phenylpiracetam
Phenylpiracetam is a Russian-approved prescription nootropic-stimulant with limited Western clinical evidence. Most published trials are Russian-language and methodologically below Western standards. WADA-banned for in-competition use in athletes.
Research compound — not an approved drug or dietary supplement
This compound is sold for research and is not FDA-approved for human use or as a dietary supplement. Human evidence is limited; purity and dosing of consumer products are unverified. The data below is an evidence review for education only — talk to a clinician before considering it.
Quick decision guide
May help most
In its country of approval (Russia), prescribed for cognitive impairment after stroke or brain injury, chronic cerebral ischemia, and asthenic conditions. Western evidence-based use is essentially undefined.
Common dosing range
100–200 mg once or twice daily (matching Russian clinical dosing). Some users take 100 mg only on demand.
When to expect effects
Acute stimulant effects within hours. Sustained cognitive benefit (in Russian trials) measured over 30 days.
Watch out for
Not FDA- or EMA-approved. Tolerance develops rapidly to the stimulant effects (often within 1–2 weeks of daily use). WADA-banned. Long-term safety in Western populations is essentially uncharacterized.
Evidence snapshot
What is it
Phenylpiracetam (also called fonturacetam or carphedon) is a phenylated derivative of piracetam developed in Russia in the early 1980s. The added phenyl group increases blood-brain barrier permeability and adds stimulant-like effects. It is approved as a prescription medication in Russia for cognitive disorders, stress, and fatigue, and is on the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) banned list as a stimulant.
Is it worth it for you?
Use this as a quick fit check, not a diagnosis.
Worth considering if…
Probably skip if…
Evidence at a glance
| Goal | Effect | Best fit | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
Cognitive recovery after stroke / brain injury (Russian clinical use) Limited Evidence | Improvement in cognitive scores (attention, memory tests) and asthenic-symptom scales vs baseline in Russian open-label trials | Patients in Russia or CIS countries receiving prescribed phenotropil for an approved indication under medical supervision | 30 days in trial protocols |
Cognitive enhancement in healthy adults Mixed Evidence | No rigorous human RCT measurement; self-reported stimulant-like effects | None on current evidence | Acute stimulant effects within hours; tolerance within 1–2 weeks |
Asthenia / fatigue Mixed Evidence | Improvement in asthenic-symptom scales in Russian open-label trials; effect size hard to translate to Western diagnostic categories | None on Western evidence-based diagnostic criteria | 30 days in trial protocols |
Physical performance / cold tolerance Mixed Evidence | Not characterized in English-language clinical literature | None for civilian use | Not established |
Cognitive recovery after stroke / brain injury (Russian clinical use)
- Effect
- Improvement in cognitive scores (attention, memory tests) and asthenic-symptom scales vs baseline in Russian open-label trials
- Best fit
- Patients in Russia or CIS countries receiving prescribed phenotropil for an approved indication under medical supervision
- Time
- 30 days in trial protocols
Cognitive enhancement in healthy adults
- Effect
- No rigorous human RCT measurement; self-reported stimulant-like effects
- Best fit
- None on current evidence
- Time
- Acute stimulant effects within hours; tolerance within 1–2 weeks
Asthenia / fatigue
- Effect
- Improvement in asthenic-symptom scales in Russian open-label trials; effect size hard to translate to Western diagnostic categories
- Best fit
- None on Western evidence-based diagnostic criteria
- Time
- 30 days in trial protocols
Physical performance / cold tolerance
- Effect
- Not characterized in English-language clinical literature
- Best fit
- None for civilian use
- Time
- Not established
Evidence for 4 uses
AI-assisted evidence assessment — talk to your doctor before relying on any single supplement.
Cognitive recovery after stroke / brain injury (Russian clinical use)
Disease adjunctThe strongest evidence base for phenylpiracetam — though still limited by Western standards — is in Russian trials for post-stroke and post-traumatic cognitive recovery. Open-label and small comparison studies in chronic cerebral ischemia and TBI report improvements in attention, memory, and asthenic symptoms at 100–200 mg/day over 30 days. None is a placebo-controlled double-blind RCT meeting Western publication standards.
Bottom line: Real Russian clinical use; weak evidence by Western standards. Don't substitute it for evidence-based stroke rehab.
Cognitive enhancement in healthy adults
Mechanism onlyDespite being marketed as a 'smart drug', no rigorous randomized controlled trial has measured cognitive performance in healthy adults given phenylpiracetam. Self-reports describe improved focus, alertness, and energy — these are likely stimulant effects, not specific 'cognitive enhancement'. Tolerance to the stimulant component develops within 1–2 weeks of daily use, which is why most experienced users cycle.
Bottom line: If you're taking it for daily cognitive enhancement, you'll be chasing diminishing returns inside 2 weeks.
Asthenia / fatigue
Disease adjunctRussian trials for 'asthenic disorders' (a Russian diagnostic concept overlapping with chronic fatigue, depression-related fatigue, and post-illness exhaustion) report symptomatic improvement at 100–200 mg/day over 30 days. The diagnostic category doesn't map cleanly to Western nosology, and trial quality is the same open-label-or-weak-control pattern.
