Noopept
Also known as: GVS-111, N-phenylacetyl-L-prolylglycine ethyl ester, Omberacetam
Nootropic Peptide | Memory & Neuroprotection
Overview
Noopept (GVS-111, omberacetam) is a synthetic nootropic dipeptide developed at the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences in the 1990s. It is approved and marketed in Russia and several CIS countries for cognitive impairment of various origins, including post-traumatic and cerebrovascular conditions. Structurally related to the racetam family, Noopept is not technically a racetam itself but is often grouped with them due to a shared mechanism of action involving modulation of glutamatergic neurotransmission. Its standout characteristic is extraordinary potency -- roughly 1000 times more potent than piracetam by weight -- which allows effective dosing in the 10-30 mg range rather than the multi-gram doses required by piracetam. Noopept is rapidly absorbed and converted to its primary active metabolite, cycloprolylglycine, an endogenous neuropeptide that mediates much of the compound's sustained cognitive and neuroprotective activity.
Key benefits
- Enhanced memory formation and consolidation through upregulation of BDNF and NGF
- Neuroprotective effects against oxidative stress, excitotoxicity, and amyloid-beta toxicity
- Improved learning capacity and information retrieval via AMPA/NMDA receptor modulation
- Ultra-low effective dose (10-30 mg) compared to classical racetams, reducing pill burden and cost
- Anxiolytic properties observed at standard nootropic doses without sedation
- Fast onset of subjective effects despite the short parent compound half-life, due to active metabolite persistence
Mechanism of action
Noopept exerts its nootropic and neuroprotective effects through several interconnected mechanisms. It modulates glutamatergic neurotransmission by acting as a positive modulator at AMPA and NMDA receptors, enhancing long-term potentiation (LTP) in the hippocampus -- the core cellular process underlying memory formation. A defining feature of Noopept is its ability to increase the expression of both brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and nerve growth factor (NGF) in the hippocampus and cerebral cortex. BDNF supports synaptic plasticity, neuronal survival, and the growth of new dendritic connections, while NGF is critical for the maintenance and survival of cholinergic neurons in the basal forebrain, a population that degenerates in Alzheimer's disease. Noopept also exhibits antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, reducing oxidative stress and inhibiting neurotoxicity induced by excess calcium and glutamate. Additionally, it enhances the activity of inhibitory mechanisms that prevent excitotoxic neuronal damage. After oral administration, Noopept is rapidly metabolized to cycloprolylglycine, which crosses the blood-brain barrier and is thought to mediate much of the compound's longer-lasting neurotrophic activity.
Molecular data
- Type
- Dipeptide derivative (C17H22N2O4)
- Half-life
- ~30 minutes (oral), active metabolite cycloprolylglycine persists longer
Indications
What the research community uses this compound for, with self-reported effectiveness.
Cognitive Enhancement
Clinical (Approved in Russia)
Investigational
Dosing protocols
Common protocols by delivery method. Adjust the curve below to model accumulation in your own cycle.
Delivery method
| Protocol | Dose | Frequency | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| — | 10 mg | Twice daily (morning and early afternoon) | — |
| — | 15 mg | Twice daily (morning and early afternoon) | — |
Delivery method
| Protocol | Dose | Frequency | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| — | 10 mg | Two to three times daily with meals | — |
Safety
Reported adverse effects, contraindications, and what to monitor on cycle.
Common side effects
- Headache (most common side effect, typically caused by insufficient choline intake -- co-supplementation with Alpha-GPC or CDP-Choline usually resolves this)
- Irritability and restlessness, particularly at doses exceeding 30 mg/day
- Insomnia if taken too late in the day
- Mild gastrointestinal discomfort when taken on an empty stomach
Rare side effects
- Brain fog or cognitive dulling (paradoxical reaction, usually indicates excessive dosing)
- Emotional blunting or apathy at very high doses
- Elevated blood pressure (reported anecdotally, not consistently observed in clinical studies)
- Allergic skin reactions
Contraindications
- Known hypersensitivity to Noopept or related compounds
- Severe hepatic impairment (metabolized by the liver)
- Severe renal impairment
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding (insufficient safety data)
- Hypertension that is poorly controlled (due to potential mild pressor effects)
Monitoring
- Subjective cognitive assessment: track memory, focus, and mood changes during the first 2 weeks to dial in optimal dose
- Choline status: if headaches develop, increase choline supplementation before adjusting Noopept dose
- Blood pressure: periodic monitoring recommended, particularly in individuals with pre-existing hypertension
- Sleep quality: monitor for insomnia and adjust dosing timing if needed
References
Primary literature and clinical-trial data informing this entry.