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease such as learning disorders and poor memory. [R] [R]
Reduces Treatment-Resistant Depression
In a study of 101 individuals with depression, who did not achieve result treatment with antidepressants, it had a constructive impact on the apparent improvement in the quality of life at 80 mg 3 times a day. However, this is the only study on humans. The capacity it holds to minimize glutamate noxiousness may be liable for its positive impacts in the depression treatment. [R]
Reduces Anxiety
In a rat study, dosing 21 days of coluracetam shows a 20% improvement in anxiety, which was higher than the 12% effect valium impact in a single dose in the same study. [R]
Promotes Neurogenesis
Some studies mention that it helps with neurogenesis. The primary mechanism is still not clear, but it relates to the administration of it for several weeks, which increase in acetylcholine in the hippocampus area.
“Patents state that it promotes nerve cell growth (neurogenesis). The mechanism is unknown, yet is thought to be related to the increase in hippocampal acetylcholine when coluracetam is dosed daily for a few weeks.” [R]
Helps With Schizophrenia
Coluracetam increases the activity of ChAT in rats with nerve cell damage. This increase suggests it may benefit patients with schizophrenia through this same enzyme. More research directly on people with schizophrenia is undergoing. [R] [R]
Enhances Eyesight
Coluracetam has shown its optic strengths such as improved color recognition, vision, and vividness. Specifically, it promotes nerve growth for the degenerative retinal disease. Numerous studies mention better color vision and sharpening of the eyesight, but no scientific research has confirmed these effects. [R]
Coluracetam Mechanism of Action
It works through the process of high-affinity choline uptake. That’s its mechanism of action. The brain chemical responsible for storing cognitive abilities and memories is acetylcholine.
This chemical is part of the cholinergic system, which is affected when Coluracetam increases the level of acetylcholine within our brain. Studies on acetylcholine shows that an increase in the chemical levels can prove vital for improving learning, memory, and cognition.
It works by enhancing the acetylcholine levels in various regions, including the hippocampus, which is responsible for memory.
This chemical is part of the cholinergic system, which is affected when Coluracetam increases the level of acetylcholine in the brain.
Many studies done on acetylcholine shows that an increase in the chemical levels can prove very important for improving learning, memory formation, and typically cognitive abilities.
It works by enhancing the acetylcholine levels in various regions, including the hippocampus, which is responsible for memory.
Coluracetam Dosage
Typically, the recommended starting dose is 20mg due to that being the manufactured one. There are claims that researchers testing coluracetam dosage of 240 mg per day are finding no side effects. However, the source link to that claim is broken. [R] [R]
My Personal Experience
The maximum I’ve taken is 60mg in single dose. It caused me a slight headache and yield no special outcome.
Advise: Take it with a choline source. It can be in supplement form (Alpha-GPC. Citicoline), or from foods in your own diet.
Pairing coluracetam with a choline source will both, increase its effect, and prevent an associating headache.
Coluracetam Side Effects
There isn’t enough evidence regarding the side effects of coluracetam. The human brain and body are well receiving this nootropic drug. Taking coluracetam does not have many side effects, but when they appear, they are similar to other recitals. Some of the concerns are nausea and irritability which are rare.
Coluracetam Reviews
“Definitely my favorite nootropic besides phenibut. The anxiolytic effects are great, also a very nice mood enhancer. And I noticed it significantly improved my vision, my short and long term memory, and even improved my verbal fluency. I suffer from depression, generalized anxiety disorder, and schizo effective disorder. 20 to 100 mg Coluracetam seems comparable to Zoloft in terms of helping anxiety. It also helps me keep calm during my delusion induced panic attacks. I highly recommend it. In overall satisfaction for Coluracetam I rate it 9/10. I ordered my Coluracetam from Nootropics Depot.” u/sunflesh [link]
Reddit II
“I know that coluracetam is pretty controversial to begin with, but I went into my use of it hopeful because I’ve heard of lots of crazy benefits some people were getting out of it. Sadly, when I tried it I experienced nothing except for a phenomenally bad mood. I’ve never been so angry in my life, and it’s not because I’m disappointed, it just put me into this hyper aggressive pessimist mood. I had been microdosing LSD for about 2 weeks prior to trying coluracetam and it seemed to completely reverse the effects of microdosing and actually put me into a worse mood overall than before I started microdosing. I had high hopes for this product, and maybe I’ll try it again because it could just be circumstantial, but for now I don’t plan on using it for a long time.” [link]
Reddit III
“History with Nootropics: in 2015 I began my journey working on my bachelors in Psychology. During my second semester I came across Nootropics Depot while searching for a reasonably priced Bacopa, and that’s when I found Noopept. Sublingually I usually took around 20mg or less nightly with decent results. This went on for around 3 months and my test taking abilities definitely grew more fluent. My expectations may have been too high though as I found it just wasn’t giving my the edge I was looking for. I moved to Piracetam, Aniracetam, Oxiracetam, Pram/Phenyl, and I just wasn’t getting marginal results in my focus, productivity, or recall.
Recent Finding: I gave Nootropics a break for years until about a week ago when I read up on Fasoracetam and Coluracetam. Package arrived yesterday and i took 15mg of both sublingually. Within 30min my head was clear and the flow of my work almost effortless. I work as an Inventory Auditor, so i’m constantly counting, doing long math, and finding patterns. Today was the breeziest day at work, I was honestly on my A game. I found a flaw in previous audits and had my work done about a quarter of the time ahead of schedule. I understand these may be placebo feelings and coincidence occurrences, that is why i am making this post. I will update bi weekly with logic test results. At the end of each month i will post links to graphs of progression in answer response times if any.
