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Aniracetam (Draganon, Sarpul, Ampamet) is a nootropic drug of the racetam family purported to be considerably more potent than piracetam. It is lipid soluble and has possible cognition enhancing effects. It has been tested in animals extensively, Alzheimer's patients and temporarily-impaired healthy subjects, but has not been formally tested in healthy, unimpaired humans. It has shown potential as an anxiolytic in three clinical animal models.
[edit] Pharmacology
After a confirmed test of the anxiolytic efficacy in a mouse model, receptor antagonists haloperidol, mecamylamine, and ketanserin were applied. Haloperidol completely reversed the anxiolytic effects, and mecamylamine and ketanserin nearly completely reversed the effects. This shows that aniracetam's anxiolytic mechanism is facilitated by D2/D3 dopamine, nicotinic acetylcholine, and 5-HT2A receptors[1].
Aniracetam has also been shown to selectively modulate the AMPA glutamate receptor[2] and was used as the parent compound to derive a class of drugs known as the ampakines which are being investigated as nootropics and neuroprotective drugs for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative conditions.1
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[edit] References
- ^ Nakamura K; Kurasawa M (May 2001). "Anxiolytic effects of aniracetam in three different mouse models of anxiety and the underlying mechanism.". Eur J Pharmacol. (Kanagawa, Japan). 420 (1): 33-43. PMID 11412837.
- ^ Ito et al. J. Physiol. 1990; 424: 533-543.
