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Nootropics

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Re: Nootropics

#261

Post by zebraflask »

Galaxeblaffer wrote: post #251

Wow.. This dude.. I've tested a couple of the mentioned drugs myself and thought i'd chip in with my results and learnings Modafinil/Armodafinil Definitely works and the side effects are neglectable. It's much as he describes it but im not sure why he can't feel it some of the time as the effect on me is really strong, especially with armodafinil which was almost too much to be hanging around other people :) You feel…

Agreed on the smaller doses of melatonin. A full tablet (5 or 10mg) tends to have the opposite effect and make me even wider awake after an hour or so of sleepiness. Someone told me once that most tablets are dosed too strong simply because it's an inexpensive supplement, and in the manufacturing process, it's cheaper to use the production templates used for other supplements that are dosed in higher amounts.

Re: Nootropics

#262

Post by aurelianito »

mettamage wrote: post #94
HalfwayToDice wrote: post #74

The best nootropic is getting a good nights sleep. It takes effort! Preparing for bed early and disciplining yourself to put the light out is not easy. Not nearly as easy as popping a pill. But it's so much more effective than any drug listed here. And for a safe and provable quick cognitive boost, take some caffeine, preferable green tea with theanine.

It's hard for me to fall asleep. I haven't cracked it yet how to do it perfectly. What helps: view the problem as improving your likelihood to sleep. Before I viewed the problem as falling asleep 100% of the time, which is a really defeating view to have when I can't fall asleep. Sleep tips that help me: 1. meditation: still experimenting with body-scan vs. breath meditation, they both help but have different effects…

I just stopped drinking coffee. The first 2 weeks were awful. I was tired all the time and sleeping over 10 hours every night. After that I returned to my usual 7 hour sleep but I had no more issues getting to sleep. My performance is the same as it was when drinking coffee, I sleep well, and if I ever need a boost, a single ristretto will give me lots of energy! :D

Re: Nootropics

#263

Post by baq »

mettamage wrote: post #214
jon-wood wrote: post #169

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Have a baby. Your sleeping less is my average night's sleep, split into two or three chunks. Amazing how easy it is to get to sleep when you've spent the last two and a half years in a low level state of exhaustion ;)

I've always marveled at how parents do it. Really, you are the true hero's in the world ;)

There's not much choice so you just don't sleep. Takes a bit of getting used to. After a while you jump into bed at 10pm when before you had children you'd go to sleep at 2am and become a 'normal person', sort of.

Re: Nootropics

#264

Post by phkahler »

mettamage wrote: post #94
HalfwayToDice wrote: post #74

The best nootropic is getting a good nights sleep. It takes effort! Preparing for bed early and disciplining yourself to put the light out is not easy. Not nearly as easy as popping a pill. But it's so much more effective than any drug listed here. And for a safe and provable quick cognitive boost, take some caffeine, preferable green tea with theanine.

It's hard for me to fall asleep. I haven't cracked it yet how to do it perfectly. What helps: view the problem as improving your likelihood to sleep. Before I viewed the problem as falling asleep 100% of the time, which is a really defeating view to have when I can't fall asleep. Sleep tips that help me: 1. meditation: still experimenting with body-scan vs. breath meditation, they both help but have different effects…

Since you're already taking magnesium, try getting magnesium glycinate. It has 6 times as much glycine as magnesium by weight and is readily available. Glycine may help you sleep.

Re: Nootropics

#265

Post by camelNotation »

mettamage wrote: post #94
HalfwayToDice wrote: post #74

The best nootropic is getting a good nights sleep. It takes effort! Preparing for bed early and disciplining yourself to put the light out is not easy. Not nearly as easy as popping a pill. But it's so much more effective than any drug listed here. And for a safe and provable quick cognitive boost, take some caffeine, preferable green tea with theanine.

It's hard for me to fall asleep. I haven't cracked it yet how to do it perfectly. What helps: view the problem as improving your likelihood to sleep. Before I viewed the problem as falling asleep 100% of the time, which is a really defeating view to have when I can't fall asleep. Sleep tips that help me: 1. meditation: still experimenting with body-scan vs. breath meditation, they both help but have different effects…

Sex is a good option too. My wife and I both fall asleep earlier and sleep longer after we've had a good romp and roll.

Re: Nootropics

#266

Post by kbart »

aurelianito wrote: post #259
kbart wrote: post #137

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've had sleep problems for years. Few simple things that usually helped me: 1) a glass of whisky. 2) sex. 3) relaxing, silent background music (Dead Can Dance is wonderful, but I guess it's a matter of taste).

All of them? In this order?

