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Synthetic nootropics & research compounds

Pyritinol

Pyritinol (synthetic pyridoxine-derived disulfide compound)

Pyritinol is a synthetic compound made from two pyridoxine-derived units; it is not an essential vitamin B6 form. Older clinical studies do not establish a healthy-user nootropic benefit, while published liver-injury reports make self-directed use a material safety concern.

Legal CautionIsolated CompoundSyntheticClinical ResearchLimited Human EvidenceMixed EvidenceDose Dependent Evidence
Updated August 2026/4 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?

Identity

1

Pyritinol is a synthetic disulfide compound derived from pyridoxine chemistry. It is not vitamin B6 and does not share the minimal-risk nutrition profile of ordinary B6 intake.

Evidence boundary

2

Older trials in clinical populations do not establish improved cognition, memory, or focus in healthy adults.

02

Names, aliases and forms

Common NamePyritinol
Chemical NamePyrithioxine
Brand NameEncephabol
Salt FormPyritinol dihydrochloride monohydrate
Pubchem Cid14190
Molecular FormulaC16H20N2O4S2
InchikeySIXLXDIJGIWWFU-UHFFFAOYSA-N
03

Potential effects and evidence map

Evidence comes mainly from older clinical populations and is not transferable to healthy-user cognition. Serious hepatitis reports materially outweigh the weak nootropic evidence.

Effect domainMagnitudeGrade
Memory / learning2
UnknownConfidence: Medium

Older clinical studies do not establish a memory benefit for healthy adults.

Note Clinical-population findings are indirect and methodologically dated.

0/5
D
Focus / attention2
UnknownConfidence: Medium

A reliable focus or attention effect in healthy users has not been established.

Note No modern robust healthy-user evidence.

0/5
D
04

Timing & effect horizon

Effect horizonUnknown
Unknown
Timing2

No reliable acute onset, effect duration, or routine nootropic cycle is established.

05

Safety, side effects and risk profile

Liver / kidney caution5
Confidence: High

Published reports describe clinically serious hepatitis associated with pyritinol.

Note This severe but apparently uncommon signal is the central material safety concern.

5/5
B
Evidence uncertainty2
Confidence: High

The evidence base is old, population-specific, and inadequate for healthy-user nootropic use.

Note Do not infer benefit from chemical relation to B6.

4/5
B
Liver injury concern5

Published case series describe serious and prolonged hepatitis associated with pyritinol. Although the absolute frequency is not established, this material hazard outweighs the uncertain healthy-user benefit.

06

Practical buying and quality notes

  • Do not mistake pyritinol for a nutritional B6 supplement. Verify identity and weigh the serious liver signal against the absence of established healthy-user benefit.5
07

FAQ

Pyritinol versus vitamin B6

1

No. Pyritinol is a synthetic pyridoxine-derived disulfide compound, not an essential B6 vitamer. It does not share the nutritional evidence or minimal-risk profile of ordinary vitamin B6 intake.

08

References

  1. PubChem. Compound Summary for CID 14190, Pyritinol.
  2. Cooper AJ, Magnus RV. A placebo-controlled study of pyritinol (Encephabol) in dementia. Pharmatherapeutica. 1980.
  3. Fischhof PK, Saletu B, Ruther E, Litschauer G, Moslinger-Gehmayr R, Herrmann WM. Therapeutic efficacy of pyritinol in patients with senile dementia of the Alzheimer type and multi-infarct dementia. Neuropsychobiology. 1992.
  4. Knezevic S, Mubrin Z, Risberg J, et al. Pyritinol clinical use of SDAT patients: evaluation by psychiatric and neurological examination, psychometric testing and rCBF measurements. International Clinical Psychopharmacology. 1989.
  5. Maria V, Albuquerque A, Loureiro A, et al. Severe cholestatic hepatitis induced by pyritinol. BMJ. 2004.
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.