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Phenylpiracetam

Phenylpiracetam molecule structurePhenylpiracetam molecule structure
4-Phenylpiracetam
Phenotropil, Carphedon, Fonturacetam
Psychoactive Class
StimulantNootropic
Chemical Class
Racetam

Phenylpiracetam is a central nervous system stimulant and nootropic of the racetam class, structurally related to piracetam with an added phenyl group.citation needed First described in 1983 and approved for medical use in Russia in 2003, it is prescribed there for cognitive deficits, depression, and attention problems. Its stimulant effects are notably more pronounced than other racetams, attributed to its activity as a dopamine and noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor.

Dosage & Duration

Dosage

Doses are population estimates that vary widely between individuals.

Threshold50 mg
Light50-100 mg
Moderate100-200 mg
Strong200-400 mg
Heavy400+ mg
Bioavailability
~100%

Supplemental use is typically 100 - 300 mg spread across two to three doses over the course of a day. Stimulation at common doses is generally mild, but heavy doses can become uncomfortably overstimulating, and cognitive dysphoria has been reported at extremely high doses. Adverse effects become more likely as dose increases.

Duration

Onset20-60 minutes
Come Up20-60 minutes
Peak30-90 minutes
Offset30-90 minutes
After Effects1-2 hours
Total2-4 hours
Half-life
3-5 hours

Subjective Effects

Legacy content. A statistically backed ontology from Mindstate Design Labs is coming soon.

Phenylpiracetam is described as a stimulant and nootropic, used to counter fatigue, apathy, and stress while improving concentration and mental activity. Reported effects include a psycho-activating quality alongside reductions in depressive and anxious states. One first-person account from extended use under high-stress conditions characterized it as an equalizing influence that removed impulsiveness and irritability rather than producing a pronounced high.

Physical

Physical effects reported include general stimulation and increased tolerance to stress and temperature extremes, along with flushing, a sensation of warmth, psychomotor agitation, and raised blood pressure. Sleep disturbance and insomnia are commonly noted, and appetite loss has been described with extended use.

Autonomic

Increased blood pressure

Stimulation

Cognitive

The mental state is described as more alert and focused, with improved concentration and mental activity, and a lessening of depressive, anxious, and asthenic feeling. Impulsiveness and irritability are reported to be dampened under stressful conditions.

Emotional

Enhancements

Pharmacology

Pharmacodynamics

Phenylpiracetam acts primarily as a dopamine reuptake inhibitor, with the (R)-enantiomer showing substantially greater potency for this action than the (S)-enantiomer.citation needed The racemic mixture also inhibits norepinephrine reuptake, though (R)-phenylpiracetam has approximately 11-fold lower affinity for the norepinephrine transporter than for the dopamine transporter, while the (S)-enantiomer appears selective for dopamine reuptake inhibition. The compound binds to α4β2 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors with an IC50 of 5.86 μM and may increase acetylcholine release within hippocampal cells. Like other racetams, phenylpiracetam has been described as an AMPA receptor potentiator.

Pharmacokinetics

Phenylpiracetam is reported to have an oral bioavailability of approximately 100%.1 The compound is described as not being metabolized, with excretion occurring unchanged via urine (approximately 40%) and bile and sweat (approximately 60%).citation needed The elimination half-life is 3 to 5 hours in humans. In rodents, absorption occurs within 1 hour following oral administration or intramuscular injection, with an elimination half-life of 2.5 to 3 hours.

Metabolitesnone documented yet

Interactions

Interactions not written up yet

An unlisted combination is an unknown one, not a safe one. Check a dedicated combination chart before mixing.

Check TripSit

Tolerance

Tolerance timelines are rules of thumb, not exact schedules, and vary widely between individuals and use patterns.

