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
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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 - 1,767 comments
Milos
September 13, 2022
Hi David, I have a question, and would like to know your opinion. What would be the best nootropic or smart drug choice for a programmer? I don’t think I have any kind of disorder or similar, I just want to improve things like -> grumpiness, procrastination, focus, concentration, brain fog, and classic anxious things when we do complex tasks for which we are highly responsible. Thanks in advance
David Tomen
September 15, 2022
Memory and concentration: https://nootropicsexpert.com/how-to-improve-memory-and-concentration/
Brain fog: https://nootropicsexpert.com/best-supplements-for-brain-fog/
Libbie Rice
September 13, 2022
Hi David,
I remember you saying that we should take MLP with fat because of the fat solubility of some of the ingredients. I see in the ad that it’s suggested to take it on an empty stomach in the AM. I’ve been taking it with food for a few years and feel good with it. Time to switch to taking it with no food?
David Tomen
September 13, 2022
Libbie, if you have been using Mind Lab Pro with food for years and it’s working for you do not change. Why try to fix something that ain’t broke? 🙂
Libbie Rice
September 14, 2022
Good point! I’m curious. Are there fat soluble ingredients in MLP?
David Tomen
September 15, 2022
Libbie, Phosphatidylserine is fat-soluble.
Libbie Rice
October 3, 2022
Thanks David!
Sam
September 14, 2022
If the premise of not fixing what’s not broken is applied, what is your general argument if someone were to ask why one would take or turn to Nootropics if no significant cognitive difficulties are evident or diagnosed?
Many anecdotally report diarrhea and indigestion from some supplements. Is there anything you recommend to take broadly with the supplements to mitigate intestinal perturbation?
David Tomen
September 15, 2022
Sam, many use various nootropic supplements to optimize cognition and memory. If you are happy with the way your brain works now then I suggest looking elsewhere.
And I concentrate on brain function and it’s various problems here. You will need to look somewhere else for mitigating intestinal perturbation.
Brian
September 12, 2022
I found a nootropic blend I became interested in called Absolute Focus, created by Bright Brain. It contains an ingredient called Adrafinil, which is stated by WebMD to be potentially addictive for some people. Is this something I should be worried about if I was thinking about purchasing it? Also, is the dose of 150mg within each capsule potentially addictive?
Finally, I just wanted to know if Absolute Focus could be taken safely with MLP if taken on separate days.
Thanks for the feedback.
David Tomen
September 13, 2022
Brian, I have absolutely no idea what the ingredients are in “absolute focus” so couldn’t tell you if you could use it with Mind Lab Pro.
Adrafinil is a prodrug or precursor to Modafinil. The addictive potential of that drug is much lower than something like Adderall. But it all depends on the person.
I have a brief description of what Modafinil is in this article if you are interested: https://nootropicsexpert.com/smart-drugs-the-bad-and-the-ugly/
Brian
September 13, 2022
One of the included ingredients in Absolute Focus is citicoline, which is supposed to help with brain function. I plan to alternate between that and MLP, which both contain citicoline. Is this something that the body will build a tolerance against if taken daily?
David Tomen
September 15, 2022
Not is you stay with the recommended dose of 300 mg twice per day.
Jen
September 12, 2022
Hi David,
My teenage Son has trouble learning in school and really has trouble learning many things in life. Quite often we have to repeat things to him 2-3 times before he gets it. He does seem to have some expressive and receptive language issues. He’s great at sports but he can’t fold clothes. He can’t take a chip bag and roll it down and put an elastic on it. I guess these are fine motor, while sports are gross motor. He has been clinically diagnosed with having Pans Pandas but no one really knows what is wrong with him besides the fact that he seems to regress (speech, language, memory, ADHD, comprehension, OCD) all of these worsen when he gets sick. I’ve tried every protocol there is for the immune system and I’ve tried mushroom blends, PS, all kinds of different supplements. My cupboard has 3 shelves full of them. Nothing that is supposed to “help memory and learning” has helped him. I’ve been trying for 6 years straight and I’m exhausted. We spent thousands on neurofeedback as well. No improvement. I’ve tried so hard to avoid medication but at this point I’d do anything for him to gain some focus and help with his cognition. He is almost at the age of driving and he thinks he would be fine to drive. I know he would not. Anyhow, I’m looking at him trying Mementadine as it helps with OCD and ADHD symptoms. We are in Canada and I’m wondering about trying Piracetam. Do you know if it is available in Canada? It says it helps with Choline usage in the brain and that does sort of scare me because when we have tried Choline in the past, he has become confused and his mouth movements were off. It was scary. maybe the dose was too high but I am still confused as to why it would do that to him when it is supposed to do the very opposite and HELP with speech and language. If you have any suggestions, I would love to hear! Thanks.
David Tomen
September 12, 2022
Jen, is you son had a bod reaction to choline in the past then do NOT use any of the racetams including Piracetam.
