Regulatory and label guide
Phenylpiracetam (Fonturacetam): Evidence, Risks, and WADA Status
Phenylpiracetam is a synthetic racetam sold online with focus, energy, and performance claims. It is not an established dietary nutrient, reliable evidence in healthy adults is limited, and retail availability does not establish lawful supplement status or safety.
Also listed as: fonturacetam, 4-phenylpiracetam, carphedon, carphedone, or phenotropyl. R-phenylpiracetam and S-phenylpiracetam make more specific chemical-form claims.
Regulatory note: Phenylpiracetam is included because it can appear in products marketed as supplements. Its inclusion in this directory does not mean it is an established dietary ingredient, lawful in every jurisdiction, or endorsed by NutriDetector.
Overview
Phenylpiracetam is a synthetic racetam, not an established dietary nutrient
Phenylpiracetam, also called fonturacetam, is a synthetic compound in the racetam family. Chemical databases also use names including 4-phenylpiracetam, carphedon, carphedone, and phenotropyl. It is not an established dietary nutrient. In its 2019 warning letter, FDA stated that the cited phenylpiracetam product was not a dietary supplement or conventional food. 1, 4
Online sellers may place it in capsules, powders, nootropic products, or pre-workout blends. That retail presentation does not establish that the ingredient is a lawful dietary supplement, an approved medicine, accurately identified, or suitable for self-directed use. 9
The practical label question is therefore different from the question asked for a vitamin or botanical extract. Clear naming and a disclosed amount can improve transparency, but they do not resolve regulatory status, product identity, human evidence, anti-doping risk, or personal safety.
Evidence and claims
Human evidence is too limited for confident focus or performance claims
Human publications commonly cited for phenylpiracetam do not establish routine cognitive or physical-performance benefits in healthy adults. The available reports are older, often published in Russian, and focus on clinical populations rather than people seeking a consumer nootropic.
A 2007 comparative add-on study involved 31 people with epilepsy who received phenotropil alongside antiepileptic medicines and 30 people who received antiepileptic medicines alone. A 2014 non-interventional observational program followed 1,170 people with chronic brain ischemia. A short 2006 comparative report concerned vascular encephalopathy. These studies do not demonstrate better everyday focus, productivity, cold tolerance, or athletic performance in healthy users. 5, 6, 7
Focus and memory
Published patient studies cannot be converted into proof of sharper focus, better memory, or greater productivity in healthy adults. Claims such as “works immediately” or “clean Adderall-like focus” are not responsible summaries of the clinical evidence.
Physical performance
Anti-doping classification is not proof that a substance improves endurance, strength, cold tolerance, or training outcomes. A WADA listing answers a sport-compliance question, not an efficacy question.
Mechanism claims
Animal experiments have reported different activity for phenylpiracetam stereoisomers, but mouse behavior and brain measurements do not establish a cognitive benefit, safe dose, or predictable response in people. 8
Internet protocols
The reviewed evidence does not establish a safe and effective consumer dose, a required cycling schedule, a cut-off time, or a need to combine phenylpiracetam with Alpha-GPC or citicoline.
Statements such as “30 to 60 times stronger than piracetam” also need a defined outcome, preparation, population, and comparison. A potency claim without those details is marketing shorthand, not a clinically useful conclusion.
Names on the label
Several names can point to the same core substance, but derivatives still need separate identity checks
How common label names should be read
- Phenylpiracetam, fonturacetam, 4-phenylpiracetam, carphedon, carphedone, or phenotropyl
- These names are used for the same core compound in chemical databases. A familiar synonym does not establish product approval, lawful supplement status, or analytical identity. 4
- Phenotropil or phenotropyl
- These names may be used in commercial or medicine-related contexts. Their appearance on a retail label does not prove that the product is an authorized medicine, matches a studied preparation, or contains verified fonturacetam.
- R-phenylpiracetam or S-phenylpiracetam
- The prefix claims a specific mirror-image form of the molecule. The printed label does not independently confirm that form, and animal results for one form should not be promoted as an established human benefit.
