Phenylpiracetam

4-Phenylpiracetam

Phenotropil, Carphedon, Fonturacetam

Psychoactive Class

Chemical Class

Phenylpiracetam is a central nervous system stimulant and nootropic of the racetam class, structurally related to piracetam with an added phenyl group.¹ First described in 1983¹ and approved for medical use in Russia in 2003, it is prescribed there for cognitive deficits, depression, and attention problems.² Its stimulant effects are notably more pronounced than other racetams,² attributed to its activity as a dopamine and noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor.³

Dosage & Duration

Dosage

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. The exact toxic dose and median lethal dose are unknown.

Duration

Onset30-60 minutes

Peak1-1 hours

Total2-3 hours

Half-life

3-5 hours

Subjective Effects

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

Reagent Testing

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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.³ 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.⁴³ The compound binds to α4β2 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors with an IC50 of 5.86 μM and may increase acetylcholine release within hippocampal cells.⁵ Like other racetams, phenylpiracetam has been described as an AMPA receptor potentiator.⁶

Pharmacokinetics

Phenylpiracetam is reported to have an oral bioavailability of approximately 100%.⁷ The compound is described as not being metabolized, with excretion occurring unchanged via urine (approximately 40%) and bile and sweat (approximately 60%).⁷ The elimination half-life is 3 to 5 hours in humans.⁷ 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

Tolerance

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.⁸ 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)¹³

By Country

United StatesUnscheduled

Not a controlled substance. Readily available and sold through online vendors as a dietary supplement. Not FDA-approved for medical use.¹⁷

United KingdomIllegal (Psychoactive Substances Act 2016)

Illegal to produce, supply, or import under the Psychoactive Substances Act, which came into effect on May 26th, 2016.¹⁵ Personal possession is not criminalized under this act.¹⁶

RussiaPrescription medication

Marketed under the brand name Phenotropil. Available by prescription for cognitive enhancement and neurological conditions.¹⁴

References

Source Pages

Citations

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Phenylpiracetam

4-Phenylpiracetam

Phenotropil, Carphedon, Fonturacetam

Psychoactive Class

Stimulant Nootropic

Chemical Class

Racetam