Here at NootropicsExpert.com, we explore the universe of nootropics. You’ll find all the information you need to get the results you want.
If you’re overwhelmed by the fragmented information for nootropics spread across several websites, you can end your search.
How does one nootropic interact with another? Which one is safe? And which nootropics have side effects? We cover all that here.
Use my Nootropics Guide to get more familiar with the different types of cognitive enhancers and what they do. And you’ll be able to safely build your own stack.
Here you’ll find a comprehensive list of the latest nootropic compounds. You’ll quickly learn what each does along with their side effects. And the ‘mechanism of action‘ or how each supplement works in your brain and body.
You’ll get nootropic dosing recommendations, and interactions with other nootropics and medications. Including what to avoid!
You’ll even learn the history of a nootropic compound. How and why it came into being. And how it’s used by the nootropic and medical community.
Some of the nootropics you’ll find on NootropicsExpert.com are prescription drugs in some parts of the world. These same nootropics are sold as OTC supplements in countries like the United States.
I”m happy you’re here. Because you should be able to find everything you need to know about nootropics on this site. No need to go anywhere else. Armed with this knowledge you can choose the best nootropics for you, and finally start experiencing the benefits you’re working to achieve. Verification
The Definitive Guide to Nootropics
A nootropic is a substance that enhances cognition and memory and facilitates learning.
Neuro-hacking and the research behind brain modulation, nootropics, and biohacking in general is a constantly evolving and improving science.
We cover all that in The Definitive Guide to Nootropics.
The Big List of Nootropics
Nootropics cover a broad category of compounds with cognitive boosting properties.
They have minimal side-effects and are appropriate for long-term use.
The Big List is a quick reference guide for nootropics. Learn what it’s for, how it’s used, side effects, interactions and dosing suggestions.
The Best Nootropics
Achieving brain optimization comes with a lot of trial and error. Experimenting to see what works best for you. But spend enough time in the nootropics community, and you begin to see patterns develop.
After you try the latest edition to the racetam-family of nootropics. Most biohackers settle into the nootropic that works best for each category of; cognition & focus, memory, energy & motivation, anxiety & depression, and brain repair & maintenance.
The “Best Nootropics” page is a distillation of what I have found to be the best nootropics for each category of brain optimization. You’ll find a list of the best nootropic compounds for each category. And links through to more detailed articles for each category.
Thank You David for answering my previous question.
I wish ask an expert like yourself if you had to evacuate to a deserted island and could carry only THREE nootropic supplements with you. Which ones would you take with you.
Cheers
Tony, great question. If I was stranded on a deserted island I would hope to have with me Mind Lab Pro, Performance Lab Omega-3 and Performance Lab Vision.
Hi David,
I’ve been hearing a lot about the benefits of Carbon 60 (Fullerene) supplementation, but can’t decide if it’s all malarkey. Do you have any experience with C60?
Thanks,
Drew
Drew, we only have anecdotal reports of how effective C60 works. There are zero human clinical studies. Only animal studies in rats, mice, fish, rabbits, etc. And in a petri dish with various human cells. It appears to relieve oxidative stress and is a free radical scavenger. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1742-7843.2008.00266.x
This is not something that I would review because the science does not support its use as a supplement in we humans. We have plenty of other natural options for oxidative stress and free radicals that have been used for up to thousands of years by humans. I do not see a good reason to even consider trying it as a supplement. Because we do not know what the consequences (if any) are from using it as a supplement.
Well, you talked me out of it, haha.
Thanks, David!
Hi David,
I take 5mg slow release melatonin and I fall asleep ok but then i wake up around 3-4am and cannot get back to sleep. Any suggestions appreciated.
Tony, I suggest replacing melatonin with 500 mg L-Tryptophan before bed. That will help make serotonin which then goes on the produce melatonin.
And here are some other ideas for sleep you may find useful: https://nootropicsexpert.com/best-sleep-supplements-to-buy/
David,
Always been plagued by feelings of doom, no hope and depression resulting in little forward motion. I probably can’t do a dozen nootropics, but what might be the best guess at which few could help that would be available in Europe? Thank you.
