20 replies to this topic

[superM]

Hello,

I've been reading this forum for quite some time now, and appreciate the advice and insight from everyone here. For the last year or so, I've been taking some nootropics to help with my cognitive abilities and battle some of the mental issues that I have, without resorting to pharmaceuticals with questionable efficacy. (If it makes a difference, I'm male in mid 20s).

I have a job that requires me to remain very mentally astute, so I don't want to take anything that interferes with that mental sharpness. I did have a small drinking problem for about a year that could have contributed to some of these issues, however I am now sober, but still have a feeling of memory impairment and brain fog among. Also, I've been diagnosed with anxiety and depression, but I do not want to take benzos for obvious reasons.

Thing's have been looking up, but for the last month, I've had debilitating anxiety and my brain fog has gotten worse. I have trouble speaking to people, and with word recall. I start sentences, and am unable to come up with the correct word to finish it! I used to be a very fluent and able speaker.

In summary, my issue list:
- Anxiety (social anxiety, general anxiety)
- Brain Fog (memory problems, difficulty with words)
- Low Energy
- Depression (may just be a result of the above, or worsened by them)
- ADD? (difficulty concentrating, but I'm not hyperactive)

So far, I've been taking:

Piracetam (1600-2400mg)
Fish Oil (3-4 caps)
Milk thistle* (liver detox)
Vitamin B100 complex
Alpha GPC
Niacin (1g) - now stopped*

* Niacin: I've been taking this for the last 2-3 months, and have noticed trouble sleeping, and weight gain. I was taking the SLO-Niacin brand, and read of potential liver problems, and have now stopped. Appetite has decreased, sleep has improved. I am mixed on using niacin further for anti anxiety and depression, but any input here is appreciated.

* Piracetam - good results, I think my memory is improved. I am still looking for a good choline source, is Alpha GPC the best? What is the ratio of Piracetam:Choline.


What can I add to the stack (either OTC or RX) that can help me accomplish my goals and alleviate my symptoms. Right now, the anxiety and brain fog have me worried most, they hamper my ability to function normally in life and work.

So far, I am considering adding:
-Aniracetam (anxiolytic + memory)
-Picamilon (gaba+niacin for anxiety)
-Bacopa/Ashwaghanda/Rhodiola (I have not read much on these, so input is appreciated)
-Sublutiamine: not much info on this
-Selegiline: its rx and may help with cognition and depression but i don't know about anxiety

Dosages for each? Any contradictions?

Any ideas and input are appreciated.

Thanks.

Edited by superM, 10 October 2011 - 12:15 AM.

[noos]

I would not lose time and see a psychiatrist.

[unregistered_user]

The only thing I would feel inclined to comment on is the Selegiline dosage. For life extension purposes 1mg per day is indicated. For nootropic benefit I think 2-3mg is ok. 10mg is the limit in terms of MAO-B being selectively inhibited. Any more than that and you need to be careful with your diet for any foods containing tyramine.

Selegiline has been reported to be more effective in dealing with depression when combined with L-Phenylalanine however this combo should be attempted very cautiously. I have had OK success with it.

[superM]

I would not lose time and see a psychiatrist.

I actually have. I was rx'ed Ativan for anxiety. I used it briefly, and while helping with anxiety, I had trouble thinking clearly on it, it seemed to worsen the brain fog.

[houdini]

Hi,
I suffer from these horrible things occasionally, been battling anxiety and depression for 8 years now.
If what you take does not help you, why do you continue to take it? How long have you been taking these supplements?
Bacopa and Ash together helped me. It did take 2-3 weeks to work, but it can be faster than that.
I would drop the piracetam, in some places people said it is an anxyolitic.
Fish oil - been taking it for long periods, haven't experienced any difference.
Try looking into SJW. I haven't tried it, but they say it does work.
Go to your family doc, get a thorough blood test. Check your thyriod, check for viruses.

What works for me:
Exercise - Aerobic. Not a cure, but it does help.
Brain exercises - Dual N back. Google for the group (google group). It does change your brain and elevates mood.
CBT or other related treatment. Try listening to Tony Robbins and other positive psychology tapes.
Meditation, 10-15 minutes per day. No need for special routine, just simple meditation. Don't invest in books or programs.
Do more things that make you feel good than things that make you feel bad. Simple.
Avoid negative people and places that trigger bad memories at all costs.
Change workplace/ partner/ house.

