Nootropics & Supplements for ADHD: A Personal Guide

I divided this long post in 3 parts: ABOUT ME, SUPPLEMENTS/NOOTROPICS and
RESEARCH CHEMICALS.
Feel free to jump to the part of your interest, and please, correct me if I'm wrong in
something, and tell me if you had a different experience with any substance.
Also, sorry if I have some gramatic mistakes, english isn't my first language. :P
--------------------------------------------------ABOUT ME / MY STORY
--------------------------------------------------So I'm a 21 years old male, who have been called lazy all his life, all teachers, parents
and family, always told me that I can shine but I conform with mediocrity. I have a
really high IQ, and i always got things fast, but i just can't do anything that i'm not
genuinely interested or curious. Also, I can be super interested in something and in just
2 weeks can lost all interest and I cant do that thing anymore, and is frustrating cause I
have a lot of things I like and I do well at, but I can't get to a professional level because
I get into a new thing before.
Of course I'm describing clear ADHD syntoms, but I didn't know I have it till I got in
this world.
I thought I just have low dopamine, cause I played a lot of videogames and had bad
habits, so I started looking into supplements, then nootropics, then research chems...
And then I realized that all subreddits and forums I was into, was full of ADHDers.
ADHD was not in my radar but that time.
But the more I read, the more clear was that I have ADHD, and all my efforts to gain
dopamine, was just an unconsciously try to alleviate my symptoms.
So I got diagnosed, and now I have concerta. But I still learning about new substances
and supplements to improve my quality of life and overall happiness.
IMPORTANT: I don't take drugs to escape from reality, i take drugs to improve the
reality. All substances I take have a purpose, not just "they feel good". If tomorrow I'm
not proud of drugs taken today, then I did something wrong.
Drugs aren't bad. The use you do CAN be bad. But can be good also. Deppends on you.
If you are responsible, you can use them to your advantage. Good luck on that.
Lets start :D
--------------------------------------------------SUPPLEMENTS / NOOTROPICS
--------------------------------------------------Fish Oil Omega 3:
•
Dosage: 4x (330 mg EPA, 220 mg DHA) softgels daily
•
This one isn't fully recognizable for me. No acute effects, and no clear long term
effects. I can't say at all if it has some effect on me but is something I believe in.
It's good for brain and heart, so why not.
•
Is fatty, so it's good for taking with fatty disolving substances.
Magnesium (Bisglicinate):
•
Dosage: 1-2x 175 mg daily
•
This one it's definitely noticeable. Improves sleep, helps with physical anxiety,
help relax and chill.
•
It synergizes very well with stimulants. Its my go to with amphs, mph or
empathogens. 1 cap and it clearly reduces jitteriness, completely eliminates eye
ticks, noticeable reduce jaw clenching and teeth grinding...
•
It just smooth stimulants without reducing it's desired effects. Very
recommended.
Creatine monohydrate:
•
Dosage: 4x 1g pills daily
•
Help gain muscle mass and improves explosive force. Very good for gym but it
won't workout for you hahahah
•
I've read it has some positive effects on brain, I can't really relate on that cause I
didn't notice any changes.
L-Tyrosine:
•
Dosage: 2000 mg with a protein shake daily
•
Dopamine precursor. Good to take with Bromantane (that increase conversion
rate of L-Tyrosine to L-DOPA)
•
I know I should take it with empty stomach for noticing effects, but I really don't
notice much from it anyways.
•
Maybe a bit more energy and it definitely potenciates stimulants effects, but I
don't think you can use it as a stimulant alone.
Uridine triacetate / Triacetyluridine / TAU:
•
Dosage: 20-30 mg 2-3 times a week.
•
Not sure of the mechanism of action, but it's related with acetylcholine.
•
I use it on heavy stimulants days off. Maybe I combine with caffeine and
bromantane.
•
It supposedly upregulates dopamine. It is definitely noticeable. But it didn't
change my life.
•
One time I took 50 mg and I was stimulatted as fuck. Almost like and amph, but
wasn't enjoyable at all. Heart beating fast and mind racing. Also bad insomnia.
