Coluracetam is a nootropic that proponents believe can help memory and learning, depression, anxiety, as well as to improve vision. However, research is sorely lacking, and the company that was developing coluracetam has since closed. Learn the whole story here.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Note<\/em><\/strong>: We recommend strongly against using coluracetam or any other unapproved experimental drug. Some of our readers who were already taking the drug requested that we commission a post on it and we are simply providing information that is available in the clinical and scientific literature. Please discuss your medications with your doctor.<\/em><\/p>\n Coluracetam, also known as BCI-540 or MKC-231, is a nootropic of the racetam class.<\/p>\n Coluracetam was originally studied in Japan in the mid-1990s for Alzheimer\u2019s treatment. These studies showed coluracetam\u2019s ability to repair memory and learning in mice with damaged nerve cells. However, none of the research on Alzheimer\u2019s has ever been published<\/strong> [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n Coluracetam\u2019s second round of research, by Brain Cells Inc., on more than 100 people with major depression and anxiety<\/a>, is reported to have shown benefits for major depressive disorder (MDD). However, these trials were never published either<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Coluracetam is unique among brain enhancers in that it improves<\/strong> choline<\/strong><\/a> uptake in the nerve cells via the choline uptake system (HACU) <\/strong>in cell studies. This choline uptake system could potentially increase the amount of acetylcholine<\/a> in the brain. According to some researchers, coluracetam could, therefore, restore this choline uptake system after nerve cell damage; this has yet to be confirmed in animal or human trials [R<\/a>, R<\/a>, R<\/a>].<\/p>\n Coluracetam also protects the NMDA receptors from glutamate<\/a> toxicity. Damage to these receptors is involved in stroke, Alzheimer\u2019s, traumatic brain injury, and other brain diseases [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n In a study (double-blind randomized controlled trial) of 101 people with depression<\/a> who had failed treatment with 2 antidepressants and also had anxiety, coluracetam had a positive effect on depression scores<\/strong> at doses of 80 mg 3 times daily [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n Unfortunately, this is the only published human study on coluracetam.<\/strong> There is nowhere near enough evidence to support its use, and safety data is also sorely lacking. The risks overwhelm the potential benefits; this is why we strongly recommend against using coluracetam.<\/p>\n No clinical evidence supports the use of coluracetam for any of the conditions listed in this section. Below is a summary of the existing animal and cell-based research, which should guide further investigational efforts. However, the studies listed below should not be interpreted as supportive of any health benefit.<\/p>\n Furthermore, it\u2019s important to remember that coluracetam has not been approved by the FDA for any medical purpose. It is currently illegal to import and sell coluracetam in the United States <\/strong>[R<\/a>].<\/p>\n We therefore strongly recommend avoiding coluracetam. <\/strong>The following animal research is included for educational purposes only.<\/p>\n Coluracetam improved memory and learning in rats treated with a nerve toxin that damages the choline uptake system in the brain. This improvement surprisingly lasted beyond treatment. However, these benefits in learning and memory were not seen in rats who were not exposed to the nerve toxin [R<\/a>, R<\/a>, R<\/a>].<\/p>\n Acetylcholine levels are often lower in those with Alzheimer\u2019s. By boosting acetylcholine in the hippocampus, coluracetam may improve some Alzheimer\u2019s symptoms, such as poor memory and learning [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n In rats that were given the recreational drug PCP (which inhibits ChAT<\/a>, the enzyme that creates acetylcholine), coluracetam repaired the damage to the learning function by increasing ChAT [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n In a rat study, dosing 21 days of coluracetam led to a 20% improvement in<\/strong> anxiety<\/strong><\/a>, which was greater than the 12% effect valium had in a single dose in the same study [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n The enzyme that helps make acetylcholine (ChAT) is impaired in schizophrenia [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n Coluracetam increased the activity of ChAT in rats with nerve cell damage. More research directly on people with schizophrenia is needed [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n<\/a>What is Coluracetam?<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n
<\/a>Mechanism of Action<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
<\/a>Treatment-Resistant Depression Study<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
<\/a>Animal Research on Coluracetam<\/span><\/h2>\n
<\/a>1) Memory and Learning<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
<\/a>2) Anxiety<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
<\/a>3) Schizophrenia<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n