It's hard, but it MAY be the solution. In my journey I gave up so many times I don't even bother to remember, I totally understand you. But don't give up and keep researching.

[noos]

I would not lose time and see a psychiatrist.

I actually have. I was rx'ed Ativan for anxiety. I used it briefly, and while helping with anxiety, I had trouble thinking clearly on it, it seemed to worsen the brain fog.

Dose?. Tried low dose alprazolam .125 mg?
Checked don´t think selegiline will help you, possible anxiety but it is safe to try. Same with sulbutiamine, but for sure it is noticeable.
Thyroid?
Tried an SSRI?
Mg?

I agree with houdini that exercise helps, for me, running open space.

[superM]

I would not lose time and see a psychiatrist.

I actually have. I was rx'ed Ativan for anxiety. I used it briefly, and while helping with anxiety, I had trouble thinking clearly on it, it seemed to worsen the brain fog.

Dose?. Tried low dose alprazolam .125 mg?
Checked don´t think selegiline will help you, possible anxiety but it is safe to try. Same with sulbutiamine, but for sure it is noticeable.
Thyroid?
Tried an SSRI?
Mg?

I agree with houdini that exercise helps, for me, running open space.

Haven't tried SSRIs yet, I plan to discuss this with my doc when I go in. Like I said, I felt that benzos (alprazolam included), messed with my memory a lot. They're known to have amnesic effects, and it's difficult for me to function properly on them, although they are relaxing.

[hippocampus]

try elimination diet, maybe you're just allergic to sth. start with gluten and if you don't see any difference try with lactose and so on ...

[sambocyn]

Hello,

I've been reading this forum for quite some time now, and appreciate the advice and insight from everyone here. For the last year or so, I've been taking some nootropics to help with my cognitive abilities and battle some of the mental issues that I have, without resorting to pharmaceuticals with questionable efficacy. (If it makes a difference, I'm male in mid 20s).

I have a job that requires me to remain very mentally astute, so I don't want to take anything that interferes with that mental sharpness. I did have a small drinking problem for about a year that could have contributed to some of these issues, however I am now sober, but still have a feeling of memory impairment and brain fog among. Also, I've been diagnosed with anxiety and depression, but I do not want to take benzos for obvious reasons.

Thing's have been looking up, but for the last month, I've had debilitating anxiety and my brain fog has gotten worse. I have trouble speaking to people, and with word recall. I start sentences, and am unable to come up with the correct word to finish it! I used to be a very fluent and able speaker.

In summary, my issue list:
- Anxiety (social anxiety, general anxiety)
- Brain Fog (memory problems, difficulty with words)
- Low Energy
- Depression (may just be a result of the above, or worsened by them)
- ADD? (difficulty concentrating, but I'm not hyperactive)

So far, I've been taking:

Piracetam (1600-2400mg)
Fish Oil (3-4 caps)
Milk thistle* (liver detox)
Vitamin B100 complex
Alpha GPC
Niacin (1g) - now stopped*

* Niacin: I've been taking this for the last 2-3 months, and have noticed trouble sleeping, and weight gain. I was taking the SLO-Niacin brand, and read of potential liver problems, and have now stopped. Appetite has decreased, sleep has improved. I am mixed on using niacin further for anti anxiety and depression, but any input here is appreciated.

* Piracetam - good results, I think my memory is improved. I am still looking for a good choline source, is Alpha GPC the best? What is the ratio of Piracetam:Choline.


What can I add to the stack (either OTC or RX) that can help me accomplish my goals and alleviate my symptoms. Right now, the anxiety and brain fog have me worried most, they hamper my ability to function normally in life and work.

So far, I am considering adding:
-Aniracetam (anxiolytic + memory)
-Picamilon (gaba+niacin for anxiety)
-Bacopa/Ashwaghanda/Rhodiola (I have not read much on these, so input is appreciated)
-Sublutiamine: not much info on this
-Selegiline: its rx and may help with cognition and depression but i don't know about anxiety

Dosages for each? Any contradictions?

Any ideas and input are appreciated.