Bottom line: If you have persistent fatigue, work it up properly — don't self-medicate with a Russian unapproved drug.
Physical performance / cold tolerance
Mechanism onlySome early Russian sources tested phenylpiracetam in cosmonauts and military personnel for performance under extreme conditions (cold, sleep deprivation). The English-language scientific literature on these uses is essentially absent; popular claims rest on translated summaries rather than primary trial data.
Bottom line: Cosmonaut lore, not clinical evidence. WADA-banned for athletic use.
How it works
How to take it
What to track
Bottom line: If you're going to use it: low dose (100 mg), morning only, occasional rather than daily. Tolerance is the rate-limiter for daily use. Avoid entirely if you're tested in sport.
2 commercial forms
Compare the main delivery options and what they’re best suited for.
Phenylpiracetam (racemic)
Standard formThe racemic mixture of R- and S-enantiomers as sold in Phenotropil and most research-chemical preparations. The form used in essentially all published Russian clinical trials.
Well absorbed orally; pharmacokinetic data limited to Russian-language sources.
(R)-phenylpiracetam (single enantiomer)
InvestigationalThe R-enantiomer is reported to carry most of the activity. Some Russian research focused on this isomer specifically; consumer availability is essentially nonexistent.
Not commercially distinct from racemic in supplement supply.
Safety
Know the common side effects, key cautions, and who should avoid it.
Common side effects
Serious risks
Cardiovascular: stimulant-related hypertension, palpitations, arrhythmia — particularly with daily or high-dose use and in users with underlying heart disease. Long-term cardiovascular safety not characterized.
Rapid tolerance with daily use; abrupt discontinuation after sustained use can produce rebound fatigue and low mood. No documented severe withdrawal but the pattern is consistent with stimulant tolerance.
Anti-doping: explicitly on the WADA Prohibited List (S6 stimulants). Detectable in urine; positive tests have led to athlete suspensions.
Gray-market supply quality: Western-marketed phenylpiracetam comes from 'research chemical' vendors with no purity or potency guarantees. Cases of mislabeled or contaminated product have been reported in the broader racetam/nootropic supply.
Who should avoid it
- Competitive athletes subject to WADA, USADA, NCAA, or similar drug testing.
- People with hypertension, arrhythmia, anxiety disorders, or known cardiovascular disease.
- Patients on MAOIs, SSRIs/SNRIs, or other CNS-active medications without prescriber guidance.
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding — no human safety data; stimulant pharmacology argues against use.
- Children and adolescents — no safety data and no approved pediatric indication.
Pregnancy & breastfeeding
Avoid in pregnancy and breastfeeding. No human safety data; the stimulant pharmacology makes use during pregnancy inappropriate without a specific indication.
Bottom line: An unapproved-in-the-West Russian drug with stimulant pharmacology, tolerance development, anti-doping risk, and gray-market supply. Not a casual supplement.
Interactions
Phenylpiracetam's stimulant / monoaminergic effects could compound with MAOI activity. Avoid combination.
WADA-prohibited. Detectable in urine; positive tests have produced multi-year athlete suspensions.
Combined monoaminergic activity carries theoretical risk of agitation, insomnia, or serotonin syndrome. Limited human data.
Additive CNS and cardiovascular stimulation. Risk of insomnia, hypertension, anxiety, arrhythmia.
Phenylpiracetam may raise blood pressure, potentially blunting antihypertensive effect.
Choosing a product
What to look for on the label — and what to be skeptical of.
Look for…
Be skeptical of…
Frequently asked questions
Is phenylpiracetam legal?⌄
It is a prescription medication in Russia and several CIS countries. In the US, it is not approved as a drug or recognized as a supplement. It is banned in competitive sports by WADA.
Will it show up on a drug test?⌄
Yes. Phenylpiracetam is detected by sports anti-doping testing and is on WADA's prohibited list. Athletes should avoid it.
Why does tolerance develop so fast?⌄
The stimulant component of phenylpiracetam acts on dopamine and norepinephrine systems, which adapt rapidly to repeated exposure. Intermittent use (1-2 times per week) is widely recommended to limit tolerance.
Can I combine phenylpiracetam with caffeine?⌄
Combining stimulants increases cardiovascular and anxiety risks. Most users avoid stacking phenylpiracetam with caffeine.
Is phenylpiracetam addictive?⌄
Dependence has not been well documented, but the stimulant effects and rapid tolerance increase potential for escalating use. Caution is warranted.
References by claim
Track phenylpiracetam with Pilora
Set up dose reminders, check interactions, and join the community in the Pilora iPhone app.
Coming to App StoreDisclaimer: This compound is not approved by the FDA for human use and is not a dietary supplement. This page is an educational review of available research — much of it preclinical or early-stage — not a recommendation to use it. Consumer product quality is unregulated. Consult a qualified clinician.