MEDICAL DISCLAIMER: Educational research guidelines only. Lyophilized peptides are investigational chemical compounds and are NOT approved for human consumption, diagnosis, or therapy. Consult a licensed physician before any research application.
Noopept Dosage Chart, Schedule & Reconstitution Protocol
Quickstart Highlights
Noopept (GVS-111, Omberacetam) is a synthetic proline-containing dipeptide nootropic developed in Russia as a more potent, peptide-like successor to piracetam (PMID 12596521). It works as a prodrug for cycloprolylglycine, a positive AMPA-receptor modulator, and raises hippocampal NGF and BDNF while protecting neurons from oxidative stress, excess calcium and glutamate excitotoxicity (PMID 19240853, PMID 12711349). The standard dose is 10 mg twice daily (20 mg/day), within a 10-30 mg/day range, taken orally or sublingually for 1.5-3 month courses; the principal human trial used 20 mg/day for 56 days in mild cognitive disorders (PMID 19234797). The parent compound clears within minutes, but its active metabolite sustains the effect, so it is dosed twice daily. The subcutaneous reconstitution figures here are an educational measurement reference only. Noopept is approved as a medicine in Russia but is not FDA- or EMA-approved.
Reconstitute: Add 1.5 mL bacteriostatic water → 20 mg/mL concentration.
Typical dose: 20 mg/day (10-30 mg/day), split into 2 doses
Easy measuring: At 20 mg/mL, 1 unit = 0.01 mL = 0.2 mg (200 mcg) on a U-100 insulin syringe.
Storage: Lyophilized or crystalline powder stored cool and dry, ideally frozen at −20 °C for long-term storage, protected from light and moisture. Reconstituted aqueous solution refrigerated at 2-8 °C and used within roughly 2-4 weeks, since the glycine ethyl ester can slowly hydrolyze in water. Commercial tablets are stored at room temperature.
Half-life: Parent compound very short (~16 min in rats; cleared within ~1 h), with peak plasma at 15-20 min; effect prolonged by the active metabolite cycloprolylglycine, supporting twice-daily dosing.
Route: Oral or sublingual tablets (10 mg), 10-30 mg/day in divided doses; modeled here as a subcutaneous reconstitution reference for measurement only, not the real route.
Status: Approved/OTC in Russia and some neighbouring countries; NOT FDA- or EMA-approved; research/educational use only in the US. Not medical advice.
About Noopept
Noopept (GVS-111, Omberacetam) is an orally active proline-containing dipeptide nootropic that is taken clinically as a swallowed or sublingual tablet, not by injection [1][8]. The subcutaneous reconstitution figures on this page are an educational measurement reference only; the real-world Noopept dosage is oral. In its Russian licensing the drug is supplied as 10 mg tablets dosed 10 mg twice daily to a 20 mg/day standard, with a typical range of 10-30 mg/day over a 1.5 to 3 month course [5].\n\nTo model the protocol on a U-100 insulin syringe, this guide reconstitutes a 30 mg vial with 1.5 mL of bacteriostatic water, giving a 20 mg/mL solution (200 mcg per unit). At that concentration a 5 mg starter dose measures 25 units, the 10 mg standard dose measures 50 units, and a 15 mg dose measures 75 units, so every step in the Noopept protocol lands on a clean, measurable mark. Most users begin low to gauge headache and irritability response, then settle at 10 mg twice daily [5].\n\nFrequency: Twice daily, typically in the morning and early afternoon. Many protocols avoid late-evening doses because Noopept can be mildly stimulating and disturb sleep. Noopept is not FDA- or EMA-approved and is presented here for educational purposes only [8].
Quick Protocol Navigation
Reconstitution Instruction & Mixing Step-by-Step
Lyophilized powder must be reconstituted carefully. Agitating peptide chains can shear disulfide bonds and render the peptide biologically inert.
Draw 1.5 mL of bacteriostatic water into a sterile syringe (this yields a 20 mg/mL solution from a 30 mg vial, or 200 mcg per insulin-syringe unit).
