Piracetam: Illegal & Ineffective

Nootropics are drugs, supplements, and other substances that may improve cognitive function, particularly executive functions, memory, creativity, or motivation, in healthy individuals. Many of these products contain ingredients that the FDA cautions “may be ineffective, unsafe, and could prevent a person from seeking an appropriate diagnoses and treatment”. But unfortunately, unscrupulous supplement makers have flooded the market with supplements containing ingredients with no dietary value and backed by poor or nonexistent science, making them deceptively marketed. The FDA estimates that the nootropic industry reached $640 million in 2015 alone, and millions of consumers may have been tricked into buying ineffective and dangerous supplements.

One such ingredient is “Piracetam”, which supposedly can help increase cognitive function and memory. In the United States, piracetam has NO FDA-approved use, and is not permitted to be sold as a dietary supplement. A 2018 survey of 24 studies that included over 11,000 people found that piracetam performed no better than placebo at improving cognitive function, memory, or intelligence. Side effects of piracetam include anxiety, insomnia, agitation, depression, drowsiness, and weight gain. A 2019 study of commonly available Piracetam supplements in the US found that quality and concentration of the ingredient varied wildly, with some Piracetam supplements containing no detectable quantities of the drug and others containing incredibly high, possibly dangerous doses. Despite the ban and questionable effectiveness, many supplement manufacturers continue to sell Piracetam openly.

If you have purchased a product containing Piracetam, Kazerouni Law Group would like to meet with you at no cost, to discuss potential litigation against the manufacturers who lied to you. If we succeed in court, a judge could award you up to $5,000. You will not be responsible for any costs unless we win, and you would be helping to get these potentially dangerous supplements off the street.