23 replies to this topic

[tlm884]

So, I just got two midterms back from my second year of University term 2.

Introductory Metabolism - 56

Organic Chemistry - 58

My marks prior to piracetam supplementation were in the 90s... any coorelation? I am stopping piracetam

[Mista_Bob]

So, I just got two midterms back from my second year of University term 2.

Introductory Metabolism - 56

Organic Chemistry - 58

My marks prior to piracetam supplementation were in the 90s... any coorelation? I am stopping piracetam

Did your study habits change because you were taking a supplement?

[tlm884]

So, I just got two midterms back from my second year of University term 2.

Introductory Metabolism - 56

Organic Chemistry - 58

My marks prior to piracetam supplementation were in the 90s... any coorelation? I am stopping piracetam

Did your study habits change because you were taking a supplement?

Nope, if they did it was not by much. The only substantial chance was an increase in course load.

[Cuil]

So, I just got two midterms back from my second year of University term 2.

Introductory Metabolism - 56

Organic Chemistry - 58

My marks prior to piracetam supplementation were in the 90s... any coorelation? I am stopping piracetam

Did your study habits change because you were taking a supplement?

Nope, if they did it was not by much. The only substantial chance was an increase in course load.

I was a little skeptical about some of its claims. Although, I did notice my drumming got alot better. You may have been taking too much. I remember there was a few times when I took too much and I got the opposite effect.

[TheBiNz]

bummer about the grades... but I don't think it has anything to do with the Piracetam. Maybe you need to study more?

I've noticed piracetam gives me an increased ability to focus on my schoolwork, giving me the ability to study for a longer period of time; there are other noticable effects too.

[zoolander]

<sarcasm> I'm glad you're taking ownership of the sitauation </sarcasm>

Question: if your marks were in the 90's were you somehow expecting to get higher marks simply because you started taking piracetam? You're a science student right? Did you read the science? if so, then

Journal studies - FAIL

My marks prior to piracetam supplementation were in the 90s... any coorelation? I am stopping piracetam

WHAT?! you're stopping! before you even look at the Spearman's rank correlation coefficient

I'll throw something out there. Catch it if you will but why not test the correlation between your marks and the level of information that you are recieving in term 2 compared to the introductory (often quite easy) term 1.

[FunkOdyssey]

There is no way piracetam alone could produce such a drastic shift in your academic achievement, you are giving this barely-better-than-placebo drug far too much credit. There must be other variables at work here. At best, piracetam could help a little, and at worst, piracetam could hurt a little. It will not turn a star student into a complete failure or vice versa.

[yowza]

I've taken pramiracetam (from relentless improvement) and have noticed no effect whatsoever.

If I had noticed even the tiniest effect maybe I would've gone the next step up to phenylpiracetam (or phenotropil as it's known in Russia where it's sold in drug stores).

[yowza]

I've taken pramiracetam (from relentless improvement) and have noticed no effect whatsoever.

If I had noticed even the tiniest effect maybe I would've gone the next step up to phenylpiracetam (or phenotropil as it's known in Russia where it's sold in drug stores).

[tlm884]

Zoolander,

Just so you know the classes i took this term and last are all of the same level. I took my introductory courses a year ago.

[zoolander]

Awesome. You just increased your post cost by 25% with that double up yowza.

[notlupus]

You made a bad grade in orgo. This means you are not a psychopathic pre-med living off of meth and quad shot espressos. It's completely normal.

[vovin]

Cmon man your a college student and your just throwing out there some response from one experience. Did you try to take a choline supplement? You cant just say something doesnt work because of one experience with it. No nootropic is a magic pill that will double your IQ. None of them have massive intellectual benefits. The way I tell if something works or not is can I actually feel a diffrence in concentration in energy and ability to remember. If I can then it works if I cant then even tho it might work it isnt effective enough to use. Plus the fact that piracetam works outright fantastically for me and not for you apparently should give you a clue that it doesnt work for everyone. Brain chemistry is a very complex thing.

[bgwithadd]

Everyone gets As as a freshman, unless they totally goof off. It is easier material, and more important it's easy to keep on top of something for a year. After that is when people stop being enthused and it takes much more effort.

I got a good laugh at the 'barely better than placebo' comment. Aside from a few people who really respond to it, I think that sums up piracetam and all the racetams pretty well. Even supplements in general. A few people really respond, the rest get nothing. Or else they are general health aids like pine bark extract. Helpful, but they still won't do your schoolwork for you.

