21 replies to this topic

[JohnDoe999]

Any suggestions for brainfog?

I stress easliy, and when I begin to stress the brainfog often sets in.

I often have to start work slowly, and gradually build up momentum on what I am doing, otherwise out of nowhere the brainfog starts.

It's very irritating, and it's forcing me to sit back and relax. I often forget what I am supposed to do next, or what I just was doing, but when I sit back in a relaxed position in the chair, it comes back. Then I can do some more work, and then I may forget what I am really doing again. I often have to work very slowly in order to counteract the brainfog.

The brainfog normally only sets in when I am working on something that I do not enjoy, combined with external pressure to get it done. I work with numbers, but finds it extremely unsatsifactory. When I was studying at the uni, something which I enjoyed, high portions of stress did not affect my cognitive functioning.

Anything special I could do?

[JohnDoe999]

BTW, my regimen is:

C-vitamin
E-vit
D-vit
Alpha lipoic acid
q10
omega 3
ginkgo
5-htp from time to time
Multi

...and I drink a lof of coffee since I very easily get tird in general

(but please note that I consumed vast amount of coffee when studying also, without it clouding my brain)

[caruga]

Zinc picolinate(50mg)+ashwagandha(1-2g powder, not standardized) taken together seems to make me feel more stress resistant in a fast acting way, and choline+dmae+piracetam+alcar+guarana (400mg, 400mg, 200mg, 1000mg, 450mg) definitely clears my head. Ginkgo+grape seed extract taken together works nicely for me too. There are plenty of things I haven't tried yet so don't take my opinion as authoritative, but this is what has worked for me.

[aLurker]

Zinc picolinate(50mg)+ashwagandha(1-2g powder, not standardized) taken together seems to make me feel more stress resistant in a fast acting way, and choline+dmae+piracetam+alcar+guarana (400mg, 400mg, 200mg, 1000mg, 450mg) definitely clears my head. Ginkgo+grape seed extract taken together works nicely for me too. There are plenty of things I haven't tried yet so don't take my opinion as authoritative, but this is what has worked for me.

You might want to lower your zinc dose. About 10-15 mg is the RDI and if memory serves me correctly 40 mg is the upper limit. With 50 mg of zinc per day you could get a secondary copper deficiency. Look it up for yourself and reevaluate your dosage.

[caruga]

Zinc picolinate(50mg)+ashwagandha(1-2g powder, not standardized) taken together seems to make me feel more stress resistant in a fast acting way, and choline+dmae+piracetam+alcar+guarana (400mg, 400mg, 200mg, 1000mg, 450mg) definitely clears my head. Ginkgo+grape seed extract taken together works nicely for me too. There are plenty of things I haven't tried yet so don't take my opinion as authoritative, but this is what has worked for me.

You might want to lower your zinc dose. About 10-15 mg is the RDI and if memory serves me correctly 40 mg is the upper limit. With 50 mg of zinc per day you could get a secondary copper deficiency. Look it up for yourself and reevaluate your dosage.

I know about the copper. Won't including liver in my diet do the trick?

[aLurker]

Zinc picolinate(50mg)+ashwagandha(1-2g powder, not standardized) taken together seems to make me feel more stress resistant in a fast acting way, and choline+dmae+piracetam+alcar+guarana (400mg, 400mg, 200mg, 1000mg, 450mg) definitely clears my head. Ginkgo+grape seed extract taken together works nicely for me too. There are plenty of things I haven't tried yet so don't take my opinion as authoritative, but this is what has worked for me.

You might want to lower your zinc dose. About 10-15 mg is the RDI and if memory serves me correctly 40 mg is the upper limit. With 50 mg of zinc per day you could get a secondary copper deficiency. Look it up for yourself and reevaluate your dosage.

I know about the copper. Won't including liver in my diet do the trick?

Since you would be hard pressed to know if it actually does the trick it seems much more prudent to decrease the zinc dosage to a level that is below the recommended upper limit. Compensating a too high dosage by taking more of something else doesn't really sound like a good idea to me but you may do as you please. Hmm, now you got me hungry for some liver.

