Depending on the severity of your ADHD symptoms, you may be able to use nootropics as an alternative to prescription stimulants like Adderall, Ritalin, Vyvanse and their variations.
I experimented for a year by using nootropics in place of the 20 mg of Ritalin I had been using 3-times a day for several years. And for the most part, I was successful in taming my Adult ADD symptoms.
Table of Contents
Adult ADD Nootropic Stack
The ADD/ADHD stack I use includes:
- Mind Lab Pro
- Performance Lab® Energy – twice per day
- Alpha GPC – 300 mg 3-times per day
- ALCAR – 750 mg 1-time per day
- L-Tyrosine – 500 mg 3-times per day
- Sulbutiamine – 400 mg twice per day
- Aniracetam – 750 mg twice per day
- Vinpocetine – 10 mg 3-times per day
- Performance Lab® Omega-3 – 3 gelcaps per day
- 1 tablespoon unrefined Coconut Oil or MCT Oil– 3-times per day
- Performance Lab® NutriGenesis Multi – 4 caps per day
During my one-year stimulant holiday, the ingredients in Mind Lab Pro along with L-Tyrosine and ALCAR (included in Performance Lab Energy) kept my dopamine, norepinephrine, and acetylcholine levels high enough to maintain focus, motivation and improve my memory. Vinpocetine kept my brain blood flow at optimal levels. And Aniracetam and Sulbutiamine improved my mood.
But after a year I decided to go back to using 20 mg of Ritalin twice per day. Because my workload had me writing 10 hours per day. And maintaining working relationships with 2 or 3 clients at once.
By adding Ritalin back to my stack I was able to reduce the time it would take to complete a project from 3 days to 1 ½ days. Proof to me that my brain couldn’t make it with nootropics alone.
The beauty of continuing to use L-Tyrosine and ALCAR even after I started using Ritalin again was that I avoided the stimulant “crash” that is so common late afternoon when using stimulants. And I was able to reduce the original 20 mg Ritalin 3-times per day down to only twice per day.
And I have not experienced building up tolerance to Ritalin that is so common when using stimulants to treat ADD or ADHD.
Your situation may be different, or ADHD symptoms not as severe. Only you can decide if nootropics can replace ADHD meds. The stack I describe on this page is designed to be used with or without stimulant meds.
Whether you use this stack with meds or without, you’ll need to discover for yourself what dosages of each nootropic are ideal for you. Because the amounts that work for me may not work as well for you. You may need less NALT and/or ALCAR.
Experimenting is the key to success with nootropics. And knowing as much as you can about what’s going on in your brain that needs to be fixed. But after many years of recommending this ADHD nootropic stack to people just like us around the world, we know this works.
The pre-made nootropic stacks mentioned in this post include:
Prescription “Smart Drugs” vs. Nootropics for ADHD
This post is in response to many emails and questions I’ve been getting about how to treat Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) or Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) with nootropics.
So if you are dealing with ADHD, hopefully this post will help. Especially if you are using stimulants like Ritalin, Adderall, Vyvanse, Focalin, or any of the other stimulant prescribed for ADD/ADHD. Or you are trying to deal with ADHD naturally by avoiding prescription stimulants.
This information can also help if you are a student or executive who uses prescription “smart drugs” like Adderall or Modafinil to boost productivity.
Here we’ll dig into the causes of ADHD or ADD in your brain. Symptoms associated with ADHD. And what you can do using nootropics, or nootropics stacked with stimulants to correct ADHD symptoms.
I’ll also include ways to potentiate the effectiveness of prescription stimulants with nootropics so they work better.
If you’ve never ‘officially’ been diagnosed with ADHD, but some of this resonates with you, you could be ADHD or ADD. And this may point you to some answers.
I’ve been ADD all my life. (ADD is ADHD without the hyperactivity). But it wasn’t until about 14 years ago, that a very wise psychiatrist identified what was going on. And why I had been struggling with focus and other problems with behavior. That no amount of self-help books on focus and management could ever correct.
Ritalin turned the lights on for me. And completely changed my life for the better. This was the seed that sprouted my interest in neuroscience and nootropics. And ultimately launching Nootropics Expert®
What is ADHD & ADD?
Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) or Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) are associated with attention and executive function in your brain.
Your prefrontal cortex directs behavior, thought and feeling which are all associated with working memory. These fundamental cognitive abilities that most “healthy” people take for granted, are what make up executive function.
This executive function and working memory give you the ability to:
- Regulate your attention
- Inhibit inappropriate behavior and thought
- Monitor your actions
- Plan and organize your future
If you can’t focus on the task at hand, blurt things out at inappropriate times, have little control over your emotions or actions, and can’t seem to stick to that careful set of goals you wrote down, you may be ADHD.
The Role of Norepinephrine and Dopamine in ADHD
Norepinephrine and dopamine are the primary neurotransmitters involved in ADHD because they play an essential role in attention and thinking.[i]
The “inattentive” type of ADHD is related to issues with the norepinephrine, and the “hyperactive and impulsive” type of ADHD is linked to dopamine dysfunction.
