Welcome! My name is David Tomen, and I am the author of NootropicsExpert.com, my books Head First 2nd Edition – The Complete Guide to Healing & Optimizing Your Brain with Nootropic Supplements and (FREE!) Secrets of the Optimized Brain, and my Nootropics Expert YouTube channel.
I started Nootropics Expert® in January 2016. You can learn more about my story and why I started Nootropics Expert over on my About Page.
You can quickly see the nootropic supplements that I personally use every day on this page: What I Take
And if you’re in a hurry, go to this page to Buy Nootropics.
I also do Personal Consultations if you could use some help choosing the best nootropic supplements for you. You’ll find my calendar here: Nootropics Expert Consultations
How Nootropics Can Help You
You can end your search now. Because here on Nootropics Expert you’ll find the help you have been searching for. No matter the brain health problem that is making your life miserable.
Here you’ll find information on this List of Nootropics which has dozens and dozens of links to nootropic supplement reviews that I’ve written, and update as soon as new science becomes available. In a language that is easy to understand.
You’ll learn where each supplement comes from, how it works, the benefits you can expect, how much you should use and how often, possible side effects, and how to select from dozens of options – which one to buy.
NOTE: Every single word on Nootropics Expert is written by me. It’s not an AI or a contract copywriter.
You will also discover that everything I write about a supplement is supported by peer-reviewed clinical studies. You will not find links to other websites or blogs.
Instead, you will find dozens of clickable links in each supplement review and article to supporting and relevant clinical studies.
So you have the option of reading the same research I found and used to write my reviews and articles.
My hope is that if you’re overwhelmed by the fragmented information for nootropics spread across several websites, you can end your search on what has become the best nootropics website.
Quickly find out how one nootropic may interact with another. Which ones are safe. And which nootropic supplements have side effects. I will cover all that here.
Use my Nootropics Guide to get more familiar with the top nootropics and different types of cognitive enhancers and what they do. Soon you’ll be able to safely build your own nootropic stack.
I’m happy you’re here. Because you should be able to find everything you need to know about nootropics on Nootropics Expert. 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.
Where to Buy Nootropics
Once you’ve decided which nootropic supplements you’d like to try, how do you know which is the best supplement to buy?
I’ve done the homework for you and put together a list of nootropic brands and supplements. Most of which I personally use and highly recommend.
You’ll find the highest quality, purest nootropic supplements on this page.
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.
A brain arteriovenous malformation (AVM)
Do you think (AVM) is possible due to nootropics/supplements?
John, it is caused by a genetic mutation in chromosome 7 and can even happen in newborns. See this study for more info: https://www.ninds.nih.gov/health-information/disorders/arteriovenous-malformations-avms
Are you going to review MSM? It definitely affects cognitive functions.
MSM is on my “to do” list.
I am considering taking PEA or Inositol for major anxiety and depression. Is there one you would recommend over the other? Can you take both? I’ve tried several antidepressants but can not tolerate them.
Thank you
John, you can use both or either. It is highly unlikely the either will help with major anxiety or depression on their own. The only way to find out is to try each one and see what happens.
hello
You published a Japanese study with 41 university students in Japan, the scientists compared a diet rich in DHA (1.5 grams/day) with a placebo. In that study it appears to me that DHA is superior to EPA for brain improvements. But this study https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8408864/ says that EPA is better than DHA for cognitive improvements. Could you talk about it and clear up doubts about which one is best for the brain?
Fernando, the study that you pointed to was funded by BASF which I always find a little suspicious. Seems to me there is a conflict of interest when the company funding the study also provides the product being studied.
There is no doubt EPA is important. But DHA works in synergy with phosphatidylserine and phosphorylcholine to keep brain cell membranes healthy. EPA does not do that fundamental function. So, I stand by my recommendation of a high quality DHA supplement that contains half as much EPA.
Is there a nootropic that helps seizures?
