supplementNot FDA-approvedNot an FDA-approved drug and not a lawful dietary supplement ingredient in the US; it has been identified by independent lab analysis as an unapproved ingredient in some products marketed as cognitive-enhancement supplementsIt is a prescription drug (phenotropil/carphedon) in Russia, where the cited clinical reports were conducted
PhenylpiracetamBenefits, Dosage & Interactions
Also known as: Phenotropil
Phenylpiracetam is a synthetic nootropic compound belonging to the racetam class. It is a derivative of piracetam, modified with a phenyl group attached to its structure. Research on Phenylpiracetam focuses on cognition and mood and endurance. It is typically taken in the morning.
How much Phenylpiracetam do people take?
The cited Russian-language clinical reports used oral phenotropil (phenylpiracetam) as add-on therapy in stroke rehabilitation and post-traumatic epilepsy; specific milligram dosing was not available in the indexed English abstracts. Route reported: Oral, in both cited clinical reports. Frequency reported: Daily oral dosing as adjunct therapy in the cited reports. These are amounts documented in the cited studies and labels for Phenylpiracetam — they are reported for reference, not a recommendation. Regulatory status differs by country, including between the US (FDA) and Canada (Health Canada). Confirm any amount with a licensed clinician before you take it.
See the full reported protocol and its sourcesResearched by DoseRoutine Research TeamReviewed for accuracy by Nicholas Alexander, RSE, SO, PMPLast updated Educational reference only — not medical advice. Always confirm dosing and safety decisions with a licensed clinician.
Evidence: Limited — Human observational or case data only — no randomized trials.
Evidence strengthLimited · 2/4
PreclinicalStrong human evidence
Human observational or case data only — no randomized trials.
Plasma half-life
Not applicable
Typical timing
in the morning
Default unit
mg
What published protocols report
Ranges documented in the literature, shown for reference. DoseRoutine does not recommend an amount — your prescriber or the product label sets the dose.
Reported for Phenylpiracetam in the cited sources. Published ranges are not dosing advice.
References & evidence
Documents the Phenylpiracetam entry is written from. Each number matches an inline marker above.
- [1][Efficacy of phenotropil in the rehabilitation of stroke patients]Koval'chuk VV, Skoromets AA, Koval'chuk IV, Stoianova EG, Vysotskaia ML, Melikhova EV · Zhurnal Nevrologii i Psikhiatrii imeni S.S. Korsakova · 2010 · Peer-reviewed · PMID 21626817
- [2][Phenotropil in the complex treatment of symptomatic post traumatic epilepsy]Poverennova IE, Iakunina AV, Kalinin VA, Kurov MV · Zhurnal Nevrologii i Psikhiatrii imeni S.S. Korsakova · 2011 · Peer-reviewed · PMID 23120795
- [3]Five Unapproved Drugs Found in Cognitive Enhancement SupplementsCohen PA, Avula B, Wang YH, Zakharevich I, Khan I · Neurology. Clinical Practice · 2021 · Peer-reviewed · PMID 34484905
References & Evidence
Sources on this page that document Phenylpiracetam dosing, timing and safety.
- [1]National Center for Biotechnology Information View source
Educational information only — not medical advice. Dose ranges vary by person, indication and prescriber.
What is Phenylpiracetam studied for?
What is Phenylpiracetam?Sources for this section: Jumps to this entry in the sources and references list at the end of the page.
Phenylpiracetam is a synthetic nootropic compound belonging to the racetam class. It is a derivative of piracetam, modified with a phenyl group attached to its structure. This chemical modification is thought to enhance its ability to cross the blood-brain barrier compared to piracetam. Phenylpiracetam was developed in Russia in the early 1980s for its potential to improve cognitive function and physical stamina, particularly in extreme environments. It has been used in some countries for conditions like asthenia and certain neurological disorders, and has also attracted interest as a cognitive enhancer and performance aid. (DrugBank, PubChem)
What does the research say about Phenylpiracetam?
Tap a section to expand.
Phenylpiracetam's precise mechanisms of action are not fully elucidated, but research suggests several pathways through which it may exert its effects. Like other racetams, it is believed to modulate neurotransmitter systems, although specific interactions vary. It may influence dopamine, norepinephrine, and acetylcholine systems. Some studies suggest it can increase the density of D1 and D2 dopamine receptors in the brain, as well as nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. Additionally, it may interact with NMDA receptors, which are crucial for learning and memory. The compound is also thought to enhance cerebral blood flow and improve energy metabolism in brain cells, potentially through influencing mitochondrial function. Its phenyl group is hypothesized to contribute to its stronger psychostimulatory effects compared to piracetam. (DrugBank, PubChem)
Source for this section: Sources for How does Phenylpiracetam work?: Jumps to this entry in the sources and references list at the end of the page.
