Nootropics

[NullChamber]

So what's the consensus on nootropics? are they effective? safe? for what are they normally given? what are some of the most commonly used nootropics? Are most of them available only through pdoc/pharmacy? are there OTCs? id love to get my cognition back to normal again.

thanks!

[Kodos]

Mostly bullshit. Most of the effective ones are prescription stimulants. Other non-prescription herbs or supplements are either ineffective or dangerous. The Wikipedia article appears fairly balanced on the topic. Given your drug cocktail, I'd be very wary of doing anything without consulting your doctor. Exercise is probably the first thing to do before anything else.

[nibblerd]

I used piracetam for a while before being diagnosed. In my experience, it is a legitimate "smart drug", if there ever was one. My memory came back, my cognitive function was somewhat improved (though I was mixed at the time), but it has the unfortunate side effect of giving the user a headache if they do not supplement with choline (chicken, etc).

I also used it in combination with Tegretol (400mg) and Zeldox/Geodon (80mg) a while back to try and reduce the memory loss side effects. It increased anxiety and made me agitated/irritable. I'm BPI and that's probably what was affected, because Tegretol turned out to not be such a good mood stabilizer on me anyway (a week later I had a huge mixed episode break through).

I'd say for anyone that's not BP it's worth a try, or when in combination with Alpha-GPC even a bipolar can use it (not that you SHOULD. ask your doctor). Not like those effects were permanent or anything, I returned to my baseline mood 5 hours after ingesting 2g.

[Velvet Elvis]

I put a few milder ones in the crazystore. I make no claims as to their effectiveness for anything. Some stuff like DMAE you can safely take with your meds but others like Phosphatidyl Serine, Vinpocetine, and Huperzine A you might want to research more carefully and / or check with a doc.