- Phenylpiracetam hydrazide
- This is a distinct derivative with a different chemical record and molecular formula. It should not be treated as a spelling variant of ordinary phenylpiracetam. 10
- Focus blend or nootropic matrix
- A blend title is not an ingredient identity. If the blend lists phenylpiracetam but gives only a combined total, the individual amount and surrounding stimulant exposure remain undisclosed.
Record the exact name shown on the label instead of silently converting an R or S form, derivative, brand-style name, or blend title into ordinary phenylpiracetam. Small naming differences can represent materially different identity claims.
U.S. regulatory context
Retail availability does not establish U.S. dietary-supplement status
In a 2019 warning letter, FDA reviewed products and promotional claims from an online nootropics seller. FDA stated that the listed phenylpiracetam product was not a dietary supplement or conventional food and did not qualify for the dietary-supplement exception from the drug definition. FDA also found that the disease and body-function claims caused the cited products to be treated as unapproved and misbranded drugs in that enforcement context. 1
In a separate 2023 federal case, a company and its chief executive pleaded guilty to introducing misbranded drugs into U.S. interstate commerce. The enforcement announcement identified phenylpiracetam among the racetams involved and stated that drugs containing those racetams were not FDA-approved for use in the United States. 2
These records do not support a global headline that FDA has “banned phenylpiracetam everywhere.” They do show why a U.S. seller, Supplement Facts panel, research-use disclaimer, or online marketplace listing should not be treated as proof of lawful dietary-supplement status. Classification can differ by jurisdiction, product, claims, and intended use.
Tested sport
WADA lists fonturacetam as an in-competition prohibited stimulant
The 2026 World Anti-Doping Agency Prohibited List names fonturacetam, followed by 4-phenylpiracetam and carphedon in brackets, in section S6.A. This is the non-specified stimulant category prohibited in competition. The stimulant section also states that relevant mirror-image chemical forms, called optical isomers, are prohibited. 3
A different spelling, R or S prefix, proprietary-blend name, or seller assurance does not provide anti-doping clearance. Tested athletes should use the current official WADA List and their anti-doping organization’s official checking process.
Anti-doping status and general law are separate questions. A WADA listing does not establish whether a product is legal to sell in a particular country, and it does not prove that the ingredient improves performance.
Read the label
Transparency starts with identity and amount, but it cannot end there
A practical phenylpiracetam label check
- 1. Exact claimed identity
- Record phenylpiracetam, fonturacetam, an R or S form, hydrazide derivative, or other wording exactly as printed. Do not assume that related names are interchangeable.
- 2. Individual amount per full serving
- Check the serving size and whether the ingredient has its own amount. A shared blend total does not reveal the individual phenylpiracetam amount.
- 3. Surrounding formula
- Note caffeine, yohimbine, synephrine, and other stimulatory ingredients. A label can reveal co-exposure even when it cannot predict the combined response.
- 4. Evidence language
- Separate a cited human trial from animal research, chemical mechanism, anecdotes, and broad claims such as focus, motivation, endurance, or cold resistance.
- 5. Regulatory wording
- “Research use only,” “not for human consumption,” or “third-party tested” does not by itself settle the product’s legal status, intended use, or compliance.
- 6. Sport context
- Tested athletes need current official anti-doping guidance. A seller, label, certificate of analysis, or label analyzer cannot guarantee a drug-test outcome.
The same principles apply when phenylpiracetam appears inside a proprietary blend. A long ingredient list does not compensate for hidden individual amounts or uncertain identity.
Illustrative label comparison
A clearer label is not the same as a permitted, authentic, or safe product
These examples explain disclosure quality. They are not product recommendations, dose suggestions, or legal conclusions.
Three illustrative disclosure patterns
- Phenylpiracetam, amount individually disclosed
- The seller states an identity and amount. The label still does not verify the actual contents, purity, legal status, clinical benefit, or personal safety.
- R-phenylpiracetam, amount individually disclosed
- The seller also claims a specific mirror-image form. The label does not authenticate that form, and the R prefix does not provide anti-doping clearance.
- Focus matrix, combined amount only, listing phenylpiracetam and other stimulants
- The total blend amount may be clear while individual ingredient amounts remain hidden. That prevents reliable ingredient-level dose interpretation.
