Comparing Nootropics: Noopept vs. Pramiracetam

We’ve all had “those days.” When our bodies feel sluggish because we’ve barely had enough sleep for days, and our minds feel like it’s going off to wonderland. It’s frustrating, to not be able to control our own bodies’ focus and concentration levels when we need to. If there was a lever to instantly adjust how much brain power you are allowed to use to accomplish a particular task, I’d definitely want one.

After years of searching for the perfect partner to perk up my days, I finally found one – well, several to be exact. And they all come in the form of one tiny pill – Nootropics. I got to say, it’s not a lever but it sure does the trick.

I’m Into Using Nootropics, So What?

They’re legal, safe, and they’re not the type of drugs you see in hippie documentaries. I don’t know what it is with society pooling all cognitive enhancer drugs out there into one stereotypical category.  Two of what I predominantly use, Noopept and Pramiracetam, definitely did me more good than harm.

And no, I was never addicted. It simply never came to that point.

Okay. That should be one solid paragraph for my much-needed rant. I don’t really want to drag on about how misinterpreted Nootropics are in society – not today, at least. I’ve had an excessive (yet refreshing) 12 hours of sleep and I’m not going to let my stress hormones get the best of me just thinking about it.  What I have planned to do in this article though is a little contest. Who are the contenders you ask? No other than my two fave Nootropics in the world – Noopept and Pramiracetam.

Let the Noopept versus Pramiracetam battle commence!

The Story Behind How I Came Across Noopept and Pramiracetam

Noopept is something I pop into my mouth whenever deadlines come up and I’m starting to doubt whether my regular, energy-lacking self could handle it. Because I write – a lot – I need a working brain throughout the day (and most nights). And as you may have guessed it’s hard to keep my productivity high when the rest of my body is already screaming for my bed. The deranged battle between owning up to my responsibilities as a professional and my inner lazy, procrastinating self often times leave me blank. Sure I’m awake but it’s like my mind is experiencing an absence seizure.

Physically present, mentally asleep. It hurt my work production real bad – like really, really bad.

At first, caffeine was my go-to solution. Not generalizing, but it’s like everybody else’s go-to solution as well. And I believe it’s mainly because of two reasons:

  1. It’s legal. (check this and this article)
  2. It doesn’t get you high.
  3. It gets the job done just right.

The sad thing about coffee though is that you can build a tolerance to it real fast. So from one teeny-tiny cup a day, you’re now taking fifteen. And the numbers just go up (If you want to know the reason for this, visit http://www.nutritionmyths.com/how-do-you-develop-caffeine-tolerance/#whatis). In the long run, I found caffeine a little inefficient in eliciting the focus and concentration I need for my job. And buying several cups of coffee a day is not chicken feed. Still love that coffee taste though so I never dropped drinking this fine beverage to this day.

I needed something stronger, something faster in getting my brain perked up. Then, a friend suggested trying Nootropics – Noopept being the first recommendation.

What Is Noopept?

Noopept is a cognitive enhancer that gives your brain an instant boost – helping it retrieve, process, consolidate, and perform memory functions. More than that, Noopept is also considered as a mood enhancer that aid in fighting off feelings of anxiety, depression, and sometimes even irritation. So if you’re on the verge of screaming your head off and bursting out to tears, Noopept might be the thing for you.

In my case, I widely used it for mental boosts so I can really attest to its effectiveness. Although, as far as I can remember, I cannot think of a time that I lost my cool while working under Noopept’s influence – no matter how difficult it got or how irrational my editor had been. Thinking back on it, it might’ve been Noopept’s doing after all.

Benefits of Noopept

  • Stay awake and alert
  • Increase focus and concentration
  • Memory functions work great
  • Mood Regulator
  • Cost effective (very low dosage required per administration)
  • Effects fast (only takes several minutes to reach full-effect)
  • It’s safe as per countless of researches and chemical trials

Side-effects of Noopept

  • Headaches
  • Dizziness or Light-headedness
  • Restlessness
  • Irritability
  • Insomnia (if taken later in the day)

***Note: Side-effects only occur when you bite off more than you can chew. Go beyond the recommended dosage (which is very, very low), and you’ll over-exhaust your mental activity thus the splitting headaches.

What Is Pramiracetam?

Pramiracetam basically has similar effects to Noopept – for me, at least. Increased alertness, makes learning faster (and highly amusing) because of the enhanced memory functions, and it overall improves your focus and attentiveness.

One major perk of Pramiracetam though is that it’s ideal for stacking. It can go with almost anything and acts as a medium to improve the effectiveness of the other Nootropics it’s stacked with. It’s a pretty handy cognitive enhancer to have around, especially for days that you just don’t want to get out of bed.

Benefits of Pramiracetam

  • Heightened attentiveness
  • Improved memory formation, retrieval, and retention
  • Facilitates conducive learning
  • Clearer thoughts
  • Good stacking potential

Side-effects of Pramiracetam

  • Headaches
  • More headaches
  • And very rarely, nervousness

Conclusion

So, who wins our little contest today?

Honestly speaking, I would like both of them to win. However, price and popularity-wise, Noopept is always a good choice. Noopept and Pramiracetam basically have the same effects so why not go for the cheaper one, right? However, if you prefer your nootropics stacked, then I suggest you go with Pramiracetam.

After all, “to each his own.”