Everyone knows that nootropics have the ability to increase cognition in a number of different areas. These areas include learning capacity, enhancing memory, increasing focus and attention.
And now students, business people and others with demanding lifestyle are looking to increase their energy levels also with memory and focus.
This energy requirement can also be fulfilled with nootropics.
There are various supplements present in market that claims to boost energy levels but often they do this unnaturally or they simply don’t work.
This does not happen with nootropics. They work on a fundamental level to ensure that you get maximum energy levels.
In this article I will tell you how nootropic increases your energy level and what are the best nootropic for energy that will boost your energy levels.
How Nootropic help to increase memory?
There are many nootropics present in market and there is no one common way in which they boost energy levels. Generally these supplements work by modulating the level or effect of different neurotransmitters.
Your thoughts, actions and memories are all controlled by neurotransmitters through different mental processes.
When you take dose of these brain boosters, they increase the amount of blood flow into the brain which results in increased level of oxygen.
Oxygen is the primary source of energy for your brain cells. When oxygen levels are increased you instantly experience improved cognition and get rid of signs of exhaustion or fatigue.
This enhanced mental energy can also increase physical energy and even generate feeling of motivation and well-being.
Nootropic Stack | Type | Dosage | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Powder | 200-500 mg per day | ||
Powder | 150-300 mg per day | |||
Powder | 600-3000 mg per day | |||
Powder | 200 - 1000 mg per day | |||
| Powder | 500 mg daily | ||
Creatine | Capsules | 300-500 mg daily | ||
Phenylpiracetam | Capsules | 1-2 caps per day | ||
Omega -3 fatty acid | Powder | 10-40 mg daily | ||
Pramiracetam | Powder | 1-2 gm daily | ||
Piracetam | Capsules | 1-2 caps per day | ||
Caffeine | Capsules | 3 caps per day | ||
Vinopectine | Capsules | 1-2 caps per day |
Acetyl-Carnitine also known as ALCAR is derived from an athletic supplement known as Carnitine. It affects the brain by crossing the blood brain barrier and is a well-known smart drug in the world of smart drug.
It is used by millions of people worldwide including futurist and inventor Ray Kurzweil.
ALCAR does numerous things to your brain from improving Acetylcholine synthesis to optimising energy substrates like fatty acid and glucose.
When you take nootropic, you will immediately notice an improvement in energy, memory profile and energy and it can last upto hours. It is one of the best nootropic for energy present in market today.
How Acetyl-L-Carnitine works?
After you take a dose of ALCAR, it gets synthesised in liver and kidneys and then gets transported to other tissues. It has an excellent bioavailability and is readily absorbed by the gastrointestinal tract.
Once it gets absorbed, its action differ considerably from L-Carnitine which does not crosses the blood brain barrier.
It performs many of the same functions as L-Carnitine. Primary benefits of ALCAR does not include conversion of fat to energy but it does increase metabolic efficiency and provide many of the same energy related benefits as other variants of L-Carnitine.
Acetyl-L-Carnitine Dosage
Recommended dosage of ALCAR can vary, starting from 250-500mg per day. Dose of 500mg per day split into smaller doses is a good starting point for most aduts.
Acetyl-L-Carnitine Stacks
To get most of ALCAR, it is paired with other nootropics. Below are the ingredients of ALCAR stack.
· Alpha GPC
· AcetyLcarnitine
· Phenylpiracetam
· Omega-3
Pros
- Enhances alertness
- Improves Fatigue
- Boost focus
- Increases energy
Cons
- No significant effects for mood
- Shows mixed result for weight loss effect.
2. Adrafinil
Adrafinil also known as Omlifon is a drug that belongs to eugeroic group, which means it is a wakefulness promoting agent.
It reduces the effect of drowsiness and fatigue while improving alertness and wakefulness.
It was originally discovered in 1970’s by Lafon- a French pharmaceutical company and was offered as a drug for treatment of narcolepsy.
Currently in United States, this drug is unregulated and can be imported or purchased privately by citizens. If you are a U.S citizen, you can purchase it without a prescription to use as an alternative of Modafinil.
How Adrafinil works?
The exact mechanism of action of Adrafinil is not known but it is believed that it acts on adrenergic system. It is a part of nervous system that releases adrenaline.
As you take this drug and its level is increased in body, it also increases levels of neurotransmitters and hormones like Dopamine, Norepinephrine and Histamine. These hormones are related to mental and physical energy levels and play an important role in energy inducing effect of the supplement.