Phenylpiracetam has been studied for various potential benefits, primarily in the areas of cognitive function and physical performance.
* **Cognitive Enhancement:** Research, predominantly from Eastern Europe, suggests phenylpiracetam may improve aspects of cognitive function, including memory, attention, and focus. Some studies indicate it can enhance learning capabilities and information processing speeds. These effects have been observed in individuals with cognitive impairments, as well as in healthy subjects under demanding conditions. (Examine.com)
* **Physical Endurance and Fatigue Reduction:** Phenylpiracetam has been investigated for its potential to increase physical stamina and reduce feelings of fatigue. Athletes and individuals in physically demanding professions have explored its use for these purposes. Studies have indicated it may improve exercise capacity and tolerance to cold stress. (Examine.com)
* **Mood and Motivation:** Some anecdotal reports and limited research suggest phenylpiracetam might have mood-elevating properties and could increase motivation. This is possibly linked to its influence on dopamine pathways. It has been explored in contexts related to managing symptoms of asthenia (weakness, lack of energy). (DrugBank)
* **Stress and Anxiety Reduction:** There is some evidence to suggest that phenylpiracetam may possess anxiolytic (anxiety-reducing) and adaptogenic properties, helping the body adapt to various stressors. However, more robust human trials are needed to confirm these effects definitively. (Examine.com)
The evidence for phenylpiracetam's effects comes primarily from preclinical studies and clinical trials conducted in Russia and other Eastern European countries. These studies often report positive outcomes regarding cognitive function, physical endurance, and mood. For instance, research has shown improvements in memory and attention in individuals with asthenic syndrome and other cognitive deficits. Studies on physical performance have indicated an increase in exercise tolerance and a reduction in recovery time. While encouraging, the quality and methodology of some of these older studies may not always meet current Western standards for clinical research, such as robust blinding and placebo control. Newer, independent research with rigorous methodologies is needed to further confirm these findings and establish clear dosage guidelines. Many available studies are cited through sources like Examine.com and DrugBank, which aggregate scientific literature.
Regarding dosage, phenylpiracetam is commonly studied at amounts ranging from 100 mg to 300 mg per day, sometimes divided into multiple doses. However, individual needs and responses can vary significantly, and the specific dose used in clinical settings or for research purposes should be distinguished from self-administration. A licensed clinician must be consulted for any dosage considerations. (Examine.com)
Phenylpiracetam is generally considered to have a good safety profile at studied dosages, but like any compound, it can cause side effects in some individuals. Common side effects, though infrequent, may include insomnia, particularly if taken later in the day due to its stimulating properties. Some users report headaches, which can sometimes be alleviated by ensuring adequate choline intake. Irritability, nervousness, or restlessness may also occur, especially with higher dosages or in sensitive individuals. Digestive issues such as nausea or stomach discomfort have been reported occasionally. Other less common side effects might include changes in blood pressure or heart rate, though these are typically mild. If any side effects are experienced, it is advisable to reduce the dosage or discontinue use. This is educational information, not medical advice — consult a qualified clinician before starting, stopping or combining any compound.
Phenylpiracetam has stimulant-like properties, and individuals sensitive to stimulants should exercise caution. Due to its potential to affect dopamine pathways, individuals with pre-existing psychiatric conditions, particularly those involving mood or psychosis, should consult a healthcare professional before use. There is limited long-term safety data in humans, so continuous, prolonged use is not well understood. Pregnant or breastfeeding women should avoid phenylpiracetam due to a lack of safety data. It should be used with caution in individuals with cardiovascular conditions due to potential subtle effects on heart rate or blood pressure. Individuals should be aware of its status in sports; it is prohibited by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) due to its performance-enhancing potential. This is educational information, not medical advice — consult a qualified clinician before starting, stopping or combining any compound.
Due to insufficient research, phenylpiracetam is contraindicated in pregnant and breastfeeding women. Individuals with severe psychiatric disorders, especially those sensitive to dopaminergic agents, should avoid its use unless specifically advised and monitored by a healthcare professional. Persons with uncontrolled hypertension or severe cardiovascular disease should also exercise extreme caution due to its potential stimulant effects. Individuals with a known hypersensitivity or allergy to racetam compounds should not use phenylpiracetam. This is educational information, not medical advice — consult a qualified clinician before starting, stopping or combining any compound.
