Anyone use Nootropics/Brain Boosters?
Monkeys,
Does anyone have experience with any LEGAL nootropics/brain boosters? I am studying for the GMAT, and would like something to help me focus a little better. I do not have ADHD, and I have nasty side effects when I take Adderall/Ritalin.I have read some good reviews on FocusFactor on Amazon, but I would love someone who has taken/is taking them to chime in.
If you don't want to comment, send me a PM. Thanks!
Focus factor is good, personally I use caffeine + B complex vitamins, just as a boost. The natural stuff builds your body up over time, so it's not going to help you cram for a test tomorrow, sorry. I'm Terrified at the long term effects of all that other stuff TBH it's not worth risking my brain chemistry, but that's me.
I do. Long story short, you need to do your research on them, try them out, and see what works for you. Always take a lower dose when in doubt.
I'm sure Unforseen will have some good insight here.
On a related note, not nootropics per se but the daily stack that works best for me after 10 years of trying lots of random bullshit is pretty simple:
With first meal: Standard men's multivitamin Vitamin D3 (bone, colon, test health) Naproxyn 600mg (like having 3-4 Aleve basically, don't do this one) Optygen (VO2 supp) 5-HTP 200mg (helps with appetite, mood, healthier sleep) Omega 3 Complex (combination of fish oil, flaxseed oil, etc) Glucosamine Chondroitin 1500mg (for flexibility/joint health)
With every other meal: Omega 3 Complex (at least 3 more times daily) 5-HTP 100mg (at least 2 more times daily) Glucosamine Chondroitin 1500mg (at least 3 more times daily)
Works for a pretty active lifestyle, wouldn't recommend it for someone who doesn't do a lot of cardio. I noticed whenever I tried to bulk up in college I'd end up a lot more antsy because of it. Could just have been bad timing, who knows.
First and foremost having a good diet and good sleep is really important in order to get the maximum effects of the drugs. If you are still on the 'college' lifestyle of shitty food and barely any sleep, the effect will be minimal.
That being said, I take most of the stuff BH takes mainly as a complement to my already healthy lifestyle. If I had to recommend one supplement from the above that would definitely change your life, it would be D3. depending on how much you weigh, 6,000-12,000 IU a day will significantly up your energy levels.
So lets move to the subject of nootropics. I've dabbled in them for about 7 months and I've found a combination that works really well for me.
Aniracetam + Choline.
Aniracetam is part of the racetams, a group of drugs that have been around for quite a while and have been proven to improve mental performance. They wont give you focus, but what they do is they use up the choline you have to improve up your neuronal receptors capacity. Aniracetam has different effects on different people, but the consensus is that it removes the brain fog quite well.
I supplement with choline because when I started taking Aniracetam i would be really fucking tired by 2pm. So I now supplement with Choline around lunch and that keeps me going until I'm done work. It really has significantly changed the way I work. My job entails me to be aware of 100 things at the same time and I feel I can organize and prioritize my daily tasks with great accuracy.
Now two things:
There are also other Racetams (Piracetam, Phenylpiracetam) that I would love to try out, but they are harder to get where I live. I don't know if this is the case for you. Again, read a lot more on the subject before you dabble with this.
Thanks for this, was actually looking into racetams (piracetam and aniracetam specifically) to try and cycle off my prescription... hope it works heh.
Big yoga guy. Blew out my knee a little over a year ago and it helped with the recovery, but I've noticed it's been very helpful for flexibility in general too so I've kept at it and that dosage has seemed to be most effective given I'll do some form of semi-intense stretching every day. Arthritis runs in the family too so I figure it couldn't hurt
Jesus Christ dude. I take a multivitamin, and omega 3's and vitamin C supplements daily but this seems insane. I'm not sure if your body cold properly absorb all of this. I may sound like a hypocrite but even most multivitamins are just expensive urine as your body as difficulty absorbing a lot at once. Do you break tablets into smaller pieces?
Just curious, don't you think just having an active lifestyle helps you concentrate more and improve memory. Increased blood flow tends to increase cognition skills. Maybe the rest of the effects just become placebos after the fact.
The stuff I take (minus the Optygen/Aleve) is basically all in your standard multivitamin, just more of it.
