This page is a list of Russian drugs, or drugs that were developed in Russia, the former Soviet Union, and/or post-Soviet countries.
Many Russian drugs are indicated for enhancing physical, mental, and/or cognitive performance, including drugs described as nootropics or cognitive enhancers, drugs combatting fatigue, so-called adaptogens or actoprotectors, and others. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6]
There have been concerns about Russian drugs in the Western world owing to lower standards of medical evidence in Russia compared to the West, for instance in the case of Russian COVID vaccines like Sputnik V. [7] [8]
Some Russian drugs have been attempted to be repurposed and developed by pharmaceutical companies for use in the West, such as phenylpiracetam (fonturacetam), (R)-phenylpiracetam (MRZ-9547), [9] Noopept (omberacetam), [10] and armesocarb (the active enantiomer of mesocarb). [11]
Phenamine (Fenamin), a psychostimulant, is not specifically a Russian drug but the Russian name for amphetamine. [30]
Phenelzine, sold under the brand name Nardil, among others, is a non-selective and irreversible monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) of the hydrazine family which is primarily used as an antidepressant and anxiolytic to treat depression and anxiety. Along with tranylcypromine and isocarboxazid, phenelzine is one of the few non-selective and irreversible MAOIs still in widespread clinical use.
Tranylcypromine, sold under the brand name Parnate among others, is a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI). More specifically, tranylcypromine acts as nonselective and irreversible inhibitor of the enzyme monoamine oxidase (MAO). It is used as an antidepressant and anxiolytic agent in the clinical treatment of mood and anxiety disorders, respectively. It is also effective in the treatment of ADHD.
Monoamine transporters (MATs) are proteins that function as integral plasma-membrane transporters to regulate concentrations of extracellular monoamine neurotransmitters. The three major classes are serotonin transporters (SERTs), dopamine transporters (DATs), and norepinephrine transporters (NETs) and are responsible for the reuptake of their associated amine neurotransmitters. MATs are located just outside the synaptic cleft (peri-synaptically), transporting monoamine transmitter overflow from the synaptic cleft back to the cytoplasm of the pre-synaptic neuron. MAT regulation generally occurs through protein phosphorylation and post-translational modification. Due to their significance in neuronal signaling, MATs are commonly associated with drugs used to treat mental disorders as well as recreational drugs. Compounds targeting MATs range from medications such as the wide variety of tricyclic antidepressants, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors such as fluoxetine (Prozac) to stimulant medications such as methylphenidate (Ritalin) and amphetamine in its many forms and derivatives methamphetamine (Desoxyn) and lisdexamfetamine (Vyvanse). Furthermore, drugs such as MDMA and natural alkaloids such as cocaine exert their effects in part by their interaction with MATs, by blocking the transporters from mopping up dopamine, serotonin, and other neurotransmitters from the synapse.
Aniracetam, 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. Despite the FDA's lack of approval, the drug is readily available over-the-counter in misbranded dietary supplements.
Racetams, also sometimes known simply as pyrrolidones, are a class of drugs that share a pyrrolidone nucleus. Many, but not all, specifically have a 2-oxo-1-pyrrolidine acetamide (piracetam) nucleus. Some racetams, such as piracetam, aniracetam, oxiracetam, pramiracetam, and phenylpiracetam, are considered nootropics. Phenylpiracetam is also a stimulant. Others, such as levetiracetam, brivaracetam, and seletracetam, are anticonvulsants.
Phenylpiracetam, also known as fonturacetam and sold under the brand names Phenotropil, Actitropil, and Carphedon among others, is a stimulant and nootropic medication used in Russia and certain other Eastern European countries in the treatment of cerebrovascular deficiency, depression, apathy, and attention, and memory problems, among other indications. It is also used in Russian cosmonauts to improve physical, mental, and cognitive abilities. The drug is taken by mouth.
Dopaminergic means "related to dopamine", a common neurotransmitter. Dopaminergic substances or actions increase dopamine-related activity in the brain.
Fluacizine, sold under the brand name Phtorazisin, is a tricyclic antidepressant (TCA) of the phenothiazine group which is or was marketed in Russia. Unlike other phenothiazines, fluacizine is not an antipsychotic, and can actually reverse catalepsy and extrapyramidal symptoms induced by antidopaminergic agents like antipsychotics, reserpine, and tetrabenazine as well as potentiate amphetamine-induced stereotypy. It is known to act as a norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor, antihistamine, and anticholinergic. The drug was developed in the 1960s and was marketed in the 1970s. It is the trifluoromethyl analogue of chloracizine.
Phenibut, sold under the brand name Anvifen among others, is a central nervous system (CNS) depressant with anxiolytic effects, and is used to treat anxiety, insomnia, and for a variety of other indications. It is usually taken orally, but may be given intravenously.
Picamilon is a drug formed by a synthetic combination of niacin and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA). It was developed in the Soviet Union in 1969 and further studied in both Russia and Japan as a prodrug of GABA.
