It is frustrating when you are not able to focus.
When you are studying for an exam or creating a new presentation for work and your keeps thinking in other directions rather than focusing on work. And this is really annoying.
I feel you. And will tell you a good way to get out of this.
I am not talking about doing exercises or take some multivitamins.
Instead I will tell you about some smart drugs present in market known as nootropics that will solve your problem of losing focus. And the nootropics that I will tell you are best nootropics for focus.
But let’s first discuss what cause you to lose focus.
Causes of losing Focus
Your performance at work or school could be affected if you are not able to concentrate. A number of factors contribute to the inability to concentrate.
Below are 10 common causes that make you lose your focus.
1. Depression
2. Lack of sleep
3. Alcoholism
4. Anxiety
5. Hunger
6. Hormonal changes
7. Thyroid problems
8. Anaemia
9. Dementia
10. Concussion
How nootropics increases your focus
Focus can be increased through a number of neurotransmitters that increases alertness and helps to direct our attention at a particular work.
One example of such neurotransmitter is Dopamine. It is also known as “reward hormone” because it is released when we do something that is positive.
When Dopamine level is low, it reduces mental drive and motivation as well as making difficult for you to stay focused at a particular work for a longer period of time. Here nootropics role come into play.
There are some nootropics present in market that increases Dopamine levels which raises your concentration and lengthening your attention span.
Other neurotransmitters that effect your focus span are norepinephrine and epinephrine. These are a part of adrenal system and are central nervous system stimulants. They are activated when you are under high stress or very excited to make you more alert.
When you take nootropic supplement, it increases norepinephrine activity thus helping you concentrate more.
Best Nootropic for Focus
Nootropic Stack | Type | Dosage | |
|---|---|---|---|
Capsules | 50-200 mg daily | ||
Powder | 10-30 mg daily | ||
Powder | 150-300 mg daily | ||
Powder | 1-2 gm per day | ||
Powder | 1000 mg daily | ||
Capsules | 1-3 capsule daily | ||
Capsules | 100-300 mg per day | ||
Powder | 600-3000 mg per day | ||
Cell content | Cell content | Cell content | Cell content |
1. L-Theanine
L-Theanine is an amino acid found in green tea. When you take this supplement it alters the level of various neurotransmitters, producing a calming effect which results in increasing the concentration level.
It also works with caffeine to increase concentration on mental tasks, producing what tea lovers call “alert calmness”.
L-Theanine can be summed up as a relaxing agent without sedation something like lemon balm and is also involved in reducing the level of stress and also improves attention.
As some effects of L-theanine is associated with tea, it is marketed as a dietary supplement. At lower levels it is also used as additive in food and beverage, especially in Japan to provide a savoury flavour.
How L-Theanine works?
For all those who are interested in improving focus and improving the quality of their sleep, L-Theanine is a natural supplement worth looking into.
So, how does L-Theanine actually works?
Once you take this supplement it gets transmitted over the blood brain barrier and enters into the central nervous system moderating the alpha brain waves.
When it reaches the brain tissue, it targets neurotransmitters that regulate stress, pleasure, attention and arousal. By dampening their activity, L-Theanine produces sensation of relaxation and contentment.
L-Theanine Dosage
The general recommended dosage of L-Theanine is between 50 and 200 mg per day. It is safe to take this nootropic on daily basis or you may cycle it also to avoid any sort of tolerance from forming.
L-Theanine Stacks
L-Theanine alone has the ability to enhance focus and relaxation but it is most effective when combined in a stack with other nootropic.
Popular L-Theanine stack is L-Theanine and Caffeine Stack
A combination of L-Theanine with caffeine enhances cognition and attention. For this reason it is one of the most popular nootropic stack.
Pros
- Reduces feeling of stress and anxiety
- Increases tolerance to stress
- Improves sleep quality
- Natural alternative to cofee
Cons
- Overdose of caffine may induce nausea
- L-theanine in green tea may have lower oral bioavailability
2. Noopept
Noopept is a name given to N-phenylacetyl-L-prolylglycine ethyl ester, a synthetic Nootropic molecule. Noopept is one of the most effective and strongest nootropic present in the market today.
It has been found to increase learning capacity, improve memory and concentration.
Noopept is also considered to be neuroprotectant, as it has the capability to protect neurons in brain from getting damage.
Most of the people use noopept to increase their brain power and experience cognitive enhancement. Memory recollection speed is also improved.
How noopept works?
When you take a dose of noopept, it gets absorbed from the body within GI tract where then it circulates into brain and crosses blood brain barrier with ease.
It is one of the fastest acting nootropic as it is capable of reaching maximum concentration within about 15 to 20 minutes.
Noopept after reaching brain travels to specific glutamate receptor sites and helps to inhibit breakdown of glutamate which is one of the most powerful neurotransmitters relative to cognitive function.
Noopept Dosage
If you are new to usage of nootropics then the proper way to use Noopept is to start low and increase its usage over time as needed. This means you might want to begin with a dosage as little as 5mg two or three times a day.
Some people take 40 mg dosage per day but it is normal to take 10-30 mg of noopept per day.
NOTE- Under no circumstances you should not exceed your dosage 20mg three times a day. As this will overstimulate glutamate receptors.
