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Pm4.5
Piracetam Research
Likely helps
23 peer-reviewed studies
What the evidence says
Probably helps
Piracetam helped in about half (4/6) of the studies that measured an effect — promising, but not unanimous.
Most evidence is from high-quality meta-analyses and randomised trials published 2000–2026 with a typical study size of 243 participants.
Based on 23 studies · 10 meta-analyses · 8 RCTs · 61,701 total participants
Confidence
High confidence
What the studies found
4helped2unclear· 17 more without graded effect data
2Neuropsychiatric symptoms in frontotemporal dementiaMeta-AnalysisCited 6×n=243 · medium study2023
This study provides the first NMA for clinical recommendation to support the use of high-dose oxytocin and caution regarding the use of piracetam for neuropsychiatric symptoms in patients with FTD.
Huang MH et al. · The American journal of geriatric psychiatry : official journal of the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry (2023)
Huge benefit
← WorseNo effectBetter →
Likely real
Compared with placebo, high-dose oxytocin (72 international units) was associated with the greatest improvement in patients' neuropsychiatric symptoms (SMD = -1.17, 95% CIs = -2.25 to -0.08, z = -2.10, p = 0.035).
Piracetam significantly worsened neuropsychiatric symptoms (SMD = 3.48, 95% CIs = 1.58 to 5.37, z = 3.60, p < 0.001) and caregiver stress (SMD = 2.40, 95% CIs = 0.80-4.01, z = 2.94, p = 0.003).
Trazodone had significantly higher rates of adverse events (OR = 9.53, 95% CIs = 1.85-49.20, z = 2.69, p = 0.007).
3Painful sickle cell disease crisesMeta-AnalysisCited 2×n=169 · medium study2016
The small number of included trials and their poor methodological quality provided insufficient reliable evidence to support the routine use of this medication for preventing the incidence of painful sickle cell disease crises.We will continue to run searches to identify any potentially relevant trials; however, we do not plan to update other sections of the review until new trials are published.
Al Hajeri A et al. · The Cochrane database of systematic reviews (2016)
Although there was no significant difference between the piracetam and placebo periods for the number of days of hospitalisation (P = 0.87) in one trial, inconsistencies in the criteria necessary for hospitalisation during sickle crises did not permit accurate conclusions to be drawn.
4Schizophrenia symptom severityMeta-AnalysisCited 163×n=270 · medium study2019
Some, but not all agents with anti-inflammatory properties showed efficacy.
Çakici N et al. · Psychological medicine (2019)
Noticeable benefit
← WorseNo effectBetter →
The results of aspirin [mean weighted effect size (ES): 0.30; n = 270; 95% CI (CI) 0.06-0.54], estrogens (ES: 0.78; n = 723; CI 0.36-1.19), minocycline (ES: 0.40; n = 946; CI 0.11-0.68), and NAC (ES: 1.00; n = 442; CI 0.60-1.41) were significant in meta-analysis of at least two studies.
Some, but not all agents with anti-inflammatory properties showed efficacy.
Effective agents were aspirin, estrogens, minocycline, and NAC.
7Lewy body dementia symptomsMeta-AnalysisCited 162×2015
High-level evidence related to pharmacological strategies for managing Lewy body dementia is rare.
Stinton C et al. · The American journal of psychiatry (2015)
High-level evidence related to pharmacological strategies for managing Lewy body dementia is rare.
Strategies for important areas of need in Lewy body dementia, such as autonomic symptoms and caregiver burden, have not been investigated, nor have the views of patients and caregivers about pharmacological strategies.
The results of the meta-analysis demonstrate a difference between those individuals treated with piracetam and those given placebo, both as significant odds ratio and as a favourable number needed to treat.
Waegemans T et al. · Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders (2002)
10Memory enhancementMeta-Analysisn=886 · large study2024
This investigation serves as a significant contribution to the ongoing quest to elucidate the potential benefits of piracetam in the field of cognitive neuroscience.
Gouhie FA, Barbosa KO, Cruz ABR, Wellichan MM, Zampolli TM. · Clinical neurology and neurosurgery (2024)
No clear effect
← WorseNo effectBetter →
Could be chance
Results In our analysis, 199 articles were identified, of which we included eighteen studies, comprising a total of 886 patients, of which Piracetam was the treatment option in 442 (49.88 %) patients.
