My concerns are short-term and long-term memory, well-being, concentration on potentially boring things that I need to concentrate on anyway, etc. I generally prefer substances that show continued efficacy with chronic use. I might be interested in drugs that need to be cycled, for such things as finals week, etc.
Here is what I take presently, daily:
6 to 9 AOR Ortho-Core multivitamins
1.4g of EPA & 1.2g of DHA omega 3 fatty acid
10-20mg of dextroamphetamine, no more than 10mg at a time spaced out by no fewer than 4 hours
1 drop of deprenyl liquid daily, for almost two months now. So far, no hypertensive episodes.
81mg baby aspirin
3 x 100mg magnesium citrate pills
2 x 450mg 4.5% extract Ashwagandha pills, in the PM
occasionally two or three nights per week, 1 ZMA tablet (Zinc Magnesium Aspartate or something like that) in the PM.
Admittedly much of the above may be particular for reasons that aren't sound. For instance I have gotten the feeling from what I have read that Ashwagandha is sedative, which is why I take it in the PM. I have no evidence to support that claim however. I take Ashwagandha for its adaptogenic effect, not for any potential sedative effect. I assume it also sprouts dendrites from what I read, and I hope that's a good thing.
Additionally, I have no idea why I take the ZMA. Apparently it's sedative too, so I take that in the PM as well. I generally sleep very well, with or without these machinations.I've heard of many substances that can be of help, that I would not mind adding. I want to be sure they are worth taking in the long-haul however, and that phsyiological tolerance does not develop. At this point in time I have but am not taking K-R-ALA, Piracetam, Creatine Monohydrate (5 year old huge bulk bottle, egad, still good you think?), ALCAR, Alpha-CDP, Choline Citrate, Rhodiola Rosea, and a few other substances I've discovered probably have no long-term merit (Chocamine, etc.). I honestly never intend to use them. As for the other substances I have, I'm mainly not taking them because I find capping to be so inconvenient and/or time-consuming in my very busy life. That, and that I only have 00 capsules, and sometimes that's too much or too little of a given substance. I should order some 000 pills, these are smaller correct? Additionally, what are your thoughts on combining substances in the same capsules, such as creatine + ALCAR, or creatine + something else, or whatever + whatever. Are there any dangerous and/or potentially defeating combinations? For instance I know pure R-ALA at least is prone to polymerization.
I would like to hear your thoughts on the long-term physiological efficacy of other nootropics such as Huperzine A, Hydergine (or however you spell it), etc. Do these fit the bill for things my body will not down-regulate and render long-term ineffective? What else do you folks suggest adding or modifying in my stack? I'm aware of the well-founded belief that dextroamphetamine is neurotoxic. I hope to take it only while I'm in school. Do you suggest taking it all of the time or only to cover classes/studying?
What are your thoughts on metformin hydrochloride at 1.6g/day for someone in their mid 20's with about 11% bodyfat who wants to get down to 6-7%? Any other promoting substances I should consider? Needless to say, will-power alone is not helping me out here.
Thank you folks for your kind and generous assistance!
Sincerely,
-John
