Interested in what some of you guys take to stay awake and focused all day. And no not adderall. I’ve personally used modafinil, alpha gpc, l-theanine, taurine and bacopa.
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I’ve ‘experimented’ with 5htp, ginkgo, brahmi, l-theanine, ashwaghanda, nicotine, caffeine, ginseng at different points
I’d say they’re all pretty benign but can add 0.1% to mental clarity, focus etc.
May just be placebo… idk
Super keen to try modafinil. Seems like it could be good for long days.
Modafinil is pretty crazy from my experience (in a good way). 10-12 hours of nonstop work and if you supplement in caffeine throughout the day it’s the ultimate drug. Except if you go overboard adding caffeine you will experience some bad anxiety. Just make sure not to take it every day I’d say 2-3 days on 3-4 off.
Modafinil isn't a nootropic, it's a legit stimulant. It has a different action mechanism from amphetamines, methylphenidate or cocaine but remains a psychoactive compound. L-theanine can be used to reduce the anxiety it sometimes induces.
10μg of LSD (1/10th of a tripping dose) is pretty nice too for extended focus and creative thoughts.
how do you get it. i've been interested
Caffeine and Zyn baby, thats all i need
Zyns help you? Lmao whenever I’ve had one I literally feel drunk
Nicotine’s utility depends on where you sit on the addiction axis
If you’re rookie, it will distract you (head spins, feel lightheaded etc)
If you’re full addicted, any nicotine is just getting you to normal
You need to be somewhere in the middle
Have tried nearly everything under the sun over 4 years (adderall, vyvanse, ritalin, daytrana, modafinil, l-theanine, noopept, 5-htp, l-tryptophan, taurine, etc. etc.). There are precisely 2 non-prescription nootropics that I've found consistently useful, with tangible effects beyond placebo:
1. Nicotine - by far the most effective, and also the riskiest. Don't start vaping. It's such an insidious habit that you'll be chain-vaping all day before you even realize you have a problem. Recommend packing no more than one or two 3mg zyns per day, IF that.
2. Caffeine + L-theanine - the l-theanine takes the edge off the caffeine, so you get a more consistent, focused buzz rather than a jittery all-over-the-place peak and harsh crash
I'm trying alpha-GPC as a replacement for nicotine now - came recommended as a nicotine replacement by Dr. Hubermann, if anyone listens to that podcast. Not convinced of its efficacy, but have tried it maybe a handful of times.
Also, don't know why so many people are swearing by modafinil in the comments above. Sure, if you're sleep deprived and need to squeeze out another day of dawn-till-dusk grinding, it definitely does the job. If you're not careful though, it can backfire easily. Used to pop them at 9am, only to be incapable of going back to sleep until 5am. Very overrated if you're using them for anything apart from straightforward wakefulness, imo. Even nicotine improves my focus/cognition more tangibly. As with any pharmaceutical though, YMMV. Safe enough that you can give it a try and judge for yourself.
I agree l-theanine and caffeine I always stack. I forgot about Noopept, used it before having superdays and I felt my communication and thinking was much clearer. Too bad I lost my second container and am too lazy to purchase another.
I say that respectfully but you're just a pussy
Sheesh only 2 3mgs per day? That sounds like hell
Couple of bathroom key bumps after lunch always gets the job done
The science says all the stimulants lead to a point where you're below normal without them, and you just get back to normal with them. Most of that research has been done on caffeine, but if you dig into it and look at the mechanism of action, it's pretty obvious that all of them are going to have the exact same problem.
So it's hard to see how its worth it to take stimulants of any kind. Consider too that we're living in times of great advancement in longevity and healthspan . . anything that risks your future brain/body is a worse proposition in that environment. Think about it . . maybe your grandpa could take risks in his 20's to get ahead because he's expecting to be retired by 55 and dead by 70. For someone who's 20 today, those numbers are much higher so risk/reward of mortgaging your future health is a lot worse.
I've tried different supplements, Alpha GPC and some others. They work at first because you're deficient in something, but the first couple doses address the deficiency so you don't feel anything after a couple doses. The thing is, they did their job. Probably some benefit to taking lots of different ones, each on infrequently. But havent' tried it.
For me, nothing more powerful than a good night's sleep. If you want an edge, find a way to get a few more of those than other people do.
Slightly off topic but I've had significant health problems (hormones, depression, etc.) and I've recently changed my diet to remove gluten, seed oils, and processed sugars. Within a few weeks I'm sleeping better, don't feel foggy headed, and don't get tired as much. Don't underestimate your diet.
Diet is always king
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Nicotine + caffeine user for 12+ years. Recently got off of nicotine and started taking ashwagandha (mainly for cortisol / stress control). I found that it works pretty synergistically with caffeine, really takes the edge off and gives you a "cleaner" focus. Seems to elevate calamity while still being stimulated. Anhedonia is a pretty well-documented side effect though, and this could indirectly increase confidence (moreso of a IDGAF mentality) for those that are constantly stressed out.
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