Noopept (GVS-111, omberacetam) is a synthetic dipeptide derivative (N-phenylacetyl-L-prolylglycine ethyl ester, MW ~318.4 g/mol) developed at the Russian Academy of Sciences. It is not a true peptide but a peptidomimetic prodrug of the endogenous neuropeptide cycloprolylglycine. Noopept is approved in Russia for treatment of cognitive disorders of vascular and traumatic origin, but has not undergone rigorous clinical evaluation by Western regulatory standards.
Category: Nootropic / Cognitive. Evidence rating: C (early/mixed human evidence).
Clinical status: Approved in Russia for cognitive disorders. Not evaluated by FDA, EMA, or other Western regulatory agencies. Clinical trial data primarily in Russian-language literature.
Noopept is rapidly metabolized after oral administration to its active metabolite cycloprolylglycine. It modulates AMPA and NMDA glutamate receptor function, increasing their sensitivity to glutamate without direct agonism. Noopept enhances BDNF and NGF expression in the hippocampus and cerebral…
Safety considerations: Generally well-tolerated in Russian clinical practice at approved doses (10-30 mg/day); Side effects reported: insomnia, irritability, headache, increased blood pressure at higher doses; No published data on long-term safety (>6 months) from controlled trials.
Reviewed by the PeptideAtlas Editorial Team. Last reviewed: 2026-07-06.
Related peptides: Dihexa.
Compare: Noopept vs Dihexa.
No, though it is structurally related. Noopept is a dipeptide derivative (N-phenylacetyl-L-prolylglycine ethyl ester), not a pyrrolidone derivative like piracetam. It is sometimes grouped with racetams due to overlapping mechanisms (glutamate receptor modulation) but is pharmacologically distinct.
Noopept is not FDA-approved and is not a controlled substance. It is sold online as a "research chemical" or dietary supplement ingredient. It is not regulated as a pharmaceutical drug in the US, meaning products lack quality assurance.
The approved Russian dose is 10 mg taken 2-3 times daily (20-30 mg/day total) for courses of 1.5-3 months. This is for documented cognitive disorders, not general cognitive enhancement in healthy individuals.
Sublingual noopept is reported to produce noticeable effects within 15-30 minutes due to rapid absorption. Oral noopept takes 30-60 minutes. Full cognitive benefits may take 1-2 weeks of consistent use as NGF/BDNF upregulation is a gradual process.
Russian clinical data covers 1.5-3 month courses with breaks between cycles. Long-term continuous use beyond 3 months has not been systematically studied. The cycling approach (use for 8-12 weeks, break for 4 weeks) is standard practice to avoid tolerance.