Adrafinil prevents breakdown of Dopamine which helps to improve mood and reduce stress. This supplement also releases Serotonin which helps to reduce anxiety.
Adrafinil Dosage
Since it is one of the most powerful nootropic available in market, it is advised that you start with a smaller dose and increase it slowly after body has adjusted to this drug.
The recommended dosage of Adrafinil is 150-300mg.
NOTE- If you are planning to use Adrafinil for a longer period of time, you should consult with your doctor first.
Adrafinil Stacks
Adrafinil works very effectively alone but to see better results you can stack it with other nootropics also.
Below are popular Adrafinil stack
- Adrafinil with Piracetam
- Adrafinil with Noopept
- Adrafinil Phenylpiracetam
Pros
- Enhances energy
- Improves Focus
- Alleviates fatigue from sleep deprivation
- Increases motivation and productivity
Cons
- Less potent than Modafinil
- Not appropriate for long term use
- Shows hepatoxicity if overused
3. Oxiracetam
Oxiracetam is a popular member of racetam nootropic family. This smart drug is used to enhance cognitive functions. As this belong to racetam family, it is not found in food sources or in nature.
Being a water soluble supplement it is easy to consume and is offered in powder form but you need to make sure that you are following safe dosing practices to prevent side effects.
Many people use this supplement as a study aid because it improves memory and attention span.
How Oxiracetam works?
Much like other nootropics, Oxiracetam targets two main neurotransmitters in our brain Acetylcholine and Glutamate.
This supplement increases the level of Acetylcholine which increases concentration, helps you focus more effectively and you make more logical decisions.
Glutamate is responsible for forming memories, therefore when its level is increased you experience enhanced memory.
Oxiracetam Dosage
Beginners in the field of nootropics should take a lower amount of dosage initially and move up gradually.
The recommended dosage of this supplement is 600-3000 mg per day.
Oxiracetam Stacks
Below are the ingredient of Oxiracetam stack that will help you focus more.
· Caffeine
· Adrafinil
· L-theanine
· Tianeptine
· Rhodiola rosea
· Oxiracetam
Pros
- Improves memory formation
- Increases concentration
- Reduce cognitive decline
- Increases focus and energy
Cons
- Limited clinical trial data
- May cause headache
- May increase sleep latency
4. Creatine
Creatine is an amino acid which is produced in our body by liver. It provides our body with the energy it needs, especially within our muscle cells.
It also comes as a supplement and is mostly used by body builders because of its effect on muscle mass.
However the trend is changing now a days. People who want to boost their brain function are also taking creatine supplements.
It is not considered an essential nutrient as it is naturally found in our body. But many people are finding it very useful to enhance their brain power as it increases brain health and improves mental energy.
How Creatine works?
When you take a dose of nootropic supplement it gets absorbed into the bloodstream and is transported throughout the body by the bloodstream and an active transport system.
It enters your brain after crossing the blood brain barrier. After reaching inside the brain, it binds with phosphate which increases the energy consumption within your brain as a result you experience an increased cognitive function.
It is just like increasing the level of glucose and oxygen, providing an increased energy supply. Basically what creatine does is that it helps brain cells reset after they have fired. This improves their efficiency and speed resulting in increased mental performance.
Creatine Dosage
Doses of this supplement vary as it is based on personal preference. Users take anything between 200mg to 25 grams daily.
Creatine Stacks
To increase energy in your body, creatine is combined with various other nootropics also which are listed below.
· Alpha GPC
· Sulbutiamine
· Creatine
· Noopept
· Omega-3
Pros
- Enhances energy and running capacity
- Improves endurance
- Supports building lean muscles
- Improve power output
Cons
- Can cause stomach cramping
- Can cause water retention
5. Phenylracetam
Created in Russia in 1990, by modifying Piracetam. The only major difference between them is the addition of Phenyl group molecule attached.
This additional molecule makes Phenylpiracetam 60 times more powerful than original Piracetam.
It also make it more active and increases its time to stay in system.
From a long time Phenylpiracetam is popular in east, however it has just become popular in west. Users have defined its effects as creating intense focus while increasing memory and energy.
It also improves loco motor effects which may improve physical performance. For this reason Phenylpiracetam was banned in many sports communities including Olympics.
How Phenylpiracetam works?
When you take dosage of Phenylpiracetam it gets absorbed into the bloodstream and crosses the blood brain barrier very easily.
