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What are the most effective nootropics that you can use today? Nootropic supplements are also called cognitive enhancers and brain boosters for their ability to produce positive effects for mental performance.
Some of these benefits include improved memory and speed of recall, enhanced learning capacity and attention span, increased mental energy, focus, concentration and clarity of thought.
Sometimes these effects can lead to increased fluid intelligence, better decision making, improved problem solving and even more creative thought. Communication between neurons in the brain is improved which enhances their overall efficiency and may even work to keep the brain healthier.
There are also a number of clinical uses which continue to be explored. Researchers have investigated the effects of nootropic agents for conditions including Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases, ADHD, dementia, and age-related cognitive decline.
With all of these benefits for focus, memory and energy, it’s not surprising that nootropics have really seen their popularity explode. But how do you get started with these supplement?
There are so many popular nootropic supplements available that it might be confusing as to which ones you should use. To help you get started, we would like to highlight some of the strongest Nootropics that you can use and help you differentiate between their particular benefits.
Listed below, in no particular order, are the top 10 best Nootropic supplements and drugs at this time with a brief description of their uses and methods of action.
Mental Function
Mental Function
Brain Health- Promotes brain health & communication
- Supports memory, reasoning & cognition
- oosts focus, mental clarity & attention
Noopept:
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- Enhace Intelligence
- Boost Memory
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- Nootropic Side Effects & Dangers
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Long considered to be one of the strongest Nootropics available, Noopept produces a number of effective benefits related to synaptic plasticity. It is thought to increase memory consolidation and working memory, sometimes significantly.
Other effects include increased learning ability, improved reflexes and sensory perception, better overall mood, reduced anxiety, advanced logical thinking, and better overall cognitive performance.
Noopept works by stimulating the Nicotinic, AMPA and NDMA receptor sites within the brain. This serves to increase the activity of neurotransmitters like Glutamate, Acetylcholine, Dopamine, and even Serotonin.
It has also been shown to increase levels of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor and Nerve Growth Factor, two proteins that promote the growth and maintenance of neurons and neural connections.
All of these actions combined are responsible for the wide range of beneficial effects from this Nootropic.
Pramiracetam:
This compound is basically an enhanced version of Piracetam, the original Nootropic. It has significantly higher oral bioavailability, meaning that you need a lower dosage of this brain pill to see therapeutic effects.
It works in a very similar fashion, by binding to the Acetylcholine receptor sites and then inhibiting their desensitization so that the action potential of the neurons is greater.
This is why it is believed to promote cognitive function, support memory and learning capacity, improve overall brain energy, attention span, concentration, and focus.
Pramiracetam is also a very powerful Nootropic, much more potent than many of its forerunners like Piracetam. It is noted for having a particularly long half-life and for promoting long, intense sessions of focus and productivity.
This is one of the “purer” Nootropics from the standpoint of receiving only the cognitive effects. There is very little influence on mood or anxiety levels when taking Pramiracetam powder. However, some people do experience an “emotional dampening” effect whereby they are more zoned-in and less likely to feel emotions.
Modafinil:
Modafinil is one of the strongest Nootropics that can be used, but it should be approached with caution. It was originally developed for clinical use treating narcolepsy and other sleep disorders. Another current use includes treating sleep apnea and promoting greater alertness in shift workers such as doctors and nurses.
Although it is not really a cure for either of these, it is considered to be a powerful wakefulness agent. This is much sought-after option for people who experience excessive daytime sleepiness or persistent fatigue.
There are also a number of cognitive effects when taking Modafinil. This includes increasing memory and improving mental energy, extending the attention span, and increasing focus, concentration and general thinking. Although tolerance can occur, this could be an excellent Nootropic to consider for the right person.
It is important to remember that Modafinil is a prescription-only drug in many parts of the world so you should speak to a doctor before seeking out this drug.
Adrafinil:
Adrafinil is another energy-boosting Nootropic that works very similarly to Modafinil. In fact, many people take Adrafinil if they cannot legally purchase Modafinil in their country. This is because Adrafinil actually converts into Modafinil in the liver and it is legal to purchase in places such as the United States.
It carries almost all of the same benefits and is primarily used as a wakefulness agent and off-label Nootropic for the effects upon memory and cognition. It is best to use Adrafinil either on a cycle or on an occasional basis to avoid a tolerance build-up and to prevent possible side effects with continued use.
