I found this while looking through a list of legal and illegal nootropics in New Zealand which someone posted on LongeCity:
http://www.longecity.org/forum/topic/59 ... huge-list/
Some of the other racetams listed there may or may not be useful too:
Racetam Nootropics:
Aniracetam: LEGAL/Unrestricted
Levetiracetam: ILLEGAL/Prescription
Nefiracetam :LEGAL/Unrestricted
Noopept: LEGAL/Unrestricted
Oxiracetam: LEGAL/Unrestricted
Phenylpiracetam: LEGAL/Unrestricted
Piracetam: ILLEGAL/Prescription
Pramiracetam: LEGAL/Unrestricted
Some more info on Noopept:
"While the exact mechanism of action is still not entirely understood, it does appear to function similarly to Piracetam (the original Nootropic) in many ways. Once ingested orally, the supplement is absorbed through the GI tract and then eventually crosses the blood-brain barrier. It reaches maximum concentrations within the brain in about 15 minutes, so it is also pretty fast acting."
"Even when compared to Piracetam, this supplement has a very high oral bioavailability rate. Some studies indicate this may be as high as 90 percent."
"Once in the brain, Noopept reacts strongly with the Glutamatergic AMPA receptor sites. It binds to these receptors site and then helps to prevent the break down of the neurotransmitter Glutamate. While other basic Nootropics such as Piracetam only have weak effects on Glutamate, this supplement appears to exert a much stronger influence. As it binds to these sites, Glutamate is allowed to move between brain cells more easily, helping to increase a number of cognitive benefits including enhanced brain plasticity. Glutamate is the most prevalent neurotransmitter in the brain and when you increase the efficiency with which it works you can dramatically improve the communications and computations that occur between neurons."
"Noopept has also been shown to increase levels of Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) and Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF). The NGF is believed to be responsible for influencing the growth and survival of certain types of neurons, while BDNF also encourages specialization of new neurons and synapses. It is these developments, particularly the new synapses which are thought to be very important in long-term memory, overall intelligence, and cognitive health. It may also help to form new connections and improve the overall level of communication between both hemispheres of the brain."
Source:
http://nootriment.com/noopept-effects/
Another source shows that Noopept is similar to Piracetam in other ways, including one that may be of greatest benefit to us.
Wikipedia states that Piracetam improves the function of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine via muscarinic cholinergic (ACh) receptors. This source: http://nootropicsupplementreview.com/noopept/ claims that Noopept, too, 'increase[s] the efficacy of acetylcholine receptors. Acetylcholine, an important cognitive neurotransmitter is partly responsible for learning, memory, focus and coordination. Influencing how acetylcholine receptors in the brain work is the primary way in which this nootropic works. It is considered to be a strong cholinergic which means it mainly affects the acetylcholine rather than other parts of the brain."
Also: "This nootropic may also be similar to aniracetam because it may affect certain serotonin receptors. The observation has been seen in animals and noopept seems to exhibit an anxiolytic effect which may or may not be repeated in humans."