But if he has been diagnose with PAN/PANDAS syndrome then this was was beyond the scope of what you will find here. A quick search show that this syndrome is an autoimmune disease. The treatment for it is intense (https://www.pandasppn.org/flowchart/#treat) and not something that can be supported using natural nootropic supplements as far as I can tell.
But if it is simply ADHD or OCD then I suggest you schedule a consultation with me. And I’ll walk you through protocols for either or both using natural supplements.
jakub
September 10, 2022
Hi! can i ask you, i would like to add piracetam to my nootropics stack, the dosage would be 4800mg per day in total, do i need to supplement any form of choline, if i get about 1100mg of choline from my diet? thank you David, i appreciate what you’re doing!!
David Tomen
September 13, 2022
Jakub, if you get a racetam-headache you’ll know you need to supplement with additional choline. Either Alpha GPC or CDP-Choline.
BabsM
September 8, 2022
Hi David, I read the free download ‘Secrets of the Optimized Brain’ and I cannot wait for the paper version of your bigger book. In the meantime, I would like to ask your opinion on GlyNAC supplementation as a general anti ageing supplement with (apparently) very good outcomes on brain health. I was thinking to start with 2.5gr of Glycine and 2.5gr of NAC twice a day. (median doses used in the study I read) For what I know, it should not interfere with MB…Cheers!
David Tomen
September 9, 2022
Babs, 2.5 grams of Glycine is good, but 2.5 grams for NAC is ay overdoing it. NAC should be 600 mg 3-times per day.
Keep in mind that clinical studies often use much higher doses because studies are generally short. And they’re looking for a reaction in the short-term rather than long-term supplementation.
BabsM
September 9, 2022
Hi David, thanks for your answer. You may know these studies already, but I wonder, if you don’t, you might find them interesting. It looks like, at lower doses of 2.4gr/day of both Gly and NAC the researchers didn’t find any benefit in the older group of participants. If you have time and inclination to read them, I would love your opinion. Cheers
https://academic.oup.com/biomedgerontology/advance-article/doi/10.1093/gerona/glac135/6668639?login=false&fbclid=IwAR0h6Dtj-Ty6NSi53XlpDNoTj4TVKlZPas6T68kheaYijR514EnmzjUKVbY
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fragi.2022.852569/full
David Tomen
September 13, 2022
Babs, clinical studies are helpful in telling us how these supplements work and if they are safe. But whether they will provide any benefit to a particular person depends on the person and their unique chemistry. I’m ‘older’ and use 1,500 mg NAC every day. When everyone else around me gets a cold or the flu I usually avoid catching it. I think most people will have a similar experience no matter your age.
Another thing to keep in mind is these clinical studies often use much higher doses than normal because the studies are only a few weeks at most. And they want to find out if something is going to provide a specific benefit in a short period of time. So, we cannot translate that into a dosage for a supplement to use long-term.
Marcus
September 7, 2022
Hi there,
I found that the effects of my Mind Lab pro 4.0 supplementation has started to dwindle, and I would like to cycle off it for a few days.
Do you have any recommendations for other nootropics that I could take during these “off days” that could have similar effects as Mind Lab Pro, but won’t interfere with it? (won’t build unwanted tolerance against it or uses different mechanisms of action)
David Tomen
September 7, 2022
Marcus, if you are not “feeling” the effects of Mind Lab Pro as much it sounds like you restored a deficiency by using it. You haven’t mentioned your age or any health issues. So, I suggest you use MLP as your “base” like I do. Then add another dose of L-Tyrosine, CDP-Choline, ALCAR and Phosphatidylserine at noon. Along with a high quality multivitamin, 1,000 mg DHA in the morning and 400 mg magnesium before bed.
Then check back in a couple of weeks and let us know how that worked for you. BTW, “cycling” Mind Lab Pro will just mean that you’ll have off days where you are deficient in several nutrients again.
cine
September 6, 2022
Hi David,
At 15 years old, I started taking phenobarbital (prescribed for seizures) and stopped it when I turned 19. Now I’m 45 years old. Reading one of your article, I realised all the core symptoms I have for decades (foggy brain, dreamy feeling, decision making issues, memory recalls, cognitive issue) could be related to phenobarbital. Now I take ADHD & anti depression meds.
1) Is there anything I can do now to reverse/reduce the effects of phenobarbital ? Especially the drowsy feeling and memory issues.
2) If this is a part of larger discussion and we can try to address it with certain nootropic/ other protocols, I can book a consultation with you.
I have also ordered Adv Neurotransmitter test (ZRT lab, dried urine) as I am tapering my antidepressant and wanted to check the NT levels periodically.
Regards.
David Tomen
September 7, 2022
Cine, I wish I could help but I am not aware of any natural supplement that can help reverse or reduce the effects of phenobarbital.
The only thing I can suggest is to try a protocol of nootropic supplements that we use to help increase learning and memory and boost energy. Whether they would help with recovery is unknown. But it is certainly worth trying.