Adrafinil is a pro-drug for Modafinil, meaning it first has to be metabolized into this smart drug in order to be effective. The liver is responsible for metabolizing Adrafinil into its active form.
Because this can cause an increase in liver enzymes over time, it is recommended to only use Adrafinil for short periods of time. It is not appropriate for daily use.
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Sulbutiamine:
This is a synthetic version of Thiamine originally developed in Japan. It is used primarily to help increase overall brain energy. Sulbutiamine also leads to an improved attention span and better ability to focus and concentrate. It also helps one to relax and induces a feeling of general well-being.
While not really being a “true” Nootropic is it still one of the most commonly used supplements taking in conjunction with a Nootropic routine since it does seem to go very well with other supplements.
Phenylpiracetam:
Phenylpiracetam is basically a stronger version of Piracetam, said to be 60 times more concentrated. It has a Phenyl molecule group attached to the original Piracetam, which gives it some interesting properties and benefits. This supplement is known to help improve general tolerance to cold and stress.
It also leads to intense focus and helps physical performance and even workout recovery times. Users also report cognitive benefits such as increased memory, learning capacity, attention span, focus, concentration, and improved mental energy.
Aniracetam:
Aniracetam is considered both a Racetam and part of the Ampakine family which means that it offers more than just purely cognitive improvements. It is actually a fairly potent anxiolytic. That means that it helps to reduce levels of stress and anxiety and can provide mood enhancing effects.
Anyone who suffers from anxiety (especially social anxiety), depression, stress or other related mood disorders may want to consider Aniracetam.
This nootropic also offers additional benefits such as increasing memory and improving focus, attention span and clarity of thought. Some people feel a stimulant effect when taking Aniracetam supplements, but it is not actually a Central Nervous System stimulant. In fact, it is more common to experience higher energy levels accompanied with a feeling of relaxation when using this supplement.
5-HTP:
5-HTP is made in the body from L-Tryptophan and converts into Serotonin within the brain. Serotonin is one of the most important mood-regulating neurotransmitters which plays a role in promoting proper sleep patterns. It can also have a positive effect on focus, preventing over-excitement within the brain.
5-HTP can be purchased as a dietary supplement on its own. You may also find it as an ingredient in a number of other nootropic suplements.
Huperzine A:
Huperzine A is a popular herbal nootropic that comes from a plant found in China known as Huperzia Serrata. It is an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor that has been studied for its effects on memory retention, cognitive decline and mental performance.
The main benefit of this supplement is that it helps to increase Acetylcholine levels within the brain. It does this by preventing the acetylcholinesterase enzyme from breaking down this neurotransmitter when it is released from your neurons.
As we have seen above, this important neurotransmitter helps to improve memory and enhance a number of other cognitive processes and functions. This could be a good place for newcomers to the world of Nootropics to start since it is very mild and well-tolerated in small doses.
Choline:
Choline is one of the most basic components for any Nootropics supplementation routine. Choline can be found in many of the foods that we eat, but unfortunately in low levels. By supplementing with a choline source, you can ensure that the body has enough raw materials for the production of Acetylcholine since it is a direct precursor.
There is also evidence which suggests that Choline is able to potentiate the effects of many of the other Nootropics. Taking a good quality Choline source (CDP Choline, Alpha GPC, or Centrophenoxine) may also help to alleviate headaches, which is one of the most commonly reported side effects of Nootropics.
Nootropics List
In addition to the Nootropics listed above, there are over 200 other supplements and drugs that have been identified for their cognitive-enhancing effects.
Some of these include natural dietary supplement ingredients like Green Tea Extract, Caffeine, Lion Mane Mushroom, Cat’s Claw, Omega-3 Fatty Acids, N-Acetyl L-Tyrosine, ALCAR (Acetyl L-Carnitine), Ginkgo Biloba, Bacopa Monnieri and more.
There are also complete natural nootropic supplements that combine multiple of these ingredients together to promote synergistic effects. Onnit Alpha Brain is one of the most popular brands of such supplements. Others include OptiMind, Mind Lab Pro, Neurofuse, CILTEP, Piracetol, NeuroPeak, NeuroIgnite, Neuro Clarity, Neovicta Clarity and BioScience Nutrition Brain Boost.
Others include smart drugs and prescription pharmaceuticals like Adderall, Ritalin, Nicotine, Vinpocetine (Intelectol), Lithium Orotate, Tianeptine, Pyritinol, PRL-8-53, Semax, Selank and more.
