17 replies to this topic

[mbasile]

Hi all,

I’m definitely one of those Piracetam non-responders. I have been diagnosed with ADHD and prescribed amphetamine salts (Adderall 10mg) to mitigate the problem. Nevertheless, down regulation of dopamine had adverse effects and it’s been about 18 months since I’ve taken Adderall. Instead, I’ve opted for a more holistic approach involving meditation, dual n-back, and exercise. I started studying for the CFA exam (Level 1) three months ago and I realized that I couldn’t focus. I read about the racetams and thought they might help. I ordered a bottle of Piracetam from Relentless Improvement and a bottle of Oxiracetam and Aniracetam from Smart Powders almost 2 months ago. I started by taking an 800mg dose 3 times a day for the first 3 days and nothing happened. I pushed it up to 1600mg 3 times a day and I got the worst headache of my life accompanied by brain fog and nausea.

Needless to say, I didn’t feel any of the great effects people describe. I took CDP-Choline the next day and my headache subsided a bit, I continued taking CDP-Choline and Calcium/Magnesium supplements for a week (without Piracetam). After 8 days, I tried Piracetam again, but this time I stacked each 3200mg dose w/ CDP-Choline (500mg). Much to my dismay, the stacks became a catalyst for an uncanny brain fog. While taking Piracetam, I couldn’t articulate thoughts and my flow of speech was not smooth at all. I would have to read things over and over again because I couldn’t pay attention. Nevertheless, I decided to take some calcium/magnesium and Bacopa before bed and push through for another day. I woke up the second day extremely exhausted and with a minor headache. At 11am I decided to take 1600mg of Piracetam with 500mg of CDP-Choline and within 3 hours I had one of the worst possible headaches you could imagine. I actually became so nauseated that I vomited. I stopped all supplements for two weeks and tried Piracetam again but this time with ALCAR. However, the headaches and brain fog returned with a vengeance. Within the next couple days, I experimented with different doses of Aniracetam or Oxiracetam (stacked with Alpha GPC) and both produced the same brain fog and headaches I had while on Piracetam. Neither ALCAR, CDP-Choline, Alpha GPC nor Calcium supplementation helped at all.

Am I doing something wrong here? Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

[FDA Approved]

Try a lower dosage of Piracetam. Something like 500 mg Piracetam + 250-300mg CDP-Choline might be good (which is also around my ideal dosage twice or three times a day with Cdp-Choline only in the morning).

[mbasile]

Thanks for the reply. When I was experimenting with doses, I tried taking 400mg 3x per day (taking half a capsule with water and swallowing the other half later). It didn't do anything.

[jonnyD]

Piracetam needs 1-2 weeks to build up.
Did you try ~1200mg daily (2-3 doses) for more than a week?

[Baten]

I always preferred 1200mg morning and evening over 2400mg.
I also preferred DMAE over any other choline source (works insanely well), but I learned you should take a cap of phosphatidylserine with it, which makes it more expensive.
In turn, phopshatidylserine can also cause brain fog when you just start supplementing. But when DMAE+PS starts working, it works very well.

[1thoughtMaze1]

when you first start Piracetam you will get brain fog and have trouble reading, I noticed this as well as I recently started taking it again. When it does kick in the fog and problems reading go away, but the benefits are very subtle, maybe even subconscious. you need to give it time. your're not realy going to "feel it". As for the headaches, that I don’t know. I dose piracetam twice a day max, I almost never get headache after dosing. There might me something else going on with you.

Edited by 1thoughtMaze1, 03 August 2012 - 01:23 PM.

[mbasile]

I've never taken piracetam more than 5 days in a row because of the headaches. I'll try to take it for about 2 weeks and see what happens but, I don't know if I'll be able to deal with the headaches. Point in case, about 4 hours ago, I took 400mg of Piracetam with 500mg of Alpha GPC. I took another stack an hour ago. Not only do I not feel anything but I'm starting to feel the brain fog and an intense tension headache is taking hold.

I don't know what's going on, but what I do know is that I had my bloodwork done 5 months ago and everything looked healthy. I may have some sort of hypersensitivity to piracetam and maybe it's just not for me. I'll give it a few more weeks and I'll try the DMAE. If my condition continues to go down hill, I'm throwing away this stuff, along with the Aniracetam and Oxiracetam.

[SuperjackDid_]

Same .

Sorry to hard to think and respond any better .

I not abuse Piracetam ,but it did respond me so badly in any dose .

Blame MSG in diet.

[Baten]

Point in case, about 4 hours ago, I took 400mg of Piracetam with 500mg of Alpha GPC. I took another stack an hour ago.

In this case you're just taking way too much choline. 500mg of AGPC is really potent, and a mere 400mg of Piracetam, in my experience, doesn't need any extra choline in the first place.
I'll say it again, supplement with choline AFTER you get headaches, from the piracetam that is. Once you figure out how much you need to stop the headache, you could take them both consistently.

