Aniracetam vs Piracetam: What's the Difference?

Updated March 10, 2024 by | Reviewed by William Gallagher, MNeuroSci
(Estimated reading time: 3 minutes)

The difference between Aniracetam and Piracetam are their bioavailability, potency and side effects. Aniracetam is more water-soluble and penetrates the blood-brain barrier more readily than Piracetam.

This means that it can be considered a more potent nootropic, but in order for it to be as effective as Piracetam. Aniracetam needs to be paired with a third nootropic like choline bitartrate, Alpha GPC or CDP-Choline.

Which One Should You Choose?

Piracetam is water-soluble and has higher bioavailability. This makes it more potent.

The downside of Piracetam is that if you take too much of it, you could experience some undesirable side effects like headaches, insomnia, and skin irritation.

Aniracetam is fat-soluble. It has fewer side effects than Piracetam but needs to be taken with the third Nootropic like Alpha GPC or CDP-Choline to be as effective as Piracetam.

You should choose Piracetam if you're looking for a water-soluble Nootropic that has higher bioavailability. This makes it more potent and hits your system faster. That being said, that also comes with potentially more side effects.

You should choose Aniracetam if you're looking for a fat-soluble Nootropic with fewer side effects than Piracetam. It also needs to be taken with the third nootropic like Alpha GPC or CDP-Choline to be as effective as Piracetam.

Aniracetam vs. Piracetam: A Comparison

Both Piracetam and Aniracetam have the same mechanism of action. They're both AMPAkines, which means that they both increase the amount of AMPA receptors in the brain and enhance Glutamate transmission.

They both work by enhancing the brain's capacity for cellular communication by increasing the strength of signals between synapses (enhance cognitive abilities).

Mood improvement is one of the main reasons why Aniracetam is preferred over Piracetam. This was proven in a study where people were given either Piracetam or Aniracetam to assess the effects of each nootropic on mood and cognitive performance.

It showed that Aniracetam can significantly enhance mood. It worked by increasing Acetylcholine levels in the brain while decreasing anxiety, stress, and depression.

Piracetam works best when paired with a nootropic like AlphaGPC or CDP-Choline. Because it's water-soluble, not taking it with a choline source will result in an accumulation of Piracetam and a depletion of Acetylcholine levels.

If you do take Piracetam by itself, taking an Acetylcholinesterase inhibitor like Huperzine A can help prevent the acetylcholine deficiency. This will help restore your neurotransmitter levels as well as boost cognitive performance.

Since Aniracetam is fat-soluble, it's active in the blood for longer periods of time. What this means for you is that it doesn't have to be taken as frequently as Piracetam. Also, since it's not water-soluble, taking Aniracetam with a choline source like AlphaGPC or CDP-Choline isn't necessary.

Review of Aniracetam Benefits

Aniracetam is known for its benefits in decreasing anxiety, stress, depression and improving social attitudes. It's also known for its ability to increase cognitive function in those suffering from reduced cognitive capacity.

There are many clinical studies that show that Aniracetam can improve the following symptoms of Alzheimer's disease: attention, memory, muscle strength and coordination, speech delay.

Aniracetam is also known to improve the following symptoms of ADHD: impulsivity, hyperactivity, anxiety, inattention and poor concentration.

Some studies suggest that Aniracetam can help with the following conditions:

- Alzheimer's disease
- Depression
- Schizophrenia
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Autism spectrum disorders.

However, these studies were conducted on mice and rats. Therefore further research is needed to confirm the potential benefits of Aniracetam for humans.

Review of Piracetam Benefits

Piracetam is known for its benefits in increasing focus, improving cognitive performance and enhancing memory.

It also reduces the effects of Age-related Memory Decline.

Piracetam is also known for its ability to improve the following conditions:

- Aphasia
- Depression
- Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
- Dyslexia
- Learning impairments.

So which one is better? Both Nootropics are good. You should probably try both at least for a week. That way, you can see what works better for you.

That being said, I personally prefer Aniracetam. This is because of the better mood enhancement but also because of the little to no side effects I experience on it.

I have only tried Piracetam a couple of times and I wasn't a fan of it.

References

  • https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-1597/piracetam
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piracetam
  • https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/piracetam
  • https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Piracetam
  • https://www.verywellhealth.com/the-benefits-of-aniracetam-89407
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aniracetam
  • https://www.healthline.com/health/aniracetam
  • https://examine.com/supplements/aniracetam/
  • https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4123976/