Piracetam review, Piracetam Dosage, Piracetam Side Effects.


What is Piracetam? and What is Piracetam used for?.


Piracetam is a chemical that is made in a lab. In some countries in Europe it is used as a drug to improve memory and brain function. In the United States, some manufacturers sell piracetam as a dietary supplement. However, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not consider piracetam to be a legal dietary supplement.

Piracetam is most commonly used for breath-holding attacks, seizure disorder (epilepsy), dizziness (vertigo), a learning disorder marked by difficulty reading (dyslexia), and a movement disorder often caused by antipsychotic drugs (tardive dyskinesia). It is also used for dementia, schizophrenia, sickle cell disease, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support many of these uses.


How does it work ?


Piracetam is a chemical that is thought to help cells in the brain and blood vessels to function better. During aging and in some kinds of diseases, the membrane that surrounds cells starts to get stiff. Cells with a stiff membrane do not function as well. Some scientists think that piracetam helps maintain the membrane that surrounds cells so that they continue to function well.


Dosing.


The following doses have been studied in scientific research:

ADULTS.

BY MOUTH:

For surgery to improve blood flow to the heart (CABG surgery): Piracetam 12 grams daily for 6 weeks, starting on day 6 after surgery.
For seizure disorder (epilepsy): Piracetam 9.6-24 grams daily for up to 18 months.
For a movement disorder often caused by antipsychotic drugs (tardive dyskinesia): Piracetam 2.4 grams twice daily for 4 weeks.
For vertigo: Piracetam 800 mg three times daily for 1-8 weeks.

WITH A NEEDLE:

For surgery to improve blood flow to the heart (CABG surgery): Piracetam 12 grams administered by a healthcare professional as a single dose. Piracetam 12 grams, administered by a healthcare professional daily from the day before surgery to 6 days after surgery.
For a movement disorder often caused by antipsychotic drugs (tardive dyskinesia): Piracetam 8-24 grams daily administered by a healthcare professional.
For vertigo: Piracetam 1-2 grams administered by a healthcare professional as a single dose.

CHILDREN.

BY MOUTH:

For breath-holding attacks: Piracetam 40 mg/kg daily for 2-3 months in children 6-36 months of age.
For dyslexia: Piracetam 3.3 grams daily for at least 12 weeks in children aged 7-14 years.


Side Effects.


When taken by mouth: Piracetam is POSSIBLY SAFE when taken appropriately. Some people who take piracetam have had nausea, vomiting, weight gain, nervousness, and sleep changes.

When given by IV: Piracetam is POSSIBLY SAFE when given by IV by a healthcare professional.


Uses and Effectiveness.


Possibly Effective for:

Breath-holding attacks. Some research shows that taking piracetam for 2-3 months helps to reduce breath-holding spells in young children.
Surgery to improve blood flow to the heart (CABG surgery). Most available research shows that giving a single dose of piracetam by injection (IV) or by mouth around the time of CABG surgery helps with memory recall after surgery.
A learning disorder marked by difficulty reading (dyslexia). Most early research shows that taking piracetam for at least 12 weeks improves some reading skills in children aged 7-14 years with dyslexia.
Seizure disorder (epilepsy). Most available research shows that taking piracetam reduces some symptoms of epilepsy in some patients who are also taking antiseizure drugs. But not all research agrees on which symptoms are improved by piracetam.
A movement disorder often caused by antipsychotic drugs (tardive dyskinesia). Some research shows that symptoms of tardive dyskinesia improve in some people when piracetam is taken by mouth or given with a needle.
Dizziness (vertigo). Some research shows that giving piracetam intravenously (by IV) decreases feelings of dizziness in people with vertigo. Taking piracetam by mouth for one week also seems to be helpful for reducing vertigo symptoms in people with acute vertigo. In people with chronic vertigo, taking piracetam by mouth might reduce the number of vertigo spells. But it doesn't seem to make the spells less severe.

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