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Omberacetam (Noopept)Small moleculeNo amino acid sequence. Icon reflects category theme only.Also known as: Noopept, GVS-111, omberacetam
Roughly 1,000 times more potent than piracetam by weight, at doses measured in milligrams instead of grams. Omberacetam (Noopept, GVS-111) is a synthetic dipeptide nootropic approved in Russia for mild cognitive disorders. Neznamov and Teleshova's 2009 RCT [1] showed it outperformed piracetam on Mini-Mental State scores across a 56-day course at just 20 mg per day. BDNF and NGF expression climbs with sustained use rather than fading, which is unusual for a cognitive compound. More than 500 Reddit threads track real-world experience across r/Nootropics. No Western clinical trials exist, and the longest human study ran eight weeks.
Does a 10 mg tablet really outperform 1,200 mg of piracetam? The 2009 Neznamov and Teleshova RCT [1] confirmed it did, producing superior MMSE improvements over 56 days in patients with mild cognitive disorders. Omberacetam (also sold as Noopept, chemical name N-phenylacetyl-L-prolylglycine ethyl ester, CAS 157115-85-0, designated GVS-111) is a synthetic dipeptide developed in Russia by the Zakusov Institute. After oral dosing, liver esterases rapidly convert it to cycloprolylglycine (CPG), the active metabolite with a seven-hour half-life that does most of the pharmacological work. CPG modulates both AMPA and NMDA glutamate receptors, boosting long-term potentiation in hippocampal circuits. The mechanism that separates omberacetam from older racetams is neurotrophin upregulation. Ostrovskaya's group confirmed BDNF and NGF increases in rat hippocampus [2]. That signal doesn't fade; expression continues rising with chronic dosing through day 56. Tens of thousands of users across r/Nootropics and Longecity forums report improved verbal fluency, memory recall, and a calmer quality of thought. The community figured out the choline problem before the researchers did. Without Alpha-GPC or CDP-choline, headaches are nearly guaranteed. Russia's Generium pharmaceutical company holds market authorization for 10 mg tablets. No Western regulatory body has approved or reviewed omberacetam. All published clinical data comes from Russian institutions with developer involvement.
After you swallow a 10 mg tablet, omberacetam hits peak plasma in about 15 minutes. It doesn't stay intact for long. Liver esterases cleave it into cycloprolylglycine (CPG), which carries a half-life of roughly seven hours and handles the sustained pharmacology. CPG binds to the glycine site on NMDA receptors and simultaneously modulates AMPA receptor trafficking. Both actions boost long-term potentiation, the molecular basis of memory formation in the hippocampus. The AMPA component speeds information processing; the NMDA component deepens encoding. Neurotrophin upregulation is the second pathway. Ostrovskaya's group [2] tracked BDNF and NGF expression in rat hippocampus during chronic dosing. Both growth factors increased progressively rather than plateauing. BDNF supports synaptic remodeling. NGF promotes cholinergic neuron survival, which is why omberacetam drains acetylcholine reserves and causes headaches without choline supplementation. A third mechanism runs through HIF-1 alpha activation. This transcription factor drives neuroprotective gene expression under oxidative stress. Pelsman's group [3] confirmed omberacetam blocked apoptosis in both normal and Down syndrome human cortical neurons exposed to oxidative challenge. The parent compound also inhibits calcium-mediated excitotoxicity and suppresses inflammatory cytokine release in CNS tissue [4]. Unlike piracetam, omberacetam achieves all of this at milligram doses because its lipophilicity gets it across the blood-brain barrier fast.
Improves memory, attention, and emotional stability in mild cognitive disorders at 20–30 mg/day over 56-day courses. BDNF/NGF upregulation confirmed in animal and clinical models. Active metabolite CPG (cycloprolylglycine) may be primary effector: NA-831 Phase 2A AD trial (n=112) showed 4.1-point ADAS-Cog-13 improvement vs. placebo.
Neznamov & Teleshova 2009 (PMID 19234797): RCT vs. piracetam in mild cognitive disorders, 20 mg/day × 56 days, superior MMSE improvement. Ostrovskaya et al. 2008 (PMID 19240853): BDNF/NGF upregulation confirmed in rat hippocampus. NA-831 Phase 2A (PMC11712949): CPG prodrug, 4.1-point ADAS-Cog-13 improvement in 112 AD patients: conference-abstract level only, not full peer-reviewed publication.
