4 replies to this topic

[SonOfAnder]

Good Evening Folks!

I am a student in school and have been actively seeking a stack to improve my short-term memory, as it is absolutely abysmal despite my "superior" intelligence.

 

Format "Supplement & Dose | Frequency of Use | History of Use | Noticeable Effects/Intended Effects[if recently began], if applicable"

Current Stack:
-Lions Mane 500MG | Daily | >2 Months | Noticed Improved Cognition, Long-Term memory

-Bacopa Monnieri 320MG | Daily | ~1wk | Intended to Improve Memory

-Cacao Powder 2 spoons | Daily | ~1wk | Noticed improved mode, hoping for improved Cognition

-KSM-66 Ash 1000MG | Daily 3wks on, 1wk off | >1mo | Only noticed decreased affect of receiving bad news

-Citicoline 300MG | Once every 4 days | ~2wks | No noticeable effect

-Huperzine-A 200MCG | Once every 4 days | ~3wks | Poss. effect on memory and cognition, enhances colors, occasional dull headache

 

Pending Additions:
-Rhodiola Rosea so I don't choke under pressure, and for other cognitive/memory effects. Appears to have synergy with current stack

 

Considered changes

-Considering removing Citicoline as no effects are noticeable, has especially long half-life when paired with Huperzine-A, and risks heightened acetylcholine levels.

-Considering putting Ash to the sidelines as effects are minimal and not sought out currently.

-Considering adding PRL-8-53 and potentially IDRA 21 to improve working memory

 

 

If you have any questions about my stack, please ask away! I would love some opinions as I made this stack entirely by myself based on my own research and, as humans often are, I can be foolish sometimes! Thanks!

[Galaxyshock]

Hey,

 

the memory benefits of Bacopa usually start at the one week mark and keep improving for several weeks after that. Another nice thing about Bacopa is that the benefits last about a week even when you stop taking it. It's also pretty effective anxiolytic and improves mood by increasing serotonin biosynthesis. Hopefully you start to notice these benefits soon!

 

Rhodiola is an effective adaptogen. I take it myself at 300 mg twice a day mostly for the anti-fatigue benefits. It does indeed also increase courage probably through catecholaminergic or beta-endorphin increasing mechanism. Try to find an extract that is standardized to Salidrosides, those usually work better. Personally I find that Rhodiola doesn't stack well with stimulants / catecholamine boosters (increase in anger and agitation), but something like caffeine and l-tyrosine are fine.

 

Yup, too many cholinergics usually results in brain fog and depression so watch out for that.

 

Personally I find Nicotine gum (2-4 mg) to effectively improve working memory and attention, but Nicotine is as you know a bit dodgy substance so do your own consideration if you want to use it as a tool. I think that pure Nicotine lacks most of the risks of tobacco smoking, but to my understanding there is no clear consensus if Nicotine or its metabolites are harmful.

 

Good luck on your nootropic journey!

[SonOfAnder]

Hey,

 

the memory benefits of Bacopa usually start at the one week mark and keep improving for several weeks after that. Another nice thing about Bacopa is that the benefits last about a week even when you stop taking it. It's also pretty effective anxiolytic and improves mood by increasing serotonin biosynthesis. Hopefully you start to notice these benefits soon!

 

Rhodiola is an effective adaptogen. I take it myself at 300 mg twice a day mostly for the anti-fatigue benefits. It does indeed also increase courage probably through catecholaminergic or beta-endorphin increasing mechanism. Try to find an extract that is standardized to Salidrosides, those usually work better. Personally I find that Rhodiola doesn't stack well with stimulants / catecholamine boosters (increase in anger and agitation), but something like caffeine and l-tyrosine are fine.

 

Yup, too many cholinergics usually results in brain fog and depression so watch out for that.

 

Personally I find Nicotine gum (2-4 mg) to effectively improve working memory and attention, but Nicotine is as you know a bit dodgy substance so do your own consideration if you want to use it as a tool. I think that pure Nicotine lacks most of the risks of tobacco smoking, but to my understanding there is no clear consensus if Nicotine or its metabolites are harmful.

