Comment · Fri, December 27, 2013 · Ceretropic
Piracetam and excitotoxicity, can someone please help dispel my concerns?
Original post in this thread
Fappy37 · 7 points
I apologize if this has been done before. I've just recently begun to dabble in the realm of nootropics and admittedly have very little knowledge of how they work. However, I've come across several disturbing posts that suggest Piracetam increases excitotoxicity. Is there any truth to this? Namely, would the food additive MSG be potentiated by using Piracetam? I believe I'm consuming a fair amount of it, and I'm curious as to whether or not my diet, in conjunction with this nootropic, could cause any negative effects brain-wise? If so, are there additional nutrients I could take to impede the likelihood of such excitotoxicity occurring? I already consume fish oil. Would a magnesium supplement be helpful? I apologize if I'm just ill-informed and don't know what I'm talking about, but, as previously mentioned, my knowledge in this area is very rudimentary. Any and all input is appreciated.
What they were answering
Direct reply to the original post — see the thread post above.
u/MisterYouAreSoDumb · Ceretropic
Again so soon?!? I'll copy my post again:
I cannot find any evidence that piracetam or other racetams exacerbate excitotoxicity at either the NMDA or AMPA receptor sites. In fact, there is evidence that racetams not only increase the influx of calcium and potassium though the various ion channels to enhance transmission, but also close the channel to protect from too high of concentrations as well.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9195198
The results suggest that piracetam and GVS-111 suppression of voltage-activated calcium and potassium currents of the neuronal membrane may regulate (both up and down) Ca2+ influx into neurons.
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http://ebm.rsmjournals.com/content/early/2012/10/05/ebm.2012.012128
We found that piracetam inhibited native CaV2.2 channels in superior cervical ganglion neurons in a dose-dependent manner
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http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1059131197800222
This one found that piracetam protected from a known calcium and sodium channel convulsant.
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https://asm.confex.com/ipa/2003_Geneva/techprogram/paper_2223.htm
Our results allow to suggest that a desirable profile of action of nootropics should include a selective suppression of slow-inactivatng potassium currents without affecting (or with augmentation of) the fast-inactivating A-current.
So I cannot find any evidence of any racetam exacerbating excitotoxitiy at either the AMPA or NMDA sites. However, there are studies showing that they modulate both the influx and blockage of Ca2+ and K+ through their respective ion channels. They also increase membrane fluidity, which provides other neuroprotective benefits aside from their effects at the ion channels. All evidence points to them being perfectly safe and neuroprotective.