These two neurotransmitters work in concert to maintain alertness, increase focus, sustain thought, effort, and motivation. The only difference between the two is the presence of a hydroxyl group. And dopamine is the precursor to norepinephrine synthesis in your brain.[ii]
Much of what we read about ADHD focuses on dopamine’s function in your brain. But norepinephrine (NE) plays a critical role in activating your reaction to events. And how you respond to the event.[iii] NE is essential for collecting information coming in through your senses. And then modulating your brain’s response.
Any disruption in this NE system can result in ADHD, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), sleep disorders and more.[iv]
For example, NE working with postsynaptic α2-adrenoceptors (α2-AR) in your brain play an essential role in helping you focus and eliminate distractions when you’re paying attention to something.[v]
This is just one example of what goes wrong in the ADHD brain. My point in bringing this all up is not to overwhelm you with neuroscience.
But to make clear that simply suggesting too much or too little of a single neurotransmitter like dopamine cannot explain the complexity of ADHD.
So using a nootropic like Mucuna Pruriens (L-Dopa) to amp up dopamine in your brain is often not enough to take care of ADHD symptoms. Or using Adderall with someone who has a problem with alpha2-receptor binding with norepinephrine may not get much benefit.
This is the reason that experimenting with various stimulants and/or nootropics is often the only way to find a long-term solution to keeping ADHD under control. And why some respond better to a drug like Ritalin and not as well to Adderall. Or vice versa.[vi]
And recent research shows serotonin and acetylcholine are involved too. Mostly the “hyperactivity” part of ADHD which includes movement, inattention, and impulsivity.[vii]
Smart Drugs Used to Treat ADHD
If you are truly and clinically ADHD or ADD, it is unlikely that optimizing your diet, getting plenty of sleep, using nootropics, and exercising regularly will get the symptoms of ADHD under control.
The most severe forms of ADHD often benefit from using prescription medication. Otherwise known as “smart drugs” in some circles, these meds are typically amphetamines or methylphenidate.
The amphetamine-class of ADHD medications includes Adderall (75% dextroamphetamine salts and 25% levoamphetamine salts), Dextroamphetamine, and Vyvanse (Lisdexamfetamine).
The methylphenidate-class of ADHD medications includes methylphenidate (Ritalin) and its variants like Concerta, and Focalin.
Adderall and Ritalin both work with dopamine and norepinephrine in your brain. But through different mechanisms of action.
Ritalin is a pure uptake inhibitor of dopamine and norepinephrine without any other presynaptic activity.[viii] Adderall on the other hand, has additional presynaptic activity, releasing dopamine and norepinephrine from presynaptic neurons.
The idea for the last 50 years or so, has been if we could boost dopamine and norepinephrine in the brain, ADHD symptoms would go away. As long as we’re taking the medication.
Why Prescription ADHD Meds Often Don’t Work
In an ideal world, taking one pill 2 or 3 times a day to treat ADHD would put your life back on track. And help you function like a ‘normal’ person.
But real-world results often don’t work out as well as theory. For several reasons. For example, what if there’s not enough dopamine or norepinephrine in your brain in the first place? Then stimulants will not work as well as planned because they haven’t the neurotransmitters in place to work with.
You could also have problems with not enough or damaged neuroreceptors. Natural aging processes can slow blood flow or inhibit the production of neurotransmitters. A lack of acetylcholine could prevent your neurotransmitters from doing what they were designed to do.
This is where nootropics can help save the day in treating the symptoms of ADHD.
Optimizing Dopamine & Norepinephrine
One of main culprits contributing to ADHD symptoms is a lack of dopamine (DA) and norepinephrine (NE) in your brain. Or your brain is not using the available DA and NE effectively.
Stimulants like Adderall and Ritalin work to boost levels of these two critical neurotransmitters.
Production of dopamine and norepinephrine in your body follows this metabolic pathway:
Phenylalanine → Tyrosine → L-DOPA → Dopamine → Norepinephrine
Dopamine is converted to norepinephrine by the enzyme dopamine β-monooxygenase, with O2 and ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) as cofactors.
Norepinephrine can be further converted into epinephrine by the enzyme phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase with SAM-e as cofactor.
Nootropics to boost dopamine and norepinephrine include:
- L-Tyrosine – L-Tyrosine is the precursor to the synthesis of dopamine in your brain. L-Tyrosine enhances working memory, executive function, creative flow states, reduces stress, improves mood and is anti-anxiety.
Suggested dosage of L-Tyrosine or NALT for ADHD is 350- 500 mg twice per day. I successfully stack 500 mg of NALT or L-Tyrosine 3-times per day. Once each time I dose with Ritalin, and a last dose mid-afternoon to prevent a stimulant crash later in the day.
- Mucuna Pruriens (L-Dopa) – Mucuna works as an antioxidant and heavy metal chelator, improves memory & cognition, reduces depression and boosts libido.