The whole point of supplements is to focus them on either meeting your body's additional needs for certain nutrients or filling the void from not being able to eat the right stuff every day. If you work out a lot, don't have time to cook fish every day, and have a blown out knee, I don't see anything wrong with that stack haha. I wouldn't recommend what I take to someone who's trying to improve their memory. And taking supplements is a total waste of time if you're not eating right and exercising properly. That stuff should be a given.
@ BlackHat
Thank you for your list. Just a quick question concerning 5 HTP.
When do you take your daily dose (morning/evening?) and do you split your dose, like 50 mg in the mornings and 150 mg in the evenings?
Thanks!
I take mine before bed....with a cod liver oil pill and D3
I only take 50mg. We had a discussion with BH about this and he said he would try it before sleep too but I'm not sure if he ever did.
wtf is up with the naproxyn bro, haha
being a recovering drug addict does have its downsides lmao
ah ok my bad, hah. i had to take those when my back was severely fucked up. made me constipated as shit
Guys, thank a bunch. BlackHat, words are not enough. Thank you!
BH, you a walking pharmacy.
I had issues with headaches when using choline...just a buyer beware. Made it impossible for me to do a proper racetam stack.
You might have enough Choline in your system to not need supplementation.
I take a 200mg Caffeine and B-Complex with my multivitamin everyday. Works like a charm to keep my sharp.
Made the front page! :)
Thank you to all of the posters. Wealth of information
I have used quite a few. These work:
Acetyl Carnitine L-Tyrosine
Can stack Alpha GPC with these. It works ok. You get some choline from it.
Can stack Vinpocetine with these.
These work. I've tried Huperzine and don't remember it doing much. Also tried a prescription type that you spray up your nose, ordered it from Europe but don't remember it doing much.
The "-cetams" don't do much for me and I have tried the stronger ones like Oniracetam. Piracetam makes me drowsy actually.
If you can get your hands on Modafinil try it, more stimulant like, more powerful.
I took 1:1 doses of piracetam and choline for a semester - stubborn me, I was waiting for the good effects, and ended up feeling like absolute soggy horse***t for a couple months. Would not recommend -racetams to a friend, but I hear people having some success with it.
I have done the following over my last 3 year at uni and they've worked really well for me - they (1) make sure I don't stress (I stopped taking them for a while and I was freaking), (2) give me stamina, (3) allow me to sleep minimally, and (4) improve my memory. Use at your own risk, do your own research, I took some of these continuously/concurrently, and some not, but I would definitely recommend all of the ones that I list below (but again, do your own research, and in addition to traditional supplements like fish oil/multivitamins).
*take with cayenne pepper to increase circulation, and on an empty stomach - exercising beforehand also helps: - Ginkgo Biloba - Rosemary tea - Rhodiola - Gotu Kola - Ginseng - DMEA
^ Thats my pic bro! Grrrr
Jesus. Y'all fellers over there are all kinds of fucked up.
I'm gonna stick with my chicken gizzards and cordyceps, thank you very much.
800mg piracetam with choline bitartrate 1:1 ratio, 1600mg a day of each. youll notice some minor shit in memory/recall/cognition
if your looking for concentration, get on dat Modafinil 50mg and you will study until your neck hurts brah
Ritalin, Redbull, Verve, 5HTP and fish oil
Anyone have experience with Alpha Brain? Been curious if it's crap or what...
I have and here is my take: While its a decent product, I think a single pill does not carry enough dosage to affect you. Therefore you would need to take 4 or 5 a day just to feel the effects. That to me is a little cost prohibitive for what you get out of it.
Why take a pill when you can exercise?
http://www.amazon.com/ConZentrate-Attention--When-Pressures-Distraction…
It's a cornily written book, but it's helpful.
Maybe it's just me but I've noticed that while adderall does help me focus, the crash is pretty severe. I took it for a shiort amount of time but the emotional swings during the crash deemed it unusable. Has anyone else noticed this?