Won't recomment high dosages
•
At normal dosages it noticeable increase motivation and improve mood.
Sometimes is a bit sedating, thats why I combine it with caffeine. Very nice to
get something done in days off heavy stims.
Bromantane:
•
Dosage: 100 mg 2-3 times a week
•
It upregulates tyrosine hydroxylase, wich is the protein that transforms Tyrosine
into Dopa. Dopa transforms into Dopamine without a limiting rate. So
upregulating tyrosine hydroxylase should increase dopamine on paper.
•
I use it on heavy stimulants days off. Always combined with TAU and LTyrosine.
•
Unfortunately this don't affect me as much as it affect other people.
•
I notice the anxiolitic effect more than the stimulant itself. But if I combine it
with caffeine, its a very good combo. It reduces the caffeine anxiety while
improving motivation.
•
Recommend to try, for some people it can be life changing but others (like me)
don't notice as much.
Rhodiola Rosea:
•
Dosage: 400 mg (12 mg rosavins 4 mg salidrosides)
•
Mild MAOI
•
I don't take it since a while cause it caused overstimulation and hypertensive
crysis in combination with other stimulants. First time it happened combining it
with L-Tyrosine on empty stomach and the second time with caffeine(big dose)
and noopept.
•
Alone, it's really good. As a MAOI, it will improve mood and slightly improve
motivation and energy.
•
Recommend if you dont rely on heavy stimulants. I used almost every day for a
while, but discontinued after the bad experiences above.
Alpha-GPC:
•
Dosage: 200-400 mg daily
•
Acetylcholine precursor.
•
This one is really good, but care as it can give you choline depression if you take
too much. Do not exceed 600 mg a day. This shit is potent.
•
Gives mental clarity, gives energy but not in a stimulant way, improves focus
and it's like you are more intelligent with this. It's a must for mental works like
programming.
•
Also, needed if taking some racetams. It eliminates possibles headaches from
substances like phenylpiracetam or noopept. I up the dose if taking with
racetams.
Ashwagandha (KSM-66):
•
Dosage: 300 mg (15 mg withanolides) taken as needed
•
It affects GABA, thats why it has anxiolytics effects.
•
For me, this one has an accute effect. Didn't try taking daily as I read it can give
anhedonia.
•
When I'm stressed, or have anxiety, i take 1 pill often combined with LTheanine, and it reduces all anxiety quite fast.
•
Unlike L-Theanine, this one gives the body relaxation and the "I don't give a
fuck" kind of mentality.
•
Of course not as strong as a benzo, but it's noticeable.
•
Recommend trying if having stress/anxiety, but care with daily use.
L-theanine:
•
Dosage: 300-400 mg taken as needed.
•
Regulates Serotonin, Dopamine and Gaba.
•
This substance is a miracle. It can evaporate all physical anxiety of stimulants,
especially caffeine.
•
It has no high on body or mind, it just kills anxiety without noticing it. 20 mins
after you took, you just forget you had anxiety and keep doing things.
•
Not that usefull for mental anxiety, like rumination or overthinking. I prefer
ashwagandha for that.
•
Good for sleep if you can´t sleep due to anxiety. It helps relax. Not sedating btw.
•
I read that it makes you eliminate alcohol faster. Good for taking after drink
then.
•
One of my favourites as I use a lot of stimulants.
Bacopa Monieri:
•
Dosage: 500 mg (150 mg bacosides) daily.
•
Not sure of mechanism of action but it's acetylcholine related.
•
Improves memory
•
Not that noticeable for me. It doesn't turn you into a hard disk where you have
access to all your memories but it's noticeable that you can access easily to them.
It's like all memories are clearer and easily to access. Like taking the grey filter
off.
•
Didn't improve too much the short term memory problems related to ADHD, I
still forget what someone told me 1 min ago.
•
Recommend to try
Lion's Mane:
•
Dosage: 300 mg (150 mg polysaccharides) daily.
•
Stimulate neuro growth factor (NGF), and increases dopamine, serotonin and
norepinephrine.
•
I don't take it anymore but will take it again in the future.
