(Newswire.net — July 1, 2020) — Nootropics are sought after by people with many different motivations. Some are looking for a mental boost before the big test or a stressful workday. Others are looking for something to help alleviate stress. No matter what the motivation is, people get serious relief from nootropics.
While nootropics are an incredible thing, there are instances where you should avoid them all together.
Pay Attention to the Ingredients
There are some nootropics that you should steer clear of. If you recognize some of these ingredients on any given nootropic, avoiding them is a good practice.
- Modafinil- prescription strength AHD nootropic with stimulant effects that has many side effects
- Piracetam- a synthetic nootropic that does not have very much evidence to support its positive effects
- Adderall- one of the most famous nootropics, Adderall is comprised of amphetamine salts that have a stimulant effect and a wealth of side effects and is addictive
- Ephedra- used to be commonly found in diet pills, a highly stimulating nootropic that causes serious jitters and anxiety
As you can see, some of the more well known synthetic nootropics have a lot of side effects. It makes you wonder if it is even worth it. For most people, no, it is not, and that is why they choose herbal nootropics instead.
What Medications Are You On?
Some medications have negative interactions with certain nootropics. Antidepressants are the drug class that has the most interactions with nootropic compounds.
St. John’s Wort and Ginkgo Biloba for example should be strictly avoided at all costs if you are on selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as Paxil, Seroquel, Zoloft and more. Before deciding to take a specific nootropic, check to see with your doctor if any of the medications or supplements you take would have an interaction.
Are You Planning On Drinking?
Some nootropics have stimulant effects, and others have calming effects. Like with anything, they each vary in effects. It is important to know before hand whether or not it is safe to drink on.
When you drink alcohol in combination with other substances such as nootropics, you increase the efficacy. The way that works, is the alcohol increases the concentration of whatever other substances are in your blood.
So say for instance you took a low dose of Ginkgo Biloba then had a glass of wine. The dose of Ginkgo Biloba may have been low, but once that wine hits the bloodstream it will increase the Ginkgo Biloba it is sharing the stream with.
That is why many medications, particularly ones that affect the central nervous system, strictly prohibit you from drinking while on them. Now, that is not to say that every single nootropic requires abstinence from alcohol.
It just means that if you are going to be drinking alcohol, find out if it is okay to mix with the nootropic of choice you are using. Better safe than sorry. In fact, some people substitute their alcohol use and replace it with calming nootropics to take the edge off in a safer way.
Safety First
Don’t compromise your safety and drink or combine nootropics with things they shouldn’t be combined with. It is critical to always exercise safety and check with your doctor to see if you are good to take nootropics.
If there is one class of nootropics worth avoiding, it is synthetic ones. Of course, not all of them are bad, but in general they are the ones that really bring it when it comes to side effects.
Choosing a natural nootropic over an herbal one means you don’t have to worry about avoiding any of them at all.