Comparison
Noopept vs Rapamycin
Side-by-side of Noopept and Rapamycin. Every row below is pulled from the compound schema and will update as our data grows. For deeper reads, follow through to each compound page.
Noopept
Noopept cognitive enhancer profile: 10 to 30 mg dosage, dipeptide nootropic mechanism, memory effects, and how it compares to piracetam.
Rapamycin
Rapamycin for longevity: sirolimus, an mTOR inhibitor with ITP mouse lifespan data. Off-label geroprotective dosing remains investigational.
Effects at a glance
Noopept
- •Russian dipeptide nootropic developed in the 1990s, registered in Russia 2002 for cognitive impairment
- •Roughly 1,000-fold higher per-mg potency than piracetam; therapeutic dose 10 to 30 mg/day
- •Active metabolite cycloprolylglycine modulates AMPA receptors and increases NGF and BDNF in rodent hippocampus
- •Russian RCTs in stroke recovery and vascular cognitive impairment show modest improvements over 4 to 8 weeks
- •Western evidence base is essentially absent; healthy-adult enhancement trials have not been published
- •Unscheduled in the US but not approved for human consumption; UK is prescription-only since 2014
Rapamycin
- •Inhibits mTORC1 signaling by binding FKBP12, reducing protein synthesis and relieving autophagy suppression
- •ITP mouse program reproduced lifespan extension of ~10 to 25% across multiple genetic backgrounds and sexes
- •Mannick trials showed improved influenza vaccine response in elderly adults using analogs of rapamycin
- •PEARL human trial reported acceptable safety at 5 to 10 mg weekly with some functional and lean-mass signals
- •Common dose-limiting adverse effects include stomatitis, acne-like rash, and mildly elevated lipid markers
- •CYP3A4 substrate: grapefruit, ketoconazole, and clarithromycin substantially raise rapamycin exposure
Side-by-side
| Attribute | Noopept | Rapamycin |
|---|---|---|
| Category | nootropic | pharmaceutical |
| Also known as | GVS-111, N-phenylacetyl-L-prolylglycine ethyl ester, Omberacetam | Sirolimus, Rapamune |
| Half-life (hr) ↗ | 0.7 | 62 |
| Typical dose (mg) ↗ | 20 | 6 |
| Dosing frequency | 2 to 3 times daily, last dose before mid-afternoon | weekly (longevity protocols); daily for transplant indication |
| Routes | oral, sublingual | oral |
| Onset (hr) | 0.5 | 1 |
| Peak (hr) | 1 | 2 |
| Molecular weight | 318.37 | 914.17 |
| Molecular formula | C17H22N2O4 | C51H79NO13 |
| Mechanism | Hydrolyzed to active metabolite cycloprolylglycine; AMPA receptor modulation, BDNF and NGF upregulation, antioxidant and antiexcitotoxic effects. | Binds FKBP12, and the resulting complex inhibits mTORC1, reducing protein synthesis and autophagy suppression downstream of nutrient and growth-factor signaling. |
| Legal status | Approved in Russia and CIS states; prescription-only in UK; unscheduled and unapproved in US, EU varies | Prescription only (off-label for longevity) |
| WADA status | unknown | allowed |
| DEA / Rx | Not scheduled in the US | Rx only (not a controlled substance) |
| Pregnancy | Not recommended | Not recommended |
| CAS | 157115-85-0 | 53123-88-9 |
| PubChem CID | 183503 | 5284616 |
| Wikidata | Q4321022 | Q410174 |
Safety profile
Noopept
Common side effects
- headache
- irritability
- sleep disturbance with late-day dosing
- occasional blood pressure elevation
Contraindications
- pregnancy
- lactation
- pediatric use
- severe hepatic impairment
- severe renal impairment
Interactions
- memantine and other glutamatergic agents: theoretical AMPA-pathway interaction(minor)
- antidepressants: theoretical effect via BDNF axis, undocumented(minor)
- antihypertensives: occasional blood pressure elevation may require monitoring(minor)
Rapamycin
Common side effects
- mouth ulcers (stomatitis)
- acne-like rash
- GI upset
- altered lipid panel
- delayed wound healing
Contraindications
- active infection
- severe hepatic impairment
- planned surgery (delayed wound healing)
- pregnancy
- live vaccines within dosing window
Interactions
- strong CYP3A4 inhibitors (ketoconazole, clarithromycin, grapefruit): substantially raises rapamycin levels, toxicity risk(major)
- strong CYP3A4 inducers (rifampin, St John's wort): lowers rapamycin levels, reduced effect(major)
- ACE inhibitors: increased risk of angioedema(moderate)
- live vaccines: reduced vaccine efficacy due to immunosuppression(major)
Which Should You Take?
Rapamycin comes out ahead for most readers on the criteria we weight: 2 catalogued goals, prescription-only, oral dosing, with a Tier-A outcome catalogued. Noopept is the right call when one of the conditionals below applies.
- → If your priority is focus or working memory, pick Noopept.
- → If your priority is memory, pick Noopept.
- → If your priority is healthspan extension, pick Rapamycin.
- → If your priority is immune support, pick Rapamycin.
Edge case: Half-lives differ materially (Noopept ~0.7 hr vs Rapamycin ~62 hr). Rapamycin reaches steady state faster; Noopept is easier to dial in if tolerability is uncertain.
Default choice: Rapamycin. Wider use case, a Tier-A evidence outcome catalogued, and broader goal coverage. Reach for Noopept only if your priority sits squarely in the goals it owns above.
This verdict is generated from each compound's schema (goals, legal status, evidence outcomes, dosing route). It updates automatically as our compound data evolves; the deeper read sits on each individual compound page.
Common questions
What is the difference between Noopept and Rapamycin?
Noopept and Rapamycin differ in category (nootropic vs pharmaceutical), mechanism, and typical dosing. See the side-by-side table for full details.
Which has a longer half-life, Noopept or Rapamycin?
Noopept half-life is 0.7 hours; Rapamycin half-life is 62 hours.
Can you stack Noopept with Rapamycin?
Stack compatibility depends on mechanism overlap, legal status, and individual response. Check each compound page for specific interactions and contraindications before combining.
Go deeper