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Synthetic nootropics & research compounds

Nefiracetam

Nefiracetam / DM-9384 racetam

Nefiracetam, also known as DM-9384, is a synthetic racetam compound. Small patient-context studies do not establish a healthy-user cognitive benefit, and a very small randomized study did not outperform placebo. Healthy-volunteer pharmacokinetics and repeated-dose dog toxicology do not provide a consumer product, dose, combination, or long-term safety framework.

SyntheticClinical ResearchMostly Animal EvidenceInsufficient EvidenceForm Dependent EvidenceModerate Risk ProfileLong Term Safety Unknown
Updated August 2026/4 min read/8 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?

What Nefiracetam is

1

Nefiracetam is a synthetic racetam compound also known as DM-9384. PubChem records the chemical identity; an identity record does not establish a consumer cognitive benefit or safety profile.

Clinical context is not healthy-user proof4
The reviewed patient studies are small and inconsistent. They do not establish memory, focus, motivation, or productivity benefits for healthy people.
How the evidence is used4
This profile keeps chemical identity, healthy-volunteer pharmacokinetics, patient-context findings, mechanistic research, and animal safety work separate. One source type is not used to fill another gap.
02

Names, aliases and forms

Common NameNefiracetam
Research CodeDM-9384
Brand NamesTranslon; Motiva
Chemical Name2-oxo-1-pyrrolidineacetamide derivative
Iupac NameN-(2,6-dimethylphenyl)-2-(2-oxopyrrolidin-1-yl)acetamide
Cas Number77191-36-7
Pubchem Cid71157
Molecular FormulaC14H18N2O2
InchikeyNGHTXZCKLWZPGQ-UHFFFAOYSA-N
03

Mechanisms of action

Mechanistic receptor work is not an outcome

5

The reviewed mechanism literature discusses neuronal receptor modulation, including work in rat cortical neurons. This does not demonstrate a healthy-human cognition effect.

04

Potential effects and evidence map

The reviewed Nefiracetam evidence combines healthy-volunteer pharmacokinetics, small patient-context trials, mechanistic animal-neuron work, and repeated-dose dog toxicology. The patient evidence is inconsistent and population-specific, while the mechanistic work is not a healthy-user outcome. This does not establish a consumer cognitive benefit, self-use amount, product form, combination, or long-term safety margin.

Effect domainMagnitudeGrade
Motivation / drive4
UnknownConfidence: Low

No healthy-user motivation or drive benefit was established.

Note Small patient-context findings were inconsistent and do not transfer to healthy users.

0/5
C
Memory / learning5
UnknownConfidence: High

No reliable healthy-user memory or learning benefit was established.

Note Mechanistic work in rat neurons is not a human outcome.

0/5
D
Focus / attention4
UnknownConfidence: High

No reliable healthy-user focus or attention benefit was established.

Note The reviewed human studies did not establish a consumer focus outcome.

0/5
E
05

Typical dosages and timing

Dose status2Not established

The healthy-volunteer pharmacokinetic study used controlled research amounts. Those methods are not a consumer dose, route, timing, or repeat-use protocol.

06

Timing & effect horizon

Effect horizonUnknown
Unknown
Onset2Acute
within 2 hours
Half-life2Acute
3-5 hours
Healthy-volunteer study timing2

In one healthy-volunteer pharmacokinetic study, peak concentration was reported within two hours. This is a study observation, not a consumer onset promise.

Healthy-volunteer study half-life2

The same healthy-volunteer study reported a three-to-five-hour The time for blood levels to fall by half during the final elimination phase.Source. It does not establish duration, repeated-use effects, or a consumer schedule.

07

Safety, side effects and risk profile

Liver / kidney caution6
Confidence: Medium

In a 52-week dog study, kidney and testis were identified as high-exposure toxicity targets. Human relevance and a consumer safety threshold are not established.

Note Animal findings cannot supply a safe human amount.

3/5
D
Hormonal caution7
Confidence: Medium

Repeated-dose dog research reported reproductive findings including lower testosterone and altered semen parameters at high exposure. Human relevance and thresholds are not established.

Note This animal signal does not quantify human reproductive risk.

3/5
D
Evidence uncertainty4
Confidence: High

Human evidence is limited and population-specific, and it does not provide a consumer product or long-term safety framework.

Note Evidence uncertainty is not proof of a particular adverse effect.

2/5
C
Interaction risk5
Confidence: Low

The reviewed source set did not identify a robust human interaction study; this is an evidence gap, not a demonstrated interaction hazard.

Note No combination is characterized as safe by this profile.

1/5
E
Pregnancy / lactation caution7
Confidence: Low

The reviewed sources do not provide a pregnancy or lactation safety framework; this is an evidence gap, not a demonstrated outcome.

Note No consumer reproductive-safety conclusion is made.

1/5
E
Animal evidence6High exposure

A 52-week dog study identified kidney and testis findings at high exposure. It does not establish a human safety threshold, but it is not a reason to infer safety for self-use.

Animal evidence7High exposure

A dog reproductive toxicology study reported testosterone, semen, and testicular changes at high exposure. Human relevance and thresholds remain unknown.

08

Interactions and cautions

Interaction evidence5

The reviewed sources did not identify a robust human interaction study that establishes a safe combination profile. This page makes no mixing recommendation.

09

Practical buying and quality notes

  • No active product offer is currently mapped to this profile. This page provides evidence context only and does not validate a current product, price, or source.1
  • Published research context does not create a consumer dose, safety margin, or monitoring plan. The profile does not turn study methods into self-use guidance.2
10

FAQ

What is Nefiracetam?

1

Nefiracetam is a synthetic racetam compound also called DM-9384. It has identity and pharmacology research, but that does not establish a healthy-user nootropic benefit.

What did the PK study report?

2

A healthy-volunteer pharmacokinetic study reported peak concentration within two hours and a three-to-five-hour half-life. These observations are not dose or schedule guidance.

Does Nefiracetam improve memory or focus?

4

No reliable healthy-user memory or focus benefit was established. Mechanistic research and small patient-context studies should not become productivity claims.

Why are animal safety findings included?

6

Repeated-dose dog studies reported renal and reproductive signals at high exposure. They do not quantify human risk, but they limit claims of consumer safety.

Is a consumer Nefiracetam dose established?

2

No. The reviewed evidence does not establish a consumer dose, route, cycle, or long-term safety margin.

11

References

  1. PubChem. Nefiracetam (CID 71157). Accessed 2026-08-21.
  2. Fujimaki Y, et al. Single- and multiple-dose pharmacokinetics of nefiracetam, a new nootropic agent, in healthy volunteers. J Pharm Pharmacol. 1992;44(9):750-754.
  3. Robinson RG, et al. Double-blind treatment of apathy in patients with poststroke depression using nefiracetam. J Neuropsychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2009;21(2):144-151.
  4. Starkstein SE, et al. A randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind efficacy study of nefiracetam to treat poststroke apathy. J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis. 2016;25(5):1119-1127.
  5. Zhao X, Yeh JZ, Narahashi T. Post-stroke dementia. Nootropic drug modulation of neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2001;939:179-186.
  6. Hooks WN, et al. Fifty-two-week oral toxicity study of the new cognition-enhancing agent nefiracetam in dogs. Arzneimittelforschung. 1994;44(2A):228-238.
  7. Shimomura K, et al. Testicular toxicity induced in dogs by nefiracetam, a neutrotransmission enhancer. Reprod Toxicol. 2004;18(3):423-430.
  8. NootropicsIndex indexed listing. Nefiracetam powder, 10 g. Accessed 2026-07-01.
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.