Full Tolerance
Tolerance to many of the effects of phenylpiracetam develops with prolonged and repeated use, resulting in users needing to administer increasingly large doses to achieve the same effects.
Baseline Reset
1-2 weeks
Half Tolerance
3-7 days
Cross Tolerance

Racetam nootropics (aniracetam, piracetam, and related compounds)

Harm Potential

Addiction & Dependence

Psychological

Extremely Low

The chronic use of phenylpiracetam can be considered non-addictive with a low potential for abuse.citation needed It does not appear to be capable of causing psychological dependence among users, although this has not been corroborated by clinical studies.

Toxicity

Lethal Dosage

The median lethal dose (LD50) has not been officially published. Several studies suggest the substance is safe even when high doses are consumed over long periods, though the exact toxic dose is unknown, and it is not known to be harmful when exceeding the recommended dosage range. Overdose has not been reported.

History & Culture

Development for Soviet Space Program

Phenylpiracetam was first described in the scientific literature in 1983, developed at the Russian Academy of Sciences Institute of Biomedical Problems specifically as a medication for Soviet cosmonauts to address the prolonged stresses of working in space. The development effort was led by…

Legality

International

WADA Prohibited List (banned in competitive sports as a stimulant)2

By Country

Illegal1
United Kingdom flagUnited KingdomIllegal (Psychoactive Substances Act 2016)
Prescription1
Russia flagRussiaPrescription medication
Not scheduled1
United States flagUnited StatesUnscheduled

References

Source Pages

  1. Bluelight: Phenylpiracetam questions and dosing discussion
  2. Bluelight: Phenylpiracetam side effects and interactions
  3. Isomer Design (TiHKAL/PiHKAL)
  4. PsychonautWiki
  5. TripSit Factsheet: Phenylpiracetam (Carphedon)
  6. TripSit Factsheets
  7. Wikipedia

Citations

  1. O.A. Gromova, & I.Yu. Torshin. (2024). Farmakologičeskie èffekty fonturacetama (Aktitropil) i perspektivy ego kliničeskogo primenenija. Zh Nevrol Psikhiatr Im S S Korsakova, 124(8), 21–31. https://doi.org/10.17116/jnevro2024124081211
  2. Doping agent classes and substances 2026 (SUEK / WADA 2026 Prohibited List, S6.A Non-specified Stimulants). Finnish Anti-Doping Agency (SUEK), based on WADA 2026 Prohibited List (2026). https://kamu.suek.fi/en/dopingsubstances/1
  3. Fonturacetam back to the Russian market. JSC Valenta Pharm (2020-06-08). https://www.valentapharm.com/eng/news/1208/1
  4. Psychoactive Substances Act 2016, sections 4–8. UK Parliament (2016). https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2016/2/contents1
  5. Psychoactive Substances Act 2016, section 9 (possession in custodial institutions). UK Parliament (2016). https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2016/2/section/91
  6. Cohen PA, Avula B, Wang YH, Zakharevich I, & Khan I. (2021). Five Unapproved Drugs Found in Cognitive Enhancement Supplements. https://doi.org/10.1212/cpj.00000000000009601

Further Reading

  1. Drugs.com - Phenylpiracetam summary
  2. International J. Neuropsychopharmacology – DAT inhibitor MRZ-9547 increases motivation
  3. International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology - DAT inhibitor MRZ-9547 increases motivation (DOI)
  4. Neurochemical Journal - Phenotropil effects on neurotransmitter receptors (DOI)
  5. PubMed: R-phenylpiracetam DAT binding and neuroprotection
  6. Reddit: r/Drugs – 75 mg insufflated experience
  7. Reddit: r/MAOIs – stimulant caution with MAOIs
  8. Reddit: r/Nootropics - Phenylpiracetam tolerance discussion
  9. Reddit: r/Nootropics – insomnia if dosed <12 h pre-bed
  10. WADA Prohibited List - Stimulant section

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Recent changes7 human edits · latest

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24 January 2026

  1. Josie Kins · Updated the article · also 1,4-Butanediol, 1B-LSD, 1cP-AL-LAD and 573 more

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