Why it matters: transparency shows what the seller claims to have included. It does not establish actual contents, lawful status, anti-doping acceptability, clinical effectiveness, or personal safety.
Safety uncertainty
Short clinical reports and online anecdotes cannot establish long-term safety
Available publications do not establish a well-characterized adverse-effect rate, safe long-term exposure, or complete interaction profile for self-directed use in healthy adults. A lack of high-quality evidence is not evidence that the substance is safe.
Reliable phenylpiracetam-specific human data are insufficient to characterize possible sleep, psychiatric, or cardiovascular effects or to quantify their frequency. Online anecdotes and reports about related compounds cannot establish the adverse-effect profile of phenylpiracetam itself.
Combining it with caffeine, yohimbine, synephrine, prescription stimulants, or other psychoactive substances adds uncertainty. The absence of a documented interaction does not prove compatibility. The reviewed evidence does not establish safety during pregnancy or breastfeeding, in children, or in people with relevant medical conditions.
Claims that the evidence does not establish
- “Safe at the standard dose”
- The reviewed evidence does not establish an evidence-based consumer dose, cycling schedule, or long-term safety threshold for healthy adults.
- “Use only once or twice per week”
- A cycling schedule circulated online is not a validated safety protocol or protection against tolerance and adverse effects.
- “Choline prevents racetam headaches”
- Available human evidence does not establish mandatory Alpha-GPC, citicoline, or food-based choline dosing for phenylpiracetam users.
- “A certificate means the product is safe”
- Lot-specific analytical testing may answer selected identity or contaminant questions. It does not establish long-term safety, lawful supplement status, or anti-doping clearance.
What a label cannot tell you
A printed name cannot authenticate the bottle
A label can disclose the claimed ingredient name, amount, serving size, and surrounding formula. It cannot verify the actual chemical identity, R or S form, concentration, purity, contaminants, manufacturing consistency, or undeclared substances.
The label also cannot establish FDA compliance, lawful status in every jurisdiction, long-term safety, medicine compatibility, clinical effectiveness, or whether a tested athlete will pass a drug test. Those questions require different evidence and, in some cases, official regulatory, anti-doping, laboratory, or clinical review.
NutriDetector approach
How NutriDetector handles a phenylpiracetam label
NutriDetector can recognize clearly labeled phenylpiracetam and several common synonyms, then record the amount disclosed per serving. It evaluates the information printed on the label, not the product itself.
It does not verify chemical identity, the claimed R or S form, purity, actual contents, legal status, anti-doping compliance, clinical effectiveness, medication interactions, or personal suitability. A product score is not a safety or legality assessment.
If phenylpiracetam appears only inside a proprietary blend, its individual amount may not be available. Derivatives such as phenylpiracetam hydrazide and unclear blend components also require separate identity review against the original label.
Read the full disclosure
Do not let a clear ingredient line become safety clearance.
Learn how to separate claimed identity, serving amount, blend transparency, evidence, and label limitations. For legal or anti-doping decisions, use current official sources.
Questions and boundaries
Phenylpiracetam FAQ
What is phenylpiracetam?
Phenylpiracetam is a synthetic racetam also known as fonturacetam or 4-phenylpiracetam. It is sold online with nootropic and performance claims, but it is not an established dietary nutrient. In a 2019 warning letter, FDA stated that the cited phenylpiracetam product was not a dietary supplement or conventional food. Retail availability does not establish product approval, identity, or safety.
Is phenylpiracetam the same as fonturacetam?
Yes. Chemical databases use fonturacetam, phenylpiracetam, 4-phenylpiracetam, carphedon, carphedone, and phenotropyl for the same core compound. R-phenylpiracetam and S-phenylpiracetam claim specific mirror-image forms of that compound, while phenylpiracetam hydrazide is a different derivative and should not be treated as a spelling variant.
Is phenylpiracetam a dietary supplement in the United States?
FDA stated in a 2019 enforcement letter that the cited phenylpiracetam product was not a dietary supplement or conventional food and did not qualify for the dietary-supplement exception from the drug definition. An online listing or Supplement Facts panel should not be treated as proof of lawful U.S. supplement status.
Did FDA ban phenylpiracetam everywhere?