L-Dopa is also the direct precursor to dopamine. Suggested dosage of Mucuna Pruriens is 250 – 500 mg per day. But if you’re just starting out with nootropics, I highly recommend using L-Tyrosine or NALT instead of Mucuna Pruriens. Because Mucuna can be more difficult to dose since it directly stimulates the production of dopamine. L-Tyrosine and NALT are more ‘forgiving’ when it comes to dosage.
- N-Acetyl L-Cysteine (NAC) – NAC is an amino acid that regulates the amount of glutamate and dopamine in your brain.
NAC can be used to treat the symptoms of ADHD. And even helps eliminate some of the negative side effects associated with prescription ADHD stimulants. Suggested dosage of NAC is 600 mg 3-times per day.
- NADH – NADH helps increase alertness, clarity, focus, memory and enhances mood.
NADH also helps stimulate the production of dopamine, norepinephrine and serotonin in your brain. Suggested dosage of NADH is 10 mg per day.
- Phosphatidylserine (PS) – PS can help improve alertness, attention, cognition, memory, recall and mood, and lower anxiety. All issues associated with ADHD.
Phosphatidylserine is a phospholipid component of the membrane encasing every one of your brain cells. PS helps maintain the fluidity and permeability of brain cells. Improving the flow of dopamine and acetylcholine. Suggested dosage of PS is 100 mg 3-times per day.
- Pine Bark Extract – Pine Bark extract helps prevent decreases in dopamine and norepinephrine. And the glutathione (GSH) and GSH-disulphide reductase (GSSG-R) ratio. Neurotransmitter problems which contribute to hyperactivity in ADHD.
Pine Bark extract helps boost blood flow in the brain by increasing nitric oxide which helps dilate blood vessels. And it helps with oxidative stress, membrane damage, DNA damage, inflammation, and glycation.
I’ve found one of the most potent forms of Pine Bark extract comes in both Mind Lab Pro® and Performance Lab® Mind.
A word of caution here in boosting the catecholamines dopamine and norepinephrine. Too much of either is not a good thing. In fact, excess levels of either will throw your neurotransmitter levels out of balance. And can cause anxiety, insomnia and panic attacks.
Taming Hyperactivity
The “H” in ADHD stands for hyperactivity. Boosting levels of dopamine and norepinephrine can help balance out hyperactivity. And help calm and focus your mind. But often simply boosting or balancing these neurotransmitters is not enough.
Recent studies show that serotonin and dopamine interaction also play a role in ADHD.[ix] Serotonin is involved in the uptake, synthesis and breakdown of dopamine in your brain. Problems with serotonin seem to contribute to behavior and impulse control.
Much more research needs to be done in this area of ADHD. But we can help control and balance serotonin with nootropics.
- 5-HTP – This amino acid is synthesized from the amino acid tryptophan. And 5-HTP is the immediate precursor to serotonin in your brain.
5-HTP can help relieve anxiety and depression, fibromyalgia, insomnia, migraines and likely the hyperactivity, depression and anxiety associated with ADHD. Suggested dosage of 5-HTP is 50 mg up to 3-times per day. Please see our dosage notes and warnings however on supplementing with 5-HTP.
- Ginseng – Ginseng helps calm anxiety, and boost attention, concentration and memory. Ginseng provides neuro-protective effects on the dopaminergic-pathway which can help with ADHD. And ginseng is a serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI).
Suggested dosage of Ginseng is 100 – 400 mg per day.
- L-Theanine – L-Theanine commonly found in green tea helps boost alpha and theta brain waves, is anti-anxiety, boosts cognition and memory and reduces insomnia.
L-Theanine also helps boost GABA, serotonin and dopamine levels in your brain. Suggested dosage of L-Theanine is 250 – 500 mg per day.
- Rhodiola Rosea – Rhodiola Rosea helps improve alertness, energy, memory and mood, is anti-anxiety and antidepressant, reduces fatigue and boosts memory and concentration.
Rhodiola influences serotonin and norepinephrine levels in your brain. Suggested dosage of Rhodiola Rosea extract is 150 – 200 mg per day.
- SAM-e – SAM-e helps in the process of cell division and repair. And the generation of dopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine and melatonin.
Suggested dosage of SAM-e is 300 mg per day.
- Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine) – Vitamin B6 helps your brain make serotonin, norepinephrine and melatonin. Suggested dosage of B6 is up to 100 mg per day.
- Vitamin B8 (Inositol) – Inositol as a nootropic can boost serotonin levels which results in feelings of calm, heightened mental energy, and easy thought flow.
Suggested dosage of Inositol is from 500 – 3,000 mg per day.
- Vitamin B9 (Folate) – Folate (NOT folic acid) as a nootropic helps your brain make dopamine, epinephrine, norepinephrine and serotonin. Suggested dosage of Folate is 400 mcg per day.