[Moddy2012]

You are going to waste your money with those supplements they are garbage, you will have to go to your doctor and get on meds like Adderall, Dexedrine, or Modafinil to increase focus during monotonous tasks.

I have used things like Piracetam and the effect is only slight. You want real results you will need real meds.

[caruga]

You are going to waste your money with those supplements they are garbage, you will have to go to your doctor and get on meds like Adderall, Dexedrine, or Modafinil to increase focus during monotonous tasks.

I have used things like Piracetam and the effect is only slight. You want real results you will need real meds.

Because everybody is you, right?

[kilgoretrout]

You might try Adrafinil (brand name Olmifon) which is a pro-drug to Modafinil and is converted to that drug in a more mild and time-released fashion and does not require a prescription.


Also, Sulbutiamine (for me at about 750mg, higher than recommended 200mg dose) produces a pronounced increase in energy and focusing ability. Its really quite a remarkable substance for most. Some dont like it, but many do.... available from nutraplanet, bulkpowders and others in bulk at a pretty affordable price.


Also, for me, Aniracetam is alot more uplifting and focus-producing than Piracetam which in me and some others seems to promote brain-fog more than clear it.... you haven't been on that anytime in the recent past have you?


You might even try a combo of these.


ALSO: 1-2g Tyrosine + 25mg B-6 + 1g C (best is Ester-C types) in the AM on an empty stomach 1/2 hr before breakfast. If I take this, the after eating use one of Minithin's EF 25/50 uppers (25 mg synephrine, a gentler and smoother cousin of ephedrine, caffeine, ginseng, and rhodiola) I have LOTS of energy and focus that lasts all day. Tyrosine with these cofactors converts into norepinephrine (adrenaline) and other neurotransmitters important to energy, mood and focus (dopamine, serotonin).


Also, you can add 2g Acetyl L Carnintine (ALCAR) to the tyrosine stack, it also gives a pronounced boost in mental clarity and alertness for many.


Rhodiola is VERY good at helping with this.


Standardized ginseng, particularly Red Ginseng can also help alot.

[Moddy2012]

You are going to waste your money with those supplements they are garbage, you will have to go to your doctor and get on meds like Adderall, Dexedrine, or Modafinil to increase focus during monotonous tasks.

I have used things like Piracetam and the effect is only slight. You want real results you will need real meds.

Because everybody is you, right?

I have actually used Piracetam, I only noted a slight effect, and the bad thing is that you need to take it several times a day. Something like Provigil or Adderall you take it once and don't have to bother until the next day. Piracetam only lasts for a little while and its nowhere near as strong as pharmaceutical based stimulants.

There is one person touting Piracetam but when I asked him to be outright honest, he admitted he stacks it with Adderall(at a low dose).

[kikai93]

You are going to waste your money with those supplements they are garbage, you will have to go to your doctor and get on meds like Adderall, Dexedrine, or Modafinil to increase focus during monotonous tasks.

I have used things like Piracetam and the effect is only slight. You want real results you will need real meds.

And you know this because you're the OP's physician and have access to his chart, bloodwork, etc and have ruled out nutritional deficiencies, the possibility that the symptoms are due to depression, an anxiety disorder, or any form of organic brain disease, have made an official and empirically based diagnosis of ADD based on the criteria in the DSM or ICD, and know by a trial course that the OP in no way responds favorably to the suggested supplements?

I think I've responded to this rhetoric from you on several different threads now. Please take this opportunity to educate yourself a bit. Your claims aren't backed by anything other than your personal opinion.

Pharmaceuticals for ADD can be effective, but they are neither always necessary nor always beneficial. Please also note that as of yet no organic (physiological, structural, or chemical) cause has been found for ADD.

[kikai93]

I have actually used Piracetam, I only noted a slight effect, and the bad thing is that you need to take it several times a day. Something like Provigil or Adderall you take it once and don't have to bother until the next day. Piracetam only lasts for a little while and its nowhere near as strong as pharmaceutical based stimulants.