[Purpose]

Inboxed

[Joe Cohen]

I also get serious brain fog with even just 800 mg of piractem. My IQ probably decreased 40 points while on it. I think it's a relatively common side effect. The stuff is just terrible for some people.

I think no matter what you do it will cause brain fog. Tweaking choline dosages and choline forms didn't help me. I would not want to experiment for 2 weeks feeling retarded to see if anything beneficial starts happening. I don't know of anything that decreases my IQ like Piracetam. It's one of a kind., and I've tried hundred of supplements.

Let's not forget it's a drug and not an herbal product used for thousands of years.

Edited by Joe Cohen, 21 August 2012 - 03:44 PM.

[optic]

When I took Piracetam (2x800mg) + ALCAR (2x500mg) first time I had an instant kick. I believe that was the effect of ALCAR as I read that it takes about 7-10 days for Piracetam to build up in the body. The second day I took the same dosage I ended up with a massive headache, sleepiness and my weak movement coordination. I assumed I need choline, so I ordered Alpha GPC.

Once I got Alpha GPC I took the following stack:
- Piracetam 2x800mg
- ALCAR 2x500mg
- Alpha GPC 2x300mg
- Modafinil 2x100mg

I did not experienced any problems as previously, but I did have problems with speech. When talking I forget words and mumbled. I assumed that one of the problem causer is not enough choline, ALCAR or my body is way too sensitive to Piracetam. I updated my stack by increasing the amount of choline and limiting Piracetam and ALCAR:

- Piracetam 2x400mg
- ALCAR 1x500mg
- Alpha GPC 3x300mg
- Modafinil 1x100mg + 1x50mg

It has been to days and I have not experienced bad symptoms yet. In order to pinpoint the problem causer I will drop ALCAR and start increasing Piracetam steadily up to 1600mg. Next week I will drop Modafinil as I want to see if there are any effects.

[Joe Cohen]

@optic
Why would you take something that harms you? Why not just forget the piracetam. I'm not even convinced it improves brain function. I think it's a placebo, which is why people describe the effects as "subtle."

[Spinlock]

I have been I piracetam for a few weeks. My head feels tight, sort of like a precurser to a headache, but it doesn't really hurt.. I can see how it may cause a migrane in some people though.

[Major Legend]

Sounds like a bad supplier.

[hadora]

I think people who experience brain fog, headache etc.. from piracetam have bad batch
I'm prescribed piracetam 10 g/ day and i don't have any side effects and i don't take choline
also on the piracetam leaflet it doens't mention headache and brain fog as a side effect

[optic]

@Joe Cohen

I have revised my regimen. It seems that the problem was with insufficient supply of choline.

Morning stack:

• 1x800mg Piracetam
• 1x250mg CDP Choline
• 1x300mg Alpha GPC
• 1000mg Omega-3 Fish Oil - 1x pill (with food)
• 1000mg Glucosamine, 1x pill (with food)
• 1xCoffee

Afternoon stack:

• 1x800mg Piracetam
• 1x250mg CDP Choline
• 1000mg Glucosamine, 1x pill (with food)

Evening stack:

• 50mg Modafinil

I have been taking it for about 15 days and I am still not sure of the effects. This could be due to the fact that last weeks I have been taking almost 200mg of Modafinil a day. I will limit the it back to 50mg in the evening only and observe the effects.

I am also planning to introduce ALCAR 500mg per day. Some people recommend to take ALCAR without choline and others say to take it together with choline. Could somebody comment on that please?

Sounds like a bad supplier.

I get my Piracetam from DocSimon, packs of 100 tablets of 800mg. The product is manufactured in Germany but everything is in Czech only.

I still have memories of the first kick I had when I took Piracetam with ALCAR. Unfortunately I have not noticed anything like that since (probably as I dropped ALCAR). What is your recommendation Major Legend?

[Major Legend]

I was pointing at the OP of the symptoms of heavy brain fog and headache. For you however try taking choline before sleeping, and choline when you wake up instead of dosing in the afternoon. Deep sleep via melatonin and valerian root could help, but these could become problematic in the long term (especially valerian root). By deep sleep I mean sleep that induces dreams.

Make sure you take piracetam and alpha gpc on an empty stomach...wait at least half hour before eating food ...thats what works for me anyways.

As for Alpha GPC or CDP Choline. People tend to respond to one or the either, I wouldn't take both, personally Alpha GPC works for me.

Not sure about Alcar never did much for me, i'm guessing because in it's normal form its not very effective (apparently?) compared to the arginate forms. Alpha GPc or CDP choline has benefits themselves anyways so they are worth taking if either of them have a noticible effect.