What is it?
What the clinical result means
1The cited randomized study involved 90 adults taking antiepileptic medicines. Cognitive findings were reported in a subgroup without epileptiform EEG abnormalities, while negative effects of the background medication were not improved in 40% of participants. That design does not answer whether an otherwise healthy user will concentrate or remember better.
Names, aliases and forms
Potential effects and evidence map
Human evidence is limited and population-specific. A small placebo-controlled add-on study in adults with epilepsy reported cognitive findings, but its abstract lacks numerical between-group effects and does not establish healthy-adult enhancement. Animal experiments and medicine-label claims provide context, not confirmation of consumer benefits.
A small clinical add-on study reported cognitive findings in a specific patient group; a useful memory benefit in healthy adults remains unproven.
Typical dosages and timing
The compact range comes from doses reported in the patient trial. Its English abstract does not give frequency or treatment duration. It is not a validated healthy-user daily regimen, and it should not be read as one.
Timing & effect horizon
The timing values come from Russian Actitropil medicine information: the peak describes blood concentration, and The time for blood levels to fall by half during the final elimination phase.Source describes elimination. Neither establishes the onset or duration of useful cognitive effects. The source does not provide the underlying study population or variability; evidence does not establish an optimal healthy-user cycle.
Safety, side effects and risk profile
The medicine label lists increased blood pressure with unknown frequency, sometimes early in use.
Sleep disturbance and agitation are reported in medicine information; frequency and severity are not well quantified.
The label warns of stronger effects from CNS stimulants, antidepressants and other nootropic drugs.
Clinical pregnancy and breastfeeding safety is not established; the medicine label contraindicates these uses.
For oral fonturacetam, the low base rating reflects label-reported blood-pressure elevation and agitation, beyond minor tolerability alone. Their frequency is unknown; some reactions occur early. Evidence does not establish common severe harm at ordinary doses, or reliable long-term safety in healthy adults.
Interactions and cautions
Medicine information warns of potentiation of stimulants, antidepressants and other nootropic drugs. It does not establish a safe combination or quantify the interaction; a stack should not be assumed safe from the single-ingredient evidence.
Legal and regulatory status
As of 12 October 2026, the cited FDA warning letter remains a relevant U.S. enforcement example: in 2019, FDA identified the seller's phenylpiracetam product with drug claims as an unapproved new drug. An online offer is not evidence of FDA approval or permission to import. The letter does not determine every country's rules or establish a global possession ban.
Under the WADA 2026 Prohibited List, fonturacetam (4-phenylpiracetam/carphedon) is an S6.A stimulant prohibited in competition. This is a sporting rule, separate from national medicine and import laws. Status checked 12 October 2026.
How it compares
Fonturacetam and phenylpiracetam are names for the parent compound. Phenylpiracetam hydrazide has a different chemical identity and CAS number. A shared name fragment is not evidence of equal effects, dose or safety.
R- and S-phenylpiracetam behaved differently in mouse experiments. This is a reason to keep formulations distinct, not evidence that an isolated isomer works better in people or deserves a price premium.
Practical buying and quality notes
- Compare the same labeled strength and exact pack variant, then include shipping and currency costs. For example, 30 tablets labeled 100 mg contain 3,000 mg in total; divide the pack price by 30 for price per tablet. The catalog groups these tablet listings under capsules. A title offering 10-30 tablets needs its selected pack size confirmed before relying on a normalized price.2
FAQ
What phenylpiracetam dosage is established?
1The cited patient study supplies dose context, not an established regimen for healthy-adult cognitive enhancement. Medicine-label schedules reflect a different clinical setting.
How long does it last, and should it be cycled?
3An elimination half-life does not measure how long a benefit lasts. The available sources do not establish a reliable cognitive-effect duration or a scientifically supported cycling schedule for healthy users.
References
- Grebeniuk OV, Zhukova NG, Alifirova VM. The efficacy of add-on treatment with phenotropil in adult patients with locally-induced epilepsy. 2014;114(11 Pt 2):27-31.
- Valenta Pharm. Phenotropil (fonturacetam) medical product information, Russian-language manufacturer label. Accessed 12 October 2026.
- Pharmstandard-Leksredstva. Actitropil (fonturacetam), medical-use instructions. Accessed 12 October 2026.
- FDA Global Substance Registration System. Fonturacetam and phenylpiracetam hydrazide identity records. Accessed 12 October 2026.
- Therapeutic Goods Administration. Scheduling interim decisions, February 2019, racetams section.
- U.S. FDA. Warning letter to Peak Nootropics LLC / Advanced Nootropics, 5 February 2019. Accessed 12 October 2026.
- World Anti-Doping Agency. 2026 Prohibited List, S6.A stimulants: fonturacetam. Accessed 12 October 2026.
- Zvejniece L et al. Investigation into stereoselective pharmacological activity of phenotropil. Basic Clin Pharmacol Toxicol. 2011;109(5):407-412.