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Nootropics

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Re: Nootropics

#361
post #359

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The best thing about code is you don't have to convince idiots that you're correct. Investing has the same property. What if I'm not a troll? Then I guess that would make you inept!

We've banned this account for repeatedly posting personal attacks after we've asked you to stop. We're happy to unban accounts if you email us at hn@ycombinator.com and we believe you'll comment only civilly and substantively in the future.

[deleted]

Re: Nootropics

#362

Does anyone else think this shit is totally bat shit crazy? I may be of the minority here but I am definitely not the minority in the real world. If you care about health why not exercise and eat healthy and never take any type of drug for any reason unless you are sick.

> I may be of the minority here but I am definitely not the minority in the real world. I disagree. I think huge numbers of people take nootropics frequently if not daily (caffeine and prescribed mood-altering drugs) and I'd bet that you'd consider these completely normal and non-crazy. But that belief is based in normativity, not logic. All of these substances have negative side effects, and the industry around pres…

> health definitely is not the only factor

But it is the biggest factor; without your health, you have nothing. When I'm weighing alternatives and tradeoffs, I tend to think in a sort of "three laws" mode:

1) If it's good for my long-term health, do it.

2) If it increases my athletic performance and doesn't conflict with 1), do it.

3) If it makes me look or feel better and doesn't conflict with 1) or 2), do it.

Re: Nootropics

#363

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Like you, I once was on a roller-coaster of cognition enhancing drugs. I did find that I was more productive, but only if I planned out what exactly I wanted to do beforehand and removed all distractions from my workspace. (Phone on airplane mode in another room, email/chat closed, websites blocked, etc.) However, the side effects made it rarely worth it. However, I started going to see a new doctor. He recommended t…

> Selegiline Interesting. I just moved and my new doctor just recently suggested maybe trying MAOI's. I've found a medication that has been absolutely wonderful for depression, but I have yet to find anything that helps with anxiety other than Klonopin and that's definitely not a long-term solution (I'm tapering off of it for the second time right now). I haven't been taking stimulants for ADHD though, I've been taki…

Modern SSRI's are not more effective at treating depression or anxiety than drugs from the 1960's including MAOI's. In fact, MAOIS raise the level of 3 neurotransmitters (norepinephrine, serotonin and dopamine) while SSRI's usually only effect serotonin. I believe effexor inhibits one more neurotransmitter. They fell out of favor because they required such a strict diet and had severe interactions with many OTC medications.

I've never heavily researched the exact pharmacology, but the patch version of Selegeiiline is completely safe as long as you don't gorge yourself on aged, aromatic cheeses or a bucket of miso soup. The only thing I've had to restrict is ingesting amino acid supplements as it's high in tyrosine.

I'd still check it out as I have recently discovered that Selegiline is the Holy Grail of nootropics. Medications for Parkinson's and Alzheimer's tend to have neuroprotective properties and there is even decent evidence of neurogenesis.

> I kind of need the stimulant effect because of the narcolepsy.

The first few days I was on the medication, I did feel an adderall-like effect. My doctor told me that the 10mg patch does metabolize to about a 5-10 mg dose of adderall. Perhaps your doctor will prescribe a higher dosage to counter that effect.

BTW, you have to be one of the few people I've talked to that took Provigil for it's intended effect.

Re: Nootropics

#364

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>Is 30mg really a moderate does? No, it's not. It's far from unheard of to start getting hallucinations on 30mg of amphetamine. In the 30's and 40's Benzedrine was generally prescribed in 5 or 10 milligram tablets.

Well someone should tell my Psychiatrist that as it's the dose she started me at (actually 2x 30mg, once in the morning and once in the afternoon). The side effects were quite severe so I only took that dose once.

Thats Crazy! I was started at 5 IIRC.