There it increases the density of NDMA glutamate receptors. The stimulation of these neurotransmitters are responsible for improvement in cognitive function. It also allows you to concentrate more.
Phenylpiracetam Dosage
Phenylpiracetam recommended dosage is 100-200 mg and it is taken 2-3 times per day. For starters lower range is more effective and they can increase the dose as their body adapts to it.
Phenylpiracetam Stacks
To increase energy and concentration more effectively, Phenylpiracetam is combined with other nootropics. Its ingredients are mentioned below.
· Alpha GPC
· Adrafinil
· Phenylpiracetam
Pros
- Increases memory
- Increases focus and energy
- Reduces sleep deprivation
- Enhances physical performance
Cons
- Not a well-tolerated supplement
- An addictive substance physiologically
- Not a well-tolerated supplement
6. Omega-3 fatty Acid
Omega 3 fatty acid is the most important and essential of all the fatty acids present in our body. They are categorised as essential acid because our body need this fatty acid for proper functioning and our body cannot produce it internally. Therefore it must be obtained from external sources like supplement or diet.
Omega 3 can provide you various health benefits such as protection against stroke, cancer, heart disease and certain inflammatory disease. It also increases energy of your body.
How Omega-3 fatty acid works?
The DHA present in Omega 3 is one of the most common type of fatty acid present in brain. This is why Omega 3 is considered an important brain food.
When you take dose of Omega 3 supplement it increases the glucose and fatty acid level into the muscle cells which results in sending of more nutrients towards muscle cells and away from fat. As a result you experience an increase in energy level in your body.
Omega-3 fatty acid Dosage
If you decide to use this supplement and to ensure you are getting optimal amount of this ingredient, you should consume between 1-4 grams of Omega -3 fatty acid each day.
Omega-3 fatty acid Stacks
To increase energy level Omega 3 can be combined with various other nootropics. Below are the ingredients of this stack.
· Betaine (Trimethylglycine)
· Creatine
· Omega-3
· Calcium Magnesium
· Multivitamin
· Ginkgo biloba
· Green Tea
· Pycnogenol
· Muira Puama
· Eleutherococcus senticosus
· Cordyceps
· AcetyLcarnitine
· Alpha GPC
Piracetam
Pros
- Enhances energy
- Improves memory
- Improve depression
- Improve cholesterol and blood pressure
Cons
- Low absorption
- Not appropriate for vegetarians
7. Pramiracetam
Pramiracetam is a well-known brain booster that was developed in late 1970’s by Parke Davis. It belongs to the family of racetam class supplements.
Pramiracetam is one of the strongest nootropics available as it optimises your overall brain function, improving memory, learning capacity and focus.
It is popularity is rapidly increasing among students, writers and anyone who is seeking to enhance their mental abilities
How Pramiracetam works?
Like most of the racetam supplements the exact mechanism of action of Pramiracetam is not known. But it is believed that this supplement is absorbed into the bloodstream via lipids as it is fat soluble rather than water soluble.
Then generally within half an hour it reaches maximum concentration and get transported directly to brain. After reaching the brain it modulates the receptor sites of neurotransmitter known as Acetylcholine.
This neurotransmitter controls a number of cognitive functions like memory, learning and development of new neurons.
By attaching to the receptor sites of Acetylcholine, Pramiracetam increases its level within the brain which enhances alertness and improves cognitive abilities.
Pramiracetam Dosage
Pramiracetam is 30 times stronger than Piracetam from which it is derived. The recommended dosage of Pramiracetam is 500mg two times a day.
You may want to take one dosage in morning and one in afternoon. This is because taking two dosage of Pramiracetam will help to ensure that consistent level of this supplement is maintained in your system.
Pramiracetam Stacks
Stacking up Pramiracetam with other nootropics is great if you want great results.
Below are the ingredients of Pramiracetam stack that will help you to increase focus
· Aplha GPC
· Sulbutiamine
· Modafinil
· Pramiracetam
Pros
- Improves focus and alertness
- Enhances long term memory formation
- Improves cognitive performance
Cons
- May cause headache
- Fat soluble, therefore should be taken with food
- Bulk powder has bitter taste
8. Piracetam
Used by millions of people worldwide, Piracetam is a nootropic supplement which improves your learning ability, boosts focus and concentration and improves your mood and motivation level.