Allison, use the search function top right of the top menu and search for “seizures”. You’ll get a list of supplements that may help. Including CBD Oil and Passionflower.
have you heard about apigenin before seems to be good for insomnia I’ve order some not yet tired however since it.
Apigenin binds to benzodiazepine receptors in the brain that can trigger muscle relaxation and sedation. It also lowers stress-induced alterations in the brain hence reversing the stress-related increase in corticosteroid hormones.
would any natural supplement that binds to benzo receptors act like a benzo from big pharma and cause dependency that’s all I want to avoid is dependency and negative side effects that main steam drugs seem to inflict
Andrew, natural supplements that bind to those same receptors do not produce the Side Effect of desensitizing those receptors. I have not yet researched Apigenin but it is on my “to do” list.
Hi David, I suffer with facial hyperpigmentation, I was wondering if you could let me know what are some good multivitamin for skin?
I have heard people say collagen tablets or powder, but I wanted to check with you, if you might know a better supplement or could recommend something.
Thanks so much.
Best regards.
I am not an expert on skin health but I do know that DMAE is used by many to improve skin health. It’s even used in many cosmetics for that reason.
HI, Have You Ordered From Smart Nutrition Before? I See Where You Recommend Them But, I Use Order From Nootropics Depot Since 2016For My Stacks But, Then All The Racetams Discontinued. I Read Online That Companies Were Having A Hard Time Selling them. I Guess This Is Why I Wanted To Double Check On Smart Nutrition’s Authenticity On Racetams as well as Cosmic nootropics. Please Reassure Me. Thanks So Much
Cynthia, I regularly order from Smart Nutrition and Cosmic Nootropic. The guys at Smart Nutrition are pioneers in the nootropic space and have been doing this long before Nootropics Depot came online.
David, Thank you for sharing your research, it has been a life raft. I have been taking close to all the supplements you recommend for adhd (fairly recently diagnosed at 51) and am so much better for it, but decided to try get smart because the aniracetam and vinpocetine individually worked great for me, and you had some of the other ingredients on your website (but not all of the ingredients). I’m hoping you have some experience with this formula, since it’s one of the resources on your site where to buy from. My sense is that I can use it temporarily for a few months as a brain cleanse and reboot. (I tried several prescription meds and didn’t like them, so I’m only going natural now.) Thank you very much.
Jennifer, I use the supplements including dosage and timing during the day that is in the yellow box on this page: https://nootropicsexpert.com/best-nootropics-for-adhd-add/
Hello David, I purchased the Head First book, 2nd edition and am curious to know the difference between this and the first edition. Thanks!
Angel, about another 300 pages and the 2nd Edition is available in Hard Cover or paperback and it wasn’t before.
Hello, could you please tell me if you know of anything that can help with/for calcification of the pineal gland?
I have not done the research so suggest that you Google “best supplements to reduce calcification of the pineal gland” and see what turns up. But whatever you do find please see if the writer has any science to back up their claims.
Thank you for all the wonderful information. I recently got off of Lexapro while starting Effexor xr. After reading about Effexor, I realized it was not something I want to be taking. I took a low dose for about 2 weeks, than started taking a larger dose (doubled) and found I did nothing but sleep, which was a problem as I have 2 businesses.
Since I wasn’t too far into it, I decided to stop the Effexor cold turkey but found it is as horrible getting off of it as everyone was saying, even after only 3 weeks.
I started looking for something non-pharmaceutical and stumbled on Nootropics that might help with energy to get through the withdrawal. I did buy some Nootropic supplements to try it out, but although the the ingredients were much of what you cite on your website, I wasn’t comfortable with the lack of information on the bottle. I did try the supplement for a few days after feeling horribly sick and I have to say, it did address the nausea, brain zaps, and energy levels to the degree that I really wasn’t suffering too much once it kicked in, but it took about 3 to 4 hours to kick in.
I am wondering if you were aware of this relief from the horrible side effects of antidepressant withdrawal side effects, and if so, what would you recommend would be good nootropics to replace this with to get the same results?