Interested in exploring more of the popular brain pills with nootropic effects? Check out our full List of 200+ Nootropic Supplements and Drugs here for reviews and descriptions of the most widely used supplements for cognitive function.
- They should enhance learning and memory.
- They should enhance the resistance of learned behaviors/memories to conditions which tend to disrupt them (e.g. electroconvulsive shock, hypoxia).
- They should protect the brain against various physical or chemical injuries (e.g. barbiturates, scopalamine).
- They should increase the efficacy of the tonic cortical/subcortical control mechanisms.
- They should lack the usual pharmacology of other psychotropic drugs (e.g. sedation, motor stimulation) and possess very few side effects and extremely low toxicity.
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Article last updated on: February 21st, 2018 by Nootriment
24 Comments
Great article, I have researched and experimented with nootropics for years but always learn something new when I come to nootriment to read.
I agree that, pramiracetam is basically an ‘enhanced’ version of Piracetam. That’s a good way of putting it.
ModafinilI always find interesting. It seems to be the most common nootropic, but admittedly one of the few I have never tried. I am curious every-time I read about it, but as you mentioned the prescription is what prevents me at this stage.
Anyway, keep up the great reporting on nootropics!
I bought modafinil from ******* I think, arrived fine and really enjoyed it. Would probably get more when I have the money, interested in phenylpiracetam.
Anyway good article!
You mentioned that you bought Modafinil, in Canada it is Alertec but it is also with a prescription. Are they still selling without that prescription ?
Nice article. I have experimented mostly with modafinil and Piracetam. I did try adrafinil, but it did not have such a strong effect as Modafinil. I had to take more than 300 to feel something.
Hey Rob,
Thanks for the feedback and sharing your stack. It seems that response to adrafinil is different for different people, with some experiencing effects at a dosage of 150 mg per day and others requiring higher dosages to notice any effects.
One thing I’ve found is that there is a lot of fake Adrafinil sold online. Not every vendor conducts the necessary testing to identify the ingredients in the products they are selling. You should only ever buy from vendors that provide a Certificate of Authenticity showing that it has been tested by a third-party laboratory.
I would like to try any of the best nootropics.
Which are the best you suggest without any subscriptions and shipped to all europe countries?
And if the best are prescribed how should i convince the doctor to prescribe me Provigil (Modafinil) ?
You don’t need a Doctors prescription. A very good site who are always very reliable is – just google m********* cat
Not sure how or where to begin so I’m hoping someone can guide me: I have a 16yr old with cognitive and receptive delay as well as audiology processing delay. I want to start her on nootropics but not sure where to begin. What is stacking and racetam?
Can anyone provide some guidance?
Gina,
First – my advice is not a doctor’s advice, so back your decisions up with as much research as you can.
That out of the way, I am not sure (which doesn’t mean a whole lot) that nootropics will help your child. But they might! And I’d certainly be going that route if I was in your position. I’d think: “I have to at least try.” Noots are beneficial for hosts of ailments, so who really knows.
That said ! “Racetam” refers to a class of smart drugs with “racetam” as suffixes to their names (racetam at the end of their names). For example:
1. Aniracetam
2. Piracetam
3. Oxiracetam.
They all do different things to different people. They are a class of smart drugs, classified as drugs in USA. You can certainly purchase it legally, from a good source on the web. I’d scour E-bay, or search this site if they have it.
“Stacks” are simply combinations of different nootropic/smart drug compounds. So when one says: A piracetam/choline stack, they just mean: A combination of piracetam and choline, which makes this “stack.” It’s another way of saying bundle. Or combo. Stack is how it’s used in the supplement world. We don’t really say bundle or combo. We say stack.
As far as TYPES of nootropics to give your kid, I do not have a good answer on that one, specifically because I have no way of knowing which nootropics help the specific cognitive issues your kid is having.
I would stay away from Modafinil, or any of the really strong smart drugs with such a young brain. But perhaps Piracetam, or Aniracetam would work. Both of those nootropics should typically be taken with a B vitamin called Choline. There are many different forms of choline. Choose one (there is CDP-Choline, Alpha GPC, Choline bitartrate, and others) that you understand the most, from doing your own research.
If the racetam/choline “stack” doesn’t work or help, move on to others. Perhaps some herbal supplements like Bacopa, or Artichoke Extract. Perhaps Vinpocetine (creates more blood flow in the brain), or others.
