NutriDex

The Supplement Research Compendium
⚗️

Phenylpiracetam

Stimulant racetam, sold in Russia and banned in sport.

Preliminary evidence 🧠Nootropic⚡Performance

✚ Updated · How we grade evidence

Evidence tier
Preliminary
Research weight
Citations
7 verified / 7
Classification
Nootropic
❝
What the evidence says. Graded preliminary: human data are almost entirely small, open-label or controlled trials published in Russian journals without rigorous blinding or independent replication, so the apparent benefits are unproven. It is also a WADA-banned stimulant and an unapproved drug outside a few countries. (Preliminary evidence: Early or small human trials; promising but not yet conclusive.)

What is Phenylpiracetam?

Phenylpiracetam is a nootropic used for reduce fatigue (asthenia). NutriDex grades the human evidence as Preliminary. Phenylpiracetam (fonturacetam, carphedon) is a phenyl-substituted derivative of piracetam developed in the Soviet space program and sold by prescription in Russia and parts of Eastern Europe for cerebrovascular and asthenic conditions. Unlike other racetams it has clear stimulant activity, acting as a dopamine and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor. Controlled trials report better neurological recovery and daily function after ischemic stroke (one 400-patient study used 400 mg/day for a year) and more than a two-fold drop in fatigue scores in chronic cerebral ischemia. However, these studies are predominantly Russian-language, often open-label or weakly blinded, single-region, and lack independent replication, so effect sizes are unreliable. There are no rigorous Western RCTs and no approval by the FDA, EMA, or MHRA. WADA bans it as a stimulant.

Purported Benefits

✓Reduce fatigue (asthenia)
✓Support stroke rehab
✓Boost alertness & stamina
✓Improve attention

Evidence by outcome

The same supplement can be well-proven for one use and unproven for another — here is the human evidence graded outcome by outcome.

OutcomeEvidenceEffectStudies
Reduce fatigue / astheniaLarge observational program reported >2-fold asthenia drop, but it was uncontrolled and Russian-only, so unreliable. Preliminary ↑ benefit · moderate 1
Support post-stroke neurological recoveryOne 400-patient controlled trial showed recovery benefit, but Russian-language, weakly blinded, single-region, no independent replication. Preliminary ↑ benefit 1
Improve attention / memory / coordinationSmall comparative study (n=99 organic brain lesions) improved attention and memory; no rigorous Western RCT exists. Preliminary ↑ benefit 1

Dosing & Compounds

Typical Dose
Where prescribed (Russia/Eastern Europe): 100-200 mg/day, sometimes up to 400 mg/day in stroke courses; taken AM to avoid insomnia.
Active Compounds
(R)-phenylpiracetam(S)-phenylpiracetam

Safety & Cautions

Common effects are insomnia, psychomotor agitation, flushing, feeling hot and raised blood pressure; appetite suppression occurs with extended use. Because it inhibits dopamine and norepinephrine reuptake it can add to the effects of stimulants, decongestants and MAOIs (hypertensive/cardiac risk) and may interfere with sleep aids and sedatives; caution with antihypertensives. It is a prescription-only drug in Russia/Eastern Europe, unapproved by the FDA/EMA/MHRA, and is banned in-competition by WADA, so athletes will test positive. Tolerance to its stimulant effect develops quickly. Educational only — always check with your doctor or pharmacist before combining Phenylpiracetam with any medicine.

Key Studies

RCT Gustov 2010 ✓ PubMed
Controlled trial, n=400 ischemic-stroke patients: phenotropil 400 mg/day for 1 year improved neurologic and daily-living recovery vs control (p<0.0001).
RCT Lyubimov 2013 ✓ PubMed
Controlled clinical trial of phenotropil in vertebrobasilar insufficiency (Russian; no abstract, small single-center).
RCT Savchenko 2005 ✓ PubMed
Comparative study, n=99 brain organic lesions: phenotropil 200 mg/day for 1 month improved motor coordination, memory, attention and EEG rhythms.
Review Gromova 2024 ✓ PubMed
Review of fonturacetam (Actitropil): describes antiasthenic, anxiolytic and anticonvulsant effects; evidence base remains largely Russian.
Review Akhapkina 2012 ✓ PubMed
Animal study: phenotropil showed psychoimmunomodulatory effects; underlines that much of the mechanistic data is preclinical, not human.
Review Docherty 2008 ✓ Full text
Pharmacology review of WADA-prohibited stimulants; classifies carphedon (phenylpiracetam) among banned in-competition stimulants.
Cohort Fedin 2014 (TRIUMPH) ✓ PubMed
Observational program, n=1170 chronic cerebral ischemia: phenotropil 100 mg/day cut asthenia severity >2-fold by 3 months.
7 sources cited · 7 verified Search all studies on PubMed ↗

Common questions about Phenylpiracetam

What is Phenylpiracetam used for?

Phenylpiracetam is most often taken for Reduce fatigue (asthenia), Support stroke rehab, Boost alertness & stamina, Improve attention. Stimulant racetam, sold in Russia and banned in sport.

Does Phenylpiracetam work — what does the evidence say?

Preliminary evidence. Early or small human trials; promising but not yet conclusive. Phenylpiracetam (fonturacetam, carphedon) is a phenyl-substituted derivative of piracetam developed in the Soviet space program and sold by prescription in Russia and parts of Eastern Europe for cerebrovascular and asthenic conditions. Unlike other racetams it has clear stimulant activity, acting as a dopamine and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor. Controlled trials report better neurological recovery and daily function after ischemic stroke (one 400-patient study used 400 mg/day for a year) and more than a two-fold drop in fatigue scores in chronic cerebral ischemia. However, these studies are predominantly Russian-language, often open-label or weakly blinded, single-region, and lack independent replication, so effect sizes are unreliable. There are no rigorous Western RCTs and no approval by the FDA, EMA, or MHRA. WADA bans it as a stimulant.

What is the typical dose of Phenylpiracetam?

Where prescribed (Russia/Eastern Europe): 100-200 mg/day, sometimes up to 400 mg/day in stroke courses; taken AM to avoid insomnia.

Is Phenylpiracetam safe? Any cautions or side effects?

Common effects are insomnia, psychomotor agitation, flushing, feeling hot and raised blood pressure; appetite suppression occurs with extended use. Because it inhibits dopamine and norepinephrine reuptake it can add to the effects of stimulants, decongestants and MAOIs (hypertensive/cardiac risk) and may interfere with sleep aids and sedatives; caution with antihypertensives. It is a prescription-only drug in Russia/Eastern Europe, unapproved by the FDA/EMA/MHRA, and is banned in-competition by WADA, so athletes will test positive. Tolerance to its stimulant effect develops quickly.

How many studies support Phenylpiracetam?

NutriDex cites 7 sources for Phenylpiracetam, graded "Preliminary".

Cite this page
APA

Peh, D. (2026). Phenylpiracetam: Benefits, Dosage, Side Effects & Evidence. NutriDex — The Supplement Research Compendium. Retrieved 26 Jun 2026, from https://nutridex.info/s/phenylpiracetam

BibTeX
@misc{nutridex_phenylpiracetam,
  author       = {Peh, Daryl},
  title        = {Phenylpiracetam: Benefits, Dosage, Side Effects \& Evidence},
  year         = {2026},
  howpublished = {NutriDex --- The Supplement Research Compendium},
  url          = {https://nutridex.info/s/phenylpiracetam},
  note         = {Reviewed by Dr Daryl Peh, MBBS Singapore, MMed FM. Accessed 2026-06-26}
}

For medical claims, citing the underlying primary studies linked above is preferred. NutriDex is an educational reference, not medical advice.

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