There is one person touting Piracetam but when I asked him to be outright honest, he admitted he stacks it with Adderall(at a low dose).

I've actually used Piracetam as well and got modest measurable gains from it. I don't stack it with any pharmaceutical stimulants. I've also had my tour of pharmaceutical stimulants, all of which were actually a net negative for me. I've been diagnosed with ADD more than once. Also, stronger is not always better. Methamphetamine (Desoxyn) is much stronger than Adderall, but no one is prescribing it for ADD for multiple reasons.

[outsider]

You are going to waste your money with those supplements they are garbage, you will have to go to your doctor and get on meds like Adderall, Dexedrine, or Modafinil to increase focus during monotonous tasks.

I have used things like Piracetam and the effect is only slight. You want real results you will need real meds.

Yeah and if it does not work what will you do ? Use cocaine or methamphetamine ? Are they more real medicine because they are stronger but very similar to ritalin or adderal ?

[golden1]

hydergine removed my brain fogs. I would think it depends what they are caused by though

[Moddy2012]

You are going to waste your money with those supplements they are garbage, you will have to go to your doctor and get on meds like Adderall, Dexedrine, or Modafinil to increase focus during monotonous tasks.

I have used things like Piracetam and the effect is only slight. You want real results you will need real meds.

Yeah and if it does not work what will you do ? Use cocaine or methamphetamine ? Are they more real medicine because they are stronger but very similar to ritalin or adderal ?

Are you crazy?? Of course not I am now trying Modafinil under my doctor's supervision. He was considering Adderall but I had concerns about its effects on the heart. So far Modafinil seems to be producing a noticeable change in my ability to concentrate and focus.

I have used Piracetam for about a year, I only experienced a slight increase in cognition but got other effects. I got sleepy and also occasionally got paranoid thoughts. I stopped using it and no more of the side effects.

I can tell you Modafinil is working much better for me than Piracetam, I take only 200mg a day in the morning and it lasts throughout the day. I can work with complete focus from morning til late until the evenings.

[kikai93]

You are going to waste your money with those supplements they are garbage, you will have to go to your doctor and get on meds like Adderall, Dexedrine, or Modafinil to increase focus during monotonous tasks.

I have used things like Piracetam and the effect is only slight. You want real results you will need real meds.

Yeah and if it does not work what will you do ? Use cocaine or methamphetamine ? Are they more real medicine because they are stronger but very similar to ritalin or adderal ?

Are you crazy?? Of course not I am now trying Modafinil under my doctor's supervision. He was considering Adderall but I had concerns about its effects on the heart. So far Modafinil seems to be producing a noticeable change in my ability to concentrate and focus.

I have used Piracetam for about a year, I only experienced a slight increase in cognition but got other effects. I got sleepy and also occasionally got paranoid thoughts. I stopped using it and no more of the side effects.

I can tell you Modafinil is working much better for me than Piracetam, I take only 200mg a day in the morning and it lasts throughout the day. I can work with complete focus from morning til late until the evenings.

I would believe that modafinil is more effective than piracetam for vigilance, alertness, attention, and possibly focus. However, I noticed a disturbing trend. 21 posts, all in the nootropics forum, all crapping on non-pharmaceutical solutions while advocating psychostimulants.

Be honest now, are you a sock account or a pharm rep?

[Moddy2012]

You are going to waste your money with those supplements they are garbage, you will have to go to your doctor and get on meds like Adderall, Dexedrine, or Modafinil to increase focus during monotonous tasks.

I have used things like Piracetam and the effect is only slight. You want real results you will need real meds.

Yeah and if it does not work what will you do ? Use cocaine or methamphetamine ? Are they more real medicine because they are stronger but very similar to ritalin or adderal ?

Are you crazy?? Of course not I am now trying Modafinil under my doctor's supervision. He was considering Adderall but I had concerns about its effects on the heart. So far Modafinil seems to be producing a noticeable change in my ability to concentrate and focus.

I have used Piracetam for about a year, I only experienced a slight increase in cognition but got other effects. I got sleepy and also occasionally got paranoid thoughts. I stopped using it and no more of the side effects.

