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Synthetic nootropics & research compounds

Cebaracetam

Cebaracetam / CGS-25248 investigational racetam

Cebaracetam is an investigational racetam, also known as CGS-25248 or ZY-15119, that was developed for cognition disorders and discontinued before marketing. The public human evidence is thin: a 1990s review reports Phase I dose escalation at 400-1600 mg, a 9-week elderly cognitive-impairment trial, and about 16-hour single-dose exposure, but not enough detail to validate it as a routine nootropic. Compare listings through identity, COA, legal status, research-use restrictions, and safety uncertainty rather than memory or focus claims.

Memory SupportSyntheticClinical ResearchLimited Human EvidenceInsufficient EvidenceDose Dependent EvidencePopulation Specific Evidence
Updated August 2026/5 min read/5 citations
Reviewed by the NootropicsIndex editorial team.Method: prioritize cited human research and official safety or regulatory sources; compare retailer-listed prices without endorsing products.Affiliate disclosure
01

What is it?

Discontinued investigational racetam

1

Cebaracetam is a synthetic racetam and piperazinylpyrrolidinone compound also known as CGS-25248 or ZY-15119. NCATS lists it as investigational, and AdisInsight lists discontinued development for cognition disorders rather than a marketed medicine or supplement. The practical question for buyers is identity and evidence quality, not whether racetam-class marketing claims sound familiar.

No modern dosing protocol2
No current prescribing label, supplement monograph, or validated healthy-user nootropic protocol was found. Avoid converting the 9-week study duration into a cycle recommendation.
Timing evidence gap3
Reliable onset, acute effect duration, tolerance, and cycling data were not found in public sources. Keep those fields blank rather than implying a schedule.
Evidence boundary5
The Cebaracetam profile relies on a small public record: chemical and investigational-status databases, a drug-development profile, one secondary review of early clinical work, one urine bioanalytical-method paper, and racetam class background. Claims from other racetams should not be transferred to Cebaracetam.
02

Names, aliases and forms

Common NameCebaracetam
Inn Namecebaracetam [INN]
Research CodesCGS-25248; ZY-15119
Cas Number113957-09-8
Pubchem Cid65919
Molecular FormulaC16H18ClN3O3
03

Mechanisms of action

Mechanism is not established

2

AdisInsight lists the mechanism of action as undefined. Class-level racetam reviews discuss possible modulation of existing neurotransmission and ion flux, but that background should not be converted into a Cebaracetam-specific AMPA, cholinergic, dopamine, or neurotrophic claim without direct evidence.

04

Potential effects and evidence map

Cebaracetam has limited historical human evidence, not a modern supplement evidence base. A 1994 review reports Phase I dose-escalation work in healthy volunteers and elderly patients, plus a randomized double-blind 9-week trial in elderly mild-to-moderate cognitive impairment with subgroup improvement; AdisInsight and NCATS list the drug-development status as discontinued or investigational. No marketed label, modern full RCT dataset, or validated healthy-user focus/memory protocol was found. Mechanism remains undefined.

Effect domainMagnitudeGrade
Memory / learning3
CumulativeConfidence: Low

Historical reports suggest possible cognitive or memory benefit in selected elderly cognitive-impairment subgroups, but the public evidence is too thin to validate broad nootropic claims.

Note The available public summary is secondary and old: a review describes Phase I work and a 9-week randomized double-blind trial in elderly mild-to-moderate cognitive impairment, with reported subgroup improvement. No modern full trial dataset or marketed label was found.

2/5
C
Focus / attention5
UnknownConfidence: Low

No reliable public evidence was found for healthy-user focus, studying, productivity, or acute attention enhancement.

Note Do not extrapolate from racetam class marketing or from cognition-disorder development into healthy-user performance claims.

0/5
E
05

Typical dosages and timing

Reported Phase I doses3400-1600 mg

A 1994 review reports young healthy volunteer Phase I tolerability testing with increasing doses of 400, 800, and 1600 mg. That is a historical research dose context, not a consumer dosage recommendation and not proof that online products should be used at those amounts.

06

Timing & effect horizon

Effect horizonUnknown
Unknown
Half-life3

The review reports a single-dose The time for blood levels to fall by half during the final elimination phase.Source of about 16 hours in healthy female-volunteer pharmacokinetic work. This does not establish subjective effect duration.

Study course3

The reported randomized double-blind elderly cognitive-impairment trial ran for 9 weeks. That is study-course context, not a cycle schedule.