Inject the water slowly down the inner wall of the 30 mg Noopept vial; do not aim the stream directly at the powder, and avoid vigorous shaking.
Gently swirl or roll the vial until the solution is completely clear; the result is a 20 mg/mL concentration.
Store refrigerated at 2-8 °C and draw the units for your phase: 5 mg ≈ 25 units, 10 mg ≈ 50 units, 15 mg ≈ 75 units on a U-100 syringe.
Educational note: Noopept is clinically taken ORALLY or sublingually twice daily, so reconstitution is not needed in real-world use; for the subcutaneous educational model, swab the site, inject slowly without aspirating, and rotate sites.
Interactive Noopept Syringe Calculator
Currently visualizing the 30 mg vial reconstituted with 1.5 mL bacteriostatic water. Adjust the target dose to dynamically render syringe units.
Reconstitution Calculation: 30mg dry powder in 1.5mL water yields 20.00 mg/mL. To evaluate a 250mcg dose, pull to 1.3 units (1 syringe ticks).
U-100 Syringe Representation
Educational reference visual. Assumes standard U-100 insulin syringe where 1.0 mL volume = 100 units.
Titration & Dose Escalation Schedules
| Phase | Dose per injection | Units (per injection) |
|---|---|---|
| Week 1 — titration / tolerance check (≈10 mg/day) | 5000 mcg (5 mg) | 25 units (0.25 mL) |
| Weeks 2+ — standard maintenance (≈20 mg/day) | 10000 mcg (10 mg) | 50 units (0.50 mL) |
| Upper range — experienced users (≈30 mg/day) | 15000 mcg (15 mg) | 75 units (0.75 mL) |
Administration guidelines: Refer to guidelines | 1.5 mL Reconstitution
Research Supplies Quantity Planner
Scientific mathematical planning of syringes, bacteriostatic water and dry vials needed for extended research blocks using the 30 mg vial.
Peptide Vials (Noopept, 30 mg each):
- check8 weeks at 10 mg/day ≈ 19 vials (560 mg total)
- check12 weeks at 20 mg/day ≈ 56 vials (1,680 mg total)
- check16 weeks at 30 mg/day ≈ 112 vials (3,360 mg total) — the high count illustrates why Noopept is dosed orally in practice
Insulin Syringes (U-100):
- checkTwice-daily dosing: 14 syringes per week
- check8 weeks ≈ 112 syringes; 12 weeks ≈ 168 syringes; 16 weeks ≈ 224 syringes
- checkEach dose stays well under one syringe (5 mg ≈ 25 units, 10 mg ≈ 50 units, 15 mg ≈ 75 units)
Bacteriostatic Water (30 mL bottles): Use 1.5 mL per 30 mg vial for reconstitution.
- check8 weeks (≈19 vials) ≈ 28.5 mL ≈ 1 bottle
- check12 weeks (≈56 vials) ≈ 84 mL ≈ 3 bottles
- check16 weeks (≈112 vials) ≈ 168 mL ≈ 6 bottles
Alcohol Swabs:
- check1-2 swabs per dose (vial top + injection site), twice daily
- check8 weeks ≈ 112-224 swabs; 12 weeks ≈ 168-336 swabs
- check16 weeks ≈ 224-448 swabs; keep extras for re-swabbing multi-use vials
Mechanism of Action (MOA)
Noopept (GVS-111, Omberacetam) is N-phenylacetyl-L-prolylglycine ethyl ester, a small proline-containing dipeptide engineered at the Zakusov (formerly Russian Academy of Medical Sciences) Institute of Pharmacology by mimicking the pharmacophore of the pyrrolidone nootropic piracetam in a short-peptide framework. The result is a compound active at roughly 1000 times lower doses than piracetam, dosed in milligrams rather than grams [1][8].\n\nNoopept acts largely as a prodrug. After absorption it is rapidly metabolized by ester hydrolysis and cyclization into cycloprolylglycine (cyclo-L-prolylglycine, cPG), a dipeptide that also occurs endogenously in mammalian brain and is structurally related to the C-terminal fragment of IGF-1. cPG is a positive modulator of AMPA-type glutamate receptors, and Noopept's neuroprotective actions depend on AMPA- and TrkB-receptor signalling [1][2]. Downstream, Noopept increases hippocampal mRNA and protein for nerve growth factor (NGF) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF); notably, chronic 28-day dosing potentiated rather than diminished this neurotrophic response, indicating no tolerance [3].