Pargyline, sold under the brand name Eutonyl among others, is a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) medication which has been used to treat hypertension but is no longer marketed. It has also been studied as an antidepressant, but was never licensed for use in the treatment of depression. The drug is taken by mouth.
Bromantane, sold under the brand name Ladasten, is an atypical central nervous system (CNS) stimulant and anxiolytic drug of the adamantane family that is related to amantadine and memantine. Medically, it is approved in Russia for the treatment of neurasthenia. Although the effects of bromantane have been determined to be dependent on the dopaminergic and possibly serotonergic neurotransmitter systems, its exact mechanism of action is unknown, and is distinct in its properties relative to typical stimulants such as amphetamine. Bromantane has sometimes been described as an actoprotector.
A norepinephrine–dopamine reuptake inhibitor (NDRI) is a drug used for the treatment of clinical depression, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), narcolepsy, and the management of Parkinson's disease. The drug acts as a reuptake inhibitor for the neurotransmitters norepinephrine and dopamine by blocking the action of the norepinephrine transporter (NET) and the dopamine transporter (DAT), respectively. This in turn leads to increased extracellular concentrations of both norepinephrine and dopamine and, therefore, an increase in adrenergic and dopaminergic neurotransmission.
G-130 is a drug with stimulant and anorectic effects, related to phenmetrazine.
Adapromine is an antiviral drug of the adamantane group related to amantadine (1-aminoadamantane), rimantadine, and memantine (1-amino-3,5-dimethyladamantane) that is marketed in Russia for the treatment and prevention of influenza. It is an alkyl analogue of rimantadine and is similar to rimantadine in its antiviral activity but possesses a broader spectrum of action, being effective against influenza viruses of both type A and B. Strains of type A influenza virus with resistance to adapromine and rimantadine and the related drug deitiforine were encountered in Mongolia and the Soviet Union in the 1980s.
A GABA analogue is a compound which is an analogue or derivative of the neurotransmitter gamma-Aminobutyric acid (GABA).
Glufimet, also known as dimethyl 3-phenylglutamate hydrochloride, is a derivative of glutamic acid (glutamate) which was developed in Russia and is related to the γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) derivative phenibut (3-phenyl-GABA). It contains phenibut and glycine fragments in its chemical structure, has been described, as a "GABA precursor", and is said to modulate the GABA and nitric oxide (NO) systems and to have antioxidant activity. It has been suggested that metabotropic glutamate receptors may also play a role in the mechanism of action of glufimet. Stress-protective effects have been described for glufimet in animals.
Amphetamine type stimulants (ATS) are a group of synthetic drugs that are chemical derivatives of the parent compound alpha-methylphenethylamine, also known as amphetamine. Common ATS includes amphetamine, methamphetamine, ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA) and 3,4-methylenedioxyethylamphetamine (MDEA). ATS when used illicitly has street names including ice, meth, crystal, crank, bennies, and speed. Within the group of amphetamine-type stimulants, there are also prescription drugs including mixed amphetamine salts, dextroamphetamine, and lisdexamfetamine.
RGPU-95, also known as p-chlorophenylpiracetam, is a racetam and a derivative of phenylpiracetam. It was developed by Russian researchers as a potential antidepressant and anxiolytic agent and was first described in the scientific literature by 2010. The drug is described as 5 to 10 times more potent in its activity than phenylpiracetam in animals. It has been identified as a novel psychoactive drug and nootropic sold on the Internet.
Phenatine, or phenatin, also known as N-nicotinoylamphetamine and sold under the brand name Fenatine, is a psychostimulant of the amphetamine family which was developed and used in the Soviet Union. It was used in the treatment of depression, narcolepsy, post-encephalitis sequelae, alcoholic psychoses, asthenia, and other conditions.
Gamophen (XLVII), the product of the condensation of GABA with phenamine, readily permeates through HEB and inhibits the orienting effects in white mice. The preparation has a hypothermic activity and potentiates the action of barbamyl and chloral hydrate, but, in contrast to the majority of depressants, it enhances the convulsant activity of corazole168.
A few others have been suggested as having some therapeutic effect but this has not been shown adequately. These include [...] phenatine (benzedrine plus niacin), [...] Appendix C: Substances Investigated for Prophylactic Effect Against Irradiation: [...] phenatine [...] thiophenatine [...] propylphenamine [...] phenamine [...] methylphenatine [...] methylphenatine [...] phenylphenamine [...]
PHENAMINE (Fenamin) Synonyms: Actedron, Adipan. Allodene. Amphetamine. Benzedrine, Elastonon. Isoamyne. Isomym, Mecodrin, Norephedrane. Phenedrine, Profamina, Propisamine. Psychedrine, Simpatedrin, Sympamine. Sympatedrine. Phosphate : Actemin. Amphetamine Phosphate. Monophos. Raphetamine Phosphate. Sulfate : Atentol, Amphetamine Sulfate, Fenamin. Phenamine, Psychoton, Simpamina. d-l-phenyl-2-aminopropane (phosphate or sulfate): [Chemical structure] [...]