Aniracetam

Last updated
Aniracetam
Aniracetam.svg
Aniracetam3d.png
Clinical data
Trade names Ampamet, Memodrin, Pergamid
AHFS/Drugs.com International Drug Names
Routes of
administration
By mouth
ATC code
Legal status
Legal status
  • AU: S4 (Prescription only)
  • US:Unapproved "New Drug" (as defined by 21 U.S. Code § 321(p)(1)). Use in dietary supplements, food, or medicine is unlawful; otherwise uncontrolled.
Pharmacokinetic data
Elimination half-life 0.5 hours [1] [2]
Identifiers
  • 1-[(4-Methoxybenzoyl)]-2-pyrrolidinone
CAS Number
PubChem CID
IUPHAR/BPS
DrugBank
ChemSpider
UNII
KEGG
ChEBI
ChEMBL
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)
ECHA InfoCard 100.108.230 OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
Chemical and physical data
Formula C12H13NO3
Molar mass 219.240 g·mol−1
3D model (JSmol)
  • O=C2N(C(=O)c1ccc(OC)cc1)CCC2
  • InChI=1S/C12H13NO3/c1-16-10-6-4-9(5-7-10)12(15)13-8-2-3-11(13)14/h4-7H,2-3,8H2,1H3 Yes check.svgY
  • Key:ZXNRTKGTQJPIJK-UHFFFAOYSA-N Yes check.svgY
 X mark.svgNYes check.svgY  (what is this?)    (verify)

Aniracetam (brand names Draganon, Sarpul, Ampamet, Memodrin, Referan), also known as N-anisoyl-2-pyrrolidinone, is a racetam which is sold in Europe as a prescription drug. It is not approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use in the United States as a prescription medication or dietary supplement. [3] [4] Despite the FDA's lack of approval, the drug is readily available over-the-counter in misbranded dietary supplements. [3]

Contents

Medical uses

Aniracetam has been used to treat dementia following stroke and in Alzheimer's disease. [5] It has undergone a number of experiments in rodents; in a 1982 experiment on rats and mice it was found to have a variety of psychoactive effects, improving learning and memory that was otherwise impaired experimentally. [6] It has been identified as a nootropic drug due to these memory effects. [7] A 2001 study reported that in mice it has modest effects similar to an anxiolytic. [8]

Pharmacology

Aniracetam has been shown to positively modulate the AMPA receptor. [9]

When ingested orally aniracetam is quickly broken down via first pass hepatic metabolism. The primary metabolites of aniracetam are N-anisoyl-GABA, (70–80%), 2-Pyrrolidinone and p-anisic acid (20–30%). [2] [10] [11] There is some preliminary research suggesting that N-anisoyl-GABA and to a lesser degree p-ansic acid may contribute to the stimulatory effects of aniracetam in rats. [12] Further work in rats suggests that N-anisoyl-GABA may contribute more to increasing acetylcholine release than aniracetam itself. [13] For instance, a study using the forced swim test in rats found that the two metabolites 2-pyrrolidinone and N-anisoyl-GABA alone yielded similar anti-depressant effects as aniracetam itself. [12] The authors of the aforementioned study hypothesized that the metabolites work by increasing levels of dopamine and by stimulating the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. [12]

Plasma concentrations are generally in the 5–15 μg/L range for aniracetam and 5–15 mg/L range for N-anisoyl-GABA, a pharmacologically active metabolite, during the first few hours after oral administration of the drug. These two plasma species may be measured by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. [14] [15] [16]

Synthesis

The drug was first made in the 1970s by Hoffmann-La Roche. [17] [18] Synthesis can be accomplished by reacting 2-pyrrolidone with anisoyl chloride in the presence of triethylamine. [19]

Aniracetam synthesis 01.svg

Alternatively, gamma-aminobutyric acid can react with anisoyl chloride. Ring closure can be accomplished in the presence of thionyl chloride. [19]

Aniracetam synthesis 02.svg

Legality

Europe

Aniracetam is available by prescription in Greece (brand names Memodrin and Referan) and Italy (brand name Ampamet), where it is indicated for mental function disorders. [20]

Australia

Aniracetam is a schedule 4 substance in Australia under the Poisons Standard (February 2020). [21] A schedule 4 substance is classified as "Prescription Only Medicine, or Prescription Animal Remedy – Substances, the use or supply of which should be by or on the order of persons permitted by state or territory legislation to prescribe and should be available from a pharmacist on prescription." [21]

See also

Related Research Articles

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References

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