The film Limitless has a protagonist who is portrayed as a slacker who comes across a genius pill called NZT-48 that turns him into a prolific writer overnight, improves his memory and confidence, has him become a stock prodigy and later run for the US senate. This was the movie that engendered a lot of mainstream interest in nootropics.
Nootropics are smart drugs that improve the way you think, and have proven effects across multiple measures of intelligence and brain performance. They are also neuroprotective and extremely nontoxic (as opposed to cognitive enhancers that don't necessarily have to have the former two qualities).
The most basic nootropics are the racetam analogues, and Piracetam has been know to be the grandaddy of all nootropics. It helps in improving information processing, learning and memory and motivation.
If you are having a racetam, your Acetyl Choline can get depleted, and cause headaches. So it's important to remember to add a choline source such as Alpha GPC or CDP Choline. Choline is the brain's most basic nutrient and 90% of the population is in deficiency. A lack of choline can affect your memory, with sluggish cognition and make you feel like you're functioning in a fog.
Noopept is the latest of the racetam analogues, and is around a 1000x stronger than Piracetam.
It is reported to improve learning ability and memory (including the initial processing of information, consolidation, and retrieval). In Russian studies Noopept helped to restore memory and other cognitive functions disturbed as a result of brain injury, local and global ischemia and prenatal damage (alcohol, hypoxia). The therapeutic effect of the drug in patients with organic disorders of the central nervous system appeared within 5-7 days of treatment. Also reported was the reduction or disappearance of anxiety, irritability, emotional lability and sleep disorders
Sulbutiamine is a brain specific source of thiamine that prevents mental fatigue, and causes a lift in mood or euphoria, and a feeling of tranquility. However it also sometimes has a side effect of adversely affecting erections in some men. There are also some concerns it adversely affects dopamine feedback mechanisms thus affecting important punishment and reward seeking mechanisms like food, sex, mood and other motivational drives.
Lion's mane is a mushroom that is the only known substance that is known to cross the blood brain barrier and stimulate the performance of Nerve Growth Factor, which determines the rate at which new brain cells are produced. The scientists who found out about this (it's been used in the east for centuries) mechanism of action were awarded the Nobel Prize for their discovery. Lion's mane literally makes you grow new brain cells.
Bacopa is a herbal supplement used in India to enhance memory. It also repairs old and damaged neurons and dendrites and has a significant anti-anxiety/calming effect.
Dosing suggestions:
Noopept 10-30 mg once or twice a day (1.5-3 months on. 1 month off). The cycling is to reduce receptor downregulation.
Alpha GPC 600mg-1g / day (A more proximal precursor of Choline, and cheaper than CDP Choline).
Sulbutiamine 600mg-1g in the morning. (Twice daily dosings sometimes cause a crash, watch out for boner issues in men, and tolerance so skip 1-2 days a week if you are having it).
Lion's mane 500 mg twice daily
Bacopa 1 g in the morning
Additionally
Fish oil 1-4 grams/day
Multivitamins and minerals to round the stack off.
There you go, that's probably as well rounded and as basic a stack as you can construct.
