WHEN TO AVOID NOOTROPICS?

July 17, 2020

Nootropics are incredible! But there are some instances when one may want to avoid them. What should we know about nootropics before taking them?

INGREDIENTS

First of all, ingredients. Always pay attention to ingredients! There are two main groups of drugs that are better to avoid:

• Strong prescription preparations that have many side effects or even can be addictive (such as Modafinil, Adderall, or Ephedra). Even if the preparation helps someone, it doesn’t mean that it’s worth it. Everyone has their own unique body and mind design so the side effects of the strong preparations can be unpredictable! If the drug is a prescribed drug, it’s always necessary to consult a specialist before taking it. They are prescription for a reason!
• Preparations with a mix of a large number of ingredients. You can find a number of nootropic supplements on Amazon, which have over 10 or 20 ingredients in a single pill. There are several reasons why you may want to avoid them. Most importantly, there is no research that can confirm the effectiveness of such combinations. Even single ingredient nootropics are underresearched, so just throwing a bunch of them in a single pill may reduce their effectiveness or increase side effects.
• Preparations with a questionable source of ingredients. We are not saying that nootropics can only be produced in Russia. Obviously not. But buying powder nootropics from a shady seller may be risky. Namely, some Chinese labs have been producing large quantities of low-quality products that may be dangerous or just a dud. Before buying, check Reddit’s reliable suppliers list and vendor warnings.

INTERACTION WITH THE OTHER SUBSTANCES

The second thing is what do you take at the same time. Some nootropics have stimulant effects, and others have calming effects. Like with anything, they each vary in action.

• Medications. Pay special attention if you take other drugs that affect your mind (for example, antidepressants). A bad combination can cause strong undesirable side effects. That’s why before deciding to take a specific nootropic, you should always check to see with your doctor if any of the medications or supplements you take would have an interaction.  Always learn in detail how chosen preparations work together!
• Alcohol. Are you planning a party? Just relax with a glass of wine or just a bottle of beer in the evening? No way! You should first find out whether it is safe to drink or not. Many medications, particularly ones that affect the central nervous system, strictly prohibit you from drinking while on them. Of course, this is not to say that every single nootropic requires abstinence from alcohol. But anyway, think twice, maybe it’s a safer way to replace the alcohol use with calming nootropics?
• Other nootropics. ‘Stacking’ nootropics is a common practice. However, we always recommend to first check if nootropics are compatible and their combination won’t cause any unwanted side effects. If there are no reports on the certain combination that you want to try, start with a smaller dose and see how it works for you. Then, if no unwanted side effects manifest themselves – the dose can be increased. If you are planning to stack several nootropics – add them one by one.  This will allow you to see the effects of each one and understand if you really need it in your stack. This is what we recommend to our clients.

OTHER CASES

There are some other cases that we wanted to mention as they are frequently overlooked.

• Avoid starting a nootropics course right before important events. For example, if you have an important test coming up tomorrow, it is probably not the best time to start taking a new nootropic that you have never tried before. The effects of the nootropics can vary from person to person, so it is better if you already know their effects on yourself. Otherwise, along with increased brain activity, you may end up with extreme anxiety, or sleepiness after some time. Not what you want to have on an important exam.
• If you are a participating athlete. If you are doing sports competitively, it is always better to consult with the doping rules of your discipline and sports event before taking nootropics. In some cases, certain nootropics are counted as doping. If the nootropic that you are taking is not on the list – you should be good to use it. Most nootropics will be out of your system within a month of stopping intake.

In any case, be cautious when using nootropics! Stay safe!

 

---