Thanks.

hey superM,

i would try aniracetam. it's both nootropic (for the brain fog) and anxiolytic (for the anxiety). however, you'll have to redose a few times a day, because it's effective half-life is only ~2h. if i take too much aniracetam, after 2h of heightened lucidity, i melt into a 'blissful stupor' (not good for deadlines).

my piracetam:choline ratio is 20:1 (in absolute quantities, 6g of piracetam needs 300mg of choline, which translates to a capsule or an omelette).

if stressed, i prefer piracetam + green tea (a bag has ~50mg caffeine and ~50mg theanine). if really stressed, i'll need one or two hundred milligrams of theanine.

also, consult a psychiatrist. 'ADHD Predominantly Inattentive' is a ADHD subtype whose diagnosis does not depend on hyperactivity. maybe you do need adderall. maybe an antidepressant.

good luck, and let me know!

Edited by sambocyn, 24 November 2011 - 04:25 AM.

[pback238]

SAM-e + lithium orotate relieved similar symptoms for me.

[Harry777]

It sounds like a classic case of Pyroluria to me. I suffered for 8 years with very similar symptoms to SuperM, particularly around the brain fog. I would do a few searches on that. I suffer from Pyroluria and once I started taking the specific supplements most of my symptoms disappeared, I'm not perfectly healthy yet but I'm about 20 times better than I used to be...

[msbost]

The quality of your sleep can effect your cognitive function, so try to enhance your REM sleep by sleeping early and waking up early in the morning, make sure to make your room as dark as possible(cover your alarm clock , even small flashing light can effect your sleep).
If you want a temporary but fast solution to your problem, try 5-10 mg of noopept sublingually(make sure to cycle and remember to that your brain will work very hard to keep homeostasis, so tolerance to this nootropic may occur) and drink less caffeine.

[cvjcvj]

Harry777 which supplements have you taken? Vitamin B12 and zync?

Edited by cvjcvj, 11 February 2013 - 01:44 AM.

[Renegade]

L-theanine works wonders for my anxiety.

It never used to to anything for me until I switched to the Solgar brand.

[Lolofatty]

your problems sound exactly like mine. Eliminating dairy completely stopped my brain fog

[noos]

your problems sound exactly like mine. Eliminating dairy completely stopped my brain fog

Including fermented like yogurt, cheese?

[Lolofatty]

your problems sound exactly like mine. Eliminating dairy completely stopped my brain fog

Including fermented like yogurt, cheese?

Yes. From what I've figured out, any allergy or sensitivity I have that's being activated by ingesting something effects it. I assume its because my body is using all of it's resources to fight whatever I've ingested and the result is brain fog. For you, it could be gluten or something else. Best course of action would be to try an elimination diet.

[Joe Cohen]

Cutting edge brain fog protocol

http://selfhacked.co...e-of-brain-fog/

 

Also here's another protocol for supplements:

http://selfhacked.co...-2-supplements/

 

Why I don't supplement with piracetam

http://selfhacked.co...with-piracetam/

 

The best ways to increase IQ

http://selfhacked.co...level-thinking/

[TIMHILL152]

I have had severe health anxiety and panic attack disorder. I have tired many different anti dep and have been recently prescribed Olanzapine 2.5mg please has anyone else been on this.. Did your energy level go down also your thought process

[JmareK]

Its good to see lots of different advice on here,

Tackling anxiety can be tough, but luckily nootropics can definetely help.

my stack advice would be:

 

100mg of picamilon

500mg of phenibut

1600mg-2400mg of phenibut 

(daily)

This is the stack that is sold on thoughtfoods.

 

https://thoughtfoods...pics-stack.html

 

Anyone reading this thread I hope this helps.

[Clifford Snabb]

I would not lose time and see a psychiatrist.

I actually have. I was rx'ed Ativan for anxiety. I used it briefly, and while helping with anxiety, I had trouble thinking clearly on it, it seemed to worsen the brain fog.

I'm honestly kind of surprised at that. My mind is constantly racing and Ativan lets me slow down to an unbelievable rate if I need to. Definitely a benefit for me, as it works as a nootropic and most of my anxiety stems from racing thoughts. To each his own. Keep working at it! There's no perfect formula but you'll find one that works.