We use essential cookies (authentication, your saved goals/stack) by default. With your permission we’ll also enable privacy-respecting analytics (Vercel Web Analytics, anonymous load-time metrics) and error-replay diagnostics (Sentry — DOM snapshots only when an error fires) so we can fix bugs faster. Learn more about cookies
Oxiracetam
Racetam marketed for memory and focus. It did not help in Alzheimer's or prevent decline after stroke in a 500-patient trial. Small Chinese trials in vascular cognitive impairment were positive.
Research compound — not a dietary supplement
Oxiracetam is a research compound, not a regulated dietary supplement. It is sold for research or off-label use. The evidence below is largely preclinical (animal and in-vitro) or early-stage, so no evidence score is assigned. This page is provided for transparency and education — it is not a recommendation to use. Consult a qualified healthcare provider, and be aware that purity, dosing, and legal status vary by jurisdiction.
What the evidence says
Oxiracetam doesn't have enough studies with structured effect-size data yet to pool a verdict. Browse the studies below for individual findings.
Most evidence is from high-quality meta-analyses and randomised trials published 1985–2026 with a typical study size of 120 participants.
Based on 26 studies · 2 meta-analyses · 19 RCTs · 45,118 total participants
Confidence
High confidenceWhat the studies found
By outcome
Meta-analyses show cognitive benefit in vascular dementia and TBI patients, but a large RCT found no benefit for post-stroke decline and there is no evidence in healthy users.
20 randomised trials
80% were about Oxiracetam in an audit of 20 of them
Every randomised or controlled trial of Oxiracetam indexed in PubMed, not a hand-picked subset. Meta-analyses and systematic reviews are deliberately excluded from this count: most of them cover many compounds at once, so counting them would inflate it.
PubMed · as of Sep 2026
Oxiracetam is a racetam nootropic developed in the 1970s that is more potent than piracetam. It is marketed for memory and learning, and users report clearer thinking. Trials do not bear this out: no improvement in Alzheimer's, and no prevention of cognitive decline after stroke in 500 high-risk patients.
Small Chinese trials in vascular cognitive impairment were positive. It has mild stimulant properties without the jitteriness of caffeine. The reviewed evidence does not establish that routinely adding a choline source improves cognition or prevents headaches with this product.
Different choline sources and patient groups cannot be treated as interchangeable.
Positive modulator of AMPA receptors
Increases acetylcholine utilization
Subtle energizing effect
How Oxiracetam works — from molecular targets to health outcomes. Click an edge to see supporting research.This visualization is in beta — pathways are being refined and expanded.
Popular for studying and analytical work
Has mild stimulant properties; may be additive with other stimulants
May counteract anticholinergic effects as racetams enhance acetylcholine A grade for this interaction is held for clinical review and has not been validated, so no severity is given. The precaution still applies: ask a pharmacist about the exact supplement and medicine. Do not stop or change prescribed medicines based on this notice.
Tip: Do not automatically add choline to treat a suspected adverse effect. New or persistent symptoms need assessment, with urgency determined by the symptoms.
Tip: Avoid evening doses
Tip: Reduce dose
Oxiracetam has an evidence score of 5/10 — moderate evidence based on 25 indexed studies, including 2 meta-analyses. Racetam marketed for memory and focus. It did not help in Alzheimer's or prevent decline after stroke in a 500-patient trial. Small Chinese trials in vascular cognitive impairment were positive. Representative study: PMID 29502274.
The commonly studied dose of Oxiracetam is 800-1,600 mg daily in divided doses (the cited trials used up to 1,600 mg a day by mouth, 800 mg twice daily). Label products go up to 2,400 mg, above the highest oral dose in the cited trials. Individual needs vary — start at the lower end of the range and adjust based on how you respond.
The best time to take Oxiracetam is in the morning. Taking it with food is preferred. Oxiracetam is a water-soluble racetam nootropic that modulates AMPA and cholinergic neurotransmission.
Oxiracetam is generally well-tolerated and considered safe for most healthy adults at recommended doses. The most commonly reported side effects are headache, insomnia, nervousness. Use caution if any of these apply to you: Severe kidney impairment.
Caffeine
Probably helpsBlocks adenosine receptors to boost alertness, reaction time, and endurance — an umbrella review of 21 meta-analyses found it ergogenic for endurance, strength and power.
Citicoline
Probably helpsPrecursor to acetylcholine and phosphatidylcholine. One trial in 100 healthy older adults improved memory. Stroke trials are mixed.
Huperzine A
Too few graded studiesAcetylcholinesterase inhibitor from club moss, studied mainly for Alzheimer's and dementia; cognitive evidence is mixed and limited by trial quality.
Phosphatidylserine
Too few graded studiesKey brain membrane phospholipid that facilitates neurotransmitter release, memory formation, and post-exercise cortisol reduction.
Explore: Best supplements for Focus, Memory & MoodBest supplements for Athletic Performance
Reviewed by Dr. Baher Al Hakim · Last reviewed May 2026 · evidence from 26 studies · how we score · editorial policy
This information is for educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any supplement or medication.
Tap node to isolate • Pinch to zoom • Tap edge for research