Developed in 1860s, it is one of the most researched smart drug. Research suggests that its effect on improving memory is more on elderly adults than non-elderly adults. Another researched on healthy individuals showed that by taking this supplement alone their memory increased by 8.6%.
This supplement is often combined with a choline supplement to provide greater effects and reduce potential for side effects.
How Piracetam works?
The working of Piracetam is not fully understood but studies shows that it improves your memory by improving the permeability of cell membrane. It also improves the flow of oxygen molecules to the brain which results in an increase in circulation to neural tissues.
Piracetam also creates better interactivity between NMDA receptors and L-glutamate receptors which stimulate growth of neural connections and improves memory.
Piracetam Dosage
Many people who take this supplement have suggested that the effective dosage of this drug is between 1200-1600 mg per day.
Piracetam Stacks
To boost creativity, following are the ingredients of Piracetam stack.
· Aniracetam
· Piracetam
· Oxiracetam
Pros
- Improves cognition
- Lower toxicity than salt
- Improves alertness
- Increases memory
Cons
- May cause headache
- Lower potency as compared to other racetams
9. Caffeine
Caffeine is a cognitive enhancer and an anti-sleep compound that is extracted from coffee beans.
Caffeine comes under the category of nootropics because it makes neurons sensitive and provides mental stimulation. It comes from coffee beans and can also be synthesized in laboratory.
You may not realise this but you may be consuming caffeine on daily basis. I said this because this supplement is present in various natural sources like beans, fruits and leaves and more than 60 different types of plant.
How Caffeine works?
When you take a dosage of Caffeine, it acts as a replacement to a chemical present in our body known as adenosine.
What adenosine does is basically controls our nervous system, so that it does not become over excited and run out of control.
Caffeine targets the same receptor sites in our brain as adenosine. It enhances the stimulating effects on the brain and central nervous system. This increases the release of neurotransmitter called Dopamine.
Dopamine is a chemical that activates pleasure centres within our brain and regulates functions like concentration and attention.
Since caffeine increases the release of Dopamine, you will be more focused and will see mood improvements in your creativity.
Caffeine Dosage
Each person has a different ability to tolerate caffeine. Therefore its dosage should be tailored according to individuals.
If you are new to Caffeine you should start with a 100 mg dose. Most people suggest to limit its consumption to under 300 mg. it is equal to around 3-4 cups of coffee.
Caffeine Stacks
For all those who need something extra to increase creativity and keep you going. This stack will help you. Below are the ingredients of the stack.
· Magnesium
· Caffeine
· Citicoline (CDP-Choline)
· Piracetam
· CILTEP stack
Pros
- Increases wakefulness and creativity
- Reduces fatigue
- Improves physical performance
- Supports weight loss by increasing metabolism
Cons
- Regular use develops tolerance
- May cause sleep disturbance, if used at night
- Should not be used by individuals having hypertension
10. Vinopectine
Vinopectine is a biosynthetic nootropic made from alkaloid found in a plant that grows in southern and central Europe known as Vinca Minor.
There are more than 50 alkaloids present in this plant but Vinopectine is considered to be more effective with benefits associated with memory and cognitive function.
It is a unique supplement that increases memory, mood and cognition in various ways. It also improves blood flow and circulation which increases absorption of oxygen which in turn increases energy within your body.
How Vinopectine works?
Vinopectine is not completely soluble in water but when it enters the bloodstream its concentration increases and it enters brain and central nervous system rapidly.
After entering body, it increases blood flow into the brain or blood pressure throughout your body. It also target damaged brain cells and areas of poor circulation within the body.
This increase blood flow and oxygenation improves overall brain function and this increases the production of coenzyme ATP which is essential for central metabolism.
Vinopectine Dosage
The recommended dosage of Vinopectine is between 15-30 mg per day. It should be divided into three doses daily.
Vinopectine Stacks
Below are the ingredients of Vinopectine Stack which can be used to enhance energy level in your brain.
· Vinpocetine
· AcetyLcarnitine
· L-Theanine
· Creatine
· Whey Protein
· Noopept
· Alpha GPC
· Omega-3
Pros
- Enhances mental alertness
- Reduces neural inflammation
- Improves memory
- Increases energy
Cons
- May cause nausea
- Must be taken with food to increase absorption
- Low doses have fewer benefits
Now you decide
If you are not sure which nootropic to try, experimentation is the best way to find the best that suits you. You may also want to develop your own nootropic stack by combining different nootropics.
So what’s your choice?
Comment below.