B-Vitamins are Critical in Controlling ADHD
Take note that several of the B-Vitamin group are involved in the production of the neurotransmitters involved in ADHD. I recommend adding a good B-Vitamin Complex well above the usual RDA levels that include folate (not folic acid) and methylcobalamin (not cobalamin) to your stack. Both in a pure nootropic stack as well as when stacking with any of the ADHD prescription stimulants.
But it’s not only the B-Vitamins that are required for a healthy, fully functioning brain. We also need each of the 13 vitamins and 13 minerals needed for everything from blood flow, neurotransmitter synthesis and release, brain signaling, and neuroprotection.
I’ve found the easiest way to make sure my ADD brain gets all the vitamins and minerals it needs every day is to also use a multivitamin/mineral supplement.
The best I’ve found so far is a new multivitamin called Performance Lab® NutriGenesis Multi. It’s better than the “raw-food” multi I’ve been using for years. And makes a difference I can actually feel.
But please note that this multi is in addition to a B-Vitamin Complex because the ADHD brain needs more of these critical nutrients than what is normally in any good multivitamin.
The Role of Acetylcholine in ADHD
Researchers at Vanderbilt University Medical Center discovered that there are three types of ADHD.
We’ve already covered the “inattentive” type that is related to issues with the norepinephrine transporter gene. And the link to the dopamine transporter gene in the “hyperactive and impulsive” type.
But the research team now report that a variation in the choline transporter gene is associated with a “combined” type of ADHD. Symptoms include both inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity.
Choline is required to synthesize acetylcholine (ACh) which is needed for memory, motor-control, focus, learning, concentration, and cognition.
If you have the “combined” type of ADHD it’s likely due to a mutation in this choline transporter gene variation.
Nootropics to boost acetylcholine include:
- ALCAR (Acetyl-L-Carnitine) – ALCAR donates a methyl group in the presence of Coenzyme-A for the synthesis of acetylcholine. And it’s also a shuttle transport for fatty acids through brain cell membranes. It shuttles fatty acids into mitochondria for ATP synthesis, and shuttles toxic byproducts out.
Research from the Linus Pauling Institute shows ALCAR will restore mitochondrial function, replenish age-related changes to mitochondrial structure, and replenishes acetylcholine levels to your brain and body.
And other studies show that ALCAR stimulates nerve growth factor. Helping support survival and growth of neurons. Which is particularly important for the ADHD brain and especially when using prescription stimulants that may be tough on neurons.
- Alpha Lipoic Acid (R-LA) – Alpha Lipoic Acid increases acetylcholine production by activation of choline acetyltransferase and increases glucose uptake. This process supplies more Acetyl-CoA for the production of acetylcholine.
Alpha Lipoic Acid enhances insulin-stimulated glucose transport and metabolism for better brain cell performance. And R-Lipoic Acid provides strong antioxidant support because it helps regenerate and recycle existing antioxidants in your brain including Vitamins C & E, glutathione, and CoQ10.
I’ve since switched the ALCAR supplement in my ADD stack to Performance Lab® Energy because this pre-formulated energy stack contains my preferred dose of ALCAR. But note that I also take another 750 mg of ALCAR with my NALT dose late afternoon to prevent a stimulant crash.
Performance Lab® Energy also contains Alpha Lipoic Acid which helps my ADD brain produce acetylcholine. And has helped reverse the ‘insulin resistance’ my doctor diagnosed me with a year ago.
- CDP-Choline (Citicoline) – Citicoline helps synthesize phosphatidylcholine (PC), a major phospholipid found in brain cell membranes. And provides choline for the synthesis of acetylcholine while providing antioxidant activity.
The CDP-Choline (Citicoline) in my ADD stack is supplied by Mind Lab Pro® which is the base of my nootropic stack.
But a suitable alternative to MLP is the new Performance Lab® Mind which contains the branded form of citicoline called Cognizin®.
Performance Lab® Mind and Mind Lab Pro® also contain L-Tyrosine, Phosphatidylserine (PS), and Maritime Pine Bark extract.
Repairing Neuroreceptors Needed to Control ADHD
One of the issues with neurotransmitters and ADHD are damaged or non-existent receptors. Dopamine, norepinephrine and serotonin have less receptors to bind to for cognition and mood control.
Once again, nootropics come to the rescue in helping control ADHD. You can add one of these nootropics to your stack to help boost receptor health.
- Ashwagandha – This adaptogen, Ashwagandha helps reduce anxiety and depression. And helps reconstruct axons, dendrites and synapses involved in neurotransmitter signaling in your brain.
Suggested dosage of Ashwagandha extract is 250 – 500 mg per day.
- Bacopa Monnieri – Bacopa helps boost memory and cognition, improves mood, and reduces stress. This adaptogen affects brain levels of acetylcholine needed to help neurotransmitter signaling.
And the two active components of Bacopa Monnieri called bacosides A and B not only improves signaling of electrical impulses between neurons in your brain. Bacosides also help rebuild damaged neurons. Suggested dosage of Bacopa is up to 450 mg per day.
- Lion’s Mane – Lion’s Mane Mushroom is known for stimulating Nerve Growth Factor, improving cognition and memory, and relieving depression.