All pivotal trials conducted in Russia by original developers: not independently replicated in Western trials. Longest human study = 56 days. No large-scale RCTs in healthy adults. NA-831 Phase 2A data is conference-abstract level only. No new human clinical trials published 2024–2026 (only structural/analytical chemistry paper: Araj et al. 2025, PMID 39298839).
Widely used and generally well-regarded nootropic in r/Nootropics. Most valued for rapid-onset verbal fluency, memory consolidation, and mild anxiolytic effect. Choline headache without co-supplementation is the dominant complaint. Highly variable individual response noted.
Science and community converge on 10–30 mg/day range, 8-week cycling protocol, morning dosing, and choline co-supplementation. Community anecdotally confirms the BDNF/NGF gradual neuroplasticity timeline described in clinical literature. Primary divergence: community reports subjective tolerance in some users after 3–4 weeks while clinical trials did not document pharmacological tolerance; community increasingly prefers sublingual/intranasal while trials used oral only.
| Level | Dose / Injection | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| Beginner | 10mg | Daily |
| Moderate | 10mg | 3x Daily |
| Aggressive | 10mg | 3x Daily |
No reconstitution needed. Omberacetam comes as tablets (Generium brand, 10 mg) or research powder. If you're using powder, you need a milligram-accurate scale (0.001 g precision). Standard kitchen scales can't resolve 10 mg doses. The choline pairing isn't optional. Alpha-GPC 300 mg or CDP-choline 250 mg daily, starting the same day as omberacetam. This is the single most validated piece of community protocol wisdom for any nootropic. SwissChems capsules contain 30 mg each. That's the entire Russian daily maximum in one capsule, three times the standard single dose. If you're using these, you need to open the capsule and weigh out 10 mg. Don't take a full capsule as your dose. Sublingual onset runs about 5 minutes versus 15 minutes oral. The practical difference in total duration is modest because CPG (the metabolite doing most of the work) lasts about seven hours either way. Sublingual is useful for pre-task acute effects; oral is fine for baseline cognitive support. CosmicNootropic carries genuine Russian Generium-brand pharmaceutical tablets. These are GMP-manufactured with accurate 10 mg dosing per tablet. Research powder from US vendors varies in quality. Always request a Certificate of Analysis.
Russian clinical protocols use 56-day (8-week) treatment courses at 20 mg/day. A 4-week washout period is recommended between cycles. Chronic administration does not appear to cause tolerance: BDNF and NGF upregulation actually increases with sustained use. Some users run shorter 4-week cycles with 2-week breaks.
The 8-week on / 4-week off cycle is derived directly from Russian clinical trial design (56-day treatment courses per Generium prescribing information), not from documented receptor desensitization, antibody formation, or hormonal axis effects. Animal and clinical data show BDNF/NGF upregulation does not diminish with continued use; true pharmacological tolerance is unlikely. Cycling is a precautionary convention based on trial methodology, designed to accommodate the minority of users who report subjective diminishing acute effects after 3–4 weeks of daily use.
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Expected: Improved memory consolidation, reduced brain fog, mild anxiolytic effect. Most users notice subtle cognitive improvements within 1–2 weeks; full effects by weeks 4–8 per clinical trial timeline.
Monitor: Monitor for headaches (add choline if present), insomnia (shift dose earlier if occurring), irritability. Discontinue if psychiatric symptoms emerge.
Choose your form: Generium 10 mg tablets (preferred for dose accuracy), research powder with a milligram scale, or research capsules (note the 30 mg capsule warning above).
Take 10 mg orally or sublingually in the morning, on an empty stomach or after a light meal. For sublingual, dissolve the tablet under your tongue for about 60 seconds. Onset is roughly 5 minutes sublingual, 15 minutes oral.
Alpha-GPC 300 mg or CDP-choline 250 mg, once daily.
If moving to the standard Russian clinical dose (intermediate protocol), add a second 10 mg dose at midday and a third in early afternoon. Never exceed 10 mg per individual dose or 30 mg per day total. At this frequency, increase choline to Alpha-GPC 300 to 600 mg or CDP-choline 500 mg daily.
Keep your last dose before 2 PM to avoid sleep disruption.
Then take a 4-week break before starting again. Up to three cycles per year follows Russian clinical practice.
