I took 12mg Astax without even knowing it crosses the BBB along with 25mg beta-carotene for over a month. It had a pretty decent nootropic effect on me, higher functioning, more energy and such. I had to stop it AND caffeine because I was just too socially dominant and high strung, I could not mentally unwind although going to sleep was fine.
I saw my GP and he agreed I was focused. I saw my shrink and he told me my eyes are darting over to think more than usual.
The problems I encountered were:
Too quick to put my foot down with friends
pre-hypertension
unable to meditate
mind always racing (I think a lot usually)
Unable to concerntrate to drive safely if on an empty stomach (I did not notice this until I ran a red light for the 1st time in 10 years of driving)
Need to eat fats frequenty such as peanut butter or brain doesnt work right
Benefits:
Better social skills
No social anxiety at all
More composed body language
More fluent writing and speech
No brain fatigue if I had ate
More physical energy
Much less inclination to sit at my computer
Much more extroverted
Social dominance
Wired without the amphetamine social ineptitude or robot walk.
Seemingly high metabolic rate for some of the above reasons
To see if it wasnt just me being a fruit cake I gave some to my friend, I usually split the dose in half for 2x a day. I gave him my whole days dose during a high fat meal for absorption. I explained what it did to me btw.
My friend got upset over a minor sleight AFTER A GOOD MEAL, we argued all the way home until I realised it was the Astax which he strongly denied. I went to my house and returned to give him some codeine and he said "What did you give me? I feel so wired". I was in a fit laughing.
My other friend who has been taking 25mg beta-carotene has noticed a bit more energy and had an aggressive episode while drunk. A 3rd friend has noticed NOTHING on BC and Astax.
So it seems hit and miss I still need to offer it around more but I think its worth trying just in a dose no higher than 4mg a day. I will start taking it again at 4mg twice a week.
However I must say do not take it in high doses with caffeine, and I would recomend not to stack it with any nootropics or stimulants.
This all might sound hard to believe but keep in mind:
This supp is poorly researched despite being known for a while.
"It is 800times more powerful than CoQ10 AND crossed the BBB." Although this is the quack Mercola's words.
Edited by Anewlife, 10 August 2014 - 10:58 PM.