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Ask HN: Do you take nootropics?

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Re: Ask HN: Do you take nootropics?

#151

Post by rodly »

littletimmy wrote: post #105

No, because Adderall messes with my creativity. I was doing a math major in college, and whenever I took adderall (legally prescribed) before doing a p-set, I always came up with a long and unelegant solution to a problem. It seemed to motivate me to work very hard, but not to work smart. No idea if this was just something I had in my head or there is some neurochemical basis for it.

I have the exact same problem when taking Adderall/Vyavanse/etc my creativity and memory retention is horrendous. Creativity is such an important feature to your personality and taking it away makes you so robotic and boring that I'd rather have the AD/HD and my normal, fun self than a foggy head all the time.

Re: Ask HN: Do you take nootropics?

#152

Post by nbouscal »

diminoten wrote: post #94
Lewton wrote: post #35

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>Regardless, my experience was that its only value is the placebo effect. If a substance actually does anything real, and there is potential for a pharmaceutical company to patent and profit from it, then you can generally rest assured that it will be scheduled to require a doctor's prescription. For just about everything, the over-the-counter options consist of vitamins and quackery. So either blatantly break the la…

> Melatonin is OTC in the US (sadly not where I live) and the efficacy of melatonin on sleep quality is pretty hard to dispute. The Mayo Clinic's website doesn't quite feel as strongly as you do about Melatonin: > The hormone melatonin helps control your natural sleep-wake cycle. Some research suggests that melatonin supplements might be helpful in treating jet lag or reducing the time it takes to fall asleep — altho…

I trust gwern's in-depth analysis significantly more than I trust a blurb from the Mayo Clinic: http://www.gwern.net/Melatonin

Re: Ask HN: Do you take nootropics?

#153

Post by nbouscal »

coryl wrote: post #116
Lewton wrote: post #35

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>Regardless, my experience was that its only value is the placebo effect. If a substance actually does anything real, and there is potential for a pharmaceutical company to patent and profit from it, then you can generally rest assured that it will be scheduled to require a doctor's prescription. For just about everything, the over-the-counter options consist of vitamins and quackery. So either blatantly break the la…

I have a weird experience with melatonin. It puts me out quickly, but I wake up about 4-5 hours later in a half drugged state. For the next few hours I'm awake but drowsy.

If you haven't yet, I recommend experimenting with the dosage. Most companies sell melatonin in dramatically higher doses than is necessary. I take 300mcg, but often see it sold in doses an order of magnitude larger than that. Effective dose seems to vary somewhat widely from person to person.

Re: Ask HN: Do you take nootropics?

#154

Post by api »

StevePerkins wrote: post #24

I took piracetam years ago when I was considering a career change and prepping for the LSAT exam. I believe that its legal history is somewhat similar to ephedra... 10-15 years ago you could buy it over-the-counter or online, but since then it's been taken off the market in the U.S. Regardless, my experience was that its only value is the placebo effect. If a substance actually does anything real, and there is potent…

Piracetam is not scheduled and can still be ordered. I've tried it and noted some mild apparent positive effects, and there is some study data backing this. The effect is not dramatic.

Re: Ask HN: Do you take nootropics?

#155

Post by azatris »

d--b wrote: post #118

The replies on this thread are very surprising... It seems everyone has tried them!! The question you should ask yourself is why you would need to take pills to alter your normal brain function in the first place? Do you really need to be more focused / more relaxed? Where does the urge of being more productive come from? What is your end goal? Is that goal really going to make you happier?

It isn't as surprising once you realize tea (L-theanine & caffeine), coffee (caffeine) and cigarettes (nicotine) all are nootropics. :)

More information: http://www.gwern.net/Nootropics

Re: Ask HN: Do you take nootropics?

#156

Post by bcook »

littletimmy wrote: post #105

No, because Adderall messes with my creativity. I was doing a math major in college, and whenever I took adderall (legally prescribed) before doing a p-set, I always came up with a long and unelegant solution to a problem. It seemed to motivate me to work very hard, but not to work smart. No idea if this was just something I had in my head or there is some neurochemical basis for it.

I have experienced the same thing, but it was primarily because the dosage was too high. I have taken Adderall for years, being initially prescribed 5mg and now, 5+ years later, taking 15-20mg per day. I take "drug vacations" (no Adderrall) on most weekends, to help keep my tolerance low. Personally, I find amphetamines very useful. :)

For comparison, my friend was prescribed Adderall, but his initial dosage was 40mg per day. He did not enjoy it. I do not understand the (poor) reasoning for prescribing such a high initial dose.

Re: Ask HN: Do you take nootropics?

#157

Post by KaiserPro »

driverdan wrote: post #117
KaiserPro wrote: post #100

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As a fellow devop, I say that you shouldn't need drugs to do your job. IF you have to stay that late all every day, its time to rip it all out and start again... to quote from drugs.com: "Lisdexamfetamine is a drug of abuse and may be habit-forming." But that said, you've heard these all before. To new users; Long term use usually requires higher doses, the longer you're on them the worse the withdrawl symptoms. The…

> As a fellow devop, I say that you shouldn't need drugs to do your job. You need to learn about mental health and, in this case, ADHD. You can't just wish mental health issues away.

No, as someone who has had depression a job either makes you worse or better.

If your job makes you worse, you must change.

Re: Ask HN: Do you take nootropics?

#158

Post by coryl »

nbouscal wrote: post #153
coryl wrote: post #116

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have a weird experience with melatonin. It puts me out quickly, but I wake up about 4-5 hours later in a half drugged state. For the next few hours I'm awake but drowsy.

If you haven't yet, I recommend experimenting with the dosage. Most companies sell melatonin in dramatically higher doses than is necessary. I take 300mcg, but often see it sold in doses an order of magnitude larger than that. Effective dose seems to vary somewhat widely from person to person.

I've been taking 1 or 2 5mg tablets. 2 tablets definitely seems like too much.

Re: Ask HN: Do you take nootropics?

#159

Post by coryl »

FreeFull wrote: post #149
coryl wrote: post #116

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have a weird experience with melatonin. It puts me out quickly, but I wake up about 4-5 hours later in a half drugged state. For the next few hours I'm awake but drowsy.

Did you try going back to sleep after you wake up?

Yes but its very poor quality sleep, I'm tossing and turning and not sure whether I'm awake or asleep.

Re: Ask HN: Do you take nootropics?

#160

Post by TrevorJ »

rwallace wrote: post #107
ionflux wrote: post #73

Earlier quoted context omitted.

have you tried listening to white/pink/brown noise instead of music? it works wonders for my concentration. there are numerous noise generators online, i like this one: http://www.simplynoise.com/

No. Don't use music or any other form of noise to drown out ambient sounds at work. It causes slow but irreversible damage to your hearing. In game theory terms, such an act constitutes rewarding defection (employer insisting on open plan office) with cooperation (harming yourself in an attempt to help your employer) - always a bad move.

Can you provide some citations for this? At acceptable decibel levels I have a hard time believing this would be the case.
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