Store tablets at room temperature (15 to 25 degrees Celsius) in a dry place away from direct light. No refrigeration needed.
10–30 mg/day; Tmax ~15 min; bioavailability of parent compound ~7–10% (oral first-pass) but CNS delivery is high due to lipophilicity and BBB penetration. Active metabolite CPG (t½ ~7h) provides sustained effect.
Russian Generium 10 mg tablets designed for this route: most clinically validated delivery method. Most convenient and accurate dosing for pharmaceutical tablets.
Same dose as oral (10–30 mg/day); Tmax ~5 min vs ~15 min oral; faster peak CNS delivery. Practical difference in total duration is modest since CPG metabolite (t½ ~7h) dominates sustained effect regardless of delivery route.
Tablet dissolved under tongue ~60 seconds, or powder in solution held sublingually. Faster onset appreciated by users seeking acute pre-task cognitive effect. No published human pharmacokinetic comparison of sublingual vs. oral routes for omberacetam specifically.
Community doses typically 1–10 mg intranasally; onset ~1–5 min; bypasses first-pass liver metabolism more completely than oral. Community reports heightened potency per mg vs. oral: some users use 5–10 mg intranasally where they would use 10 mg orally.
No published human pharmacokinetic data for intranasal omberacetam. Growing community preference for intranasal delivery as part of the full "Russian triple" stack (Semax + Selank + Noopept: all three dosed intranasally). Not pharmaceutical-grade.
Mandatory choline co-supplementation to prevent cholinergic-depletion headaches. Omberacetam upregulates acetylcholine receptor activity, depleting choline reserves without supplementation. The #1 community-validated pairing: most headaches resolve within 24–48 hours of adding choline.
Alpha-GPC 300 mg once daily with first omberacetam dose; or CDP-choline 250 mg once daily
Complementary anxiolytic neuropeptide. Omberacetam provides glutamatergic cognitive enhancement; Selank modulates GABA-A and reduces HPA stress response. Separate mechanisms: additive, not redundant.
Selank 250–500 mcg intranasal + Omberacetam 10 mg oral, each morning
Complementary BDNF upregulator via ACTH4-7 mechanism; omberacetam via CPG/AMPA/NMDA pathway. Basis of the "Russian triple" (Semax + Selank + Noopept). Animal data supports complementary rather than redundant NMDA glycine-site modulation when combined.
Semax 200–500 mcg intranasal + Omberacetam 10 mg oral, morning
More potent, longer-acting Semax variant preferred by some users for the Noopept stack due to extended duration of action. Mechanistic rationale same as Semax.
NA-Semax Amidate 100–200 mcg intranasal + Omberacetam 10 mg oral, once daily
Redundant glutamatergic mechanism. Co-use increases headache, irritability, and insomnia load without clear additive cognitive benefit at standard doses.
Additive cholinergic potentiation risks excessive acetylcholine activity: GI distress, bradycardia, overstimulation. Mechanism directly conflicts with omberacetam-driven cholinergic demand.
Do not combineAdditive excitatory effects increase insomnia, anxiety, and irritability risk. Community reports mood dysregulation with this combination, particularly in anxiety-prone users.
Counteracts neuroprotective CNS effects; conflicting CNS states (glutamatergic excitation vs. GABA/NMDA depression from alcohol) may worsen cognition and mood.
Pricing updated 2026-04-09
Psychiatric adverse effects deserve attention first. A case series (PMC4756795) documented four patients who developed new-onset anxiety disorder or mania attributed to omberacetam. That number is small, but the severity is real. Anyone with personal or family psychiatric history should approach this compound cautiously and monitor mood weekly. Headache is the most common complaint, and it's almost entirely preventable. Omberacetam upregulates acetylcholine receptor activity, which depletes choline stores. Without supplemental Alpha-GPC (300 mg) or CDP-choline (250 mg), headaches typically appear within one to two hours of dosing. The community calls this predictable. Add choline on day one; don't wait for the headache. Paradoxical brain fog at higher single doses is a well-documented finding. Taking 20 mg or more in a single dose can produce the exact cognitive impairment you're trying to fix. The pharmacology supports this; NMDA modulation has an inverted-U dose-response curve. If you experience mental haziness, drop back to 10 mg. More is genuinely not better with this compound. Insomnia and vivid dreams show up when dosing runs past early afternoon. CPG has a seven-hour half-life, so a 2 PM dose is still active at 9 PM. Sublingual delivery in the afternoon is particularly disruptive to sleep because onset is faster and peak CNS levels run higher. Irritability and restlessness occur in a subset of users, especially when stacking with stimulants like modafinil or high-dose caffeine. Dropping the stimulant usually resolves it. Occasional GI discomfort has been reported but rarely leads to discontinuation. Rare blood pressure elevation warrants monitoring in anyone with borderline or uncontrolled hypertension. The Russian prescribing information lists this. The LD50 in rats exceeds 2,000 mg/kg oral, which is roughly 100 times the therapeutic dose. Acute toxicity risk at standard doses is low. Contraindications: pregnancy or breastfeeding (no safety data), known hypersensitivity to racetam-class compounds, severe hepatic impairment, severe renal impairment, children under 18, and uncontrolled hypertension. When to stop and seek medical attention: new-onset anxiety that doesn't resolve within a few days of dose reduction, any hypomanic or manic symptoms, persistent insomnia despite morning-only dosing, or headaches that don't respond to choline supplementation.