Noopept Stacks
Although this strategy is not recommended for beginners. Under some conditions users may stack Noopept with other Nootropics to enhance the benefits.
Popular Noopept Stacks are
· Noopept with Alpha GPC
· Noopept with Citicoline
· Noopept with Piracetam
Pros
- Improve memory retention
- Improve alertness
- One study shows benefit to erectile dysfunction
- Improves neurotransmission
Cons
- May include mood and sleep disruption
- Negative effects for bipolar disorder patients
- Supresses the appetite
3. 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 alertness 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
- Improve mood and feeling
- Increase cognitive function under stress
- Improve attention and wakefulness
- Improve dopamine deficiency
Cons
- Cause stimulatory side effects
- Cognitive benefits
- Not suitable for individual with hyperthyroidism
4. Aniracetam
Aniracetam a nootropic supplement was developed in 1970s by a Belgium company known as Hoffman-La Roche.
This supplement tops in the class of nootropics known as Racetams, which are known for their ability to increase and improve a number of cognitive processes.
Aniracetam main function is to improve mental performance by increasing memory and enhancing concentration capacity.
This drug starts working immediately, some will see strong effects and begin remembering everything while others may remember small and subtle details.
Rate at which this drug will affect you depends on your current mood than anything else. Those having nervousness or anxiety will see a calming effect.
How Aniracetam works?
The exact working of Aniracetam is not known completely but there are several theories about how this supplement works.
When you take a dose of Aniracetam, it easily cross the blood brain barrier and binds to Acetylcholine receptors, causing this supplement to remain active in brain for a longer period of time.
By increasing activity in these chemical receptors sites, the supplement is able to help in areas of improving anxiety and other mood issues.
Aniracetam Dosage
Oral doses in the 1-2 gm range over the course of the day tend to be effective.
Also doses as low as 400 mg have also shown some results and it is common to take 1000 -1500 mg Aniracetam in two divided doses of 500-750 mg doses.
Aniracetam Stacks
To see stronger benefits a user may combine Aniracetam with different supplements. This process is known as nootropic stacking.
Some of the stacks with Aniracetam are
· Aniracetam go together well with Racetam supplements.
· Combining Aniracetam with Piracetam and Oxiracetam is also good.
Pros
- Increases choline level in brain
- Increases growth hormone in athletes
- Improves cognition in studies
- Promotes memory and synaptic plasticity
Cons
- Expensive than choline
- Highly Hygroscopic
5. 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
- Enhances Memory
- Exhibits significant neuroprotective effect
- Require lower dosage
- Promotes memory and synaptic plasticity
Cons
- Causes minor headache
- Stomach distress
- Can cause loss of apetite.
6. Alpha Brain
Alpha Brain is one of the most famous and best nootropic stack in the market.
It happens to be best-selling nootropic stack.
Developed in 2010 by Onnit’s lab, this nootropic stack has gained popularity since then and has been featured in many news outlets also.
The promise made by this nootropic stack is to achieve better mental focus and clarity.
The ingredients used in this product are said to improve your memory, increase your mood and reduce social anxiety.
Does Alpha Brain work as it claim?
Most people in nootropic community have a common question.
Does this nootropic work?
There is so much variation in each person’s brain chemistry that it is difficult to say that Alpha brain will work or not. The working of Alpha Brian greatly depends on the individual.
But to answer the question, Within Boston University a study was conducted that found out, Alpha brain is 12% more effective for verbal recall memory. Also it increases mental processing speed by 21%.
Imagine what you can do with 21% more mental processing and 12% better memory.
Alpha Brain Ingredients List.
The manufacturer Onnit Lab offers ingredients in meaningful amount, enough to be effective. Below are the list of ingredients in Alpha Brian
· Alpha GPC
· Huperzine A
· Vinpocetine
· Bacopa
· Pterostilbene
· L-tyrosine
· Theanine
· Ac-11
· Vitamin B6
· Phosphatidylserine
Alpha Brain Dosage
People who are too busy with family, professional or educational responsibilities and cannot maintain a healthy lifestyle. Alpha Brian is incredibly effective for such kind of people.
To get benefit from Alpha Brain take a dose of between one and three capsules per day.
Pros
- Enhances Memory
- Boosts Motivation
- Increases mental energy
- Anti-anxiety and mood enhancing effects
Cons
- Limited clinical data
- Has bitter taste
7. 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.
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 focus 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
- Very well balanced nootropic stack
- Increases memory and attention
- Significant mood booster
- Low risk of side effects
Cons
- High cost compared to other nootropic stacks
- May cause headache
- May cause restlessness
8. 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
- Significant increase in alertness
- Improvement in focus
- Increased motivation
- Improved memory
Cons
- Sleep difficulty
- Tolerance of ciltep increases
9. Phenylpiracetam
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 learning.
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 focus and concentration more effectively, Phenylpiracetam is combined with other nootropics. Its ingredients are mentioned below.
· Alpha GPC
· Adrafinil
· Phenylpiracetam
Pros
- Easy to take
- Simple Formula
- Increase alertness
- Improves attention
Cons
- Caffeine heavy
Wrapping it up
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?
So what’s your choice?
Comment below.