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There are many different classes of nootropic brain-boosting drugs that can help you improve your memory, focus better, and learn with more ease.
Typically, nootropics are broken down into the following seven categories of compounds: Natural Nootropics, Racetams, Choline, Ampakines, Vitamin B Derivatives, Peptides and so-called “Smart Drugs”.
Deciding which type to use is a matter of first determining your desired results and matching them to the correct nootropic. In some cases, you can use a nootropic stack to combine supplements from several of these categories at once.
Here is a quick introduction to each of these different types of nootropics to help you pick the best one to use.
Mental Function
Mental Function
Brain Health- Promotes brain health & communication
- Supports memory, reasoning & cognition
- oosts focus, mental clarity & attention
Natural Nootropics
Related Topics
- What are Nootropics?
- Nootropics List
- Types of Nootropics
- Effects & Benefits
- How Do Nootropics Work?
- Natural Nootropics
- Enhace Intelligence
- Boost Memory
- Improve Concentration
- Reduce Anxiety
- Treat Depression
- Nootropic Side Effects & Dangers
- How to Stack Nootropics
- Best Nootropic Stacks
- Strongest Nootropics
- Where to Buy Online
- Cheapest Nootropics
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Herbal or Natural Nootropics are any type of plant based or plant derived substances that have been shown to improve brain health and ability.
Examples of some of the best herbal nootropics include Bacopi Monneri, Vinpocetine, Ginkgo Biloba, and Huperzine-A.
In general, natural nootropics are less effective than some of their synthetic cousins, but you can stack several of these compounds together to improve your results.
Natural nootropics also tend to be very safe and can be purchased cheaply in products like Onnit’s Alpha Brain.
Racetams
Racetams were the very first nootropics ever invented and to this day they remain the most widely used. There are approximately twenty different types of Racetams, but the most common are Piracetam, Aniracetam, Oxiracetam, and Pramiracetam.
All racetams are similar in that they share a standard Pyrrolidone nucleus chemical structure and stimulate receptors in the brain responsible for releasing Acetylcholine.
Acetylcholine is one of the most important neurochemical neurotransmitters in the brain, serving to transmit nerve impulses and other signals across synapses. Your brain is essentially a network of neurons connected by synapses. With higher levels of neurotransmitters, your cognitive function speeds up causing improvements to several different areas such as motivation, learning, memory, concentration, and awareness all at once.
Racetams are also neuroprotective and can speed up the rate at which brain cells are regrown and slow down the rate at which they deteriorate and die. Some racetams also stimulate Glutamate receptors making them hybrids that also belong to the Ampakine family of nootropics.
Choline
Choline and other Acetylcholine intermediates are frequently stacked with Racetams to get better results.
Because Racetams stimulate the receptors that produce Acetylcholine, supplementing with additional choline ensures that there is enough Acetylcholine to be released when the receptors are activated. The end result is higher levels of this neurotransmitter in the brain leading to enhanced comprehension and cognitive functioning.
There are a few different sources of Choline that you can use as a nootropic but some are less effective than others. For example, Alpha GPC, Citicholine, and Centrophenoxine are known to be good sources of choline to use as nootropics. These are all acetylcholine intermediates and are also much less likely to cause side effects when taken in normal dosahes.
Choline Bitartrate, on the other hand, may be cheaper but does not produce as significant results and may cause more side effects such as headaches.
- Focus longer, clear brain fog & feel more motivated
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- Contains 12 safe and natural nootropic ingredients
Ampakines
Ampakines are some of the strongest nootropics available and are relatively new substances in the field of brain research. Ampakines are known to be powerful AMPA and NDMA Glutamate receptor agonists which means they increase levels of glutamate in the blood.
Glutamate is a neurotransmitter that has an important role in synaptic plasticity, making it critical to the processes of learning and memory. Ampakines supplementation in particular is believed to have highly positive effects on increasing attention span and alertness.
And unlike stimulants such as caffeine and Ritalin, Ampakines do not cause the same unpleasant side effects like restlessness, insomnia, and anxiety.
Racetams such as Piracetam, Aniracetam, Oxiracetam, and Primaracetam are weak stimulators of the AMPA receptors and are therefore sometimes considered to be Ampakines. However, substances like Sunifiram and Unifiram are much better stimulators of glutamate receptors and are much more potent than piracetam.
At this point, there has not been sufficient research into Ampakines like Sunifiram and Unifiram to determine their long-terms effects for human use. While this class of nootropics remains interesting from a research perspective, you are better off at present sticking with the Racetam Ampakines like Piracetam and Aniracetam for Glutamate receptor activation.
Vitamin B Derivatives
A small number of synthetic nootropics have been derived from the class of B Vitamins. For example, Sulbutiamine (also known by the trade name Arcalion) is a derivative of Thiamine or Vitamin B1.
Sulbutamine is used as a treatment for fatigue, increasing energy levels and alertness. Studies also show that Sulbutiamine improves memory function by potentiating the transmission of choline, dopamine, and glutamate.
Sulbutiamine has been shown to improve cognitive performance in Alzheimer’s patients, schizophrenics and in mice though so far no studies have been conducted on widespread human usage.
Peptides
There are several different peptide nootropics available these days, but the most common and best performing one is Noopept. Noopept (N-phenylacetyl-L-prolylglycine ethyl ester) is a Russian developed nootropic which is derived from Racetams.
Noopept has famously earned the reputation of being 1000 times more potent than Piracetam according to an article published in the Eksperimentalnaia i klinicheskaia farmakologiia scientific journal. This peptide is highly bioavailable and is effective at penetrating the blood-brain barrier meaning that you can take less of it and still achieve substantial results.
Noopept stimulates both AMPA and NDMA receptors responsible for releasing glutamate and Ach receptors which control levels of Acetylcholine. This makes it similar to both racetams and ampakines. Noopept also stimulates the release of Nerve Growth Factor which is a protein necessary for the grown and maintenance of neurons and nerve cells.
All of these factors make Noopept one of the strongest nootropics available with positive impact on memory, learning, processing, alertness, motivation, and energy.
Smart Drugs
So-called “Smart Drugs” are often confused with nootropics but many drugs that fall into this category would not actually be considered nootropics. For example, Smart Drugs that are amphetamine-based such as Adderall are stimulants and therefore would not technically constitute nootropics.
However, there are some eugeroic drugs like Modafinil that cross the divide. Modafinil is a prescription drug in the USA used to treat excessive sleepiness and fatigue. Modafinil is believed to raise levels of the brain neurotransmitter hypocretin which promotes alertness, energy, and increases motivation levels.
Because Modafinil is heavily regulated in the United States and elsewhere, many people will opt instead to take the non-regulated Adrafinil as part of a nootropic stack. Adrafinil actually converts into modafinil when ingested. It is commonly used as a studying aid because it promotes wakefulness and has been associated with improving concentration in individuals with ADHD.
Adrafinil may not be safe for you to use if you have any heart complications or are taking other prescription drugs, so you should check with your doctor before using this supplement.
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Article last updated on: January 31st, 2018 by Nootriment
1 Comment
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