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Smart Drugs & Nutrients:

How to Improve Your Memory and Increase Your Intelligence Using the Latest Discoveries In Neuroscience

VOLUME 1 in the Smart Drugs Series

by Ward Dean, M.D. & John Morgenthaler
$12.95 - 224 pages, softcover (Out of Stock)

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Section 4: Nootropics: More Doctors Recommend

Piracetam (Nootropil) | Aniracetam | Fipexide | Oxiracetam | Pramiracetam | Pyroglutamate (PCA) | Vinpocetine (Cavinton)

Oxciracetam

Oxiracetam is another piracetam analog. One study conducted in Japan compared the effects of piracetam and oxiracetam on normal mice learning a new task called discrete two‑way shuttle avoidance. The mice had to learn to break a photo-beam whenever they heard a warning stimulus in order to avoid a mild electric shock. The optimum dose of oxiracetam for improving learning was 30mg per kilogram of body weight, whereas the optimum dose of piracetam was 100mg per kilogram (over three times as much) (Kuribara, 1988).

An amazing study done in Italy attempted to find teratological (birth‑defect causing) effects of oxiracetam. Pregnant mice were given oxiracetam from the beginning of their pregnancies until they gave birth. Controls were given saline solution instead. The offspring of the oxiracetam-treated mice showed no negative effects at birth. After one month, the offspring of oxiracetam-treated mice (remember that the offspring themselves were not being given oxiracetam) showed signs of being more curious than the offspring of the controls (Ammassari-Teule, 1988). At three months, the oxiracetam offspring were performing significantly better in memory tests than the offspring of the controls. Although this is not a recommendation for pregnant women to take oxiracetam, it certainly hints at exciting possibilities, and indicates that this is an amazing and non-toxic smart drug.

After elderly people with dementia were given oxiracetam for three months, several different tests were administered. The researchers wrote that oxiracetam is a "vigilance-enhancing compound with some effects on spontaneous memory," and that "in comparison with piracetam, oxiracetam exhibits (a) greater improvement in memory factor" (Itil, 1986).

Another oxiracetam study was performed on a large number of people. Three hundred seven people were enrolled original­ly and 272 people completed the study. Eight hundred milligrams of oxiracetam was given twice each day for a total of twelve weeks to patients suffering from primary degenerative, multi-infarct or mixed forms of dementia. They found significant improvements in memory and concentration (Maina, 1989).

In another study, oxiracetam and piracetam were each administered to 30 people (a total of 60 people). The dosage was a very large 6000mg per day. After 60 days of treatment, the researchers concluded that the tolerability of oxiracetam was excellent. They found that oxiracetam had better therapeutic results than piracetam on both psychosomatic and neurologic symptoms. Oxiracetam also seemed to decrease platelet aggregation (Ferrero, 1984).

Oxiracetam is currently being investigated by the SmithKline Beckman Corporation for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. SmithKline is conducting a multi‑center study of oxiracetam. There are several other companies involved with oxiracetam who see great potential for this smart drug.

Oxiracetam was originally developed by the Italian pharmaceutical company, ICF. The drug was introduced in Italy in 1988 and will probably be introduced to further European markets in 1990. ICF licensed non-European rights to Ciba‑Geigy of Japan. The U.S. rights to it have recently been assigned to SmithKline Beckman Corporation. We wonder if the difficulties attendant to gaining FDA approval for nootropics is the cause of the switch. Ciba-Geigy is working with Toyo Jozo (another Japanese corporation) to get approval for sale of oxiracetam in Japan within three years. They hope for eventual world sales of $50 million (Barclays de Zoete Wedd Chemicals Research, 1987, 1988, Japan Chemical Week, 1987).

Precautions: Oxiracetam, like other nootropics, is non-toxic. It has been shown to be safe in doses up to 2400mg (Itil, 1986).

Dosage: Oxiracetam is more potent than piracetam. In one study aimed at finding the optimum dosage subjects were tested with 200mg, 400mg, 800mg, 1200mg, and 2400mg per day. The greatest improvements in cognitive function occurred at doses of 1200mg and 2400mg per day.

Sources: SmithKline hopes to soon get approval for oxiracetam in the U.S. for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease but we wouldn't hold our breath. Oxiracetam is sold in Italy. It can be purchased from the overseas sources listed in Appendix A (see page 165). Other names include: CT‑848, hydroxy­piracetam, ISF‑2522, Neuractiv, Neuromet.

References:

Ammassari-Teule, M., D'Amato, F.R., Sansone, M., Oliverio, A. "Avoidance Facilitation in Adult Mice by Prenatal Administration of the Nootropic Drug Oxiracetam." Pharmacological Research Communications. 1986, Vol. 18, No. 12, pp. 1169‑78.

Ammassari-Teule, M., D'Amato, F.R., Sansone, M., Oliverio, A. "Enhancement of Radial Maze Performances in CD1 Mice after Prenatal Exposure to Oxiracetam: Possible Role of Sustained Investigative Responses Developed During Ontogeny." Physiology and Behavior. 1988, 42 (3), pp. 281‑5.

Barclays de Zoete Wedd Chemicals Research. Switzerland Issue 1, June 25, 1987, pp. 4‑5.

Ibid. Issue 88, July 11, 1988, pp. 5‑6.

Ferrero, E. "Controlled Clinical Trial of Oxiracetam in the Treatment of Chronic Cerebrovascular Insufficiency in the Elderly." Current Therapeutic Research. August 1984, Vol. 36, No. 2, pp. 298‑308.

Itil, T.M., Menon, G.N., Songar, A., Itil, K.Z. "CNS Pharmacology and Clinical Therapeutic Effects of Oxiracetam." Clinical Neuropharmacology. 1986, Vol. 9, Supplement 3. New York: Raven Press, pp. S70‑S78.

Japan Chemical Week. Vol 28, Issue 1445, December 12, 1987, p. 4.

Kuribara, H., Tadokoro, S. "Facilitating Effect of Oxiracetam and Piracetam on Acquisition of Discrete Two-Way Shuttle Avoidance in Normal Mice." Japanese Journal of Pharmacology. 1988, 48 (4), pp. 494‑8.

Maina, G., Fiori, L., Torta, R., Fagiani, M.B., Ravizza, L., Bonavita, E., Ghiazza, B., Teruzzi, F., Zagnoni, P.G., Ferrario, E., et al. "Oxiracetam in the Treatment of Primary Degenerative and Multi-Infarct Dementia: a Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study." Neuropsychobiology. 1989, 21 (3), pp. 141‑5.

Mondadori, C., Classen, W., Borkowski, J., Ducret, T., Buerki, H., Schade, A. "Effects of Oxiracetam on Learning and Memory in Animals: Comparison with Piracetam." Clinical Neuropharmacology. 1986, Vol. 9, Supple­ment 13. New York: Raven Press, pp. S27‑S37.