Well, I can help you out with NOOTS. I sure wouldn't prescribe, though...lol.
If I were you, I'd start with plain ol' Piracetam. As for dosage, I would begin with 1 gram x 2 times a day and work towards 1 gram x 4 times a day, which is fairly aggressive but Piracetam is pretty forgiving and about the worst side you could expect would be a headache from a lack of choline (eat some eggs), or a slightly upset stomach. I think the main thing you would notice would be an increase in verbal fluency. Music might sound a bit better. Colors might look a little brighter. Anyway, not a bad place to start and it's relatively cheap if you shop around. My only warning would be not to continue to up your dosages if you have any history of bipolar disorder, or are prone to mania.
I've taken just about every racetam commonly available, with the notable exception of Fascoracetam-- which I'm in the process of ordering.
There's a world of difference between Piracetam and something like Modafinil. I've been prescribed Modafinil for years because of sleep apnea and idiopathic narcolepsy, and have also been prescribed Armodafinil, the ® enatiomer version of Moda, which I didn't care for because of it's longer onset and the way it disrupted my sleep architecture. Modafinil is a serious drug and should not be taken lightly. It can be a life saver, but it's definitely something I don't recommend anyone take on a daily basis.
The best way to use it IMO is if you really, really have to pull an all nighter for work or school. In that case, if you have taken a low dose before, to make sure it doesn't cause you any G.I. issues etc., it's flat out a wonder drug. Now, it has very little recreational value unless taken at very high doses, which I definitely DO NOT recommend unless you have an extensive history with the substance. It will NOT give you the same sort of dopamine dump as any amphetamine, but that's a good thing if you are just looking to stay awake to focus on finishing a project.
I have some experience with more exotic anti-depressants like NSi-189, and Tianeptine (various versions), and hope to continue to educate myself. GTS-21 is next on "the list."