Cosmic Nootropic Review 2025 | Are Russian Smart Drugs Worth It?

The Russian and American markets for nootropic products are very different. 

• There are pharmaceuticals

• There are supplements

• There are research substances

Pharmaceutical industry

This industry has really strict regulations i.e. FDA approval procedures for the drugs are one of the strictest in the world, and it is undeniably very challenging to overcome this barrier for the company. This with the high costs of undergoing the approval procedures leads to many psychoactive chemical compounds available as drugs in other countries not being available in the US as drugs. 

Supplements industry

• Vitamin and mineral products
• “Botanical” or herbal products—These come in many forms and may include plant materials, algae, macroscopic fungi, or a combination of these materials.
• Amino acid products—Amino acids are known as the building blocks of proteins and play a role in metabolism.
• Enzyme supplements—Enzymes are complex proteins that speed up biochemical reactions.

Researched substances

“Virtually no nootropic compound meets these requirements. So, what vendors sell should be marketed as nootropic research substances, not for human consumption and some companies do this. This is de jure” – says Lev.

He continues to tell us that vendors can sell these products as supplements for as long as they do not give any medical claims, nor step on what is the realm of pharmaceuticals. They also must mention that these products have not been approved by the FDA. At the same time, there is very little to no control over the manufacturing of such substances. 

For this reason, it is necessary when ordering from American vendors to scrutinize the COA of an independent laboratory that can certify that it is indeed the product. You don’t ask for the COA when you go to the pharmacy because you rightfully trust the FDA and the pharmaceutical regulation that what you get there will be pure and produced to all the necessary standards. 

Understanding Russian Nootropics

Lev, CEO of CosmicNootropic, provides a clear perspective on the production and regulation of Russian nootropics compared to their Western counterparts.

In Russia, the pharmaceutical regulatory landscape differs significantly from that in the United States. While Russian pharmaceutical companies must conduct all three phases of clinical trials for drug approval, the process is generally less stringent than the U.S. FDA’s requirements. Consequently, a drug approved in Russia might not have undergone the same level of extensive research as its American equivalents.

Lev notes, “A typical pharmaceutical plant in the U.S. likely adheres to more rigorous quality control standards than those in Russia. International GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) requirements were only introduced in Russia in recent years.”

Despite this, Russian regulations for supplements are robust. In Russia, supplements must be registered and meet specific government norms before being distributed through pharmacies. This strict oversight ensures that only products meeting these regulations reach consumers.

Lev emphasizes, “On our website, we offer only original pharmaceutical products acquired through reputable pharmaceutical distributors or pharmacy chains. We avoid products that don’t comply with government standards. We can provide certificates for specific product batches if necessary, though translating these from Russian to English can be challenging. However, we believe our reputation over the past five years speaks for itself.”

Key Points:

• Regulatory Differences: Russian drugs are less stringently regulated than those in the U.S., but supplements must still adhere to government norms and are sold exclusively in pharmacies.
• Quality Assurance: CosmicNootropic sources only compliant, high-quality products and avoids any that might compromise on quality.
• Importing to the U.S.: Russian non-scheduled pharmaceutical products, which are not readily available in the U.S., can be shipped legally and are generally well-regarded in terms of quality. “Over the last five years, we have not encountered issues with our U.S. customers receiving their products,” says Lev.

CosmicNootropic focuses on providing high-quality, reliable products while maintaining transparency and trust in their offerings.

Legality of Russian nootropics in the US

• If you are a US citizen, by buying from CosmicNootropic.com you agree that your purchase here meets the conditions described by the FDA on the individual import of drugs:

• The drug is to be used for a serious condition for which effective treatment is not available in the United States;

• There is no commercialization or promotion of the drug to U.S. residents;

• The drug is considered not to represent an unreasonable risk;

• The individual importing the drug verifies in writing that it is for his or her use, and provides contact information for the doctor providing treatment or shows that the product is for the continuation of treatment begun in a foreign country; and

• Generally, not more than a 3-month supply of the drug is imported.

With that in mind, let’s start by checking the quality of their website, business model, and presence online.