Verify Omberacetam (Noopept) dosing and safety with a second opinion
Omberacetam is sold as pharmaceutical-grade Russian tablets (Generium brand via CosmicNootropic: GMP-manufactured, 10 mg tablets) and as unregulated research-grade powder/capsules from US vendors. Research powder requires milligram-accurate scales for precise 10 mg doses. SwissChems capsules are 30 mg each: a full capsule equals the Russian daily maximum in a single dose, creating significant overdose risk if used as directed for "one capsule."
| Test | When | Target |
|---|---|---|
| Blood pressure | Baseline and at weeks 2 and 8 | Systolic <140 mmHg, diastolic <90 mmHg |
| Mood and psychiatric symptom self-assessment | Weekly during first 4 weeks; biweekly weeks 4–8 | No new-onset anxiety disorder, hypomania, or manic symptoms |
| Sleep quality (subjective log) | Daily during first 2 weeks; weekly thereafter | — |
| Cognitive performance (subjective or standardized) | Baseline, week 4, week 8, and 2 weeks post-cycle | — |
Rare reports of blood pressure elevation; particularly relevant in individuals with borderline or uncontrolled hypertension (listed contraindication in peptides.ts).
PMC4756795 case series documented 4 cases of new-onset psychiatric adverse effects (anxiety disorder and mania) attributed to omberacetam. Active monitoring required, especially in individuals with personal or family psychiatric history.
Insomnia is a common side effect with afternoon or evening dosing. Sleep disruption compounds cognitive impairment and reduces therapeutic benefit.
Tracks therapeutic response and informs cycling decisions. Distinguishes genuine benefit from perceived effect.
Some users report improved mental clarity and focus within the first dose due to rapid BBB penetration. Subtle improvements in alertness and verbal fluency. Effects may feel mild compared to stimulants: omberacetam works through gradual neurotrophin upregulation.
Memory recall and learning speed begin to improve. Anxiolytic effects emerge with reduced emotional reactivity to stress. BDNF and NGF upregulation is underway in the hippocampus.
Peak nootropic effects develop: improved working memory, faster information processing, and better attention span. Dream vividness and sleep quality may increase. Clinical studies show measurable improvement in Mini-Mental State scores by this point.
Full therapeutic benefit. Sustained improvements in cognition, emotional stability, and neuroprotection. BDNF and NGF expression continues to increase with chronic dosing rather than diminishing: no tolerance develops.
Cognitive benefits may persist for several weeks after discontinuation due to structural neuroplastic changes driven by BDNF and NGF. Gradual return to baseline over 2-4 weeks. Cycle can be repeated after a 4-week break.
