Nootropics have become rather popular in the modern world. There are several options for people who are looking to improve their brain function and boost their overall cognitive performance. Nootropics are available in both natural and synthetic forms.
Picamilon is a nootropic that is quite popular in Russia. The drug was initially discovered in Russia. Since the initial development of Picamilon, the drug has become popular in other areas of the world too. In some countries, the drug has been banned, however, yet it is still sold as a prescription medication in Russia.
We take a closer look at what Picamilon is and the effects of the drug on the human body. We will also consider the dosage, benefits, and the potential risks that come with using the drug.
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What Is Picamilon?
When you are looking to use a nootropic drug or supplement, you should understand what it is and how it is made. This type of information will ensure you understand what type of drug you are taking.
First of all, you should understand that Picamilon is a synthetic drug and not a natural supplement like some of the other nootropics. It is made from two elements. The two compounds that are combined to produce Picamilon include:
- GABA
- Vitamin B3 (Also known as niacin)
Previously, GABA has been shown to produce certain nootropic benefits. The problem is, when GABA is consumed alone, the compound does not cross your blood-brain barrier as effectively. This means the compound does not offer maximum effects.
When combined with vitamin B3, researchers have found that GABA crosses your blood-brain barrier easily. This has led to the suggestion that GABA and niacin combined leads to a more significant concentration of the compound entering your brain. In turn, this yields a more effective elevation in cognitive function.
Picamilon goes by other names too. This includes nicotinoyl-gamma-aminobutyric acid. Other names that you may notice include:
- Nicotinyl-GABA
- Pikamilon
- Pikatropin
In the United States, Picamilon is no longer available as a prescription medication. In fact, the FDA announced in 2015 that Picamilon is also no longer to be sold as a dietary supplement in the country. A total of five companies were asked to remove the Picamilon compound from the list of ingredients used in their nootropic supplements.
There are still some companies in the United States that continue to use Picamilon in their supplements. Additionally, the drug is also still used in several other countries. This would include the country of the drug’s origin, which is Russia.
The Effects Of Picamilon
If you are trying to understand how Picamilon works, it is important to consider the two compounds that are synthetically combined to create the drug. Each of these has its own mechanism of action. The combination essentially provides the effects of both into a single product.
Niacin is a vitamin that is needed by several functions in the human body. One of these is the vasodilation of blood vessels. Vasodilation refers to the widening of your blood vessels. This is important for various reasons, including improving blood flow through your body.
GABA is also known as gamma-aminobutyric acid. This compound has been shown to provide stimulation in brain receptors. The problem with GABA is the fact that it is not able to effectively cross your blood-brain barrier. This means very little of the GABA compounds in a supplement can get to your brain, leading to only a minimal level of stimulation to your brain receptors.
Combined, GABA might be able to get to your brain. This means there may be a more significant stimulation of your brain receptors. The idea is that this particular effect is what makes Picamilon so effective – the benefits of GABA may be more significant.
Picamilon Dosage
Taking a supplement or drug requires close adherence to specific dosage instructions. Overdosing on certain compounds can be very harmful and even lead to fatal side-effects in some cases.
Unfortunately, there are no specific dosage recommendations that have been established if you want to use Picamilon. This does make things somewhat more complicated. Taking a high dose of the drug could possibly cause an increase in the risk of serious side-effects.
At the moment, studies on Picamilon tend to expose participants to doses that range from 10mg per day. The maximum reported daily dose noted thus far is 300mg per day.
It has been suggested that you should take Picamilon with food. This could possibly enhance your body’s ability to effectively absorb the chemicals.
When you do decide to take Picamilon, it may be a good idea to start with a lower dose. Increase the dose until you find the appropriate daily serving size that gives you benefits without leading to unpleasant side-effects.
Benefits Of Picamilon
Several benefits have been associated with the use of Picamilon. At the moment, research and the scientific evidence behind these claims do seem to be quite limited. There are a couple of studies that show some benefits that may be gained using Picamilon. We take a look at the benefits that have been proven below. Here, we should also consider the individual treatment with the compounds that are included in the Picamilon drug.
In one study, it was shown that the use of nicotinic acid, a synthetic type of niacin, may assist in alleviating headaches. Several studies were included in this research paper. Researchers looked for evidence on whether or not nicotinic acid might be useful. The conclusion suggests that nicotinic acid could help with tension-type headaches, as well as migraines.
One animal study also showed that the use of Picamilon could be useful for improving memory function. The study did not only consider Picamilon, however. Other nootropic drugs were utilized too. This included Tacrine and Piracetam. Rats were considered during the study. The rats were exposed to a maze. Conditioning in the maze was analyzed during the study. There was a noticeable improvement in rats provided with Picamilon prior to being exposed to the radial maze.
GABA, as mentioned already, stimulates certain brain receptors. There is also evidence that an increase in GABA in the brain could lead to a reduction in symptoms associated with anxiety.
A study by researchers at Yale University also shows that GABA helps to reduce the activity of glutamate. High levels of glutamate may contribute to worsened symptoms of anxiety. Through this particular action, the presence of GABA may further contribute to improvements in anxiety disorders.
In another paper, researchers at the Emory University School of Medicine explains how GABA has been shown as a useful therapeutic option in the treatment of several anxiety disorders.
A Journal of Pharmacology entry shows promising results when GABA is used as a way of protecting the brain. The study shows a reduction in oxidative stress in the brain of animal models. Oxidative stress contributes to inflammation and many other complications in your body. When oxidative stress is reduced, there may also be further improvements in your cognitive function. Additionally, you may even experience a reduced risk of developing problems like dementia and poor memory function.
Risks And Side-Effects
While there are possible improvements in brain health, along with other health benefits, you also need to take note of the risks that may come with using Picamilon. There are a few possible side-effects that have been associated with the use of this nootropic drug. Additionally, a number of drug reactions have also been identified.
When you consider side-effects, take the fact that there is still insufficient research available on the drug into account. This means that not all possible side-effects might have been identified yet. A complete safety profile is also not available to help you understand whether it is truly safe to use PIcamilon – especially over a long period of time.
Common side-effects that have been linked to the use of Picamilon include:
- Dizziness
- Skin flushing
- Nausea
- Headaches
A high dose of Picamilon could also possibly cause a reduction in your blood pressure levels. If you already experience issues with low blood pressure, this could become a dangerous side-effect of the drug. You also need to be careful when using Picamilon if you had previously been diagnosed with any type of cardiovascular disease.
There are a few drug interactions that you need to take into consideration too. The use of Picamilon interacts with alcohol. Thus, limit your intake of alcohol if you do decide to take this drug. Other drugs that Picamilon may also interact with include:
- Benzodiazepines
- Barbiturates
- Uricosuric agents
Be careful when using a high-dose aspirin product along with Picamilon. You should also be careful when using nonbenzodiazepines, such as Ambien. These interactions could cause additional side-effects to develop.
Conclusion
If you are looking for a nootropic, then you might have read about Picamilon. The drug is particularly popular in Russia and also sold at other locations. This is a synthetic drug and might be able to produce improvements in cognitive function. It may also yield anti-anxiety effects. Still, there are some risks and concerns that have been associated with the use of Picamilon.
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I’m Daniel. Just an average guy trying to share his love for nootropics, biohacking, and life optimization. Follow me on my journey to learning how I use nootropics on a daily basis.