I’d certainly be making sure the kid eats enough fatty fish, or takes fish oil supplements. DHA and EPA (the most prevalent fatty acids in fish/fish oils) are extremely critical for good brain function.
If all else fails, you might try: Uridine monophosphate, Acetyl-L-Carnitine, and fish oil as a combination (a stack). That has some good research behind it demonstrating an increase in a very important part of neural functioning (phosphatidylcholine).
Hope that helps.
If you are undecided about which nootropic or whether to use a nootropic, you might start with a vitamin regimen of substances that while not strictly listed as nootropics, might be enough to help your child. There is no question about their safety or that they work very well to improve intelligence and other brain problems.
I recommend Ginkgo Biloba capsules, 120 mg. and L-Glutamine tablets 500 mg. Glutamate is the largest neurotransmitter in the brain. L-Glutamine enhances communication across the hemispheres. One can actually feel the combo working after about 30 minutes with noticeably improved brain functions.
Take it twice daily: 1 Gingko Biloba and 3 L-Glutamine.
Thanks for the feedback Lynn – much appreciated!
My doctor has just prescribed me modafinil/provigil for chronic fatigue for the first time. I’m 31 and not one to take any medication, but my condition seems pretty debilitating at times. My insurance has denied the prescription twice along with scripts for ridalin and aderall. Ihave fidelis medicaide) does any one out there have any advice as to how to work around this, or on another note, can anyone recommend a legal supplemental alternative to the drugs. I just ordered a nootropic supplement called “Luminol”. Is this anywhere comparable? A couple sites recommended it and stated no side effects… Any advice would be greatly appreciated as I am a newbie to any of this!
thanks in advance
Matt
Hey Matt,
Thanks for your question. I’ve looked into the ingredients for the supplement Lumonol from Avanse Laboratories. The ingredients in this product include Noopept, L-Tyrosine, Phosphatidylserine, ALCAR, Guarana, Ginkgo Biloba, Alpha GPC, Panax Ginseng, Hordenine and Vitamin B12.
It does look like a reasonably well formulated supplement with a number of ingredients that have demonstrated cognitive benefits in research studies.
However, without clinical research it’s not possible to determine whether it will have the same clinical efficacy as Modafinil/Provigil for you.
You should consult with your doctor about using Adrafinil instead if the cost of Modafinil is too high. This is a pro-drug for Modafinil that is sometimes used as an alternative.
I’m overwhelmed to find a site where they discuss substances that enhance learning and memory. Kudos! This helps a lot.
Hi Richard,
Thanks for your feedback. I’m glad this article has been helpful for you. Please let me know if you have questions about any of the nootropics discussed in this article or more general questions about how cognitive enhancers work.
Great article. For those seeking more information, go to Google Scholar and search for the chemical name of the product you are interested in. Many researchers are doing work on this hot topic and they publish often. There is a lot of peer reviewed research on these nootropics. There risks and benefits are openly discussed in these articles and support many of the claims of users. Set your filter to the last few years and you will quickly focus on the most recent up to date information.
Hey Lux,
Thanks for your feedback. PubMed is another great spot to look for information.
Piracetam have side effects. After few days of use i started sleepwalking. Even perfoming quite difficult tasks while in sleep. Iv tryed to take off my huge TV from the wall, my Gf catched me while i was trying to look for something in electricity socket. That was frightening experience as i was very scared that i can do something to myself or others whithout even understanding it.
My GF said that i was responding quite aggressive wile i was in sleep. So be carefull with those nootropics. I stoped consuming it, and all sleepwalking stoped too..
Hi Rytis,
Thanks for posting your experience. Piracetam can have negative effects on sleep patterns. Here is a research study that discusses the effects of Piracetam on paradoxical sleep (PS) latency in rats.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3936493
It would be appreciated if you shared your experience with this nootropic at this article: http://nootriment.com/piracetam-side-effects/
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Hey Justin,
Thanks for sharing your story – appreciate hearing about what worked for you!
According to me it is not addictive as I have researched many years and still using myself. You can leave its use anytime whenever you want. I saw that some comments are against Modafinil. But I don’t think so. Very useful resources you have placed in your post. Thanks a lot.
I myself buy it from piracetam.net in Australia.
I have an 8 year old autistic child that has difficulty concentration and focus.Low in energy lathagic.