•
This one changed my life.
•
It made me want to socialize, it made me want to do things, it motivated me. I
feel smarter and overall happier. It really improved me.
•
Btw, you have to be careful with this. It can have heavy side effects. Some
people have really bad effects that persist even after 1 dosage, so be careful and
do your research after going into this.
Melatonin:
•
Dosage: 2 mg
•
Increases Melatonin xD
•
It makes you feel soooooo tired. Not sedating, not buzzy, just tired.
•
It made me sleep 30 min after taking, but doesn't last all night. Maybe 4-5 hours
max.
•
There are melatonin extended release pills, but I didn't try them yet.
•
After 4 hours, I usually wake up and is hard to sleep again, so sometimes I take
another pill if I want to continue sleeping. I have to say that I battle hard with
insomnia, so ymmv
Noopept:
•
Dosage: 10 mg sublingual, 2-5 mg insuflatted, when needed.
•
Increase acetylcholine, BDNF and NGF. May increase dopamine.
•
Without a "high", it makes you confident, kills anxiety and bad self-thoughts,
and you just work and feel good. May flattens emotions.
•
Very good for working and getting shit done, as it puts you in a "I'm fucking
unstoppable" mood.
•
A really good add-on to amphetamines, methylphenidates or caffeine.
•
I use it also when i feel bad, and it works so well as anxiolytic, especially ending
bad thoughts spiral, without being sedating. It just evaporates the negative
thoughts and put you in a good mood. Combines well with ashwagandha for this
purpose.
•
Last little, 2-3 hours. Can redose without problems. Sometimes i get a mild
comedown, like feeling bad for a while, but nothing compared to a stim
comedown.
Aniracetam:
•
Dosage: 2x 750 mg daily
•
May increase dopamine and serotonin via acetylcholine modulation.
•
Improve confidence and eliminates social anxiety.
•
Very good for socializing, cause it make you feel good talking and enjoy
conversations.
•
Also eliminate the self-doubts, and make you feel the goat.
•
Its like a Phenibut lite. It has no "high" tho, just a bit of the confidence and
social boost phenibut have.
•
Also good for work, because it has that "I'm unstoppable" kind of feeling.
Phenylpiracetam:
•
Dosage: 100-200 mg
•
Increase dopamine and serotonin sensitivity. May restore damage done by heavy
benzo use.
•
This one personally disappointed me very much.
•
Almost sedating for me. It just makes me go to bed and don't want to move or do
anything. I can't deep sleep either, just shitty superficial sleep. It relax me way
too much.
•
One of the pros I found is the physical resistance improve. I workout like a beast
with this and caffeine. It's like my muscles have no end. Very good for
hypertrophy workouts.
•
It should give motivation, mood improve, energy, wakefullness... Classical stim
effects, but it has the opposite for me. It may be my product quality btw, as it is
difficult to find now.
•
I didn't try phenylpriacetam hydrazide (assuming I have real Phenylpiracetam
and not that) but eventually I will try.
Fasoracetam:
•
Dosage: 20 mg daily
•
Upregulate GABA-B receptors
•
Very good for Phenibut withdraw, or for potenciating its effects.
•
On it's own, gives a bit of the effects of phenibut. Social anxiety gone, confident
boost...
•
It just makes you the confident, social type of guy. You will make a lot of
friends.
•
Combinates good with Aniracetam.
Phenibut:
•
Dosage: 500-1200 mg
•
GABA-B agonist, also may enhance dopamine.
•
This is amazing, but care as it can be extremely adictive. Limit your consume to
once per week, max 2. Tolerance build fast on this, and as soon as you start
upping your dosage, you will be buying tickets for a trip to hell. This is no joke.
Take care.
•
Extremely long effect. Almost 24 hours. Is so long that you don't recognize
when it wears off. Its so progessive. It may have a comedown, sometimes 2 days
after you consume.
•
Care combining with alcohol or benzos. They potenciate eachother.
•
Definitely one of my favourites drugs for social events and raving/party.
•
Social anxiety is thing of the past with this.