Peo, the only supplement that I know of that users report relief of feelings of doom is Sam-e (https://nootropicsexpert.com/sam-e). But if you try it please follow dosage recommendations including using it with a high quality B-Complex.
Hi david im a 16 year old male can i supplement with Phenibut?
Simon, I do not recommend it for a couple of reasons. First, your brain is still developing and you do not want to mess with that natural progression. Second, there are far better and safer options available to us so we don’t need to use Phenibut.
The other problem is any one who deals with addiction can easily abuse this nootropic. With serious consequences. And the withdrawal symptoms when you quit using it are particularly nasty. Much like quitting benzos I’m told.
Hello Mr David,
considering the fact that blood flow to the brain is of outmost importance and we use nootropics for that like vinpocetine ,can tadalafil which is sold as a drug for erectile dysfunction be used for that reason too?
Good question and I have no idea. Because I research natural nootropics that help the human brain and not drugs used to treat ED.
Hi, my son suffers with schizophrenia and his medicine was increased to 4mg. Once a day of riseperidone for psychosis. I researched about the Niacin and I started him on a 1000 mg along with his meds. I want to stop the meds and continue him with supplements for the brain. What would you suggest?
And I have two sisters that suffered from a stroke and there both are trying to recover, but one was diagnosed with cancer and she is getting 18 rounds of high doses of chemotherapy. It is destroying her body she is going in and out of the hospital with infections and other things. My other sister I can see that her brain was affected by the stroke, she has memory lapse and her speech is very weak. I would love to know your best supplements for these conditions.
Jewel, no natural supplement is going to replace Risperidone because of its complex pharmacology which you can see here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Risperidone#Pharmacology.
I encourage you to do a search of Nootropics Expert using the search function top right of the top menu on this website. And search for “schizophrenia”. You will get some “false positives” or supplements you should avoid if you have schizophrenia. But you’ll also end up with a list of supplements to try including: N-Acetyl L-Cysteine (NAC), Artichoke Extract and others.
And see my article on aging here: https://nootropicsexpert.com/best-nootropics-for-the-aging-brain/ and scroll down to the section called “Vascular dementia, Cerebral Circulation and brain aging”. You’ll find some supplements that may help with stroke recovery.
Chemotherapy produces severe inflammation. See my article on brain fog here: https://nootropicsexpert.com/best-supplements-for-brain-fog/. The first two sections of that article explains how to reduce inflammation with supplements.
Hi David…I’m a newbie here and I struggle with (diagnosed) ADHD. Can you help me find a local holistic provider who is skilled in recommending nootropics? How would I search this? I’ve already spent several days and not having much luck. I’m so tired from years of searching and researching for a magic pill and I can no longer navigate this sea of nootropic information in my current state. I’m getting desperate as I’ve recently had to manage so many new things. Need brain boosters and some hand-holding to get me started.
Any help for this soon-to-be 71 y-o would be appreciated!
Sarah, you can stop your search. Because the type of doc you are trying to find does not exist.
Instead, go to this article (https://nootropicsexpert.com/best-nootropics-for-adhd-add/) and follow the instructions. The stack you need is in the yellow box near the top of that article. The rest of the article explains how it works.
Hello, David! I bought your book 3 years ago, very interesting and useful, thank you very much for your work and the knowledge that you pass on to people. Please tell me, are you still working on it? Is there a new version? Thanks.
Alex, I’m working on the 2nd Edition of Head First and hoping to release it in the next few months. It will be available as a hard cover, paperback as well as digital.
So stay tuned …
I’m writing for my 67 yr old girl friend – short story at this point – she had been on BP pills for about 10 years, and anti depression for about 20 years. 1 1/2 yr ago her Dr took her off the anti depression pills, then she started having trouble sleeping, and her libido dropped and her sexual sensations dropped as well. Right to the point – now, she has no libido, no arousal wetness down there, and no sexual, arousal feeling down there.