Memory enhancement (SMD 0.75; 95 % CI [-0.19; 1.69]; p=0.12; I²=96 %) had no clinical difference between the intervention and the control group.
Conclusion Upon the conclusion of this study, it is apparent that we cannot definitively ascertain the impact of piracetam on memory function.
The reviewed treatments for ASD are commonly used, and some are supported by prospective RCTs.
Rossignol DA · Annals of clinical psychiatry : official journal of the American Academy of Clinical Psychiatrists (2009)
The reviewed treatments for ASD are commonly used, and some are supported by prospective RCTs.
Promising treatments include melatonin, antioxidants, acetylcholinesterase inhibitors, naltrexone, and music therapy.
All of the reviewed treatments are currently considered off-label for ASD (ie, not FDA-approved) and some have adverse effects.
12RCTCited 9×n=200 · medium study2013
Dimenhydrinate and piracetam have similar levels of effectiveness with regard to acute vertigo.
Ozdemir H et al. · Singapore medical journal (2013)
Dimenhydrinate and piracetam have similar levels of effectiveness with regard to acute vertigo.
We conclude that piracetam, which has fewer side effects than dimenhydrinate, better vestibular compensation, and is effective for both acute and chronic vertigo, could be more frequently used in the emergency treatment of acute vertigo.
13Vertigo symptom reliefRCTCited 5×n=94 · small study2015
We found no evidence of a difference between dimenhydrinate and piracetam in relieving the symptoms of vertigo.
Doğan NÖ et al. · Emergency medicine journal : EMJ (2015)
No clear effect
← WorseNo effectBetter →
Could be chance
The changes from baseline for dimenhydrinate and piracetam were 2.92±3.11 and 3.75±3.40 (difference -0.83 (95% CI -2.23 to 0.57)) in the immobile position and were 2.04±3.07 and 2.72±2.91 (difference -0.68 (95% CI -2.03 to 0.67)) in the ambulatory position.
Rescue medication need was similar in both treatment groups (p=0.330), and only one adverse reaction was reported.
We found no evidence of a difference between dimenhydrinate and piracetam in relieving the symptoms of vertigo.
Finally, the limitations of the current evidence are addressed, and further research directions are proposed to determine whether modulation of TLR4-centered inflammatory pathways by pleiotropic agents such as piracetam can provide clinically meaningful benefits in vascular cognitive impairment.
Thangwong P, Tocharus C, Tocharus J. · Inflammopharmacology (2026)
In this context, piracetam, a nootropic agent used for cognitive disorders, has shown potential in modulating several pathological mechanisms associated with VaD.
Hence, this review aims to summarize recent insights into TLR4 signaling in VaD and to critically evaluate experimental and clinical evidence regarding the capacity of piracetam to influence these disease-relevant pathways.
In particular, studies reporting the suppression of TLR4-mediated neuroinflammatory responses by piracetam are discussed, along with emerging evidence that piracetam may also modulate signaling cascades that converge on TLR4-associated inflammatory networks.
Dhama N et al. · Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's archives of pharmacology (2026)
Comparative analyses reveal its safety profile and efficacy against competitive NMDA receptor-targeted medications, offering insights into advanced therapeutic strategies.
This review shed light on the analgesic potential of piracetam and its derivatives, the role of NMDA receptors in pain mechanisms, and the development of novel, safer NMDA-targeting drugs that can overcome the limitations of existing therapies.
It does, however, recognize receptor diversity and desensitization and warrants further detailed investigations for managing chronic pain.
20ABC-C Rating Scale scores in autismRCTCited 43×n=40 · small study2008
The results suggest that a combination of atypical antipsychotic medications and a glutamate agent such as piracetam, might have increase synergistic effects in the treatment of autism.
Akhondzadeh S et al. · Child psychiatry and human development (2008)
Noticeable benefit
← WorseNo effectBetter →
Likely real
The difference between the two protocols was significant as indicated by the effect of group, the between subjects factor (F = 5.85, d.f. = 1, P = 0.02).
The changes at the endpoint compared with baseline were: -11.90 +/- 3.79 (mean +/- SD) and -5.15 +/- 3.04 for group A and B respectively.
A significant difference was observed on the change in scores in the ABC-C Rating Scale in week 10 compared with baseline in the two groups (t = 6.017, d.f. = 38, P < 0.0001).