No single FDA record establishes a worldwide ban. FDA records describe U.S. enforcement and approval issues involving specific products, claims, and sellers. Other jurisdictions can classify the substance differently. The accurate conclusion is not “legal grey area” or “banned everywhere,” but that retail availability does not settle regulatory status.
Is phenylpiracetam prohibited by WADA?
Yes, in competition. The 2026 WADA Prohibited List names fonturacetam, followed by 4-phenylpiracetam and carphedon, in section S6.A for non-specified stimulants prohibited in competition. Tested athletes should verify the current list and use their anti-doping organization’s official checking process.
Is R-phenylpiracetam allowed in tested sport?
Do not assume that an R prefix creates an allowed version. WADA’s stimulant section covers relevant mirror-image chemical forms, called optical isomers, and a seller or product label cannot provide anti-doping clearance. Athletes subject to testing should obtain an answer through current official anti-doping channels.
Does phenylpiracetam improve focus or physical performance?
Reliable controlled evidence has not established everyday focus, memory, productivity, cold tolerance, or athletic-performance benefits in healthy adults. Older publications largely involve clinical populations, and animal research cannot establish a predictable human outcome. WADA status is a compliance classification, not proof of effectiveness.
Is there an established safe or effective consumer dose?
The reviewed evidence does not establish an evidence-based consumer dose, cycling schedule, or long-term safety threshold for healthy adults. Amounts used in older patient studies belong to those specific clinical settings and should not be converted into self-directed supplement recommendations.
Do I need to combine phenylpiracetam with choline?
Available human evidence does not establish that phenylpiracetam users must take Alpha-GPC, citicoline, or another choline source. Online explanations about “choline depletion” and racetam headaches are not a validated treatment protocol and should not be used to self-manage symptoms.
Can NutriDetector confirm that a phenylpiracetam product is legal, authentic, or safe?
No. NutriDetector can organize clearly disclosed names, serving amounts, and blend context. It cannot authenticate the chemical, verify purity or actual contents, determine legal status, provide anti-doping clearance, screen every medication interaction, or decide whether the product is safe or appropriate for a person.
Regulatory, anti-doping, and scientific sources
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Peak Nootropics LLC aka Advanced Nootropics, Warning Letter 557887. February 5, 2019. FDA.
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration and U.S. Department of Justice. Arizona Company and CEO Plead Guilty to the Distribution of Drugs Not Approved by the FDA and Will Pay $2.4 Million. October 30, 2023. FDA.
- World Anti-Doping Agency. 2026 List of Prohibited Substances and Methods. Section S6.A, Stimulants. WADA.
- National Center for Biotechnology Information. PubChem Compound Summary for CID 132441, Fonturacetam. PubChem.
- Bel’skaia GN, Ponomareva IV, Lukashevich IG, Tikhomirova IN. Complex treatment of epilepsy with phenotropil. Zhurnal nevrologii i psikhiatrii imeni S.S. Korsakova. 2007;107(8):40-43. PubMed.
- Fedin AI, Solov’eva EI, Mironova OP, Fedotova AV. Treatment of asthenic syndrome in patients with chronic brain ischemia: results of the non-interventional observational program TRIUMPH. Zhurnal nevrologii i psikhiatrii imeni S.S. Korsakova. 2014;114(12):104-111. PubMed.
- Gustov AA, Smirnov AA, Korshunova IuA, Andrianova EV. Phenotropil in the treatment of vascular encephalopathy. Zhurnal nevrologii i psikhiatrii imeni S.S. Korsakova. 2006;106(3):52-53. PubMed.
- Zvejniece L, Svalbe B, Veinberg G, et al. Investigation into stereoselective pharmacological activity of phenotropil. Basic and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology. 2011;109(5):407-412. PubMed.
- Jedrejko K, Catlin O, Stewart T, Anderson A, Muszynska B, Catlin DH. Unauthorized ingredients in “nootropic” dietary supplements: A review of the history, pharmacology, prevalence, international regulations, and potential as doping agents. Drug Testing and Analysis. 2023;15(8):803-839. PubMed.
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration Global Substance Registration System. Phenylpiracetam search records, including fonturacetam and phenylpiracetam hydrazide. FDA GSRS.