Lion’s Mane stimulates the repair and creation of neurons in your brain. Neurons needed for dopamine and norepinephrine to control ADHD. Suggested dosage of Lion’s Mane Mushroom starts at 500 mg per day. Note: that there’s an effective 500 mg dose of Lion’s Mane full-spectrum fruiting body in each dose of Mind Lab Pro®
- Noopept – Noopept helps boost cognition, memory, learning, perception, logical thinking and mood. Noopept increases Nerve Growth Factor, and Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) critical for neuroplasticity and Long-Term Potentiation critical for long-term memory.
Noopept also prevents the release of excess glutamate in your brain. Providing potent neuroprotection for neurons and reducing damage. Suggested dosage of Noopept is 10 – 30 mg per day.
Please note that I haven’t linked through to supporting clinical studies for each of the nootropics I listed above. But you can click through to my full review of each nootropic for extensive research supporting each supplement.
Nootropics for Kids
ADHD and ADD is most often diagnosed in children. The latest statistics (2011) from the CDC in the USA shows about 11% of children 4 – 17 years of age (6.4 million) have been diagnosed ADHD.[x] And that’s just for the USA.
Although ADHD is usually first diagnosed in children, it often lasts into adulthood. I sometime wonder how my life would have been different if I had been declared ADD when I was a kid.
But it wasn’t until the late 1960’s that the American Psychiatric Association formally recognized ADHD as a mental disorder. I wasn’t declared Adult ADD until much later.
The thing is many parents are wary about putting their children on powerful, prescription ADHD meds. Kids’ brains continue to develop until your early 20’s. So is it a problem messing with brain chemistry at such a young age? Only time will tell and if the benefits outweigh any potential costs.
Hence the reason why parents are looking for ‘natural’ alternatives like nootropics to treat ADHD in children. But are nootropic supplements any safer than prescription stimulants?
Common sense tells me that using L-Tyrosine could be safer than Ritalin for boosting dopamine. And Rhodiola Rosea could be safer than stimulants or antidepressants for taming hyperactivity.
But many children with ADHD, natural supplements may not be enough. I’m not a doctor, and don’t even play one on TV. I’m an ordinary biohacker who has learned as much as I can to help myself. And fix my own cognitive issues. Including Adult ADD.
So I highly recommend you find and work with an open-minded psychiatrist with your child. You may be pleasantly surprised to find you may be able to reduce or eliminate prescription ADHD meds altogether. And maybe not. But the long-term health of your child could be worth the time investment to find out.
In Summary
I’ve been wanting to write this post since I started Nootropics Expert®. If you are ADHD or ADD, I hope you found this useful. And I’d appreciate your feedback, and share your experience with treating ADHD with nootropics in the comments section of this post below.
Please share this post with anyone you think would benefit. Including discussions about nootropics for ADHD on reddit or Longecity.
One final note. Neurotransmitter balance is key to taming ADHD. I strongly caution you to take it slow if you’re just starting out with nootropics. Carefully read each of the extended articles in the List of Nootropics you are considering trying.
You need to be careful about side effects, prescription drug interactions, dosages and how your body reacts to each supplement.
But I’m confident that with careful planning and a long-term commitment, you can be as successful as I have been in living and thriving with ADHD or ADD.
[i] Arnsten A.F., Li B.M. “Neurobiology of executive functions: catecholamine influences on prefrontal cortical functions.” Biological Psychiatry. 2005 Jun 1;57(11):1377-84. (source)
[ii] Pliszka S.R., McCracken J.T., Maas J.W. “Catecholamines in attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder: current perspectives.” Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. 1996 Mar;35(3):264-72. (source)
[iii] Aston-Jones G., Rajkowski J., Cohen J. “Role of locus coeruleus in attention and behavioral flexibility.” Biological Psychiatry. 1999 Nov 1;46(9):1309-20. (source)
[iv] Berridge C.W., Waterhouse B.D., “The locus coeruleus–noradrenergic system: modulation of behavioral state and state-dependent cognitive processes” Brain Research Reviews Volume 42, Issue 1, April 2003, Pages 33–84 (source)
[v] Franowicz J.S., Kessler L.E., Borja C.M., Kobilka B.K., Limbird L.E., Arnsten A.F. “Mutation of the alpha2A-adrenoceptor impairs working memory performance and annuls cognitive enhancement by guanfacine.” Journal of Neuroscience. 2002 Oct 1;22(19):8771-7. (source)
[vi] Zametkin A.J., Karoum F., Linnoila M., Rapoport J.L., Brown G.L., Chuang L.W., Wyatt R.J. “Stimulants, urinary catecholamines, and indoleamines in hyperactivity. A comparison of methylphenidate and dextroamphetamine.” Archives of General Psychiatry. 1985 Mar;42(3):251-5. (source)
[vii] Oades R.D. “Role of the serotonin system in ADHD: treatment implications.” Expert Review of Neurotherapeutics. 2007 Oct;7(10):1357-74. (source)
[viii] Wilens T.E. “Effects of methylphenidate on the catecholaminergic system in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.” Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology. 2008 Jun;28(3 Suppl 2):S46-53 (source)
[ix] Oades R.D. “Dopamine-serotonin interactions in attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).” Progress in Brain Research. 2008;172:543-65 (source)
[x] “Key Findings: Trends in the Parent-Report of Health Care Provider-Diagnosis and Medication Treatment for ADHD: United States, 2003—2011” Centers for Disease and Prevention cdc.gov (source)
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Hi David!