Yes, a couple things to note here. I'm assuming by mood swings you mean irritability/depression? First, instant (IR) release is a lot worse than extended (XR). Now, ways to combat this:
1) eat when you take it (equivalent of a bagel or sandwich), a small meal halfway through (half a bagel/sandwich), eat a mid-sized/large meal a little after you start coming down. Good to note: Adderall suppresses your appetite, but it's meant to be taken with food.
2) If the above doesn't work, or doesn't work well enough, try taking 5-HTP with your last meal
3) If you are using the instant tabs, break them up. Take a quarter of a pill, then another quarter one hour later, then a half pill 1.5-2 hours later (could also just do half and half). Those are just guesses, you have to figure out what works best for your body. Also good to note, when you've taken some already that day, it doesn't hit you as hard the next time you take it.
4) Make sure you're not taking too much. If you're feeling cracked out (like you just guzzled a couple shots of espresso), you're taking too much. Try #3 for this if it's IR. If it's say a 20 mg XR, try emptying out a quarter of the pill. Save the beads, you can crush them up and use them for a little boost later or you can do this with three pills and then you'll have a 4th dose.
These are just things I've tried personally and have helped me a bit. Hope this helps ya.
Thanks a lot man. I just take a 15 mg XR which isn't a lot but I'm not a fan of taking medications in general as I don't want to become dependent on it and already have experienced some negative impacts from it. When I played long poker sessions, adderall could be a huge money burner due to impacts on the mental game, and I'm sure that traders have had similar experiences. I'll try your tips and talk to my doc about it. I just ordered FOCUSfactor after reading about it so I'll see how it holds up against adderall.
Someone else had good suggestions but also trying eating a banana or two as it will help your blood flow and reduce blood pressure. Stay hydrated, drink tons of H2o. What I would do was about half way through a session I would make a smoothie consisting of strawberries, banana, blueberries, scoop or two of ice cream, orange juice and ice. That helps you get calories without eating (you never want to eat on stimulants) and stay hydrated and makes you feel less cracked out. Also, when you take your smoothie take 2 or 3 ibueprofen and you should have less of a come down.
When I was younger yeah.
Piracetam/centrophenoxine combo gives me very good results on remembering stuff I read (basically a racetam/choline mimetic combo similar to what other people in comments use). Caffeine if I need to stay awake.
Used Modafinil for focus/studying overnight time to time when it just appeared on the market and was unregulated, but it's a scheduled drug these days, so not worth risks to land in jail. Besides, I would not use it long term because of the risks of developing liver side effects.
Wow, you guys are hardcore. I have a cup of coffee in times of desparation every 2-3 weeks, end up with a borderline heart attack experience every time.
Jesus christ you guys... what ever happened to lots of water supplemented with caffeine, good sleep, and some exercise.
I've always, since Limitless (joking), been tempted, but just don't want to the run the risk of being a 70 yr old zombie.
/bookmarked On a side note ... any tips to get rid of my man boobs?
Diet and exercise. And a ton of ephedrine.
These suggestions have been scattered throughout the above comments but what really helps me is:
(somewhat) in that order.
bud redbull cigarettes addy
Don't waste your time with piracetam, its too weak.
I take pramiracetam, oxiracetam, and aniracetam everyday (as well as a choline tablet, unless I eat eggs that morning). Honestly I don't know if my cognitive abilities have been sharpened by these, but they keep me awake all day (I quit using caffeine when I started these). For that reason, I wouldn't take them past noon or you will get insomnia.
A couple points:
1) Many of these molecules are fat-soluble, meaning if you don't eat them with a fatty food they are just gonna pass right through you. If I'm not eating that morning I drink it with a couple glasses of whole milk, seems to work fine.
2) Be careful where you buy your stuff from. Lots of sellers on amazon with good ratings and incredibly cheap prices. But they are manufactured in china and there is no certificate of analysis provided, so god knows how much heavy metals are in them.
pm me if you have any questions.
So is there any way you can get this stuff in caplet form instead of a powder? I hate powders, but am interested in trying this stack with choline. Choline is easy enough to find, but what would you guys recommend for the tam stack?
boostyourgrade.com sells ani and oxi in capsule form, and these are made in the us in fda-approved lab. I used to order through their store on amazon but now order directly through them with paypal because the prices are sometimes slighly better on their site.
smartdrugsforthought.com is another site that also sells on amazon, the prices are the same unless you buy in bulk
Jesus, this is worse than a bodybuilding forum on workout supplements.