[Mouser]

I got a good laugh at the 'barely better than placebo' comment. Aside from a few people who really respond to it, I think that sums up piracetam and all the racetams pretty well. Even supplements in general. A few people really respond, the rest get nothing. Or else they are general health aids like pine bark extract. Helpful, but they still won't do your schoolwork for you.

Just the thought I had earlier today. I've tried more than 10 of the most often referenced nootropics on Imminst and have found no concrete benefits, and possibly some negatives. Have not tried Huperzine and I'm sure many more I can't think of off hand. It's clear it's time for me to give up on supplements to improve memory and the like.

[bgwithadd]

I got a good laugh at the 'barely better than placebo' comment. Aside from a few people who really respond to it, I think that sums up piracetam and all the racetams pretty well. Even supplements in general. A few people really respond, the rest get nothing. Or else they are general health aids like pine bark extract. Helpful, but they still won't do your schoolwork for you.

Just the thought I had earlier today. I've tried more than 10 of the most often referenced nootropics on Imminst and have found no concrete benefits, and possibly some negatives. Have not tried Huperzine and I'm sure many more I can't think of off hand. It's clear it's time for me to give up on supplements to improve memory and the like.

If you have a specific issue like depression or anxiety or lack of energy you can get some results with experimentation, but if you are looking for general enhancement you might get some but even if you do it is not going to change your life much.

[vovin]

I guess I am lucky/unlucky. When I first took piracetam I was blown away by the energy boost and mood elevation. It was dramatic almost too dramatic. Unfortunately after the first 2 days I havent been able to replicate those effects. Obviously it's the choline issue I think so I am working on that right now. Bought some alpha gpc today it appears DMAE isnt working all that great but to be honest at the dosages reccomended I would have to buy 1 bottle of it a week so it's just better to go the alpha gpc route anyhow.

Modafinil also works well with me again lucky I guess. It's not as dramatic as piraetam but it is still very noticable and lasts about 16 hours I must take it as soon as I wake up ifrst thing or I wont be able to sleep.

[luv2increase]

Zoolander,

Just so you know the classes i took this term and last are all of the same level. I took my introductory courses a year ago.

Let me guess, you didn't take the required choline source with it did ya?


Also, what is the name of that one term you live in psych class where an individual will blame something else on their failures and not realize that the real culprit is their own inadequacy?

[nhlgoducks]

I dont know man, the OP seems correct. I took this stuff for four months and noticed a decrease in overall cognitive functioning when related to exam scores. After my first poor score on an exam I continued taking piractam simply because I believed that "IT HAS TO BE WORKING". I studied as usual, my anxiety was lowered, my self-esteem was high, but my test scores got lower and lower. I was taking one class that was very difficult at the time: "Advanced Multivariate Statistical Analysis". But the rest were easy, right before the piracetam I scored in the 90's for all four classes on the first exams, then they got progressively worse. I decided not to take piracetam during finals week and, unfortuantely, did better. I say this is unfortunate because I really hoped the piracetam would help. Any ways, long story short, I stopped taking it and 3 months later my A's are back with courses much more advanced.

Also, sorry if my spelling and grammar looks bad I'm kinda in a rush!

[tunt01]

Let me guess, you didn't take the required choline source with it did ya?

whats the best choline source to match with piracetam? i'm taking alpha-gpc and not sure if cdp or w/e is better.

[nhlgoducks]

Let me guess, you didn't take the required choline source with it did ya?

whats the best choline source to match with piracetam? i'm taking alpha-gpc and not sure if cdp or w/e is better.

I took CPD Choline from Jarrow Formulas...

But like you, I only saw worsening of grades after taking piracetam and choline

[Bluenoise]

I'm taking piracetam. Absolutley no choline and I find it works great on me. I can't say anything about grades, I've already completed the practically non-existant course requirements for my pHD in biochemistry. Not that it would matter, they only give out A's. If you ever get anything less than an A it destroys anyhope of getting a sholarship, which screws over your supervisor... Ahhh I ramble, maybe I'll talk about something that contributes to this conversation.