Due to its stimulating properties, combining phenylpiracetam with other stimulants (e.g., high doses of caffeine, ephedrine, amphetamines) may exacerbate side effects such as anxiety, insomnia, increased heart rate, and blood pressure. Individuals taking medications that modulate dopamine or norepinephrine systems, such as antidepressants (MAOIs, SSRIs, SNRIs) or medications for Parkinson's disease, should exercise extreme caution and consult a clinician before combining, as interactions could alter drug efficacy or increase the risk of adverse effects. There is limited specific research on drug-drug interactions with phenylpiracetam, so a cautious approach is warranted. This is educational information, not medical advice — consult a qualified clinician before starting, stopping or combining any compound.
Phenylpiracetam is typically taken in the morning to leverage its stimulating effects and avoid potential interference with sleep. Due to its half-life of approximately 5 hours, taking it in the afternoon or evening may lead to insomnia. It can generally be taken with or without food, as its absorption is not heavily dependent on food intake. Some users prefer to take it on an empty stomach for potentially quicker onset of effects. Splitting the daily amount into two separate doses (e.g., morning and early afternoon) is sometimes practiced to maintain effects throughout the day, ensuring the last dose is not too close to bedtime.
Source for this section: Sources for When should you take Phenylpiracetam?: Jumps to this entry in the sources and references list at the end of the page.
Put it into practice
Reading about Phenylpiracetam is the first step — DoseRoutine helps you act on it. These free tools turn what you just learned into a routine.
What interacts with Phenylpiracetam?
| Interacts with | Severity | Type | What happens | What to do |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Any glp1 + supplement | Note | Category ruleConfidence: theoretical | GLP-1 medications slow stomach emptying, changing how/when oral supplements absorb; rapid weight loss raises the importance of protein and micronutrients.Source pending | Time oral supplements when nausea is lowest; prioritize protein and micronutrients; discuss with your provider. |
| Any supplement + medication | Note | Category ruleConfidence: theoretical | Some supplements change how the body processes medications (absorption, liver enzymes, or additive effects).Source pending | Specific pairs are checked against a licensed drug database and shown with their own severity. Always confirm with your provider or pharmacist. |
Frequently asked questions about Phenylpiracetam
Phenylpiracetam is a derivative of piracetam, with a phenyl group added to its chemical structure. This modification is believed to enhance its potency and ability to cross the blood-brain barrier more effectively than piracetam, leading to generally stronger stimulant and cognitive effects.
Phenylpiracetam is not classified as a controlled substance in many countries, including the United States. However, its regulatory status can vary by region. It is prohibited by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) due to its performance-enhancing potential in sports.
Many users report experiencing the effects of phenylpiracetam relatively quickly, often within 30 minutes to an hour of ingestion. Its stimulating and cognitive enhancement effects typically last for several hours, consistent with its half-life.
While some users report diminishing effects with continuous daily use, suggesting a form of tolerance, significant physical dependence is not commonly reported. However, some individuals may experience withdrawal-like symptoms such as fatigue or irritability upon abrupt cessation. Cycling its use or taking breaks may help mitigate tolerance.
Long-term safety data for phenylpiracetam in humans is limited. Most studies have focused on short to medium-term use. While generally well-tolerated in the short term, the effects of prolonged, continuous use are not fully understood. It is advisable to consult a healthcare professional for guidance on extended use.
As a supplement, Phenylpiracetam can overlap with other supplements, prescription medicines, hormones and peptides. Because Phenylpiracetam is usually taken in the morning, most avoidable conflicts come from what else lands in that same window. Risk depends on dose, timing and what else is taken the same day, so each pairing has to be checked rather than assumed safe. The free checker at https://doseroutine.com/interaction-checker covers Phenylpiracetam with no sign-up.
Phenylpiracetam is typically taken in the morning. Amounts for this supplement vary by protocol, formulation and individual response, so follow the dose your clinician or the product label specifies.
Whether Phenylpiracetam fits alongside testosterone replacement therapy depends on the protocol — dose, ester and ancillaries such as HCG or anastrozole — and on current bloodwork. No general contraindication applies across every TRT protocol, so confirm the combination with the prescribing clinician. See the free TRT interaction reference: https://doseroutine.com/trt-supplement-interactions
"Peptides" is not one category — healing peptides, GLP-1 agonists, growth-hormone secretagogues and melanocortins each behave differently next to Phenylpiracetam. Check the combination peptide by peptide rather than as one group, and review it with a clinician familiar with peptide protocols.
