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.
Join The Discussion - 1,847 comments
Rasmus Ernberg
December 4, 2020
Hello David,
How much mucuna pruriens do you use and how many %?
Are you not worried that by increasing dopamine in your system that dopaminereceptors will downregulate?
I am very much a novis in these matters but read about that. I am myslef just recently diagnosed with ADHD and have been using some supplements with amphetamine analogues but I am aware of side effects like being tired without and I think I have depleted dopamine levels and maybe downregulated dopamine receptors? I have also tyrosine but have not been taking it daily. Do i need choline? Is DMAE a god source of choline to add? I recently received a small pack of hordenine and I am thinking about experimenting with that together with stimulants to see if it helps with focus but not sure if that is dangerous or will have some other side effects besides stimulants being stronger.
Would be great to hear if you have any input.
Thank you
David Tomen
December 4, 2020
Rasmus, it’s not nootropic supplements like L-Tyrosine that downregulate dopamine neurons. It’s amphetamines that are brutal on receptors.
I suggest you quit messing around with things you are reading about. And read this instead: https://nootropicsexpert.com/best-nootropics-for-adhd-add/. The stack described in that article has been working for me for 13 years as well as thousands of people who visit Nootropics Expert from around the world.
If you have just been diagnose ADHD please leave Mucuna Pruriens alone for now. And stay with L-Tyrosine instead. It’s safer and easier to dose.
Stay here to learn about your brain and what to do. And you’ll be safe. 🙂
Martin Romero
November 27, 2020
Hi David, I have read a lot of articules of you and a lot videos. I use your information for create my stack. Please, what do you think about it. I have 28age, 81kg. Im pokerplayer and i need to be a FOCUS a LOT and CALM but at the same time wake up for take a lot of decisitions. This is my stack:
1.5g de L-Carnitina x3 split dose (0,5 per dose).
1.5g de L-Tyrosine x3 split dose (0,5 per dose).
1.5r de NALT x3 split dose (0,5 per dose).
1.gr de Theanine x3 split dose, (0,3 per dose)
0.5g de Rosavins x2 split
0.5g de Crenulata x2 split
0.5g de Ashghawanda x2
0.5g de Bacopa x1
0.5g de Shilajit x2
0.5g de Polygala x3
0.3g de Cafeina x2
—
RACETAMS
2,4 de Piracetam x3 split 0.8
1,5 de Pramiracetam x3 split 0.5
1,5 de Oxiracetam x3 split 0.5
50m de Noopept. x3 split 15mg
—
Aditionals… not all days.
75mg de Modafinil 1 time per week.
50mg de ArModafinil 2 times per week.
90mg de PhenylPirac 2 times per week.
2 days off of this.
David Tomen
November 28, 2020
Martin, is this stack working for you? You are using a LOT of racetams which I don’t recommend. One at a time is better. And your stack does not include Alpha GPC or CDP-Choline. So the racetams don’t have enough acetylcholine to work with.
Martin Romero
November 29, 2020
Hi, thanks for your answer.
I feel that mix racetam give me more benefits, like 1+1 = 3 with racetams. I take 200 alpha gpc or cognizin + 700mg birtrato choline.
Can you advice what is the best mix to racetams? Good stack for high focus, motivation and relaxation.
David Tomen
November 30, 2020
Martin, you’ve already got a good stack for focus, motivation and relaxation. Only thing I’d suggest is deleting choline bitartrate and replacing it with higher doses of Alpha GPC or Cognizin. And possibly add Phosphatidylserine (PS) 100 mg 3-times per day.
Martin Romero
December 5, 2020
What do you think about this:
Piracetam: 800mg gr x 3
Noopept : 10mg x 3
Pramiracetam: 300mg x 3
Oxiracetam: 300mg x 3
Cognizing: 300mg x3
How long time I should cycle? I have to cycle all of them at the same time or could be separate
David Tomen
December 6, 2020
Martin, the recommend dosage for Piracetam is 1,600 mg 3-times per day. With 300 mg Cognizin each time you dose.
The only other ‘racetam’ I’d use concurrently with another racetam is Noopept.
If you’re worried about tolerance use one racetam per day at the recommended dosage with Cognizin each time. And use Noopept each time if you find it helpful.
But double check the recommended dosage for Pramiracetam, and Oxiracetam here on Nootropics Expert.
joe
November 23, 2020
what do you recommend as a vasodilator supplement?
David Tomen
November 23, 2020
Joe, depends on what you mean by “vasodilator”. Vinpocetine, Pine Bark Extract, Ginkgo Biloba among others helps increase blood flow in the brain.
Tammo Brink
November 23, 2020
Dear David,
I used DMAE 13 days ago and still feel noticeable effects of DMAE. When is DMAE fully degraded? How long does it take until its not in your mind anymore. I used 2 500 mg pills of DMAE orally. Do you know methods to speed up the process? I used Vitamin B12 and B5 and choline, and gingko biloba. Do you know other methods?
David Tomen
November 23, 2020
Tammo, the standard recommended dosage for DMAE is 100 – 200 mg per day. You certainly exceeded that by a huge amount.
The half-life of DMAE is around 3.5 hrs. as far as I know. It should completely leave your system within 7 hrs.
DMAE works by preventing choline uptake into cells. But using such a high dose may have had an effect on something else in your brain.
