Misc what substances help you focus

[Pirrracetamol]

Meth....but don't be like that guy

 

[Señor Moreno]

Dexamphetamine for me - the only stimulant I find to really help me with focus without the compulsive redose urges.

Would you believe me if I tell you that I have never tried dexamphetamine? Not even once, not even a single mg in my life...

 

[ageingpartyfiend]

Would you believe me if I tell you that I have never tried dexamphetamine? Not even once, not even a single mg in my life...

I would believe you yeah, because I know you to be an honest man

 

[Esperighanto]

I would add Citicoline (CDP‑Choline) + L‑Tyrosine + caffeine - great for mental concentration, works much better than I expected

I used to be a big choline PAM supporter but, damn dude the clinical research on the long term cardiac effects of TMAO (trimethylamine n-oxide) intersecting with the pretty clear observation that increased cholinergic activity leads to increased levels of endogenously produced/metabolized TMAO, it paints quite an ominous picture. I have stayed away from frequent use, but I am absolutely fascinated by cholinergic hallucinogens which I super rarely hear people speak about for some reason.

 

[placebonaut]

I used to be a big choline PAM supporter but, damn dude the clinical research on the long term cardiac effects of TMAO (trimethylamine n-oxide) intersecting with the pretty clear observation that increased cholinergic activity leads to increased levels of endogenously produced/metabolized TMAO, it paints quite an ominous picture. I have stayed away from frequent use, but I am absolutely fascinated by cholinergic hallucinogens which I super rarely hear people speak about for some reason.

Glad you flagged this, I'd not come across this issue before!

I'm using it currently in my daily stack and have issues with cholesterol too, so maybe this is 1 for me to drop and only use occasionally (maybe never given the benefit from it)

Effects of choline metabolite—trimethylamine N-oxide on immunometabolism in inflammatory bowel disease - PMC

Trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), a key metabolite derived from the gut microbial metabolism of choline, has recently been implicated as a significant contributor to the development of several chronic diseases, including diabetes, cardiovascular ...

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

AI summary

Dietary choline is metabolized by gut microbiota into trimethylamine (TMA), which the liver oxidizes into trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO). Elevated TMAO levels are associated with cardiovascular risks like atherosclerosis and heart failure, by promoting cardiac fibrosis, adverse remodeling, and inflammation. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

Key Cardiac Effects of TMAO

• Atherosclerosis: TMAO alters cholesterol metabolism and promotes macrophage cholesterol accumulation, creating foam cells in arterial walls. [1]
• Thrombosis: It enhances platelet reactivity, increasing the risk of blood clots and thrombosis. [1, 2, 3, 4]
• Heart Failure: Elevated circulating TMAO exacerbates cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis in heart failure models. [1]
• Acute Electrophysiological Changes: Studies have shown that acute exposure to TMAO briefly alters ionic currents, such as increasing calcium currents and shortening the action potential duration in cardiomyocytes. [1]

Clinical Context and Interventions
The biological relationship between choline, TMAO, and cardiovascular outcomes is complex: [1, 2, 3]

• While some studies link dietary choline and its gut-derived metabolites to cardiovascular events, others show that plasma TMAO levels are a marker rather than a direct causative agent for disease in all healthy populations. [1, 2]
• Certain research highlights that TMAO levels can drive specific immune system changes, like differentiating Th17 cells and causing systemic inflammation. [1]
• Medications like metformin and targeted microbiota inhibitors (e.g., DMB) have been shown to suppress TMA-producing gut microbes, significantly reducing choline-diet-induced serum TMAO in experimental models. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

For more information on the metaorganismal pathways of this metabolite, you can review published studies on PubMed Central (PMC) or Nature.

AI follow up questions

Is occasional use safe?

Yes, occasional use of choline supplements or choline-rich foods is generally considered safe for the heart. [1, 2] The cardiovascular risks associated with TMAO—such as arterial plaque formation, systemic inflammation, and cardiac tissue changes—primarily stem from chronic, prolonged elevations rather than temporary, isolated spikes. [1, 2]

Chronicity Matters for Heart Risk

• Temporary Fluctuations: Eating a single choline-heavy meal or taking an occasional supplement causes a brief rise in blood TMAO levels. Healthy kidneys quickly and efficiently filter this out of your system, returning your blood levels to baseline within hours. [1, 2]
• No Sudden Damage: The negative cardiac effects of TMAO (like endothelial dysfunction or tissue remodeling) are gradual processes driven by cumulative, day-in, day-out exposure. An occasional spike does not trigger these chronic diseases. [1, 2]

The Delivery Mechanism Is Crucial
The physical form of the choline you ingest significantly impacts how much TMAO your gut bacteria can actually produce: [1]

• Free Choline Supplements: Forms like choline bitartrate (frequently found in cheap multivitamins) are rapidly converted by gut bacteria, causing a sharper, more pronounced surge in baseline TMAO levels. [1, 2]
• Lipid-Bound Dietary Choline: Choline found naturally in whole foods like eggs or beef liver is primarily phosphatidylcholine (lecithin). Research indicates that these natural, lipid-bound forms are absorbed much earlier in the digestive tract, leaving less free choline for gut microbes to convert into TMAO. [1, 2, 3]