As for most prescriptions, talk to a doctor not know-nothing people on this site. When I needed to give a big presentation in law school my doc recommended beta blockers, which are money for performance anxiety, and I bet they will know what you're looking for. What I do though is exercise before work/school, caffeine, and ginko biloba as my problem is short-term memory when getting tired/stressed. Not to mention, I'm not fucking with shit that could make you a drooling invalid by 50.
You realize that we're not talking about prescription drugs (for the most part, temporary aside for Adderall discussion)?
snort Count Chocula
1,3-dimethylamylamine (also known as DMAA) will get you focused and keep you up for hours. FYI, as this is the compound in Jack3d, you may want to do some more research on it, as a number of people have undesirable side effects from it (although this is mainly related to physical activity). In any event, I think it can be very effective, just definitely start with small dosages. If I recall correctly, each scoop of Jack3d contains about 15-20mg of it, although you can also buy just the raw, tasteless powder online.
Look up Dopamine agonists and L-Dopa. Just don't take them if you are trying to make big investment decisions, or you are trying to abstain from sex. They do have a tendency to increase impulsiveness, and some people use them as aphrodisiacs.
Most people would be slightly ADHD after this. (Not sure if he's trolling.) It would be best to sack it with something else that gives a calming effect.
How much do these various routines cost per month?
Bloody hell you yanks love your prescription pills!
Whatever happened to starting the day with an invigorating run and a cup of tea?
Those days died with the Redcoats.
THIS IS AMERICA!
Couldn't pick just one, posted both
cocain usually works for me
any thoughts on wellbutrin?
I'd stay far away from that stuff unless you are working with a doctor, and even still...
many thanks for your reply illuminati
do you think that wellbutrin can be used for studying (the way that people without ADD/ADHD "use" adderall/ritalin/etc)? (i never used anything, dont even drink coffee or tea for that purpose) tried searching on the web for peoples opinions but was able only to find people that seriously need it
i was not diagnosed with real ADD/ADHD or depression, but i am having incredibly hard time concentrating (both at uni and in general life) and studying for the past few years, although i am not lazy person, stupid or poorly organized. as a matter of fact, i read several books on studying methods, improving efficiency, organizing etc. so that shouldnt be a problem
my doctor prescribed me wellbutrinXR150 after having talked to me for few hours not sure if it will have any effect on me?
i am not really a depressed person, i am not hyperactive or anything of the sort, and i am pretty much happy with my life.. i just feel like a need some balanced push because natural methods simply havent helped and im struggling so much. i am starting to feel the pressure and things are gradually getting worse as the time passes
i do sports on high level, eat healthy (well, this might not be 100% true because i buy very cheap stuff so i might miss some vitamins, but i never eat trash, look excellent and im healthy), meditate, have girlfriend and friends, hobbies, no family problems, weather is good etc. so those regular things shouldnt be the problem
My study stack includes noopept, pramiracetam, oxiracetam, phosphatidylserine, L-theanine, skullcap, fish oil, rhodiola and ashwagandha. Blew through 12 books in just 3 months (include works by William Faulkner, Joseph Conrad and T.S. Eliot).
Where do you buy your noopept? Interested in trying it but don't want to get it from sketch manufacturers outside the US.
Sent you a PM
Has anyone else here used Noopept for work? If so, where did you get it from and what was your overall experience like?
Where is the most legitimate source to find more information regarding nootropics? I'm prescribed for Adderall XR to treat my ADHD but I would like to get off it and move on to nootropics as it seems to be a safer and more effective method. I'm not sure where to start and I would appreciate any guidance. Thanks guys
A word of warning I forgot to mention to those interested in noots: many of them (esp when used in combination) cause you to become sensitive to drugs, especially caffeine, alcohol, nicotine, and pot. I drink much less now, and certainly no longer on weekdays (when I am taking these pills).
Please don't stop taking your doctor prescribed anti-depressants because of advice of people on this forum. That's really my only advice for you.
I think they deliver to Europe, but I could be wrong.
