Research Applications
Cognitive Enhancement
Noopept's primary approved and researched application. Clinical studies in patients with organic cognitive disorders show improvements in attention, memory (both encoding and retrieval), and information processing. Effects are observed within days of starting treatment, with continued improvement over weeks.
Alzheimer's Disease and Mild Cognitive Impairment
Preclinical studies show Noopept reduces amyloid-beta toxicity, tau phosphorylation, and neuronal death in Alzheimer's disease models. It enhances hippocampal LTP and spatial memory in aged and cognitively impaired animals. Clinical trials in MCI patients demonstrate cognitive improvement.
Traumatic Brain Injury Recovery
Research demonstrates Noopept accelerates cognitive recovery following TBI through neurotrophic support, reduced inflammation, and enhanced neuroplasticity. Preclinical studies show improved spatial learning and reduced brain lesion volume.
Anxiety (Comorbid with Cognitive Impairment)
Clinical studies show Noopept provides mild anxiolytic effects alongside cognitive enhancement, particularly beneficial for patients with anxiety-related cognitive impairment.
Neuroprotection in Ischemic Stroke
Preclinical data demonstrates Noopept reduces infarct volume and improves functional outcomes in stroke models through antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and neurotrophic mechanisms.
Mechanism of Action
Neurotrophin Upregulation (Primary Mechanism)
Noopept significantly increases expression of BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor) and NGF (nerve growth factor) in hippocampus and cortex. BDNF promotes synaptic plasticity, dendritic branching, and memory consolidation through TrkB receptor activation. NGF supports cholinergic neuron survival and function through TrkA receptor signaling. This dual neurotrophic mechanism underlies both acute cognitive enhancement and long-term neuroprotective effects.
Glutamatergic Modulation
Noopept enhances AMPA and NMDA glutamate receptor signaling — the primary excitatory neurotransmission system underlying learning and memory. It acts as a positive allosteric modulator, enhancing receptor sensitivity without causing excitotoxicity. Enhanced glutamate signaling strengthens long-term potentiation (LTP), the synaptic basis of memory formation.
Cholinergic Enhancement
Noopept enhances acetylcholine signaling through increased choline acetyltransferase activity and nicotinic acetylcholine receptor sensitization. This cholinergic enhancement improves attention, working memory, and cognitive processing speed.
Neuroprotection
Noopept provides neuroprotection through multiple mechanisms: antioxidant activity (reduced lipid peroxidation, enhanced SOD), calcium homeostasis maintenance (preventing excitotoxic calcium overload), and anti-apoptotic signaling (increased Bcl-2/Bax ratio). These protective effects are relevant to neurodegenerative disease prevention.
Anti-Inflammatory CNS Effects
Noopept reduces neuroinflammation by suppressing microglial activation and pro-inflammatory cytokine production in the brain. This anti-neuroinflammatory effect contributes to both acute cognitive benefits and long-term neuroprotection.
Biological Pathways
BDNF/TrkB/CREB Neuroplasticity
Noopept→BDNF upregulation→TrkB activation→PLCγ/PI3K/Akt/MAPK→CREB phosphorylation→Arc, Zif268, BDNF gene transcription. This positive feedback loop sustains neuroplastic changes underlying improved memory and learning.
AMPA/NMDA/CaMKII Synaptic Plasticity
Enhanced glutamate receptor signaling→calcium influx→CaMKII activation→AMPA receptor phosphorylation and insertion→LTP strengthening. CaMKII is the critical molecular switch for converting short-term synaptic activity into long-term memory traces.
NGF/TrkA/Cholinergic Pathway
NGF→TrkA→Ras/MAPK + PI3K/Akt→cholinergic neuron survival + choline acetyltransferase expression. This pathway maintains the cholinergic system essential for attention and memory.
HIF-1α Neuroprotective Pathway
Under mild hypoxic or stress conditions, Noopept stabilizes HIF-1α, driving expression of neuroprotective genes including erythropoietin, VEGF, and glucose transporters — enhancing neuronal resilience to metabolic stress.
Dosage Information
Calculation Results
Syringe Fill Level (100u syringe)
Protocols
Noopept Cognitive EnhancementBeginner🧠Cognitive1.5-3 months
Fast-acting synthetic dipeptide nootropic for memory, learning, and neuroprotection.
Warning: Headaches and insomnia possible above 30mg/day. Start with 10mg twice daily.
Stability & Storage
Noopept is a small molecule (not a traditional peptide) supplied as a white crystalline powder or in tablet form (10 mg tablets, commercially available in Russia). Store at room temperature (15-25°C) in a dry place. Shelf life of the commercial tablet form is 3 years.
The compound is orally bioavailable — a key advantage over peptide-based nootropics. It is rapidly absorbed from the GI tract, crosses the blood-brain barrier, and reaches peak brain concentrations within 15-20 minutes of oral administration. Oral bioavailability is approximately 10-15%, still sufficient for efficacy at the 10-30 mg dose range.
For sublingual or intranasal research use, Noopept can be dissolved in water or PEG solution. The compound is stable at physiological pH and resistant to acid hydrolysis, enabling oral administration without enteric coating.
Side Effects & Precautions
Generally Well-Tolerated
Clinical trials demonstrate a favorable safety profile with adverse event rates comparable to placebo.
Headache
Mild headache is occasionally reported, particularly at higher doses. May be related to enhanced cholinergic activity and can sometimes be mitigated by co-administration of a choline source.
Irritability
Some users report mild restlessness or irritability, likely related to enhanced glutamatergic and catecholaminergic activity. Typically dose-dependent and resolves with dose reduction.
Insomnia
If taken too late in the day, Noopept's stimulating effects on cognitive circuits can interfere with sleep. Recommended dosing is in the morning or early afternoon.
GI Disturbance
Occasional mild nausea or stomach discomfort, typically transient and resolving with continued use.
No Dependence or Withdrawal
Noopept does not produce tolerance, dependence, or withdrawal syndrome in clinical experience. It can be started and stopped without tapering.
Allergic Reactions
Rare hypersensitivity reactions have been reported. Individuals with known sensitivity to pyrrolidone derivatives should exercise caution.
Research Use Only. This information is for educational and research purposes only. Not intended for medical advice or self-medication.
Regulatory Status
Noopept (omberacetam) is approved in the Russian Federation as a nootropic medication, available in 10 mg tablets without prescription (OTC). It has been sold commercially in Russia since 2007.
Noopept is not approved by the FDA or European regulatory authorities. In the United States, it is available as a dietary supplement or research chemical, though its legal status under the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA) is ambiguous.
Noopept is not on the WADA prohibited list and is not a controlled substance in most jurisdictions. It is legally available for purchase in most countries, though regulations vary.
Research Studies
Noopept Stimulates Expression of NGF and BDNF in Rat Hippocampus
Ostrovskaya RU, Gudasheva TA, Zaplina AP, et al.
Noopept Efficacy in Mild Cognitive Impairment
Neznamov GG, Teleshova ES.
Neuroprotective Properties of Noopept in Alzheimer Disease Models
Ostrovskaya RU, Vakhitova YV, Kuzmina US, et al.
Noopept: A Review of Its Pharmacology and Clinical Efficacy
Gudasheva TA, Boyko SS, Ostrovskaya RU, et al.
Cognitive Enhancing Properties of Noopept (GVS-111)
Ostrovskaya RU, Gruden MA, Bobkova NA, et al.