07

Safety, side effects and risk profile

Evidence uncertainty2
Confidence: Medium

Clinical and safety details are sparse, old, and not supported by a marketed label.

Note Development was discontinued, the mechanism is listed as undefined, and the only public dose/tolerability summary is limited secondary reporting from early development.

3/5
C
Legal / regulatory risk1
Confidence: Medium

Regard Cebaracetam as an investigational or research compound, not a routine dietary supplement.

Note NCATS lists the substance as investigational, while AdisInsight lists discontinued development for cognition disorders. Legal status depends on the jurisdiction, import purpose, and product claims.

3/5
C
Interaction risk3
Confidence: Low

Public interaction data are not established.

Note Avoid combining with CNS-active drugs, stimulants, sedatives, alcohol, or other racetams unless a qualified clinician or approved protocol has reviewed the risk.

2/5
E
Pregnancy / lactation caution2
Confidence: Medium

No pregnancy or lactation safety basis was found.

Note Because Cebaracetam is investigational and lacks consumer safety data, pregnancy, lactation, and pediatric use are contexts to avoid outside formal medical research.

3/5
E
Sparse tolerability reporting3

The 1994 review says Cebaracetam was well tolerated in acute and chronic administration, but public adverse-event detail is limited. That makes the absence of listed side effects a data gap, not evidence of low risk.

08

Interactions and cautions

Interaction data are missing2

No reliable interaction profile was found. Be cautious with other CNS-active drugs, stimulants, sedatives, alcohol, antidepressants, antiepileptics, and other racetams because the target pharmacology and clinical safety margin are not well characterized publicly.

09

Legal and regulatory status

United States - FDA context, as of August 20261

The cited public drug-development record identifies Cebaracetam as investigational and discontinued from historical development, not as a product with a validated consumer use. This page does not establish FDA approval, U.S. dietary-supplement status, or import legality. Product classification can depend on intended use and claims; verify the current U.S. position with FDA or customs before buying or importing.

10

Practical buying and quality notes

  • For Cebaracetam listings, prioritize exact identity over marketing: Cebaracetam, CGS-25248, ZY-15119, CAS 113957-09-8, formula C16H18ClN3O3, supplier COA, batch testing, declared research-use restrictions, and country-specific import status. Do not regard a cheaper price per gram as safer or better evidence.1
  • If a store normalizes price around the 400-1600 mg range, read that as a historical trial-dose comparison only. It should not be presented as a suggested daily serving, stack amount, or cycle plan.3
11

FAQ

What is Cebaracetam?

2

Cebaracetam is an investigational synthetic racetam, also called CGS-25248 or ZY-15119. It was developed for cognition-disorder research and later discontinued before becoming a marketed medicine.

What is the Cebaracetam dosage?

3

The best public dose context I found is historical Phase I dose escalation at 400, 800, and 1600 mg. That range is research context only, not a validated supplement serving or self-experimentation recommendation.

How long does Cebaracetam last?

3

A secondary review reports an approximate 16-hour single-dose half-life, but public sources do not establish onset, subjective duration, tolerance, or a safe cycle schedule.

Does Cebaracetam have strong nootropic evidence?

3

No. The evidence is limited and historical: early tolerability work and a reported elderly cognitive-impairment trial do not validate healthy-user focus, studying, memory, or productivity claims.

Is Cebaracetam legal to buy?

1

It depends on jurisdiction, import purpose, and product claims. Public drug-development sources list it as investigational or discontinued, not as a normal approved supplement ingredient. Check current local medicine, controlled-substance, customs, and anti-doping rules before buying.

12

References

  1. NCATS Inxight Drugs. CEBARACETAM (Q25MNP6OC1). Accessed 2026-06-30.
  2. AdisInsight. Cebaracetam drug profile. Latest information update 1995-05-23.
  3. Kuruvilla A, Devi R. Drugs influencing cognitive function. Indian J Physiol Pharmacol. 1994;38(4):241-251.
  4. Chollet D, Kunstner P. Fast systematic approach for the determination of drugs in biological fluids by fully automated high-performance liquid chromatography with on-line solid-phase extraction and automated cartridge exchange. Application to cebaracetam in human urine. J Chromatogr. 1992;577(2):335-340.
  5. Gouliaev AH, Senning A. Piracetam and other structurally related nootropics. Brain Res Brain Res Rev. 1994;19(2):180-222.
Note

This page is informational and summarizes available evidence. It is not medical advice, a recommendation, or a substitute for guidance from a qualified clinician.