Comment · Fri, September 6, 2013 · Ceretropic
Is it necessary to maintain a piracetam blood serum level?
Original post in this thread
Damderiam · 20 points
With a half life of 4-5 hours it would require measuring and taking exact doses 3-4 times a day, and that's just not feasible all the time. However, there are plenty of medicines that continue to act, indirectly, after they've been eliminated. Am I getting any effect at all by taking it prior to bedtime, or would a morning dose be necessary as well? Since we don't know exactly how piracetam works I'll have to go by anecdotes and experimental evidence, but it's better than winging it. I figure it may, for example, increase the efficiency of sleep, or have lingering effects.
What they were answering
AgentLiquid · 4 points
I'm a long time piracetam user, and I'm about to start oxiracetam in a couple of days, in hopes of experiencing something a little more stimulant-like.
By the way, why is it about the extra OH attached to piracetam that makes it more likely to cross the BBB?
u/MisterYouAreSoDumb · Ceretropic
To tell you the truth, I am not too sure. Normally a hydroxyl group would make it less lipid soluble, and less likely to pass the blood brain barrier. However, it's effects are much more pronounced than piracetam. I see it mentioned in multiple places that it passes the BBB better, but I cannot find scientific evidence of it. I am going to have to do some more searching.
EDIT: Brain levels of oxiracetam seems to reach 5% of blood serum levels. That seems less than piracetam, actually. So it would seem that it may not pass the BBB better. Hmmmm