•
Makes you super social, super talkativeness. You enjoy having conversations
with strangers, you look them at eyes, super confident. It's like MDMA but
without the insane euphoria and love feelings.
•
Sometimes compared with alcohol but without the "drunk feeling". Pure
desinhibition and confidence. You don't care walking to a random group of
people and start talking with them. You have 0 shame.
•
Also you are 100% conscious of all you do. Of course you are deshinibited and
you will do things that you won't do sober, but you are in control 100% of the
time
•
A bit chilling on it's own, but combine it with a stimulant, and omfg your night
will be amazing.
•
Combined with amphetamines or methylphenidate, it give me rushes of euphoria
that are soooo pleasant.
•
One of the best MDMA alternatives. Also you can do it every weekend, unlike
MDMA.
•
Sex is amazing on this. You are so at the moment. And for mens, you will last
longer.
•
Really really recommend this. If you take care with addiction, and don't overdo
it, this can give you so much pleasure with almost any side effects.
Modafinil:
•
Dosage: 100-250 mg
•
Dopamine norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor and releasing agent.
•
It's rx for narcolepsy and in rare cases for ADHD.
•
Safe to use daily or near daily but it will make your sleep worse. And if you dont
sleep and abuse modafinil for staying awake, thats when side effects will appear.
•
So usefull for night shifts, as its a wakefullness agent.
•
Nice stim effect, long duration (12-16 h).
•
I personally use it for when i'm sleep deprived and need to stay up.
•
It makes you more productive, but doesn't have that motivation boost that amph
or mph has.
•
It really gives anxiety. Even more combined with caffeine and is more
pronounced with high dosages. L-theanine helps a lot.
•
Helps a lot with fatigue. You will work for 6 hours without feeling tired. You
will also forget you have to eat.
•
It dehydrates you, so have water with you at any moment.
•
Very nice combo with phenibut or with weed.
Caffeine:
•
Dosage: 100-400 mg
•
Adenosine antagonist. Boost dopamine and norepinephrine
•
What can I say about caffeine that you don't already know? xD
•
Gives anxiety but L-theanine works wonders for this.
•
Everybody drinks coffee, and its studied and its safe, but care with addiction.
You don't want to need it. Control it and don't let it controls you, as with every
other drug.
•
It's not recommended to go beyond 400 mg daily.
•
I use 200mg pills, and usually take half of it (100mg) and 3-4 hours later the
other half. If I need a fast boost of energy I take the whole pill. I prefer pills over
coffee because I know exactly how much I'm taking.
•
Care combining high dosages of it with amphetamines or MDMA, as it shows to
be neurotoxic.
•
It's not recommended to take it close to bed time, as it will interfere with your
sleep.
--------------------------------------------------RESEARCH CHEMICALS
--------------------------------------------------Methylphenidate (I know this isn't a RC but its good for comparison):
•
Dosage: 15-20 mg instant release / 40-60 mg extended release (Concerta).
•
Norepinephrine dopamine reuptake inhibitor.
•
Really nice for focus, nice stimulation.
•
Really good for doing boring repetitive tasks, as you will be so much focused
that nothing will disturb you. You will adquire a pleasurable tunnel focus, and
you will get so much done. One of the best for this.
•
It really gives energy, I have tried to rave with this and phenibut and its
awesome.
•
It laks a bit of motivation for me. A bit more of dopamine action would be nice.
Sometimes I end doing unproductive things, but super focused.
•
I have combined it with 4F-MPH and they combine well. 4F-MPH gives a bit of
the motivation that is lacking. Just adjust the dosages, you don't want to end
overstimulated haha.
•
Also it boost confidence, and increase talkativeness. You will feel good. But
isn't too recreational. Its the same as 4F-MPH.
2-FA:
•
Dosage: 30-70 mg oral
•
Dopamine norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor and releasing agent. Almost no
serotonin action.
•
Duration: 3-4 hours with 30 min comeup. Redosing is possible and it doesn't add
so much side effects.
•
Almost no hangover.
•
Good stim for getting shit done and as ADHD medication.
•
Motivation, energy and laser focus is present.
•
Good for doing things you don't like to do but have to do.
