Let me know what you think! Currently I'm on Selegiline, started only recently. Hoping to add Modafinil on Wednesday. I take some vitamins that contain Huperzine A and some other random things that aren't on this list. I plan on ordering some of the racetams, and possibly PEA (although I have phenylalanine which I've been taking with some positive results). The Parkinson's/Alzheimer's drugs will be harder to get prescribed, but a lot of research is starting to show their efficacy in treating drug addiction and enhancing cognitive performance.
Enjoy.
My ultimate nootropic/smart drug/cognitive enhancement/neuropharmacological augmentation wishlist:
Piracetam/Oxiracetam
Memantine/Amantadine
Huperzine A/Galantamine
Phenylethylamine (PEA)
Selegiline* (l-deprenyl)
Modafinil
Carbidopa
Lisdexamfetamine (optional)
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modafinil -
-Promoter of wakefulness; shown to reverse cognitive deficits induced by sleep deprivation, and in fact rhesus monkeys outperformed their rested test scores, while sleep deprived, after administration of modafinil. Currently Schedule IV in the United States, and unregulated in many foreign countries, meaning likely to be readily available.
-Additionally, suspected to have antagonistic properties at the NMDA receptor (n-methyl d-aspartate, heavily involved in learning, memory, etc.); upregulation can result, i.e. cells increase the number of available glutamate receptors to compensate for the perceived decrease in electrochemical signaling. At the same time, the constant inhibition of glutamate signaling prevents excitotoxicity, which is the main cause of cell death in these types of cells, particularly when chemicals that increase synaptic levels of glutamate are involved. As I mentioned earlier, minimizing excitotoxic conditions will be key in preventing burnout when administering multiple compounds that increase cellular signaling.
-->Please note that the NMDA antagonistic properties of modafinil are possibly mild, or perhaps not even responsible for its cognitive enhancing qualities; more research needs to be conducted. Furthermore, other, more selective pharmacological solutions will be employed to prevent excitotoxicity and modulate NMDA and other glutamate receptor systems.
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piracetam -
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxiracetam -
Both in the family of nootropic drugs known as "racetams"; functional studies give evidence for benefits, e.g. improved vocabulary recall in college students given piracetam. Less is known about oxiracetam, but studies show that it can be safely taken long term, has good bioavailability, and does cross the blood brain barrier (BBB); whereas large doses of piracetam are necessary due to its inferior absorption and neural propagation, even modest doses of oxiracetam remain efficacious. -Racetams are suspected to work on a number of neural networks involved in cognition, memory, and learning. One suggested mechanism of action is increased cell membrane permeability; related processes are improved flow in ion channels, increased oxygen consumption, and improved blood flow within/about the brain in general.
-Another likely mechanism by which racetams act is the modulation of acetylcholine (ACh) receptors/pathways, along with inhibition of acetylcholinesterase. Because acetylcholine and its receptors are heavily involved with glutamate activity, synaptic plasticity is often attributed to healthy levels of ACh and the activity of corresponding neural networks.
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huperzine_A -
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galantamine -
-Hypothesizing that the benefits of racetam-type drugs are derived (at least partially) from its ACh activity, exploration of other ACh-acting compounds logically follows.
-After some researching (I love wikipedia and how easy it is to cruise around related topics!!! oh yeah pubmed rocks too) I settled on two chemicals that seemed relevant in my search for cognitive augmentation/enhancement, galantamine and huperzine A. Both compounds act as AChE inhibitors, effectively increasing levels of acetylcholine in the brain; huperzine A also acts as an NMDA antagonist (bonus!) while galantamine doubles as an allosteric ligand at ACh receptors.
-Currently, galantamine is approved for clinical use in the amelioration of the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease. Progression of this disease is still under scrutiny, but it is thought that degradation and deterioration of ACh receptors by the amyloid beta protein is implicated (think of "plaque-like" protein buildup on receptors). Hence, galantamine is suspected to be effective in alleviating symptoms related to this protein buildup and receptor degeneracy.
-I suspect that these compounds will contribute to improved clarity and accessibility in memory formation and recall, effectively "sharpening" my perceptions and thoughts. Who knows until studies are done, or some adventurous psychonaut gives it a shot? Why wait until I'm old and suffering from Alzheimer's to augment and protect my brain?
-->At this point, we have a lot of chemicals, which often overlap in the neurological systems they act upon. From the options listed so far, piracetam or oxiracetam could be used without the other, and similarly huperzine A and galantamine share most of their mechanisms of action, allowing for use of one or the other. Below, memantine and amantadine are very similar as well and could be interchanged without much loss of desired effect.
-->If I, or anyone else, were to actually give this wish list a test drive, I would follow a few recommendations. First, start with conservative dosages, which have been determined from trustworthy sources; do your research, know what you're taking, and start slow! Everyone's chemistry is different, so it's impossible to know what dose is appropriate without firsthand experience. However, it IS possible to glean ballpark estimates based on the research conducted on these chemicals; taking that information and starting with relatively small amounts is the only responsible way to begin taking nootropics. Besides that, only begin ONE type of therapy/compound at a time; this serves a twofold purpose. For one, you'll actually be able to distinguish which compounds are beneficial, what side effects come from what drugs, and make conclusions with certainty regarding the efficacy of particular chemicals. The other reason to take this process one drug at a time is due to the numerous interactions between these chemicals. There is always the possibility of a bad reaction between chemicals, and I'm sure that as someone adds more of the drugs on the list, the more likely side effects will emerge. By adding only a single adjunctive therapy at a time, the appearance of side effects can be managed effectively. One thing I like about this list is that there are often multiple nootropic options that achieve the same effect; you can always switch chemicals if one is particularly bothersome without missing out on the benefits of that class of nootropics. At the end of this examination of current nootropic therapy options, I will describe the order in which I would begin administering these chemicals, as well as my personal preferences/recommendations between the possible options within a class of chemicals.