I know we need to schedule an appointment with you – but just last week she started taking the Performance Lab “Sleep”, and for the first time, after trying many different remedies for the sleep, “Sleep” is the first product that has provided some all night sleep.
So, first of all, one million Thank Yous for what you do and your willingness to share your incredible insights and knowledge. Question – could a side of effect “Sleep” product be diarrhia? We are trying to figure if there is a connection or not. Thanks so much for your help.
We’ll send full and complete details next week.
Dan, the only thing in PL Sleep that could cause diarrhea is magnesium. But that is usually at far higher doses. Much higher doses.
Thanks David for your response, I forgot she was also taking 800mg of magnesium /day. That’ll do it.
Thanks Again, Dan
Started taking Phosphatidylserine and ordered more but accidently bought Phosphatidylcholine. Watched your videos on PC but now want to take that too. Given the relationship of the two substances, I would imagine this would affect the dosage of them both taken together.
Normally I would use 300mg/day of PS, and you suggested I think 1500mg/day of PC. how does that recommendation change if used together since one is a precursor for the other. Thanks for all that you do.
Michael, PC and PS are two separate phospholipids and are not “precursors” of the other. Check the “Overview” section just under the Table of Contents for each of the following reviews which explains where each plays a role in the health of brain cell membranes:
https://nootropicsexpert.com/phosphatidylserine-ps/
https://nootropicsexpert.com/phosphatidylcholine-pc/
They compliment each other and work great with the other major component of each brain cell membrane: DHA. Recommended dosage of each remains the same if taken together. Start with 100 mg PS and 400 mg PC per dose.
Hello David, thank you for all that you do!
I am looking for the best nootropics for my dad. He was just tested at one of the holistic doctor and it showed that he has:
-Reduced neuronal excitability in the temporal lobe zone and limbic system, with emotional disorders which cause blockage in his communication and very bad sleep disorder.
-Reduced control of the frontal lobes: he get easily distracted, he has impulsive and risky behavior, impaired judgement, very forgetful.
However he has a lot of energy and so many ideas and always talks a lot. He gets angry if people dont agree with him.
I looked into your Mind Lap Pro brain support and read reviews and I see people talk about getting a lot of energy back and their performance increases.
I was scared to order that because he does not need more energy.
I looked into ordering N-Acetyl L-Tyrosine and Pine Bark Extract – is there something else you would recommend for him? Thank you so much for your help with this.
Blessings and Health to you!
Anita, I’d like you to spend some time with this article on the aging brain: https://nootropicsexpert.com/best-nootropics-for-the-aging-brain/.
Read through it until you understand what happens to each of us as we get older including your dad. That should give you some ideas on what you can do to help.
Hello David,
I watched your videos quite often. Internet is very vast and its hard these days to find the information which is true, meaningful and well researched.
Your work , effort and time are really appreciated and people like me will always be thankful for such a wonderful website like yours.
I have suffered with brain fog and excessive day time sleepiness for years now. Doctors could not find out anything wrong with me. Last year, the doctors thought that i have ADHD and put me on Adderall. Adderall made me even more sleepy . It literally acted as sleeping pills for me. So last month i had my neurotransmitters tested. I was astonished to see the results. My dopamine levels are twice the normal amount ( very high ). My serotonin levels are high too. GABA is high too. PEA and Norepinephrine are low. My problem is any supplement i try to increase Norepinephrine, it increases Dopamine too, and any supplement that increase Dopamine levels, make me very sleepy. ( like Adderall.). I will try Al-CAR but i have never tried it before. I dont know if it will have any effect on the Dopamine levels or not.
Any suggestion on my condition will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks a lot.
Reema, you are likely suffering from a neurotransmitter imbalance. But trying to use precursors for some to raise them is not likely going to work.
I’d like you to stop and consider what may be causing this imbalance. It could one or more of a hormone imbalance, nutrient deficiencies in your diet, toxic food, chemical toxins in your living environment including mold, exposure to polluted air, severe stress, genetic dysfunction, etc.
