Racetam research medicine · Fact sheet
Pramiracetam
Also known as CI-879
Pramiracetam has small human studies in memory impairment and experimental drug-induced amnesia. Mixed findings and very small samples do not establish a dependable healthy-person memory benefit.
What is Pramiracetam?
It is a small-molecule racetam with a distinct pharmacokinetic profile from piracetam.
Partially reversing scopolamine-induced amnesia is not the same as improving normal learning.
Benefits & claims
Readers encounter Pramiracetam in discussions of cognition, mood or mental fatigue. The relevant study population and outcome determine whether those claims are supported.
What the evidence supports
- The 10-person Alzheimer trial found inconsistent replication of initial dose-finding responses.
- The scopolamine experiment partially reduced induced memory impairment.
- These results do not establish treatment of Alzheimer disease or general cognitive enhancement.
Research areas
- Cognition and memory
- Neurologic or psychiatric research
Dosage & frequency
Human study contextThe original human study supplies an exposure reference, not an established cognitive-enhancement regimen.
Pramiracetam scopolamine-challenge experiment
Two groups of 12 male volunteers aged 18–42 or 55–65 years
- Amount
- 600 mg
- Frequency
- Twice daily for 10 consecutive days
- Route studied or labeled
- Oral
The experiment assessed induced amnesia after a separate scopolamine challenge on day 11. It was not a trial of normal daily memory enhancement.
How to read these amounts
An approved regimen belongs to a specific product, indication, and population. A study regimen describes what researchers tested; it does not establish a prescription or a safe self-use protocol. Products, routes, and formulations are not interchangeable. A prescriber uses the full label and individual clinical circumstances.
Personal accounts may describe amounts, schedules and outcomes beyond clinical research. They do not establish a regimen. Read the reported experiences
Formulations, interactions & practical context
- Identity and pharmacology
- It is a small-molecule racetam with a distinct pharmacokinetic profile from piracetam.
Formulation differences
- Partially reversing scopolamine-induced amnesia is not the same as improving normal learning.
Interactions & precautions
- The reviewed sources do not establish a comprehensive human interaction profile for this exact substance or combination.
What is still unresolved
- Reproducible benefit on everyday function in the intended population
- Long-term safety and clinically important interactions
- Equivalence of nonstandard products to research formulations
Side effects & risks
- Small studies with short exposure cannot establish rare or chronic adverse effects.
- Renal elimination and co-medications can matter to exposure; the cited pharmacokinetic experiment is not a complete interaction assessment.
This is a summary of the cited evidence, not a complete product label. A lack of human safety data does not establish safety.
Clinical research
Early human evidenceA small brain-injury study reported memory effects, a 10-person Alzheimer study did not reproduce benefit consistently, and a volunteer challenge study found partial protection from induced amnesia.
Studies
10-person Alzheimer trial; inconsistent replication of response.
24-male scopolamine-challenge study.
Human oral pharmacokinetic study.
Personal experiences
Reports describe what someone noticed. They cannot establish cause, typical results, or how often a side effect happens. Amounts and schedules describe the individual account, not an effective or safe dose. Product identity and strength may be unverified, and missing details are left explicit.
No attributable personal accounts were found in the sources reviewed.
Approval status
Pramiracetam is not an FDA-approved treatment for the cognitive or mood uses discussed here. Regional use, historical trials and online availability are separate from U.S. drug approval.
No FDA-approved product for this entry
Approval covers the labeled product, use and population. A trial phase does not establish success; a stopped program is not ongoing research.
Open questions
- Reproducible benefit on everyday function in the intended population
- Long-term safety and clinically important interactions
- Equivalence of nonstandard products to research formulations
Summary
These results do not establish treatment of Alzheimer disease or general cognitive enhancement.
Sources
Medical evidence and regulatory sources are listed here. Personal reports are linked separately in the experiences section.
- pubmedNootropic drugs in Alzheimer's disease: symptomatic treatment with pramiracetam.
10-person Alzheimer trial; inconsistent replication of response.
- pubmedPramiracetam effects on scopolamine-induced amnesia in healthy volunteers.
24-male scopolamine-challenge study.