Dude what the fuck is wrong with you people and your pill popping. If you need to stay up and focus, pack a lip or throw in a dip (whichever you prefer).
Adderall in the way to go others just give u that energy boost addies give u brain power I get tons of them in NYC and only pay 15 per 1
Yeah I take the 200mg 5-HTP right before bed now. Works a lot better I think, and I notice not having as much of an appetite for sugar / fats which is something I like because I've always been a notorious snacker. The mood bump is good but could be placebo. Either way, I'll take it. I'm a heavy guy for my size, if that makes sense, so I usually need to see higher dosages of stuff to get the same effect... that coupled with having conditioned my liver to deal with some serious pain has probably made it that way. What works for one person won't necessarily work for another so I wouldn't recommend my dosages to everyone obviously.
And to the guy who suggested Wellbutrin like it was just some supplement... do some fucking research dude.
Don't think the mood change is a placebo. I feel so much better right before bed even when I had a bad day. I also can't recall the last time I had a nightmare since I started taking 5 HTP religiously before bed.
anyone give you guys shit on your desk when you bust out your pharmacy to take during meals?
What are you doing in life that you're searching for nootropics at 4:30am?
The RX shit works very well, but as you noted nasty sides. You can try Modafinil/Provigil, which does the same thing but isn't as harsh when you come down. Besides that the only thing that readlly did anything for me is Idebenone, but that's more of an anti-oxidant.
I'm fairly nocturnal and don't require much sleep so I can pick my times even during odd hours.
Yeah but provigil is illegal w/out script. What are your thoughts on Adrafinil (for those who don't know, is converted by liver to provigil after an hour and is unscheduled).
Silkroad? Or get an Rx.
Or just accept your brain for what it is and stop worrying about shit you can't change.
Good point!
@"blackhat", @"unforseen", i'm diving into the nootropics world... i just ordered this one:
http://amzn.to/1d9YtfA
saw it has great reviews on several sites plus have a friend who's tried it and said he likes the effect.
either of you you heard of this one? any general advice to pass on for a noob?
cc @"D M"
@AndyLouis, thats one of the many racetams. Just make sure you drink more water than normal and if you get headaches during the day, supplement with Choline (alpha GPC)
Racetams are interesting because they work different for everyone. I'm currently doing a Piracetam cycle and it wasn't as good as when I did Aniracetam. I don't think I will be doing Piracetam again.
Provigil worked, but made the left side of my face feel numb / tingling sensation after a few days of use. Was scared I was getting a stroke or something hah.
All you need is Jacked 3d and the blue pill
Tried Noopept. Felt nothing. Still pop a couple if I have a hangover (rarely).
Nootropics, Smart Drugs etc do they help? (Originally Posted: 10/24/2012)
Do any of you guys use nootropics?
I'm a journalist writing a story about smart drugs for a glossy men's magazine and would love to hear any stories you might have about trying these weird brain-enhancing drugs (or have heard about others using them)...
If anyone wants to email me, feel free: jamesmcgirk ( at ) gmail (dot) com
Adderall + vyvanse has earned many men (in finance, startups, tech, etc) millions and millions. Of course they work.
What is it about that combination? Is it just a stimulant or does it do something more?
Just how glossy?
Among the glossiest!
Nootropics or amphetamines? I bought a bottle of piracetam once and it didn't do it for me. On the other hand I have a Dexedrine prescription and it works wonders.
I'm more interested in nootropics (like piracetam) or neuro-enhancing supplements than amphetamines... But what made you think of trying piracteam?
Adderall + Vyvanse hopefully isn't a combination in what that dude is saying. Since Vyvanse is the prodrug of what makes up 75% of Adderall.
I tried nootropics for awhile (aniracetam and choline supplements) but didn't really notice anything. Some people get great effects I've heard, but I noticed nothing.
Same boat with the aniracetam and piracetam. Didn't notice any changes. Haven't tried addy yet...
Thanks to you both, 'too subtle to notice' seems to be a common theme. I'm tempted to try it myself, especially the weird new Russian one called "Noopept". I'll be sure to report back
Have tried piracetam/choline combo and didn't notice much.
I use alpha brain and I do notice an improvement in dexterity
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