RESEARCH FIRST
This guide is for educational reference only and is not a substitute for medical advice.
HOW TO THINK ABOUT NOOTROPICS
Start with the basics. Sleep, diet, exercise, and sunlight beat every compound on this page. If those are broken, nootropics are a band-aid.
One thing at a time. Never start two new compounds together: if something works (or doesn’t), you need to know which one did it.
Lowest effective dose. More is not better with this stuff. Start low, give it two weeks, then decide.
Cycle stimulants. Anything that pushes your nervous system needs off-days or it stops working and you just feel worse.
THE COMPOUNDS
Caffeine + L-Theanine
What it is: the classic focus stack.
Why people use it: clean energy without jitters.
My take: the only “nootropic” I’d recommend to anyone. 100–200mg caffeine with 100–200mg L-theanine. Start here before touching anything exotic.
Racetams (Piracetam, Oxiracetam, Phenylpiracetam, Aniracetam)
What they are: the original nootropic family.
Why people use them: focus, memory, verbal fluency.
My take: subtle for most people, and they deplete choline: always pair with a choline source or you’ll get headaches.
Choline Sources (Alpha-GPC, CDP-Choline)
What they are: building blocks for acetylcholine, your focus neurotransmitter.
Why people use them: pair with racetams, or solo for mind-muscle connection in training.
My take: Alpha-GPC pre-workout is legit for focus. Start at 300mg.
Adaptogens (Ashwagandha, Rhodiola)
What they are: herbs that help your body handle stress.
Why people use them: lower cortisol, steadier energy, better stress tolerance.
My take: ashwagandha in the evening for wind-down, rhodiola in the morning for output. Give them 2–4 weeks, they build up.
Selank
What it is: a synthetic peptide derived from tuftsin, studied for anxiety-related effects.
Why people use it: calm, stress resilience, and anxiety support. Human evidence is limited.
My take: this lives in my peptide guide: full write-ups at /peptideguide. Same rule applies: research carefully first.
Semax
What it is: a synthetic peptide based on an ACTH fragment, studied for neurological and cognitive effects.
Why people use it: focus, memory, and mental clarity. Evidence for benefits in healthy people remains limited.
My take: this lives in my peptide guide: full write-ups at /peptideguide. Same rule applies: research carefully first.
GUIDELINES
Research before you buy. Read the actual studies, not just Reddit hype threads. If you can’t explain how it works, you’re not ready to take it.
Buy from sources you trust. The nootropic market has a counterfeit problem. Third-party testing or don’t buy it.
Track what you take. Dose, time, effects. A notes app is fine. Memory is not.
If it stops working, stop taking it. Tolerance is real. Cycle off instead of increasing the dose.
Nootropics are tools, not shortcuts. Fix your sleep, dial in your diet, then experiment carefully, one compound at a time. This isn’t medical advice, just a practical reference. Questions? DM me on Instagram (@KasonGrainger).