Cite this answer
Noopept: quick citable summary
Noopept is listed by PeptaHub as a cognitive peptide with a research only legal-status classification. The page summarizes mechanism, research context, common routes, safety notes, and references for writers and AI answer engines.
PeptaHub. “Noopept: Mechanism, Research Context, Safety.” peptahub.com, 2026. https://peptahub.com/peptides/noopept. Licensed CC BY 4.0.
License: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International. Link back to https://peptahub.com/peptides/noopept.
What is Noopept?
Noopept (Omberacetam) is a synthetic dipeptide derivative roughly 1000-fold more potent than piracetam. It acts via AMPA receptor modulation and BDNF/NGF upregulation, registered as a prescription drug in Russia though no FDA-regulated trials exist.
Overview
Noopept (INN: Omberacetam) is a synthetic dipeptide derivative developed in Russia by the Zakusov Research Institute of Pharmacology. Its chemical structure is N-phenylacetyl-L-prolyl-glycine ethyl ester, representing the ethyl ester prodrug of the endogenous cycloprolylglycine (CPG) dipeptide. Effective at doses approximately 1000-fold lower than piracetam by weight, it is among the most potent studied nootropic compounds. It was developed for cognitive impairment associated with aging, vascular disorders, and traumatic brain injury.
Mechanism of action
After oral absorption, Noopept is hydrolyzed to its active metabolite cycloprolylglycine (CPG), which modulates AMPA-type glutamate receptors and facilitates long-term potentiation in hippocampal circuits. Noopept also increases cerebral NGF (nerve growth factor) and BDNF expression, supporting neuronal survival and synaptic density. Additional mechanisms include modulation of voltage-dependent calcium channels and calcium-activated potassium channels, regulating neuronal excitability. Research has identified HIF-1 (hypoxia-inducible factor-1) DNA-binding activity as another proposed primary mechanism, potentially providing neuroprotection under hypoxic or ischemic conditions. Antioxidant activity via inhibition of intracellular reactive oxygen species accumulation contributes to its neuroprotective profile.
Reported study ranges
| Purpose | Route | Reported range | Frequency | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| cognitive enhancement research | oral | 10–30 mg | twice daily | The Russian registered product is 10 mg twice daily, and the Neznamov comparative study used 20 mg/day; the registered course runs 1.5 to 3 months. Doses above 20 mg/day and the sublingual and intranasal routes are user-reported, not label or trial-supported. |
Reported ranges are for research context only. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before using any peptide.
Convert Noopept research-range units
Need to convert mg to mcg, dose volume, or U-100 syringe units? The Noopept dose calculator is preloaded with these ranges, or use the general dose unit converter.
Research summary
Russian preclinical studies across multiple animal models document cognitive enhancement, reduced anxiety, and neuroprotection against ischemia, oxidative stress, and amyloid toxicity. In cultured human cortical neurons from normal and Down syndrome tissue, GVS-111 protected against hydrogen peroxide damage with an IC50 of 1.21 microM and outperformed piracetam, vitamin E and other antioxidants (Int J Dev Neurosci 2003) — a cell culture result, not a clinical one. The compound retains nootropic activity after oral administration in rats. On the human side, Neznamov and Teleshova compared Noopept against piracetam in patients with mild cognitive disorders from vascular or traumatic brain disease and reported comparable or better results for Noopept; the study was not placebo-controlled. No FDA-regulated clinical trial has been completed as of 2026.[1][2][3][4][5][6]
Evidence grading
Each claimed benefit is graded by the strength of available evidence. Grades reflect study quality, not effect size.
Strong = multiple RCTs · Moderate = limited trials or observational · Preliminary = animal or in vitro only · Insufficient = anecdotal or no published data
Side effects
Side effects vary by individual. This is not an exhaustive list. Report unusual symptoms to a healthcare professional.
Common stacks
Peptides commonly paired with Noopept for synergistic effects.
Legal status
Not FDA-approved in the US. Registered as a prescription drug in Russia (Noopept brand). Unscheduled and unregulated in the UK and many other jurisdictions, allowing legal purchase. Sold as a research compound or dietary supplement in the US without formal regulatory classification.
Sourcing & access
Research compound
Noopept is classified as a research compound. Regulatory status varies by jurisdiction. Always verify current legal status and source from vendors providing third-party certificates of analysis (COA).
Frequently asked questions
Noopept (Omberacetam, GVS-111) is a synthetic dipeptide derivative developed in Russia as a prodrug of cycloprolylglycine. It is one of the most potent studied nootropics, effective at doses approximately 1000-fold lower than piracetam by weight.
After oral absorption, Noopept is hydrolyzed to cycloprolylglycine (CPG), which modulates AMPA glutamate receptors and facilitates long-term potentiation in hippocampal circuits. It also increases NGF and BDNF expression, modulates calcium and potassium channels, and activates HIF-1 DNA-binding for neuroprotection under hypoxic conditions.
Common side effects include headache (especially without choline supplementation), irritability at high doses, brain fog or fatigue, and sleep disturbance if dosed late. It is a registered prescription drug in Russia but is not FDA-approved; it is unscheduled in the UK and many other jurisdictions.
The Russian registered dose is 10 mg twice daily for a course of 1.5 to 3 months, and that is also the dose used in the comparative study against piracetam. Higher intakes and the sublingual or intranasal routes circulate in user reports but are not supported by the label or by a trial.
Research references
- Neuroprotective properties of nootropic dipeptide GVS-111 in in vitro oxygen-glucose deprivation, glutamate toxicity and oxidative stressPubMed
- Noopept stimulates the expression of NGF and BDNF in rat hippocampusPubMed
- Neuroprotective effect of novel cognitive enhancer noopept on AD-related cellular model involves the attenuation of apoptosis and tau hyperphosphorylationPubMed
- Proline-containing dipeptide GVS-111 retains nootropic activity after oral administrationPubMed
- GVS-111 prevents oxidative damage and apoptosis in normal and Down's syndrome human cortical neuronsPubMed
- Comparative studies of Noopept and piracetam in the treatment of patients with mild cognitive disorders in organic brain diseases of vascular and traumatic originPubMed