Re: Nootropics

#365
post #31

No mention of methylene blue? :O It's the best one! Below is a post I wrote on a Ray Peat Facebook group that I think fellow coders and behind-a-desk workers might fight interesting. I've been a serious procrastinator and slacker, and it was a long journey of trial and error in getting diet and lifestyle right. I'm thankful to the amazing work of Dr. Ray Peat, which isn't mentioned enough around Hacker News. ⁂ Some c…

So methylene blue actually does something? I was researching a lot of this stuff for my 60year old father. He recently experienced a psychotic episode. But now it turns out he actually has neurological damage (already sclerotic), most likely beginning of dementia. The doctor prescribed donepezil (aricept) and I give him some supplements: coconut oil, turmeric, alcar, b-vitamins, lecithin, omega 3. Now I'm trying to get my hands on Montelukast (asthma drug, needs prescription) and MB.

Re: Nootropics

#366

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Where's the write up? Many people, including myself, find exercise to be mind numbingly boring, and intellectually insulting. (Pick up a weight and put it down? That is quantitatively zero work, buddy. No thanks.) Never underestimate the motivation to find a quick fix.

> That is quantitatively zero work, buddy this statement is both technically wrong, and stupid because of your inane try-hard elitism. with google you can calculate down to several sig figs how many joules of work was done by picking up a weight, and putting it down. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Work_(physics) maybe you meant 'qualitatively'? even then, still wrong. moving heavy shit around is work, even if it ends…

I agree that the statement is elitist, but since gravity is a conservative force I think that the strict definition of "work" from physics (W = \int_a^b{\vec{F} \dot d\vec{s}}) would mean you get as 0 a result.

Re: Nootropics

#367
post #127

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." I did not respond to your sibling comment who speaks of anxiety. It sounds like a real pathology and something I have no business general…

> and also a 1.5 to 2 hour intense weightlifting workout (primarily focused on your thighs/legs[1][2], since they are the biggest muscles. being nitpicky here but we shouldn't be promoting "time in the gym" as a measurement of a workout's success. frankly, if you're doing an "intense" workout for "2 hours" something's wrong.

"being nitpicky here but we shouldn't be promoting "time in the gym" as a measurement of a workout's success. frankly, if you're doing an "intense" workout for "2 hours" something's wrong."

Some background, and you can adjust to fit your personal situation ...

I am 39 years old and in order to do (relatively) heavy squats and deadlifts I require about 45 minutes of prehab, stretching, warmups and accessory exercises.

I also have 3 kids so I can't do two weight workouts per week.

Therefore, I "lift weights" for two hours each week, the first 45 minutes of which is a fairly intense and comprehensive lead-up to two (yes, just two) sets of squats, followed by the rest of my leg/back exercises, then 15 minutes of upper body prehab/stretching/warmup and 30 mins of actual lifting.

So yeah - 25 and no kids ? By all means, enjoy your hour long workout :)

Re: Nootropics

#368

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.

Not sure that makes much sense; tablets are mostly a binding agent that's mixed with a fairly small amount of active ingredient. In most cases, you simply have to change the ratio of binder to achieve the desired dose. Even a 10mg tablet would be very small indeed.

More likely it's demand from people that generally think 'more = better'.

Re: Nootropics

#369
post #127

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." I did not respond to your sibling comment who speaks of anxiety. It sounds like a real pathology and something I have no business general…

You have 3.5-5 hours a day to work out? I want your job. Also, as a former competitive weightlifter, if you are lifting intense for 1.5-2 hours, you are doing it wrong.

You missed part of the post - I wasn't suggesting doing both in a day, I was suggesting that each of them was a good candidate to try in a day.

Also, see my follow-up comment about lifting for 2 hours. tl;dr is that I'm 39 and it takes 45 mins just to prehab/stretch/warmup for heavy squats. YMMV.

Re: Nootropics

#370
post #229
post #116

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I agree, but it's very difficult for me to fall asleep naturally. I have tried all the well-known advice and even tried long workouts late in the day so that it would help me to get tired and fall asleep. The only thing that works for me is melatonin and making sure I am away from all kinds of blue lights 2-3 hours before bed. I have been sleeping great for the last 6 months or so. I have tried to get off of melatoni…

With respect to the daytime tiredness have you investigated sleep apnea as a possible cause?

My dad has sleep apnea. I don't think I have sleep apnea, because I don't have most of the symptoms/pre-requisite of sleep apnea. But this is self diagnosis, I reckon I probably should get a proper test done.
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