D Pharm Pharmacology Ch-4.8

Topic: Nootropic agents (Smart Drugs)

Nootropics substances that are claimed to improve cognitive function or to promote relaxation, particularly boosting mood, executive functions, attention, memory, creativity, or motivation in healthy individuals.

Classification of drugs:

Nootropic drugs with a dominant mnestic effect (“cognitive enhancer“)

1. Pyrrolidone nootropics (racetams), mainly of metabolic action: Piracetam, Oxiracetam, Aniracetam, pramistar and others.

2. Cholinergic substances: 

• increased synthesis of acetylcholine and its release (choline chloride, phosphatidylserine, Lecithin, L-carnitine, aminopyridine derivatives). 
• cholinergic receptor agonists (oxotremorine, bethanechol, spiropyridines, dinucleotides)
• acetyl cholinesterase inhibitors: physostigmine, tacrine, amiridine, galantamine, metrifonate, velnacrine.
• substances with a mixed mechanism: demanol aceglumate (DMAE), nerve growth factor (NGF), sulbutiamine.

3. Neuropeptides and their analogues: ACTH and its fragments, somatostatin, oxytocin and its analogs, thyroliberin and its analogs, cholecystokinin-8 (CCK) prolyl endopeptidase inhibitors.

4. Substances with an effect on the excitatory amino acid system: glutamic acid, memantine, milacemide, glycine, nooglutyl.