Days 1 to 3 (Acute onset): The parent compound crosses the blood-brain barrier within minutes of oral or sublingual dosing. CPG metabolite (half-life around 7 hours) starts accumulating with repeated doses. Many users notice improved mental clarity and verbal fluency after the first sublingual dose. Tmax runs about 5 minutes sublingual, 15 minutes oral. Some of this early response may carry a placebo component. Headache within 1 to 2 hours signals choline depletion; add Alpha-GPC immediately. Mild irritability or vivid dreams the first night are common. Days 4 to 14 (Early neuroplastic build): BDNF and NGF upregulation is progressing in the hippocampus and cortex. Anxiolytic effects become more noticeable as inhibitory neurotransmission adjusts. Memory recall and learning speed pick up, and users studying for exams report the most obvious changes in this window. Headaches should resolve if choline supplementation started on time. Watch for insomnia if any dose lands past 2 PM. Weeks 2 to 4 (Peak acute cognitive effects): Clinical trials showed measurable MMSE improvement by day 28 in mild cognitive disorder patients. Working memory, information processing, and attention span hit their most noticeably improved levels. AMPA/NMDA receptor modulation is fully established. HIF-1 alpha neuroprotective signaling is active. This is the window where most users describe the strongest cognitive gains. Weeks 4 to 8 (Full therapeutic and neuroprotective phase): BDNF and NGF expression continues increasing with sustained dosing. No pharmacological tolerance was documented through day 56 in Russian clinical trials. Experienced users describe a "quieter" but durable improvement, less acute than the early weeks but measurable in baseline function and emotional stability. Side effects are generally stable if choline is maintained and dosing stays before 2 PM. Weeks 9 to 12 (Washout): Structural neuroplastic changes driven by BDNF and NGF persist after discontinuation. Gradual return to pre-cycle baseline over 2 to 4 weeks as neurotrophin levels normalize. A notable subset of users report that their acute response intensity is stronger when restarting after a full 4-week washout. The cycle can repeat after the break, up to three times per year.
Rapid BBB penetration after oral/sublingual dosing. CPG metabolite (t½ ~7h) begins accumulating with repeated dosing. BDNF/NGF upregulation underway in hippocampus but not yet clinically measurable. Tmax ~5 min sublingual, ~15 min oral.
Many users notice improved mental clarity, verbal fluency, and focus within the first dose (sublingual). A "cleaner" quality of thought is commonly described. Acute effects in this window may have a placebo component.
BDNF and NGF upregulation progressing in hippocampus and cortex. Anxiolytic effects emerge via modulation of inhibitory neurotransmission. Memory encoding measurably improving per animal model timelines.
Memory recall and learning speed improving: particularly useful during study periods. Anxiolytic effect becomes more noticeable. Vivid dreams continue for some users.
Clinical trials show measurable MMSE improvement by day 28 in mild cognitive disorder patients. Full AMPA/NMDA receptor modulation established. HIF-1α neuroprotective signaling active.
Working memory, information processing speed, and attention span peak. Many users describe this as the most noticeably enhanced cognitive window of the cycle.
BDNF/NGF expression continues to increase with sustained dosing: no pharmacological tolerance documented in Russian clinical trials through day 56.
Experienced users describe a "quieter" but durable cognitive improvement: less acute clarity than early weeks, but measurable improvement in baseline function and emotional stability.
Structural neuroplastic changes driven by BDNF/NGF persist after discontinuation. Gradual return to pre-cycle baseline over 2–4 weeks as neurotrophin levels normalize.
Many users report cognitive benefits persist for 2–4 weeks post-cycle. A notable subset reports enhanced acute response intensity when restarting after a full 4-week washout.
Source: Plasma t½ ~20 min in humans; active metabolite cycloprolylglycine (CPG) has a longer effective duration. Rat pharmacokinetics show t½ ~0.38 h (Boiko et al. 2000 PMID 10977920; Boiko et al. 2018 PMID 30378564)
Loading the interactive decay curve.
Omberacetam holds market authorization in Russia through Generium Pharmaceutical as a prescription nootropic for mild cognitive disorders of vascular and traumatic origin. The approved regimen is 10 mg up to three times daily for 56-day courses. No FDA approval exists for any indication. The FDA has issued an import alert treating omberacetam (Noopept) as an unapproved drug, which means US customs can seize imported shipments. It is not a scheduled substance under the Controlled Substances Act. Possession is legal in the US, but it cannot be sold as a dietary supplement or drug. Research vendors sell omberacetam powder and capsules labeled "for research purposes only." CosmicNootropic imports genuine Russian pharmaceutical tablets, which is a gray-market pathway. Athletes should verify WADA status. Nootropics are not specifically listed on the WADA prohibited list, but novel psychoactive substances fall under a monitored category. Military personnel on expanded drug panels should confirm clearance with their command. This content is for educational and informational purposes only. It does not constitute medical advice. Consult a licensed healthcare provider before using any compound.
Peptide Schedule Research TeamReviewed Apr 202613 Citations