Can you clarify?
If I suspect my ADHD type is innatentiveness then its a problem with norepinephrine dysfunction
So studies which recommend suplements for reducing ADHD but….
Hyperactivity symptoms likely arent for mine adhd type right?
Aleksander, the “inattentive” type of ADHD is related to issues with the norepinephrine, and the “hyperactive and impulsive” type of ADHD is linked to dopamine. dysfunction.
But the thing is norepinephrine is made from dopamine. And the best way to increase dopamine is by using L-Tyrosine. Which will then go on to produce norepinephrine using certain enzymes and vitamins, magnesium, etc. as cofactors.
Hi David! I’m 25, could you recommend something for premature birth?
Mia, my focus is on brain health and cognition. And not other bodily functions including pregnancy.
Hi David, I suspect I have ADHD (undiagnosed) as I seem to have all of the symptoms. I am interested in trying nootropics to help but unfortunately I also have slightly elevated liver enzymes and have read that nootropics can cause liver damage. Are there any nootropics you can recommend for ADHD that do not have the potential to cause liver damage. Thanks
Glenn, nootropics do NOT cause liver damage. It’s only if you have liver problems in the first place should you be careful what you use.
I’ve been using the stack at the top of this page for over 10 years and get my liver tested several times per year. It’s never been a problem.
Hi David
I was prescribed Vyvanse 20mg for ME/CFS. It has done absolute nothing for me. I’ve only been taking it for 2days but I’m thinking I should feel something. My fatigue is debilitating. . Do you think taking your adhd stack might benefit my brain fog, energy,productivity, and the effects of Vyvanse? At this point, if I can make a cup of green tea and do a load of laundry I would be SO happy.
Vyvanse is NOT for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and studies show that it does not help anyone who is not clinically ADHD or ADD.
Fatigues can be caused by a number of things including not enough thyroid hormone, low sex hormones, Adrenal fatigue, mitochondrial dysfunction among other issues.
The only way to find out the cause is the right blood tests for your hormones. And if those are fine then trial and error by experimenting with different supplements until you find something that works.
I’ve written articles on Brain Fog (https://nootropicsexpert.com/best-supplements-for-brain-fog/) and Sex Hormones Ihttps://nootropicsexpert.com/sex-hormones-and-your-brain/) that may give you some ideas. Or you can schedule and consultation with me and I’ll help you try and figure it out.
David
Here is one article I found that might be helpful. More doctors, knowledgeable with ME/CFS, are using stimulants for off label treatment
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0165178112005033?via%3Dihub
That study is very specific with treatment of executive functioning deficits in adults wit chronic fatigue. I would not call that “off-label” but another method of treating these issues with stimulants. Which makes sense since problems with executive function is corelated with ADHD as well.
i had ME/CFS and yes it’s from a brain issue – due to a variety of causes, whether virus, emotional stress, toxins etc, the amygdala gets stuck in fight/flight position so the sympathetic nervous system is constantly activated and starts interpreting more and more things – even exercise – as a danger, resulting in a loop. The way i calmed my amygdala down was using an amygdala retraining program developed by Ashok Gupta – Gupta Program. concurrent with this i took homeopathics from a homeopath in India (they are all MDs there too) and supplements like NAC, ginseng, carnitine, ubiquinone, vit C, D, B complex etc. My ME/CFS and my SIBO, POTS all cleared up within a few months. It’s definitely from the brain!
Hi David
I seem to be very sensitive to nootropics, but since I have ADD, I have tried to find a combination, that’ll increase my motivation and focus. I tried taking only 250 mg Tyrosine with 200 mg. ALCAR, and I do feel more motivated and focused, but I also feel a bit more agitated/volatile and speeded up. Do you think that something like 5htp, ashwagandha or theanine could help with that?
Ali, add CDP-Choline because it works with ALCAR to produce acetylcholine. And 100 – 200 mg L-Theanine each time you take your stack.
Thanks for your reply.
I already have some Alpha GPC, could I use that instead of the CDP-Choline?
Ali use up the Alpha GPC that you have but if you plan on using it long-term I recommend switching to CDP-Choline.
Hi David thanks for all this great information. I’m trying to learn as much as possible to have pertinent questions before I set up a consult.
One question I have now is would a drug like Atomoxetine make nootropics contraindicated?
BTW had a similar experience I was set to a specialist and givin a Mini State Exam for concerns re early dementia. Results were ADD not dementia ..unlike most of the medical community.