So DMAE is likely gone from your system. But who knows what you could have upset by using such a high dose.
Juan
November 21, 2020
Hi David
I am taking each day Mirtazapine 15 mg each day. I want to get off it slowly. to start with Adaptogenes. How do I taper off.Thanks
David Tomen
November 23, 2020
Juan, you need to know exactly what Mirtazapine does in your brain (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mirtazapine#Pharmacology).
Notice that it works on norepinephrine and serotonin. That means you need to avoid any adaptogen to affect dopamine, norepinephrine or serotonin. Or you will put yourself in danger of Serotonin Syndrome or a heart attack.
As long as you are using that drug please be very, very careful on what you try.
Frederick Harrison
November 20, 2020
Hi David,
Thank you for all the phenomenal information you provide. I purchased your book, “Head First”, what an excellent resource!
I must have some weird body chemistry: caffeine makes me tired, Mind Lab Pro, Qualia Mind Caffeine Free & Natural Stacks Neuro Fuel have no effect on me, no focus and no energy increase. Any thoughts?
David Tomen
November 23, 2020
Frederick, the stacks that you mentioned affect people differently. Some feel the results right away.
But many need to use it daily and consistently before experiencing the effects. These stacks are designed to work and must be effective since so many people use them.
But the effects can be subtle. Nothing like caffeine. Long-term use however can have some dramatic effects just like it says in their marketing. It just takes time.
Ralf
November 14, 2020
Dear David,
I recently started adding new supplements to my stack (Citicoline 1x250mg, huperzine a 1x225ug, bacopa 1x500mg and Gotu Kola 1x950mg and NAC 2x600mg)
Some or most of them increase or inhibit the acetylcholine in the brain and i am a little bit worried that mixing them together would cause me to have cholinergic toxicity. Should i be worried or is it safe i take them together?
Greetings
Ralf
David Tomen
November 14, 2020
Ralf, I agree with you that you’re messing with acetylcholine too much with this stack. If you were going to continue using Huperzine-A make sure you use it only every 2nd or 3rd day because it has a 24 hour half-life.
Ralf
November 16, 2020
Thanks David. I was on benzodiazepines for 10 years before i withdrew almost 2 years ago, I am 34 and my brain isn’t quite functioning yet like it once did. I am still dealing with some protracted withdrawal sympthoms such as, cognitive impairement,anxiety, brainfog, and desensitized GABA receptors.
I would like to know your opinion if it is true that i should avoid supplements that affect the GABA (like GABA,Passionflower,Magnesium,Lemonbalm,Ashwagandha.Taurine etc) in the brain, to give my GABA receptors the time they need to upregulate and heal themselves without any stimulus, OR if supplementing would speed up the healing process.
because there are controversial opinions on this subject between ex benzo users and in the Ashton Manual on benzoORG. Me personally i didn’t have any bad reactions but i am worried if i continue taking some supplements the healing of my GABA receptors would slow down.
Thank you.
Ralf
David Tomen
November 16, 2020
Ralf, I suggest you look closer at how benzos work in your brain. The do not directly influence GABA receptors. Instead, they increase the frequency with which the chlorine channel opens when GABA binds to its own site on this receptor. The resulting increase in the concentration of Cl- ions in the post-synaptic neuron immediately hyperpolarizes this neuron, thus making it less excitable (https://thebrain.mcgill.ca/flash/i/i_03/i_03_m/i_03_m_par/i_03_m_par_benzodiazepines.html).
The question should be ‘how do you normalize chlorine ion channels’? If you can find an answer to that question you’ll make a lot of ex-Benzo users very happy.
If you have been off of Benzos for 2 years you have no worries about contraindications. Your GABA receptors are very likely in good shape. It’s the ion channels that are screwed up. And the only thing I know of that is really good at modulating ion channels is magnesium.
So if any of the other nootropic supplements you mentioned helps you feel better I would not hesitate using them.
Ralf
November 19, 2020
Thank you for the explanation David.
I don’t have such a deep understanding of all this like you, and by the time i would have, I’d be fully recovered anyways i guess:-)
so my humble plan is to support my brain doing what its good at (repairing itself) and hope for the best outcome.
Can you recommand me a good stack to increase BNDF and NGF? I already have omega3, curcuma, magnesium l-threonate, (PQQ,Co10 just ordered) and i’d like to expand a little more if there is anything i missed.
Also, any other Tips to boost the recovery process?
Thank you a lot!
Ralf
David Tomen
November 19, 2020
Ralf, Lion’s Mane Mushroom is one of the most effective ways to boost NGF.
Ron
November 13, 2020
Hi David. I’ve stumbled upon something new and wanted your input on it.
It is called NRF2 and appears to help with inflamation as well as other things.
I can’t find a lot of info on this but what I have seen it looks promising.
Any ideas?
Thanks
Ron
David Tomen
November 14, 2020
Ron, Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2) looks like a transcription factor that plays a role in metabolic reprogramming, unfolded protein response, proteostasis, autophagy, mitochondrial biogenesis, inflammation, and immunity (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7369905/). But it also promotes cancer development after cancer is established.
So it looks like a Jekyll and Hyde type of thing if you were to play around with it as a nootropic. Some companies are trying to make a drug out of it. But I know I’ll be avoiding it.