Started piracetam about 6 weeks ago (primaforce) with a does of 2.5 grams. Tasted pretty nasty, but not nearly as bad as many people suggest. Though I think I'm rather insensitive to bitter, which may explain this well. I then went rock climbing, maybe not the greatest idea (yes I know, not really a great life extentionist activity) . I noticed my attention enhanced walking down the street, could almost not help but notice everything around me. I'm usually pretty good at tuning just about everything out. I also fult sort of emotionally numb. Didn't really effect my rockclimbing, if anything it made it feal slightly more like an excercise than something I do for fun. I was over anlyzing it, which was useless.
However it seems to really help me both at work in the lab and in the gym. At work I seems to focus much better and not get mentally drain as quickly. I'd say the real effect it that it makes me concentrate better, which results in better memory, because I'm more attentive to what I'm doing. It doesn't seem to do anything to my ability to think logically or creatively, though I'd say I've never had any problems there anyways. The gym is great, I seem to have far less trouble doing extra sets. Usually I can go about 3 sets of everything before I get sick of it and want to stop. Now I can seem to tolerate 5 or even 6 sets (I need to start decreasing weight at this point). I also do some boxing and muai thai, It helps alot here (yes I know not great for life extension or my brain...) . I can better focus on my body and then coordinate my movements much better, I also seem to be able to better mirror other peopels movements.

Initially I was talking 2-3 2g dose daily. I felt that this was too much after about a week, I started feeling rather anxious and sick of having trouble tuning things out. So now I take no more than a gram at a time and no more than twice daily. This seems to be much more tolerable, and at a level I can benefit more at. I will definatley continue to take piracetam. I'm considering taking choline with it now. But it seems to work fine without for me.

So from what many people here are saying I'm pretty posivitive that this stuff is very hit and miss. Because there's no way someone couldn't notice the effects I get.

Edited by Bluenoise, 30 March 2009 - 03:24 AM.

[NDM]

Bluenoise, are you taking any other supplement that might confound your inference to piracetam efficacy?

I have also noticed that when I'm at peak intellectual function I seem emotionally numb, in the sense that I just can't relate to other people who are in the grip of emotion - e.g. expect from me pity or sympathy...I feel like Ayn Rand, tough minded and too full of mental energy to regard emotions as anything but ridiculous.

Daytime that's great, but one night at the club I saw myself in horror behave in this cold manner toward my friends, because of 400mg of SAMe taken to prevent lethargy (didn't sleep enough the night before).

[Bluenoise]

Okay here's what I'm taking at the moment.
Resveratrol500mg
saw plamento extract160mg
lysine1g
vitamin C1g
silica100mg
vitamin D2500IU
Omega-3 EPA/DHA (LEF)2g total omega-3's
whey protein isolate35g
creatine7g
raw cocao7g
piracetam2g
plus a VERY nutrient rich diet.

There's not really anything there that would confound my piracetam observations. I've notice some slight mental effects from vitamin C and creatine previously but they don't tend to last longer than 10 mins and are likely placebo. Plus I tend to take the piracetam at irregular times during the day with and without other supplements and always get the same effect.
I did a bit of research and dug up an old paper listing the choline content of various food stuffs (http://jn.nutrition....nt/25/5/441.pdf) lol it's from 1942. Seems there's quite a bit of it in beans, meat and milk. And I consume tonnes of all 3. Actually it's very rare that I go a day without all 3. So though I'm not supplementing choline my daily intake is likely through the roof. I'm estimating I get a bare minimum of 1.5g total choline just from diet alone. This reminds me of why I don't take multivitamins. I tracked my nutrient intake for a few months and very rarley had a single day where I didn't get many fold above the RDA for most vitamins. They only ones I tended to get less where D and E. I'm considering supplementing E as well.

You know another possible explanation that I toy around with is that I might have done some slight damage to my brain that piracetam is helping with. I engaged in various activities a long time ago (in high school if you get my drift) that my have been rather rough on my mind. Though I am definatley a very intelligent person, there may be certain areas such as memory and attention that might have suffered that piracetam is compensating for. I'm also extreemly sensitive to stimulants. I don't go near any at all. I can't stand the effects. I've even cut coffee out. I drink maybe 1 cup of green tea a day and that's it.

Yeah I definatley try not to take the stuff if I'm going out for the night, I feel detached from people and act like a jerk. I've drank on it before and it sucks! I seem to loose most of the desirable effects of drinking: decreased inhibition, being more social, though my head was definatley alot clearer.
I guess I'll just stick to it on workdays from now on.

Edited by Bluenoise, 31 March 2009 - 01:31 AM.