\n\nA second pillar of its mechanism is neuroprotection against the so-called toxic triad. In cultured human cortical neurons (including Down's syndrome cells) and in oxidative-stress models, Noopept/GVS-111 inhibited intracellular free-radical accumulation and lipid peroxidation, attenuated glutamate excitotoxicity, and limited pathological rises in intracellular calcium, with an IC50 near 1.2 µM and protection exceeding that of vitamin E or piracetam [2]. In an olfactory-bulbectomy Alzheimer's model it restored spatial memory and altered amyloid immunoreactivity [4].\n\nPharmacokinetics underpin the dosing schedule. After oral administration the parent molecule reaches peak plasma concentration within about 15-20 minutes, crosses the blood-brain barrier, and is detectable in brain within roughly 25 minutes, but it is eliminated extremely quickly: a plasma half-life on the order of minutes (about 16 minutes in rats), so the parent is essentially gone within an hour [6][7]. Interspecies work shows intensive metabolism in rats, slower biotransformation in rabbits, and still slower elimination with high individual variability in humans, where parent metabolites were often undetectable in plasma at therapeutic doses [7]. The active cPG metabolite has a longer residence time, which is why a short-half-life drug still produces hours-long cognitive effects and is dosed only twice daily [6].\n\nThe real-world route is oral (tablets), with sublingual use common in the nootropic community; the subcutaneous reconstitution scheme on this page is an educational measurement convention used across this site, not a clinically validated delivery method. Noopept is approved as a medicine only in a handful of countries (notably Russia) and is not approved by the FDA or EMA [8].
Clinical Trial Efficacy Highlights
- starOstrovskaya and colleagues (2002, Eksperimental'naia i Klinicheskaia Farmakologiia) introduced Noopept as the prototype of a short-peptide approach to nootropic design, summarizing that the prolyl-glycine dipeptide reproduces piracetam-like cognitive and neuroprotective activity at roughly thousand-fold lower doses and acts through neurotrophic and anti-oxidative mechanisms rather than a single receptor [1].
- starPelsman and colleagues (2003, International Journal of Developmental Neuroscience) tested GVS-111 (Noopept) in human cortical neurons, including Down's syndrome cells, exposed to hydrogen peroxide; it dose-dependently increased neuronal survival with an IC50 of about 1.21 µM, inhibited intracellular free-radical accumulation and lipid peroxidation, and reduced apoptotic degeneration, demonstrating a direct antioxidant, neuroprotective effect in human tissue [2].
- starOstrovskaya and colleagues (2008, Bulletin of Experimental Biology and Medicine) showed that Noopept stimulates expression of NGF and BDNF mRNA in the rat hippocampus; acute dosing raised both neurotrophins, and chronic 28-day administration potentiated rather than blunted the response, indicating an absence of tolerance to its neurotrophic action [3].
- starOstrovskaya and colleagues (2007, Journal of Psychopharmacology) reported that in olfactory-bulbectomized mice, an established Alzheimer's-disease-like model with spatial-memory loss and elevated brain Abeta, Noopept restored Morris-water-maze performance and increased the immune response to Abeta(25-35) prefibrils, suggesting it may attenuate amyloid neurotoxicity while improving memory [4].
- starNeznamov and Teleshova (2009, Neuroscience and Behavioral Physiology) conducted the principal human comparison: a controlled study of Noopept versus piracetam in patients with mild cognitive disorders from vascular and traumatic organic brain disease. Noopept 10 mg twice daily (20 mg/day) over 56 days improved cognitive and asthenic-anxiety symptom scores comparably to or better than piracetam, with a favourable tolerability profile [5].