 

Good luck on your nootropic journey!

 

Thanks for your input!

 

It's possible that the Bacopa has already began subtly improving my memory, as I'm able to occasionally almost spontaneously recall small details from earlier in the day. But the effects are too few to definitively attribute to the Bacopa itself. It absolutely has a noticeable relaxing/tiring effect, which is why I began taking it at night(with a handful of nuts, since it is fat soluble)!

 

I just began Rhodiola today, and I learned not to stack it with Huperzine-A. As a matter of fact, I'm considering moving Huperzine-A to the sidelines unless I need a stimulant that I can't get from another, safer source, as I became easily agitated and overly energized earlier.

 

To be honest, I quickly put together my post last night and forgot to mention that I occasionally use 2MG of nicotine gum whenever I have a big exam and want to focus and recall what I studied. Additionally, I do drink caffeine somewhat regularly although I have yet to pair it with l-tyrosine even though I've read numerous times about it's synergistic effect. I will likely experiment with that soon, although energy is not my primary goal with my stack.

 

I have sidelined CDP Choline for sure. I am considering adding Reishi mushrooms to my stack to counterbalance any potential negative hormonal effects of lions mane. I haven't noticed such an effect however and therefore will hold off on that.

 

Do you have any opinion of PRL-8-53? It appears to be promising! Little is known of how it works, and any side effects from taking it.

 

Thanks again for your input and thanks for the warm welcome!

Edited by SonOfAnder, 07 February 2025 - 12:20 AM.

[Galaxyshock]

I have sidelined CDP Choline for sure. I am considering adding Reishi mushrooms to my stack to counterbalance any potential negative hormonal effects of lions mane. I haven't noticed such an effect however and therefore will hold off on that.

 

Do you have any opinion of PRL-8-53? It appears to be promising! Little is known of how it works, and any side effects from taking it.

 

Thanks again for your input and thanks for the warm welcome!

 

Reishi may actually be anti-androgenic too, it is a strong 5-alpha-reductase inhibitor which some find to cause negative effects. I think Cordyceps could be a better choice if you want a medicinal mushroom with a manly kick to it 

 

Not familiar with PRL-8-53 but looks indeed promising substance. The IDRA-21 you mentioned I did try many years ago but it was rather unimpressive. I mean I could feel it had certain effect but I couldn't pinpoint any clear benefit to it.

 

You're welcome, nice to see smart people with interest in neuroscience and nootropics join here 

[Ghola II]

Hi OP. My nootropics depth is shallower than typical users here but may be helpful as I've tried nearly everything.  My impression: you are wasting your money, almost nothing on your list is high efficiency or targeted. My stacks are much more ruthlessly pared since the first mistake someone does in this area is overspend

 

You want to be targeting Acetylcholine function and cholinergics, and also spam BDNF to encourage hippocampal neurogenesis. Most of your list is not doing that, only real memory noot there is bacopa. and huperzine.   Per your stack: Cacao is cheap, dopaminergic but that isn't going to improve your memory. Your lions mane dose is well below effective standards, it should be approaching 2.5-3g to get notable results. Citicholine is simply an adjacent to cholinergics so there's no need for these buffers unless you are nutritionally deprived or on racetams. Prl-8-53 did not meet my expectations I would advise healthy people looking for regular enhancement to stay clear of it. Anyways.

 

From experience, my short term memory peaked at medical dosage levels of 1% semax nasal solution, CDP-choline, lithium orotate, and KSM-66. Most likely the workhorse action was semax with the choline source and lithium bdnf agonism as mild supports. So if you want good short term memory go for semax, you should be able to get a lower potency dose for affordable prices.

 

Many people talk about racetams here. I am not sure how familiar you are with nootropics but ampakines have been demonstrated in some studies to permanently make you smarter. Oxiracetam, noopept, pramiracetam are good beginner options in that regard. Taken intelligently and in stacked fashion. But you will hardly notice a major improvement in memory I find