Part 1 end
Enjoy.
My ultimate nootropic/smart drug/cognitive enhancement/neuropharmacological augmentation wishlist:
Piracetam/Oxiracetam
Memantine/Amantadine
Huperzine A/Galantamine
Phenylethylamine (PEA)
Selegiline* (l-deprenyl)
Modafinil
Carbidopa
Lisdexamfetamine (optional)
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modafinil -
-Promoter of wakefulness; shown to reverse cognitive deficits induced by sleep deprivation, and in fact rhesus monkeys outperformed their rested test scores, while sleep deprived, after administration of modafinil. Currently Schedule IV in the United States, and unregulated in many foreign countries, meaning likely to be readily available.
-Additionally, suspected to have antagonistic properties at the NMDA receptor (n-methyl d-aspartate, heavily involved in learning, memory, etc.); upregulation can result, i.e. cells increase the number of available glutamate receptors to compensate for the perceived decrease in electrochemical signaling. At the same time, the constant inhibition of glutamate signaling prevents excitotoxicity, which is the main cause of cell death in these types of cells, particularly when chemicals that increase synaptic levels of glutamate are involved. As I mentioned earlier, minimizing excitotoxic conditions will be key in preventing burnout when administering multiple compounds that increase cellular signaling.
-->Please note that the NMDA antagonistic properties of modafinil are possibly mild, or perhaps not even responsible for its cognitive enhancing qualities; more research needs to be conducted. Furthermore, other, more selective pharmacological solutions will be employed to prevent excitotoxicity and modulate NMDA and other glutamate receptor systems.
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piracetam -
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxiracetam -
Both in the family of nootropic drugs known as "racetams"; functional studies give evidence for benefits, e.g. improved vocabulary recall in college students given piracetam. Less is known about oxiracetam, but studies show that it can be safely taken long term, has good bioavailability, and does cross the blood brain barrier (BBB); whereas large doses of piracetam are necessary due to its inferior absorption and neural propagation, even modest doses of oxiracetam remain efficacious. -Racetams are suspected to work on a number of neural networks involved in cognition, memory, and learning. One suggested mechanism of action is increased cell membrane permeability; related processes are improved flow in ion channels, increased oxygen consumption, and improved blood flow within/about the brain in general.
-Another likely mechanism by which racetams act is the modulation of acetylcholine (ACh) receptors/pathways, along with inhibition of acetylcholinesterase. Because acetylcholine and its receptors are heavily involved with glutamate activity, synaptic plasticity is often attributed to healthy levels of ACh and the activity of corresponding neural networks.
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huperzine_A -
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galantamine -
-Hypothesizing that the benefits of racetam-type drugs are derived (at least partially) from its ACh activity, exploration of other ACh-acting compounds logically follows.
-After some researching (I love wikipedia and how easy it is to cruise around related topics!!! oh yeah pubmed rocks too) I settled on two chemicals that seemed relevant in my search for cognitive augmentation/enhancement, galantamine and huperzine A. Both compounds act as AChE inhibitors, effectively increasing levels of acetylcholine in the brain; huperzine A also acts as an NMDA antagonist (bonus!) while galantamine doubles as an allosteric ligand at ACh receptors.
-Currently, galantamine is approved for clinical use in the amelioration of the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease. Progression of this disease is still under scrutiny, but it is thought that degradation and deterioration of ACh receptors by the amyloid beta protein is implicated (think of "plaque-like" protein buildup on receptors). Hence, galantamine is suspected to be effective in alleviating symptoms related to this protein buildup and receptor degeneracy.
-I suspect that these compounds will contribute to improved clarity and accessibility in memory formation and recall, effectively "sharpening" my perceptions and thoughts. Who knows until studies are done, or some adventurous psychonaut gives it a shot? Why wait until I'm old and suffering from Alzheimer's to augment and protect my brain?
-->At this point, we have a lot of chemicals, which often overlap in the neurological systems they act upon. From the options listed so far, piracetam or oxiracetam could be used without the other, and similarly huperzine A and galantamine share most of their mechanisms of action, allowing for use of one or the other. Below, memantine and amantadine are very similar as well and could be interchanged without much loss of desired effect.
-->If I, or anyone else, were to actually give this wish list a test drive, I would follow a few recommendations. First, start with conservative dosages, which have been determined from trustworthy sources; do your research, know what you're taking, and start slow! Everyone's chemistry is different, so it's impossible to know what dose is appropriate without firsthand experience. However, it IS possible to glean ballpark estimates based on the research conducted on these chemicals; taking that information and starting with relatively small amounts is the only responsible way to begin taking nootropics. Besides that, only begin ONE type of therapy/compound at a time; this serves a twofold purpose. For one, you'll actually be able to distinguish which compounds are beneficial, what side effects come from what drugs, and make conclusions with certainty regarding the efficacy of particular chemicals. The other reason to take this process one drug at a time is due to the numerous interactions between these chemicals. There is always the possibility of a bad reaction between chemicals, and I'm sure that as someone adds more of the drugs on the list, the more likely side effects will emerge. By adding only a single adjunctive therapy at a time, the appearance of side effects can be managed effectively. One thing I like about this list is that there are often multiple nootropic options that achieve the same effect; you can always switch chemicals if one is particularly bothersome without missing out on the benefits of that class of nootropics. At the end of this examination of current nootropic therapy options, I will describe the order in which I would begin administering these chemicals, as well as my personal preferences/recommendations between the possible options within a class of chemicals.
Part 1 end