Ask HN: Your experiences with Nootropics?

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=4046138

by dawson • 14 years ago

4 8 14 years ago

news.ycombinator.com

Does anyone have experience with Piracetam or Oxiracetam (or any other racetams), for hacking your brain?

timmm2• 14 years ago

I have extensive experience and knowledge about nootropics, www.bodylogs.com is actually I site I built for providing just the kind of information your asking for. There might be some info on there for you but it still lacks in overall content.

I've researched and tried most nootropics and a lot of it is borderline wether or not it does anything. There is also a knowledge void on the possible harmful effects of the products, although I doubt any are too harmful if harmful at all.

"Hacking your brain" is also a vague request. If your goal is to optimize things like energy, mood, ect. A good rule of thumb is in general your nutrition should be based on the foods our ancestors would have had access too. If you limit your diet to these items you will probably notice a very big difference it will also keep you lean.

I've tried dozens of nootropics and there is no magic pill and I don't take any supplements anymore. Understand that supplement companies want to make money. They exploit placebo.

dawson• 14 years ago

Thank you. I agree with everything you said and I understand nutrition and exercise should be default. Yes, 'hacking your brain' is a little vague :) I'm looking for stimulants (other than coffee) so I can keep focused when working long hours and dealing with regular multiple timezones. I'm in China at the moment and taking Oxiracetam (their version of Piracetam) but the effects are limited, if not just placebo as you suggest. I usually take Ritalin when in the UK and this has the desired effect, but I don't take it with me when abroad.

timmm2• 14 years ago

The problem with stimulants is there is no free lunch. Any energy you get carries with it a rebound where you feel less energetic had you not taken anything at all most people call this the crash.

Something that will give you energy and put you in a good mood (helpful for mundane tasks) without causing any rebound is Kratom. Because it's not a stimulant you'll feel the effects and then just slowly go back down to baseline where as with stimulants you spike and then go below baseline and then go back up to baseline. Kratom is the real deal you might be interested in it.

coryl• 14 years ago

Tried Piracetam for a bit. Definitely had better memory and perhaps some increased focus.

It tastes awful in powder form though. In general, I don't think its worthwhile unless you'll be using it for a specific reason, like memorizing for an exam or something.

smartwater2• 14 years ago

As a health nut, I may be overly cautious when it comes to what I put into my body, but hacking your brain doesn't sound like a good idea.

Johngibb• 14 years ago

I'm curious - I've always felt that VitaminWater was a little misleading with the amount of sugar in them (deceptively labeled crystalline fructose), but, as the founder, you seem like a pretty genuine person so I'd love to give you the benefit of the doubt and hear what you think.

And I definitely enjoy drinking them, especially the ones with Stevia. :)

How does VitaminWater fit into your diet as a health nut?

smartwater2• 14 years ago

The amount of sugar has always been on the nutrition label. I'm not sure there is anything to be done if people don't bother to read it. Everything should be enjoyed in moderation— too much of anything is bad, even water.

leashless• 14 years ago

DMAE. Does what it says on the can, it's absolutely amazing. Don't use it more than a month a year, though, our bodies don't default to this behavior for reasons...

Ask HN: Your experiences with Nootropics?

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