Update: Tomorrow will be the first logic test results update but i just wanted to pop in and relay a few things. I have noticed a tad of unclear thought with the faso, I dosed only colur this morning just to see any marked difference and the colur definitely clears and focuses my mind more. For the sake of this trial i did make sure to dose faso later in the day and will give it around a month to see if the foggy feeling leaves. Also, a strange but incredibly noticeable thing as happened. I cant tell which of the two may be causing it, but in dark situations or driving at night i have realized my eyes have been adjusting almost immediately and to a higher degree than normal. I can see relatively everything, not like a cat lol but its definitely a lot clearer than normal.
Update #1: Logical reasoning testing. Took 2 different tests one 10 questions the other 18 questions. Neither having the same questions, and varying difficulties. The first test took 3min, got 7 out of 10 correct. 2nd took me 12min getting 8 out of 18 correct. About average logical reasoning. At the end of the next test taking session (2 weeks from today) results will be added to the post along with statistics. Also, choline supplementation is being introduced tomorrow morning due to moderate headaches.
Update #2: i’ve noticed that my arithmetic based thought processes have grown extremely fluent. Long math has become increasingly easier while done mentally. I’ve always attempted to do most math in my head than ended up writing down the problems but since about a week and a half ago, writing the problems down is pointless. I began dosing Alpha GPC around 2 weeks ago instead of bitartrate due to the low bioavailability of the latter. Choline source is a must with the amount of racetams I supplement (colur, faso, ani).
Most recent update: Alrighty guys and gals it has now successfully been over a month spent testing these racetams. Memory and short/long term recall is definitely better than it was before this trial. The tests may not be giving marginal results, but I can vouch for a stronger attention span. I find myself noticing details and patterns, more observant of daily obstacles. My LR tests I took today resulted in a 4/7 on both, with both taking 3.5 minutes. Im seeing that my ability to not need to read the questions more than once to retain it and find the answers. Faso has had marked effects on my baseline depression, with more motivation for a few hours after dose. Colur has been reminiscent of past noopept experiences. I’ve also narrowed down the increase in serotonin levels to the aniracetam.
Find the full thread with more information and discussions here [link]
Conclusion
Coluracetam doesn’t have extensive amount of research, the studies available do show a great potential for its use.
It is one of the more new-gone-mainstream racetams, alongside Fasoracetam. However, recently, the FDA has approved an “enhanced” form of Fasoracetam for the treatment of ADHD.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Coluracetam?
Coluracetam is a nootropic agent of the racetam family. It was initially developed and tested by the Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation for Alzheimer’s disease. Coluracetam increases the production of acetylcholine, and also speeds up its flow in brain synapses. The product was first registered in 2005 and phase 2A trials were completed back in 2010.
What is Coluracetam half-life?
The half-life of Coluracetam is about 3 hours.
What is coluracetam and how does it compare with other racetams?
It’s not a hardcore focus drug like Modafinil, nor does it give me a bunch of energy and pep like caffeine or Piracetam. What it really does is just add a subtle and underlying positivity to my mood.
There’s a noticeable difference on it and off it, especially in this dreadfully, gloomy part of the world.
A Youtube commenter suggested stacking Coluracetam with L-Theanine, which I tried and it’s actually a pretty good stack, especially in combination with some delicious Bulletproof Coffee. The creative mindset that L-Theanine puts me in, is nicely complimented by the optimism that Coluracetam stimulates, this has actually become my go to stack since I ran out of Piracetam.
Speaking of coffee, anecdotally Coluracetam has this really cool effect of reversing caffeine tolerance. I unfortunately did not experience this, at least not noticeably. Another really consistent way to reverse caffeine tolerance is just to stop consuming caffeine for about 10 days and your caffeine tolerance will almost completely go away, and after consuming just a single cup of coffee you will again feel like a Greek god consuming ambrosia in the fields of Elysium. Coluracetam did not have the same effect for me.
It’s has a rocky, clumpy consistency that reminds me of cocaine – the tiny rocks feel like boulders under my tongue. You may need to break it up before consumption. I’ve been taking it sublingually, because it’s so damn expensive that I don’t want to waste a single granule of it. It’s taste is not pleasant and it kind of lingers on your palette, I don’t recommend taking it before a meal. It doesn’t taste great but it’s not as bad as some drugs I’ve tried.
Scienceguy suggested it potentiates Oxiracetam, I’ve taken it now a couple of time with Caballo which has Oxiracetam but I’m not sure if I’ve experienced this yet…
One day I was operating on about 4 hours of sleep, so somewhat sleep deprived and kept slipping back into an unfocused funk. I took Coluracetam around 1PM and 4PM and there was a disappointing absence of effect.
I wish I could rate Coluracetam higher, but I’m deducting 2 stars because it’s just not a great value, there’s plenty of Nootropics that gram for gram, cost a 3rd or 4th of Coluracetam and have just as helpful effect on mood, focus and memory. For mere economics, I wouldn’t reorder it.”- Jonathan Roseland
Where can I buy Coluracetam in Dubai?
You can buy Coluracetam 20mg Capsules as well as other Nootropics in Dubai, UAE by visiting Nootropix website.