You may need to find a naturopathic doctor or someone who practices “alternative medicine” who can help you dig into what may be causing this. This will take much more that lab tests to get to the bottom of it.
Hi David! I am wondering if any of the “cell salts” are nootropic in any way. Here is a link to the brand that I buy. I get the 12 in 1 bottle. It does seem to help with an energy levels, and I definitely feel better all around when I am taking them. Hyland’s Cell Salts
Corey, if those “salts” are helping you it means you are low in one or more minerals. And you could likely get the same benefit by using a high quality multivitamin and contains chelated minerals. Like this one: https://bit.ly/347dm5M
Hi David. I have been a follower of your blog for years, and I love it!
I am a CFS patient, and mental fatigue has affected me the most. Honestly, I really want to start with nootrootropics, but I don’t know where to start.
Do you recommend something special to start?
Thank you very much for your contribution! A strong greeting.
Samuel, you have a number of options for treating chronic fatigue. Start with this: https://nootropicsexpert.com/best-energy-supplements-to-buy/
Taurine (https://nootropicsexpert.com/taurine/) protects from mitochondrial dysfunction and modulates energy metabolism within cells.
You could be low in DHEA (https://nootropicsexpert.com/dhea/). Astaxanthin (https://nootropicsexpert.com/astaxanthin/) may help. As well as Ginseng (https://nootropicsexpert.com/ginseng/) and NADH (https://nootropicsexpert.com/nadh/).
And get yourself a good quality bioactive B-Complex because several of the B-Vitamins (https://amzn.to/3fnkHnu) are implicated in chronic fatigue. And/or a high quality multivitamin: https://bit.ly/347dm5M
I thank you very much! Really. I have been to many doctors, and few have supported me. And it has not been easy. A hug! Greetings
Hi! Unfortunately, I can’t afford all of those supplements listed on your stack. I was thinking of buying some of them, but I can’t figure out what specific ones would benefit my lifestyle. I take Adderall for ADHD but my body isn’t absorbing it as well as it used to, even after taking breaks. What would you suggest that I can take to help re-build tolerance and help battle my adhd issues? The Performance Lab Energy product looks good so I’m thinking of adding that today! My budget is around $120 for supplements per month
Jacob, you need a slimmed down version of my ADD/ADHD stack which is designed to support the use of Adderall.
L-Tyrosine 500 mg 3-times per day, Alpha GPC 300 mg 3-times per day, ALCAR 500 mg 3-times per day, 1,000 mg DHA and magnesium 400 mg before bed. That will help reduce tolerance, eliminate a stimulant crash and help with your ADHD issues.
Performance Lab Energy is great for supporting your mitochondria but does not boost dopamine and only partially supports acetylcholine.
How to get the free ebook? Thanks
Lance, you subscribe to my newsletter. The confirmation email should contain a download link for Secrets of the Optimized Brain.
You subscribed on May 23rd at 10:31 AM Eastern. And should have received an email within one minute with the download link.
If you didn’t see the email check your Spam folder and other folders you do not normally check. Yahoo has a tendency to send my email to something other than your inBox which is not very considerate of them in my humble opinion.
My son tried taking kratom to help his depression and mood swings it did not work. He was prescribed lithium and it was effective. Now he has started taking the kratom again with the lithium for the boost it gives in the morning. Is it safe to take the kratom with the lithium.
Dana, it is safe and I use both without a problem. I’m happy that you found a solution that works.
Hi David,
Great interview with Danny from Seller Sessions BTW. Was curious if you have any thoughts on Supplements for folks with Vitiligo.
Many Thanks
Thank you Conor. I enjoyed my talk with Danny.
I do not have any suggestions for Vitiligo because my area of expertise is the human brain. And any nootropic supplement that affects human skin would be a secondary benefit that may or may not come up in my research.
hi what are your thoughts on tribulus its herb that increase testosterone is it safe to use
Options, as far as I can tell Tribulus terrestris does not increase testosterone or improve the symptoms of ED:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15994038/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24630840/