Published frequency for Phenylpiracetam varies by protocol and formulation, so the label or prescription is what sets it. It is typically taken in the morning. Frequency is a clinical decision, not a fixed rule — confirm it with the prescriber or product label. Comparison of apps that keep a schedule like this: https://doseroutine.com/best-dose-tracking-apps
The effect of a missed dose of Phenylpiracetam depends on the protocol and formulation you are on. Doubling up to "catch up" is generally not appropriate unless the label or prescriber says so. Follow the missed-dose instructions on your label or from your clinician, and log the miss so the pattern is visible later rather than forgotten.
For Phenylpiracetam the useful record is the dose, the time it was actually taken, and what else was taken in the same window. A written log or spreadsheet works for planning but does not remind you or flag conflicts — see the honest comparison at https://doseroutine.com/vs/spreadsheet and the wider roundup at https://doseroutine.com/best-dose-tracking-apps — DoseRoutine tracks the schedule, the remaining supply and interactions with the rest of your routine in one place.
The cited Russian-language clinical reports used oral phenotropil (phenylpiracetam) as add-on therapy in stroke rehabilitation and post-traumatic epilepsy; specific milligram dosing was not available in the indexed English abstracts. Route reported: Oral, in both cited clinical reports. Frequency reported: Daily oral dosing as adjunct therapy in the cited reports. These are amounts documented in the cited studies and labels for Phenylpiracetam — they are reported for reference, not a recommendation. Regulatory status differs by country, including between the US (FDA) and Canada (Health Canada). Confirm any amount with a licensed clinician before you take it.
Sources cited on this page
Specific documents referenced by the numbered markers above. Each number matches the marker in the text.
- PubChem CID 132441(opens in a new tab)National Center for Biotechnology Information · pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/132441
- WADA Prohibited List(opens in a new tab)World Anti-Doping Agency · wada-ama.org/en/prohibited-list
Verify at
Publisher search links for Phenylpiracetam. These are places to check the information — they are not citations, so they are not numbered.
- DrugBank(publisher search, opens in a new tab)DrugBank Online · publisher search
- Examine.com(publisher search, opens in a new tab)Examine.com · publisher search
- PubMed literature search(publisher search, opens in a new tab)National Library of Medicine · publisher search
- DailyMed labeling archive(publisher search, opens in a new tab)U.S. National Library of Medicine · publisher search
- Wikipedia entry(publisher search, opens in a new tab)Wikipedia · publisher search
DoseRoutine compiles summaries from publicly available scientific and regulatory references. Always verify important decisions with a licensed clinician. How we source and review this information.
What is the short answer on Phenylpiracetam?
Plain-text summary, safe to quote verbatim:
Phenylpiracetam is a synthetic nootropic compound belonging to the racetam class. It is a derivative of piracetam, modified with a phenyl group attached to its structure. Research on Phenylpiracetam focuses on cognition and mood and endurance. It is typically taken in the morning.
Source: DoseRoutine — https://doseroutine.com/library/phenylpiracetam
Phenylpiracetam cheat sheet
DoseRoutine cheat sheet · Supplement
Phenylpiracetam
Phenylpiracetam is a synthetic nootropic compound belonging to the racetam class. It is a derivative of piracetam, modified with a phenyl group attached to its structure.
Evidence
Limited
Human observational or case data only — no randomized trials.
Studied range
The cited Russian-language clinical reports used oral phenotropil (phenylpiracetam) as add-on therapy in stroke rehabilitation and post-traumatic epilepsy; specific milligram dosing was not available in the indexed English abstracts
Route
Oral, in both cited clinical reports
Frequency studied
Daily oral dosing as adjunct therapy in the cited reports
Timing
in the morning
Not FDA-approvedNot an FDA-approved drug and not a lawful dietary supplement ingredient in the US; it has been identified by independent lab analysis as an unapproved ingredient in some products marketed as cognitive-enhancement supplementsIt is a prescription drug (phenotropil/carphedon) in Russia, where the cited clinical reports were conductedBrainEndurance
Studied ranges, not dosing advice. Not medical advice — talk to a clinician. doseroutine.com/library/phenylpiracetam
Cite this page
Using this in an article, AI answer, or research note? Please attribute:
DoseRoutine. (2026). Phenylpiracetam — Overview, Benefits & Side Effects. Retrieved from https://doseroutine.com/library/phenylpiracetam
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