Robert, it is a norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor so rather than being contraindicated my ADD stack should support its use.
Hi David! My Doctor precribed me 10mg Mianserin hydrochloride before bed to help me organise things and be better at planning goals. What do you this? If I remember correctly Mianserin is adrenoreceptor antagonist and should increase adrenaline or noradrenaline (I don’t remember)
What do you think?
Sandra, Mianserin is an antagonist of histamine receptors, several serotonin receptors, and is a norepinephrine receptor reuptake inhibitor. It is a tetracyclic antidepressant (TeCA) and usually prescribed for depression.
Hi David
My 8 year old son has adhd like symptoms, he is not yet diagnosed.
I did my own research and currently I am giving him Krill oil, Bacopa and Pygnogenol along with general vitamins, minerals and zinc. This has made an enormous effect on his concentration, but it has no effect on his temper/anger issues. Wich nootropic would you recommend for this? would lithium orotate be and idea?
Thanks
Anne Kathrine
Anne sounds like you are making good progress. Lithium Orotate may be exactly what you’re looking for. It’s safe and certainly worth trying.
TLDR:
You’re awesome, nootropics have saved my ADHD life, my new stack, and two questions 🙂
////
Hi David, first and foremost I want to thank you for all the amazing information you provide and the work that you do!
I was diagnosed with ADHD last year at 32, after a couple of “what’s going on with/in my brain??” decades.
[edited for length]
Patricia, I do not do stack reviews here in the comments section. I haven’t the time. If I started this with the tens of thousands of visitors here I would not be able to do anything else. If you need more help I suggest scheduling a consultation with me.
Hi! I am wondering if I can start my son who 12 and has ADHD with any of these supplements. He can be very hyper and impulsiveness when his medicine wears off. I was looking into mind lab pro, NMNs or NADH. Just curious your thoughts to help him and his mood.
Heather, Mind Lab Pro is a great idea because it contains all the main ingredients in my ADHD stack detailed in the above article. You just may want to reduce his dose from 2 to 1 capsules to start. And take the other capsule when the meds wear off to prevent that crash.
Hi David, your website is really great. It’s a lot of nootropics there, and I feel overwhelmed. If someone wants to start slowly, am I right to say that L-Tyrosine and ALCAR are the two main ones to try first?
Thank you!
Tem, it’s not that simple. It depends on what brain health issues you are trying to overcome or support. L-Tyrosine is great if you want to increase dopamine.
And ALCAR is good for energy production and when combined with CDP-Choline will increase acetylcholine.
How does Phenylpiracetam compare with Ritalin and can I add to the stack you’ve made.
Giorgi, they are two very different compounds. Phenylpiracetam increases the density of acetylcholine (ACh), NMDA, GABA and dopamine receptors. And Ritalin is dopamine reuptake inhibitor.
I suppose you could add it to my ADD stack but cannot predict how it will work. Because I’ve never tried it.
Hi David, thank you for all your information on this topic. You write that the outlined nootropics stack is used with or without prescription drugs (e.g., ritalin). Do you then use the same dosages irrespective of the prescription drugs? An answer is much appreciated, thank you 🙂
Elizabeth, that is correct. The same dosages are used either way.
Greetings David!
Do you still use NADH?
Benjamin, I do not use NADH. But I have started supplementing with niacinamide which is a cofactor in the production of NADH.
Hi David
Do you know why Ritalin causes drowsiness in some people? At first, it made me significantly alert, motivated and focused. However, after a while, it stopped making me significantly alert and motivated, just allowing me to focus better, making me sleepy at times. I’ve taken long breaks (2 months) and even then, there was no change. Is there any way to solve this?
Thank you and Regards,
Nathan
Nathan, it is likely because you are deficient in dopamine. Try using Ritalin with 500 mg L-Tyrosine twice or 3-times per day. And 300 mg CDP-Choline and 500 mg ALCAR twice per day for acetylcholine.
Hi David,
What do you recommend for OCD. this came in my life at the age of 15/16 yrs old out of know where all of a sudden. I am now 36 yrs old and have not been able to get rid of it
Trent, I have a list of supplements for OCD but it would take a consultation to explain it all. You can do a search of this website using the search function top right of the top menu and search for “OCD”. And you’ll get at least a partial list for ideas.
wondering what I can take for concentration for adhd, I’m mostly inattentive, I take zoloft morning, and then ashwagandha in the day. I was taking dexamfetamine but I don’t want to anymore.
Angel, this article may help you for increasing concentration: https://nootropicsexpert.com/how-to-improve-memory-and-concentration/
Thanks for sharing. I actually was reading that before. Also I have ordered sunsheanine and lithium orotate and I wouldn’t mind ordering some NALT. Just unsure what I can mix with the SSRI, I take it for PMDD, premenstral dysphoria. Take a bunch of vitamins like B vitamins, omega 3, iron, magnesium, b12, i supplement and I at a vegan diet for my health to manage the PMDD. But yeah it’s just adhd I want to tackle, I’m feeling like L-Tyrosine wouldn’t affect the ssri.
