A Small Guide To Nootropics: Study Assistant And Brain Booster

According to a report by Telegraph, as many as one out of every four students at the top UK universities have taken the smart drug modafinil (SOURCE: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/universityeducation/10341013/Smart-drugs-rife-at-Oxbridge-say-students.html).

There have also been reports of tech startup employees in California trying out every smart drug, from Adderall to LSD, in an attempt to unleash their brains. Smart drugs, or nootropics as they are commonly called, are becoming quite popular across the globe as a low-risk way of giving your mind a quick extra boost. Read on to learn more about nootropics, how they can benefit you, and things you need to consider before you start using them.

What Are Nootropics?

Nootropics are synthetic chemical compounds that are known to improve the cognition in healthy individuals. Most people who use nootropics don’t refer to them as medicines, as the prescription medicines are for restoring your health when you are sick, while nootropics help you improve your cognitive functioning when you are healthy. Nootropic drugs typically demonstrate the following effects on the users:

• enhanced memory and learning
• improved focus
• protect your brain from various chemical or physical injuries
• improve the efficiency of your brain’s functions
• lack the typical side effects that come with other psychotropic drugs like sedation and loss of motor control
• safe to use on a regular basis due to their extremely low toxicity and low risk of overdose

Nootropics allow the users gain better control over their moods, mental states, and cognitive abilities. Somewhat similar in a way to caffeine, nootropics won’t just help you wake up and get ready for the day, but also help you utilize a range of other functional benefits such as the ones listed in the next section.

What Benefits Do Nootropics Have

Using nootropics can benefit any healthy individual by improving their:

• ability to communicate
• motivation levels
• decision-making
• reasoning ability
• problem-solving ability
• intelligence
• concentration
• cognition
• memory storage and recall

Most important of all, it is believed that supplementing with nootropics can also help improve your overall health and wellbeing.

Though it might sound like a magic pill, which really it isn’t, you should think of the smart drugs or nootropics as a supplement for your brain. And when your brain is becoming healthier and functioning better than ever, your entire well-being is improved over time.

What Are The Most Commonly Used Nootropics?

Here are the most popular nootropics currently available in the market, some are also top nootropic brain boosting ingredients along with the areas of the user’s mental wellbeing that they affect:

Modafinil, armodafinil, and adrafinil: motivation, focus, memory, clarity
Racetams: learning, memory, mental turnover, extroversion
Nicotine: mood, focus, motivation
Amphetamine (Adderall): focus
L-theanine: mental endurance, alertness, quick reaction time
Bacopa Monnieri: stress, attention, mood, memory
Forskolin & artichoke extract: learning, memory, focus
LSD: creativity, empathy, mood, focus

Things To Keep In Mind Before You Start Using Nootropics

Given that you will find lots of varied advice regarding smart drugs on the internet, it can be challenging to figure out the best ways to use them. Having said this, you should be aware of the best practices that will help you get the desired results if you keep them in mind:

Be Ready To Do Your Own Research

Don’t hesitate to look up reactions or side-effects of the nootropic(s) that you are considering to use on a regular basis.

Monitor Your Behavior Patterns

Since many nootropic effects are quite subtle in nature, you need to pay attention to any noticeable changes in your behavior.

Try Not To Exceed The Recommended Dosage

If you wish to experiment, make sure you consult a qualified medical professional.

Take One At A Time Before Combining Or Stacking Them Up

In order for you to realize how each nootropic individually affects you, it’s best to use them one at a time in the beginning or you might have to face the associated side effects. Be wary of known interactions with other drugs, medicines or chemical compounds: When in doubt, always consult your doctor.

Take Into Account The Tolerance Buildup

If you think the nootropic you are taking is beginning to lose its effect, take some time off of it and let your brain regulate the biochemicals instead of increasing your dosage.

Avoid Dependency

Even though nootropics are not known to have any addictive properties, using them can be habit forming for some people, and comes with its own risks. If you feel you are becoming dependent on a nootropic drug or combination, carefully and gradually reduce your dosage.

Always Remember

nootropics are not a replacement for following a healthy and balanced lifestyle. Healthy eating habits, regular exercise, and sound sleep remain the most effective ways for enhancing cognition and the sense of wellbeing.