Some brain-boosting supplements contain an unapproved drug

New research finds that five supplements touting brain-boosting power contain various amounts of piracetam, a drug that’s unapproved by the FDA. The drug is approved in Europe for treating cognitive impairment in dementia, but the FDA doesn’t allow it to be sold as a supplement in the U.S. and has previously sent warning letters to companies marketing such products. The drug, when prescribed at a standard dose, is known to cause a host of side effects — including agitation, anxiety, and depression. Since supplements are not heavily regulated by the FDA, experts are concerned that patients could inadvertently ingest dangerous amounts of piracetam. “You just do not know from day to day if you’re getting zero of a drug or if you’re getting an amount that is more than a prescription,” Dr. Pieter Cohen, lead author of the new study, tells STAT.