- starBoyko and colleagues (2018, Biomeditsinskaya Khimiya) characterized the pharmacokinetics of Noopept and its active metabolite cycloprolylglycine in rats, confirming that the parent compound and cPG differ substantially in their pharmacokinetic parameters, with the metabolite providing pharmacological activity that outlasts the rapidly cleared parent drug [6].
- starBoyko and colleagues (2004, Eksperimental'naia i Klinicheskaia Farmakologiia) documented interspecies pharmacokinetic differences for Noopept: very intensive metabolism in rats (including a hydroxylated metabolite), slower biotransformation in rabbits, and still slower elimination with marked individual variability in humans, in whom parent metabolites were frequently undetectable at therapeutic plasma concentrations [7].
Side Effects & Tolerability Profile
Clinical subjects transiently report mild side effects. Slowly escalating the titration dose represents the single most effective intervention to limit side effects.
- warningIn the controlled human trial of Noopept 20 mg/day, the most frequently reported adverse effects were increased blood pressure (about 7 of 31 patients), sleep disturbance or insomnia (about 5 of 31), and irritability or emotional lability (about 3 of 31); for this reason later-evening doses are usually avoided [5].
- warningHeadache is a commonly reported Noopept side effect in anecdotal and clinical use, sometimes paradoxical given its use for cognitive complaints; staying hydrated and lowering the dose are the usual mitigations.
- warningOverstimulation, restlessness, anxiety or a 'wired' feeling can occur, particularly at the upper 30 mg/day end of the range or when combined with caffeine or other stimulants.
- warningAllergic and hypersensitivity reactions have been reported in product labeling for the Russian medicine; the drug is contraindicated in known hypersensitivity and in pregnancy, lactation, and (per its license) children, where it has not been adequately studied.
- warningSublingual administration, popular in the nootropic community, can cause transient oral or mucosal irritation; the oral tablet is the validated clinical route.
- warningTolerability in published studies was generally good over courses up to about 56 days, but there are no long-term human safety data, no large independent Western trials, and the clinical evidence base is dominated by small Russian studies [4][5].
- warningDrug-interaction data are limited; caution is warranted when combining Noopept with antihypertensives (given reported blood-pressure rises), stimulants, or other nootropics, and patients with uncontrolled hypertension should be cautious [5].
- warningRegulatory/research status: Noopept is approved and sold over the counter only in Russia and certain neighbouring countries; it is NOT approved by the FDA or EMA, is treated by the FDA as an unapproved drug (a piracetam analog) that cannot be sold as a dietary supplement, and is a scheduled/prescription substance in some countries (e.g., Australia Schedule 4, Hungary controlled). Content here is educational, not medical advice [8].
Subcutaneous Injection Technique
Most research peptides require subcutaneous injection into fatty tissue. Never inject directly into a blood vessel or deep muscle tissue unless clinically detailed.
1. Site Selection
Common locations include the abdomen (2 inches from navel), outer upper arms, or thighs.
2. Sanitization
Thoroughly clean the selected site, stopper and vial top using 70% isopropyl alcohol prep swabs.
3. Angle & Push
Pinch the skin and insert the needle at a 45 to 90-degree angle. Depress plunger smoothly.
4. Site Rotation
Rotate injection sites continuously to avoid lipodystrophy or tissue scarring.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the typical Noopept dosage?expand_more
The standard Noopept dosage in Russian clinical use is 10 mg twice daily for a 20 mg/day total, within a usual range of 10-30 mg/day. It is taken orally (10 mg tablets) or sublingually, in two divided doses earlier in the day, over a course of about 1.5 to 3 months. Many users start at 10 mg/day to check tolerance (headache, irritability) before moving to 20 mg/day. Because Noopept is dosed in milligrams and taken by mouth, the subcutaneous figures on this page are an educational measurement reference only.
Is Noopept FDA approved?expand_more
No. Noopept (Omberacetam, GVS-111) is not approved by the FDA or the EMA for any indication. It is approved and sold over the counter as a medicine only in Russia and some neighbouring countries. The FDA treats it as an unapproved drug (an analog of piracetam) that cannot legally be sold as a dietary supplement, and it is a prescription or controlled substance in some jurisdictions (for example Australia Schedule 4 and Hungary). In the United States it is available only for research, and this page is educational, not medical advice.