I can tell you Modafinil is working much better for me than Piracetam, I take only 200mg a day in the morning and it lasts throughout the day. I can work with complete focus from morning til late until the evenings.

I would believe that modafinil is more effective than piracetam for vigilance, alertness, attention, and possibly focus. However, I noticed a disturbing trend. 21 posts, all in the nootropics forum, all crapping on non-pharmaceutical solutions while advocating psychostimulants.

Be honest now, are you a sock account or a pharm rep?

No I am not a Pharm rep. I am Canadian, I live in a country with socialized medicine and our government subsidizes medications. Provigil in Canada is much less expensive than in the US.

I have used super supplements like Piracetam, over the past few years there has been a big trend towards marketing supplements as having medicinal qualities, which is fraud. Piracetam has only had a slight effect on my cognition and I need to take it several times a day. So I would have to take a big container of it with me to work and then everyone I know would find out I am using something. Modafinil is easy to use. I take one pill in the morning and I am good for the next 12 hours.

What I am saying is that if you have ADD or you think you have it, see a doctor immediately, obviously for you Americans not all of you have health insurance. Oh well.

Edited by Moddy2012, 13 January 2011 - 11:35 PM.

[outsider]

Of course I was not advising to take cocaine or methamphetamine if someone has the slightest doubt about it but know that ritalin and adderal are closely related in nature but not as strong.


Piracetam is not useful for increasing focus much. For that you should use aniracetam or maybe to a lesser extent oxiracetam. But not everyone can benefit from racetams since in some people it will just exacerbate focus even more if your brain chemistry can't take it and do the opposite and just promote brain fog.

[kikai93]

No I am not a Pharm rep. I am Canadian, I live in a country with socialized medicine and our government subsidizes medications. Provigil in Canada is much less expensive than in the US.

I have used super supplements like Piracetam, over the past few years there has been a big trend towards marketing supplements as having medicinal qualities, which is fraud. Piracetam has only had a slight effect on my cognition and I need to take it several times a day. So I would have to take a big container of it with me to work and then everyone I know would find out I am using something. Modafinil is easy to use. I take one pill in the morning and I am good for the next 12 hours.

What I am saying is that if you have ADD or you think you have it, see a doctor immediately, obviously for you Americans not all of you have health insurance. Oh well.

Piracetam isn't a "super supplement." It's probably one of the weaker supplements available, and its effects are most profound over a significant period of time (six to twelve weeks) though never what I would categorize as strong. Piracetam is certainly not the supplement gold standard (lol). I haven't noticed supplements being marketed as medicines, but I never pay any attention to advertising so I may have missed it. I have noticed in the past few years that pharmaceutical companies have been patenting novel formulations of supplements known to be effective for their intended use and marketing them as pharmaceutical drugs (Lovaza anyone?).

After my experience with treating ADD medically, I would advise people to start with a behavioral therapist (a psychologist with a PhD). If you need medication, he'll be able to refer you to a psychiatrist. Most psychologists aren't in any way prejudiced against doing this, and you're more likely to get the proven effective multi-modal therapeutic approach.

[unregistered_user]

kikai93 pretty much skullf*cked Moddy's convoluted thinking with some simple common sense. Well done.

Edited by semi-retarded-individual, 26 March 2011 - 05:58 AM.

[caruga]

My working hypothesis is that brainfog is caused when the body decides to sacrifice blood-flow and energy to the brain due to increased demand for other organs and systems to fight off stressors. You might be able to attain a short-term fix by taking, for instance, a fat dose of ginkgo, only to suffer a rebound later. But ideally you want to tackle the stress at the root, through both supplementation (to increase the body's stress threshold) and better ways of thinking (to reduce the actual stress and promote mid and long-term recovery from any stress-damage).

I'm no doctor, though, and even I don't wholely put faith in what I've just said, so take what I say for what it is.

Edited by caruga, 26 March 2011 - 11:46 AM.

[Joe Cohen]

The Causes and Cures for Brain Fog.