•
Mood enhancement, but not too much.
•
Purely functional, no recreational value.
•
High dosages gives side effects, as fast heart beat, palpitations, sweat and
disconfort.
3-FA:
•
Dosage: 30-70 mg oral
•
Dopamine norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor and releasing agent. More
serotonin action than 2-FA, but still less than d-amph.
•
Duration: 4-6 hours with 45 min comeup. Redosing is possible. Try to keep the
dose low if redosing.
•
That bit of serotonin action make this a lot more fun than 2-FA
•
In high dosages, the serotonin part become more obvious and can be really
euphoric.
•
Good for productivity in low dosages but doesn't have the laser focus of 2-FA.
•
Music sound so much better, and you are in a good mood. Good for socializing
and for raving/partying.
•
It has more motivation boost than 2-FA, because you feel soo good that anything
you have to do become a fun thing to do. Like cleaning my bedroom listening to
music. Normally it would be a torture but with this im fucking dancing and
smiling alone. Quite euphoric.
•
It feels more in the dopamine side than in the norepinephrine side. No anxiety,
no vasocontriction, no racing heart... It feels so clean and natural.
•
I really like this one, is one of my favourites, but i have to control it cause isn't
purely functional. It has it's recreational side and it can be adictive.
2-FMA:
•
Dosage: 15-40 mg oral
•
Dopamine norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor and releasing agent.
•
Duration: 10-16 hours with 60-90 min comeup. Try to not redose on this one.
Do not binge.
•
Quite potent. A lot of side effects. Care with this one.
•
No recreational values in normal doses. I didn't try to up the dose on this one
because the side effects produced with low doses were not joke.
•
Good for focus, gives a lot of energy, like, a fucking lot. Good for getting shit
done but isn't my favourite for its dirty feeling. It doesn't feel clean. Not
something I want to play with near everyday.
•
Its heavy on the body. A lot of palpitations and racing heart even at low dosages.
A lot of jaw clenching. A lot of anxiety.
•
Once I took 20 mg and smoke a joint to relax and my heart felt like it was
coming out of my chest. I had more than 120 bpm in resting position. Definitely
not a pleasurable feeling. It may be just my case btw.
•
I use it just for the occasions when I need a lot of energy, or I'm heavy sleep
deprived.
4F-MPH:
•
Dosage: 10-15 mg oral or insufflated
•
Dopamine norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor.
•
It's like ritalin but last for 10 hours, and feels more dopaminergic than ritalin.
You can redose a bit after 3 or 4 hours to extend the peak a little.
•
Insufflated give a sharper peak and faster onset, but less overall duration.
Recommended oral ROA for productivity unless you need that fast effect and
sharper peak.
•
Its gives you motivation, energy, mood lift, confident boost, and good focus.
•
Not recreational at all, but it feels good. You are more confident so you socialize
better, talk more and feel that other people like you. That feels really good.
•
Really nice to get shit done. I prefer it over ritalin for this purpose.
•
I find the focus of ritalin being superior, but ritalin doesn't motivate me to do
things I don't wanna do. I can be watching shorts for 4 hours without blinking,
but 4F-MPH give me this "lets do productive things" feeling.
•
Tolerance build fast and its hard to get the dose right, because a bit more and
you get fucked in an inconfortable feeling, overstimulated for 10 fucking hours,
and a bit less, and you dont get the desired effects. Really hard to dose right on
this one.
NEP:
•
Dosage: 15-30 insufflated, 20-40 oral.
•
Norepinephrine dopamine reuptake inhibitor.
•
2-4 hours, easily to binge and compulsive redosing. Take care of yourself and
sleep. You don't want to end psychotic.
•
A lot of peripheral side effects. Hard vasoconstriction. This is literally anxiety in
powder. Keep the dose low.
•
Nice initial rush of euphoria, nice for sex. Doesn't last so long and after that, you
get just anxiety and unconfortable stimulation.
•
Didn't like it a lot. Didn't feel as smooth as amphetamines.
•
At low doses it can be functional, btw, there are better options, wouldn't
recommend this one for this purpose.