Vyvanse (Lisdexamfetamine) is a prodrug comprised of the amino acid L-lysine coupled with dextroamphetamine, hence its chemical name “lis-dexamfetamine.” As a prodrug, Vyvanse is inactive until ingested and enzymatically metabolized into l-lysine (an amino acid) and dextroamphetamine (a psychostimulant), the latter of which has been deemed effective for the treatment of ADHD and binge eating …
Adrafinil (Olmifon) is a eugeroic agent originally synthesized in the 1970s by chemists at Group Lafon, a pharmaceutical company based in France. Following its synthesis, researchers discovered that adrafinil induced wakefulness in humans, and by the mid-1980s, it was being marketed as an experimental treatment for narcolepsy. Though its exact pharmacodynamics aren’t fully elucidated, adrafinil …
Phenibut (brand name “Noofen”) is a neuropsychiatric drug originally synthesized in St. Petersburg, Russia by a team of researchers at the Department of Organic Chemistry of the Herzen Pedagogic Institute. By the 1960s, phenibut was introduced as a pharmaceutical agent in Russia for the treatment of various medical conditions including: anxiety, insomnia, and PTSD. Since …
Noopept (N-phenylacetyl-L-prolylglycine ethyl ester) is a synthetic peptide manufactured in Russia by JSC LEKKO Pharmaceuticals. Chemically, noopept is a hydrophilic proline with a dipeptide structure consisting of a phenylacetyl subunit bound to a small peptide chain of proline and glycine. Although it isn’t technically classified as a “racetam” (due to its lacking of a 2-oxo-pyrrolidine …
Piracetam is a drug that was synthesized in 1964 by Corneliu E. Giurgea et al. at the pharmaceutical company “UCB” headquartered in Belgium. Chemically, it is identified as 2-oxo-1-pyrrolidine acetamide, shares the same base structure with pyroglutamic acid, and as a result of its pyrrolidone nucleus, is classified as a “racetam” compound. Following the synthesis …
Rhodiola rosea has become a popular dietary supplement in recent years. Rhodiola rosea is a plant derived from the Crassulaceae family and is typically extracted from mountainous, cold climates where it can be found growing on cliffs; it is most commonly found in higher altitudes. For centuries, many people have used Rhodiola rosea as a …
Nortriptyline (Pamelor) is a tricyclic antidepressant that is commonly used as a second-line treatment for major depression. It is also sometimes prescribed for conditions such as chronic fatigue syndrome, bedwetting in children, migraine headaches, and neuropathic pain. The drug may also be effective for some individuals in managing symptoms of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). This …