I was going to buy the Mind Lab Pro or the Performance Lab products. Given all this information, what would you recommend to help facilitate this withdrawal? Your response would surely be appreciated.
Christine, Effexor is a serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI). And Lexapro is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). Chances are you are dealing with “discontinuation syndrome” from stopping Lexapro and not Effexor. Please read through the entire article for Escitalopram on Wikipedia to see what you are dealing with (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Escitalopram).
The closest thing to a SNRI is Saffron. Not sure if that will help you. But please at least read my review for Saffron before you try it.
No one has taken a deep dive into the cause of discontinuation syndrome but I imagine it is because that drug has desensitized the receptors that that drug used for so long. There is no “one pill” solution to recovering from that. Time is your best friend. You can use the basics when it comes to natural nootropic supplements to support the health of your brain. But it will take time for your recover. My advice is give your brain the tools that it needs to heal. And let it heal as it was designed to do.
And schedule a consultation with me if you think you could use more help.
Any nootropics guide or links for patients with Alzheimer’s a available?
Magali, you’ll find a section on Alzheimer’s including suggestions in this article: https://nootropicsexpert.com/best-nootropics-for-the-aging-brain/
Hi David;
Which supplements would you recommend to take to avoid brain stroke.
Zainul, see the section on cerebral circulation in this article: https://nootropicsexpert.com/best-nootropics-for-the-aging-brain/#vascular-dementia-cerebral-circulation-and-brain-aging for suggestions.
Hi David, do you have any recommendations for companies that sell the nootropics by themselves? (Individual nootropics) I want to start creating my own stack little by little to see what works for me but hard to find a company that’s reputable with singles, also hard to find the starting dose on them as they are so high, like rhodiola for instance, everything I see is 500mg and the starting dose I’m looking for is 200 or 300 mg, how do i navigate that? Thanks for your help!
Melissa, there are several major supplement manufacturers who sell supplements containing one ingredient. See this article on how to find the best supplements: https://nootropicsexpert.com/7-tips-for-choosing-the-highest-quality-nootropic-supplements/. And I highly recommend following the suggestions on that page closely. Including avoiding “other ingredients”.
If you find a supplement you want to try and the dose is too high then open the capsule and dump half of it out for half a dose. But get capsules and avoid tinctures, GelCaps, etc. if you need to open it.
Thanks David, I have been watching your videos religiously on YouTube so I will check out this link. Hypothetically, if you were me, where would you buy those one ingredient Nootropics? Always trying to follow where the experts are buying from thank you for replying
Melissa, if I were you I’d look at Amazon, iHerb, Swanson, NOW Supplements, Thorne, Double Wood Supplements, etc. Take your pick. Supplement companies often sell from their own website. But also have stores within the major online stores.
Thank you so much David I really appreciate it, on I herb what do you think the best brand is? I just bought my Rosine and then I read somewhere where it caused panic attacks and I’m scared to take it now it’s just sitting in my cabinet it’s 500 mg so I’m thinking to dump half out and try half of it first, I’m just so scared for adverse side effects and I want to get over this hump because Jason five little kids around all day is not going to allow me to have any negative side effects lol
Melissa, I’ve never heard of Rosine and I’ve been doing this for a very long time. What is it?
With Methylene Blue, can your urine color indicate your level of absorption or tissue saturation? Can urine color be an indicator of a target dosage? I have been taking 75 drops, twice a day for many weeks. I’ve found at that dosage it is easier to count eye droppers full rather than counting out 75 drops.
Richard, your urine will be blue no matter what the dosage of Methylene Blue. It is not a indicator of how much your body is using.
Hi David,
I’ve just started taking saffron and was wondering whether it had any interactions with alcohol or chamomile. Do you know?
Best wishes,
Steven
Steven, the only interactions with Saffron that I have found are in my review here: https://nootropicsexpert.com/saffron/
Thanks David!
Best wishes
Steven