Angel, SSRIs affect serotonin primarily. Look up the SSRI you are using on Wikipedia and study the pharmacology or mechanism of action. If it is just serotonin then you need to stay away from supplements that increase serotonin. That is your primary concern.
NALT supplies L-Tyrosine for the synthesis of dopamine. Not serotonin.
For PMDD have you tried myo-inositol? There are several forms of inositol but it is that specific one that may help you. And not the other variations no matter what the marketing copy tells you.
hi David, yes the SSRI works on serotonin. I had to change from Zoloft to lexapro as the Zoloft was making me tired. The lexapro is definitely helping in one area but due to adhd my focus has gone way out of whack. i heard that if id mix my add meds with lexapro it could cause serotonin syndrome or too much serotonin so decided to stop it. I have myo inisitol and take that for Premenstral dysphoria and the SSRI is for treatment of that too.
I wanted to tackle the adhd, i can’t mix too many herbs and things with the SSRI so im being mindful of what i’m taking, I am thinking NALT, L-Dopa (the non synthetic one) as its directed at dopamine which should be ok seeing as its not serotonin, thinking of adding L- thianine and lithium orotate. Also thinking to see how this lexapro goes but seems to be affecting the adhd. So for adhd and more balanced focus I want to add L-dopa or L-phenylalanine but leaning more towards L-dopa, even right now I feel my head is scattered I haven’t been taking my adhd meds since on this SSRI that’s why. i just want to fix this so I can concentrate and for work too. I’ve read your stuff on adhd as well and if I wasn’t on the ssri I would get the mind lab pro and some of the other stuff but right now I think just something purely that works on dopamine would be great, on which supplements to take would be helpful or any other specific ones that I’ve left out that you recommend. cheers thanks David.
Angel, according to drugs.com which I respect as an authority on contraindications they say “Using levodopa together with escitalopram may increase side effects such as dizziness, drowsiness, confusion, and difficulty concentrating.” Levodopa is L-DOPA which you get from Mucuna Pruriens.
I think it would be safe to use L-Tyrosine. It’s not going to lead to Serotonin Syndrome but more like the side effects of L-DOPA although not as intense.
L-Theanine, Lithium Orotate, CDP-Choline, ALCAR, DHA, magnesium and a bioactive multi will help with ADHD symptoms. And while I haven’t the qualifications to recommend you use these with an SSRI. They will not cause Serotonin Syndrome.
Hi David-
Thank you for the wealth of knowledge you have been providing us. I am truly grateful. The ADHD stack is helping me to turn my life around.
I am thinking about adding Agmatine Sulfate to the stack. Do you know if there is any conflict between Agmatine Sulfate and the vinpocetine or any other nootropics in the ADHD stack?
Thanks,
Asim
Asim, it shouldn’t be a problem.
Thanks very much Mr david and I’m very optimistic to solve my add through your help and I’ll update my comment to share my success story with you soon and there are some cretical questions
1: you mentioned that the timing is very important do mean that I follow fixed scedule for taking the stack like for three or twice a day
2: which one of the nootropics should I cycle and for how long
3: I ask if you can recommend a trusted multivitamin for me not more than 20 $ per month if and if I should pay more no broblem but not too much
4: which one do you think is better to make my dopamine & norepinephrine & serotonin to be more efficient ( ginkgo or Ps or I take both )
@@ THANK YOU AGAIN VERY MUCH
Gehad, L-Tyrosine ALCAR, Citicoline and Vinpocetine are taken at 8 am, noon and 4 pm.
You cannot get a bioactive multi for $20 a month. A $2d0 multivitamin will contain synthetic vitamins and the minerals are literally ground up rock. Neither of which your body can use.
And Gingko Biloba acts like an MAOI which will boost the effectiveness of dopamine and norepinephrine. For serotonin you need to supplement with L-Tryptophan.
Mr David thanks for your efforts you helped us soooo much
@@ I’m now 27 and I’ve severe add and I tried different medication with my DR but they didn’t work for me and I want to try nootropics knowing that my working memory +recalling +focus are very bad so I ask you if I can start my nootropic stack with
@@ L-TYROSIN 1000 twice per day
@@ ALCAR 500 one per day
@@ CITICOLLIN ( CDP ) 250 twice per day
@@ multivitamins & B-complex
@@ omega 3 1200
@@ bacopa monieri 1000 once per day
@@ jinkgo 120 twice per day
@@ lion’e mane 1500 once pet day
@@ vinpocetine 10 once per day
So Mr DAVID I want to know if I took this stack temporarily for three months – to find a fast solution to my problems and don’t get fired from my job – then I’ll try them one by one to see which one is helping me and to reduce them to 5 or 6 nootropics.. would it damage my prain throw this period.
And thanks again.
Gehad, L-Tyrosine 500 mg 3-times per day (morning, noon and late afternoon), ALCAR 500 mg twice per day and Vinpocetine 10 mg 3-times per day. And the rest of your stack looks great.