Jul 1, 2018

3 Amazing Nootropics, and 4 Really Good Ones


I've invested a ridiculous amount of time and money exploring, obtaining, and personally testing many dozen substances and protocols in the nootropics and longevity spare.  I'm writing this post to share what I've learned, and perhaps turn you on to some options you didn't know were available.



One of my two overflowing supplement cabinets
First, here's the headline takeaway: Most (and I mean a good majority) of what's marketed today to improve cognition is useless.  Now it's worth noting that while useless, the great majority those substances aren't harmful either.

And it's not all bad news.  In fact, the reason I'm updating this post is because, just in the last few years, a few nootropic options have proven themselves to be effective, reliable, and generally safe.

By "effective" I should clarify that each "effective" nootropic option I'm aware of offers a fairly narrow scope of benefit.  Meaning, none have been able to improve overall cognition (as many claim) but instead, offer benefits to one or more of the many different components that broadly makeup cognition.

With that said, below you'll find a list of the most effective nootropics currently available today, divided into two groups.  The first group are the most effective nootropics I'm aware of, the second are the most effective cognitive enhancers.  There's a difference I won't get into unless asked.  So for now, here then are the most effective nootropics:
  • Adrafinil
  • Phenylpiracetam
  • Semax
  • Melatonin (for those over 35 years of age)
Melatonin might seem a bit unrelated, but I offer it as an option because few substances can do more to improve your overall health and cognition than getting regular and restorative sleep.

Now for those who looking for more hard hitting and immediate cognitive improvements (such as those looking to substitute their Adderall or Ritalin prescriptions with a safer alternative) and are willing to risk the uncertainty that attends less-proven options (and/or are willing to take a prescription) here’s the second list:

  • Provigil
  • Tianeptine
  • Cyclazodone
Only the first drug (provigil) in the above list requires a prescription.  The rest are presently legal, and capable of provoking an immediate and noticeable effect (with very little to no loading required, as is common with many of the slower acting nootropics). Also, each of those cognitive enhancement options offer a unique method of action from the other (in how they support improved mood and/or thinking).

A warning: Some of the options listed above carry a risk of tolerance and addiction.  With that in mind, as with any drug, treatment, or supplement, it’s critical you seek the advice of a doctor before taking any of them.

I hope you found this update helpful.  Feel free to post a comment or question below.

Thanks, 

Christian Hunter 
Austin, TX

3 comments :

  1. Nootropics are a class of brain power enhancing supplements that are utilized to enhance focus and help to boost memory. Generic Provigil Smart drugs are not nootropics, but sometimes mistakenly called.

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  2. You forgot FL-Modafinil.
    CRL-40,940 (Flmodafinil, Lauflumide) is a derivative of Modafinil, a medication used for narcoleptics by increasing attention and reducing sleep cravings. CRL-40,940 is classified as a psychotonic and eugeroic and has demonstrated similar but somewhat more powerful effects than Modafinil in animal models.

    Chemically, CRL-40,940 (Lauflumide) is the bis(p-fluoro) derivative of Modafinil and is sometimes referred to as bisfluoromodafinil or Flmodafinil.[1]

    Modafinil, Adrafinil, Flmodafinil (CRL-40,940), and CRL-40,941 are part of the same family of eugeroics that were initially discovered in the late 1970’s by Dr. Michel Jouvet’s French ‘Laboratorie Lafon’. At Lafon, the research team made several observations of the newly synthesized group of drugs. From their patent:

    "In man, particularly old people, it was observed that ... CRL-40,940 ... administered in the form of gelules or tablets – each containing 100 to 200 mg of active ingredient, at the rate of 1 to 3 gelules or tablets per day – have given excellent results as arousing medicaments."[2]

    More recently, CRL-40,940 was patented again under a different name (Lauflumide). The patent describes Lauflumide as:

    “…[a] novel treatment for ADHD, narcolepsy and idiopathic hypersomnia that would provide better results than those obtained with current treatments based on psychostimulants, would treat symptoms resistant to current treatments with no symptom rebound effect, and would have a low toxicity.” [3]

    The patent for Laufumide described an unexpected synthesis of a molecule that is similar to both Adrafinil and Modafinil but with greater efficacy than both the two molecules and with fewer side effects. Laufumide (2-((bis(4-fluorophenyl)methane)sulfinyl)acetamide) was explicitly described as not being related to amphetamine-like compounds and without any side effects of amphetamines.

    Furthermore, the patent described Flmodafinial (Lauflumide, CRL-40,940) as being 20 times more effective than Adrafinil and 4 times stronger than Modafinil. The researchers suggested that Lauflumide may present a novel therapeutic alternative to methylphenidate and amphetamine in ADHD and to modafinil in narcolepsy and idiopathic hypersomnia, with a long-lasting effectiveness in plasma of 6 to 7 hours. [4]

    Unlike Adrafinil, CRL-40,941 also possesses interesting anti-aggressive properties in animal testing. In mice, the LD-0 (maximum non-lethal dose) of CRL 40,941 is higher than 512 mg/kg, and the LD50 is higher than 1024 mg/kg. [5]

    [1] Acetamide, 2-[[bis(4-fluorophenyl)methyl]sulfinyl]-. (2018). PubChem Open Chemistry Database: U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Center for Biotechnology Information. Available online from: https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/13271852/ [Accessed 10 October 2017]
    [2] n.a. (n.d.). Patent application number CA1199916 A1. US Patent Office. Data provided by IFI CLAIMS Patent Services. Available online from: https://www.google.com/patents/CA1199916A1?cl=en
    [3] Konofol E. (2011). Lauflumide and the enantiomers thereof, method for preparing same and therapeutic uses thereof: US 20130295196 A1. US Patent Office. Available online at: https://www.google.com/patents/US20130295196 [Accessed 10 October 2017]

    [4] Cao J, Prisinzano TE, Okunola OM, et al. (2011). SARs at the Monoamine Transporters for a Novel Series of Modafinil Analogues. ACS Medicinal Chemistry Letters, 2(1):48-52.
    [5] Lafon, L. (1986). Patent application number CA19830429261 19830531. US Patent Office. ESpaceNet Patent Search. Available online from: https://worldwide.espacenet.com/publicationDetails/biblio?

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