Nootropic

Factor analysis of nootropic rating from the 2016 survey

Nootropics (also referred to as smart drugs, memory enhancers, neuro enhancers, cognitive enhancers, and intelligence enhancers) are drugs, supplements, nutraceuticals, and functional foods that purportedly improve mental functions such as cognition, memory, intelligence, motivation, attention, and concentration. Nootropics are thought to work by altering the availability of the brain's supply of neurochemicals (neurotransmitters, enzymes, and hormones), by improving the brain's oxygen supply, or by stimulating nerve growth.

Dr. Giurgea proposed the following criteria for determining whether or not a substance fits the "nootropic" descriptor:

• Enhancement of learning and memory function
• Improvement of learned behaviours when conditions are set to disrupt them (eg. administering an amnesiac)
• Must be neuroprotective
• Must be extremely low in toxicity, with few to no side effects

Thus, according to the strict definition of a nootropic, substances such as amphetamine, methylphenidate, modafinil are not nootropics but are better considered as stimulants and eugeroics.

Classes of nootropics

Noopept molecule

There are several classes of nootropics, as well as compounds which fit no specific classification, per se. Once of the most well-known and most-utilized is that of the racetams, the prototypical example being that of piracetam, the first nootropic recognized as such in 1964.

Piracetam Chemical Structure

The racetams all share a 2-pyrrolidinone cycle. Other racetam nootropics include aniracetam, oxiracetam, phenylpiracetam, and coluracetam.

A second class of nootropic compounds is that of the synthetic peptides, the most common example being that of Noopept. Although not a racetam, Noopept is commonly grouped with racetams due to a similar mode of action, however, it does not contain a 2-pyrrolidinone moiety, and is strictly not a racetam.

Due to the fact that nootropics science is in its infancy, there are continually new compounds being synthesized such as IDRA-21, PRL-8-53, Unifiram, Sunifiram, etc. which do not neatly fit into a structural drug class. Additionally, side effects, dosages, dangerous interactions and the like are virtually unknown for some of these compounds, making investigations into their use by the average psychonaut risky.

Subjective effects

Disclaimer: The effects listed below cite the Subjective Effect Index (SEI), an open research literature based on anecdotal user reports and the personal analyses of PsychonautWiki contributors. As a result, they should be viewed with a healthy degree of skepticism.

It is also worth noting that these effects will not necessarily occur in a predictable or reliable manner, although higher doses are more liable to induce the full spectrum of effects. Likewise, adverse effects become increasingly likely with higher doses and may include addiction, severe injury, or death ☠. The effect is listed and defined in its own dedicated article below:

• Thought acceleration
• Thought connectivity
• Focus enhancement
• Motivation enhancement
• Memory enhancement
• Stimulation
• Anxiety suppression (for those with anxiety)
• Wakefulness

Examples

Racetams

• Aniracetam
• Coluracetam
• Fasoracetam
• Nefiracetam
• Oxiracetam
• Phenylpiracetam
• Piracetam
• Pramiracetam

Afinils

• Adrafinil
• Armodafinil
• Fluorafinil
• Modafinil

Nutrients

• Alpha-GPC
• Choline bitartrate
• Citicoline
• Creatine
• Tyrosine

Others

• Bromantane
• Cotinine
• L-Theanine
• Tianeptine
• N-Acetylcysteine
• Nicotine
• Noopept
• Prolintane

See also

• Responsible use
• Psychoactive substance index
• Entactogens
• Stimulants
• Depressants
• Hallucinogens

External links

• Nootropic (Wikipedia)
• /r/Nootropics (Reddit)
• Nootropics / Smart Drugs (Erowid)
• Nootropic (Examine.com)