When you think of it, why not? If it didn't work as expected, at least it will be an evening well spent..;]

Re: Nootropics

#267

Post by forloop »

kale wrote: post #253
forloop wrote: post #233

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> The best nootropic is getting a good nights sleep. The above is a direct quote from OP. Where's the metaphor? You're grossly mistaken! > but that it is something that performs the same function Can sleep gives one supranormal cognition? No. Does sleep perform the same function as modafinil (a drug which gives you more time to work since you need less sleep)? They're nearly opposites. Does sleep perform the same fun…

> Does sleep perform the same function as melatonin? A hormone that allows greater sleep "efficiency" than normal sleep. Melatonin is the hormone that regulates sleep normally. You're taking additional sleep hormone by taking it orally. So sleep is melatonin. It's the hormone that is theorized to be involved in the "blue light" sleep effect. When the high-wavelength cones are stimulated, melatonin release is reduced,…

As you said yourself,

"You're taking additional sleep hormone by taking it orally. So sleep is melatonin."

Sleep, and sleep with additional sleep hormone aren't the same thing by definition.

> So sleep is melatonin.

By taking melatonin orally you can get levels which aren't possible endogenously. So melatonin supplements != "vanilla" sleep.

Melatonin is also a mitochondrial anti-oxidant, so may benefit people with "brain fog". Such people may well have to take a supplement to get the maximum benefit. A benefit which can't be reached with natural (what is natural?) sleep.

In older individuals, the endogenous production of melatonin is reduced (happens when people get older). They may also benefit for supplementation. A benefit they couldn't get without it! No matter if they wear blue light blocking glasses, or have f.lux on all their machines.

Sometimes people have to do things at night. Where there's light. It's modern life. They can't go back in time and not be exposed to that light. They may also benefit from supplementation.

One could describe it as enhanced sleep.

Re: Nootropics

#268

Post by nathanasmith »

gf263 wrote: post #226
abrichr wrote: post #222

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is a well documented reaction to the beginning of treatment for depression. Essentially the reason is that before they started treatment, they had no motivation to do anything. After they start the treatment, but before they've waited long enough to realize the benefits, they have enough motivation to end their lives.

Wow. That sounds like a sick joke.

I'll offer this tidbit.

I started taking Prozac and not long after I got on it, things started to seem a little better. I recall, one day, actually having the thought, Hey, maybe suicide isn't such a bad idea after all. Consider the fact that still having a good bit of depression yet feeling relief from anxiety actually made suicide seem like a viable option. I still get chills when I think about it.

SSRIs aren't for everyone, that's for sure.

Re: Nootropics

#269

Post by aninhumer »

forloop wrote: post #233
aninhumer wrote: post #224

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>Sleep isn't a nootropic. This happens quite a lot with noobs. It's a figurative usage. The OP is not suggesting sleep is literally a nootropic, but that it is something that performs the same function. Like "the best defence is a good offence". And I don't think it's derailing the topic to talk about relevant alternatives.

> The best nootropic is getting a good nights sleep. The above is a direct quote from OP. Where's the metaphor? You're grossly mistaken! > but that it is something that performs the same function Can sleep gives one supranormal cognition? No. Does sleep perform the same function as modafinil (a drug which gives you more time to work since you need less sleep)? They're nearly opposites. Does sleep perform the same fun…

>The above is a direct quote from OP. Where's the metaphor? You're grossly mistaken!

I interpret that as I would my example "the best defence is a good offence". It's an out-of-category example given for rhetorical effect.

Perhaps I'm mistaken and that's not what OP meant, but I don't see why you're so certain about it.

>Can sleep gives one supranormal cognition?

Yes if you define "normal" as not getting enough sleep, which is the relevant reference point in this context.

>The sleep conversation is above everything else. It takes focus from the subject at hand.

So collapse that thread and move on. Apparently other people are interested in talking about sleep though.

Re: Nootropics

#270

Post by arcanus »

george_ciobanu wrote: post #254
mettamage wrote: post #94

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's hard for me to fall asleep. I haven't cracked it yet how to do it perfectly. What helps: view the problem as improving your likelihood to sleep. Before I viewed the problem as falling asleep 100% of the time, which is a really defeating view to have when I can't fall asleep. Sleep tips that help me: 1. meditation: still experimenting with body-scan vs. breath meditation, they both help but have different effects…

Running works wonders for me: helps mood, sleep and energy right away. I run 3-5 miles almost every day and the following morning I wake up refreshed and in a good mood. The effect wears out after a day or two so you have to do it often. Distance is not that important - what matters is time and intensity: run at least 20m with 10 of them near your upper limit. Make sure you pick a sustainable pace that makes it hard…

^ this. Absolutely don't disagree with any of it. Big runner here.

I'll just add that many people are mentally exhausted, and frustrated they cannot sleep. But I bet they are not physically exhausted. HIIT, distance running, whatever works, etc. are all great ways to tire out your body.

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