If you encounter headaches when using piracetam, or any of the racetam family stimulants, it's a sign that you have to start taking choline. Choline is used rapidly by the body when medicating on piracetam, causing headaches, so you have to replace it with a choline supplement.
I've heard that piracetam is so subtle that it's not worth messing around with, and that aniracetam is only a little bit better. If you're serious about using a nootropic, use a more potent analeptic like modafinil or amphetamines, if they're available to you.
Amphetamines have the distinct disadvantage of being more rigorously regulated - not to mention a whole host of various physiological drawbacks including overdose-induced psychosis.
Modafinil, sure. Its drawbacks are fairly minor. I seem to recall that it's fairly ubiquitous in medical circles - certainly, you'd probably want your surgeon working ten-hour shifts on a delicate operation to be on the stuff than not.
I've heard that piracetam is so subtle that it's not worth messing around with, and that aniracetam is only a little bit better. If you're serious about using a nootropic, use a more potent analeptic like modafinil or amphetamines, if they're available to you.