What is the half-life of Noopept?expand_more
The Noopept half life is very short: the parent molecule peaks in plasma within about 15-20 minutes of an oral dose, crosses into the brain within roughly 25 minutes, and is then cleared within an hour (a half-life on the order of minutes, about 16 minutes measured in rats). Its cognitive effect lasts longer because Noopept is a prodrug for cycloprolylglycine (cPG), an active metabolite that persists longer than the parent compound, which is why twice-daily dosing is sufficient.
How is Noopept reconstituted and administered?expand_more
Clinically Noopept needs no reconstitution because it is swallowed or taken sublingually as a tablet. For the educational subcutaneous model on this site, a 30 mg vial is mixed with 1.5 mL of bacteriostatic water to give 20 mg/mL: draw the water slowly down the vial wall, swirl gently until clear, and refrigerate. At that concentration 5 mg equals 25 units, 10 mg equals 50 units, and 15 mg equals 75 units on a U-100 insulin syringe. This Noopept reconstitution scheme is a measurement convention only, not a validated delivery route.
Can Noopept be stacked with other nootropics?expand_more
In anecdotal practice Noopept is often combined with choline sources or racetams, and sometimes with caffeine, but there is no controlled human data validating any stack. Because Noopept can raise blood pressure and cause overstimulation, combining it with stimulants or other blood-pressure-affecting agents increases the risk of restlessness, insomnia and hypertension. There is no established stacking protocol, the long-term safety of any combination is unknown, and anyone considering it should treat it as experimental and consult a clinician.
Related Guides & Tools
Step-by-step references for reconstituting, measuring, and storing Noopept, plus the universal dosing calculator.
Academic References & Study Citations
Ostrovskaia RU, Gudasheva TA, Voronina TA, Seredenin SB. [The original novel nootropic and neuroprotective agent noopept]. Eksp Klin Farmakol. 2002;65(5):66-72. View Scientific Paper →
Pelsman A, Hoyo-Vadillo C, Gudasheva TA, Seredenin SB, Ostrovskaya RU, Busciglio J. GVS-111 prevents oxidative damage and apoptosis in normal and Down's syndrome human cortical neurons. Int J Dev Neurosci. 2003;21(3):117-124. View Scientific Paper →
Ostrovskaya RU, Gudasheva TA, Zaplina AP, et al. Noopept stimulates the expression of NGF and BDNF in rat hippocampus. Bull Exp Biol Med. 2008;146(3):334-337. View Scientific Paper →
Ostrovskaya RU, Gruden MA, Bobkova NA, et al. The nootropic and neuroprotective proline-containing dipeptide noopept restores spatial memory and increases immunoreactivity to amyloid in an Alzheimer's disease model. J Psychopharmacol. 2007;21(6):611-619. View Scientific Paper →
Neznamov GG, Teleshova ES. Comparative studies of Noopept and piracetam in the treatment of patients with mild cognitive disorders in organic brain diseases of vascular and traumatic origin. Neurosci Behav Physiol. 2009;39(3):311-321. View Scientific Paper →
Boyko SS, Zherdev VP, Shevchenko RV. [Pharmacokinetics of noopept and its active metabolite cycloprolyl glycine in rats]. Biomed Khim. 2018;64(5):455-458. doi:10.18097/PBMC20186405455. View Scientific Paper →
Boyko SS, Korotkov SA, Zherdev VP, Gudasheva TA, Ostrovskaia RU, Voronina TA. [Interspecies differences of noopept pharmacokinetics]. Eksp Klin Farmakol. 2004;67(1):40-43. View Scientific Paper →
NCATS Inxight Drugs — OMBERACETAM (Noopept, GVS-111; CAS 157115-85-0; UNII 4QBJ98683M). Regulatory status: approved/marketed outside the US (e.g., Russia); not FDA-approved. View Scientific Paper →