I said Noo not New!!

Hi all. I have come across a post on a news feed about Nootropics and their alleged efficacy.

Being semi alert this morning, (9 hours sleep with only one wakeful period - I think that is a new record - in your face Rip Van Winkle), I did a little reading around them focusing on one in particular that has lucid dreams as a side effect which piqued my interest.

Of course many of them are snake oil designed to play on the fears of the increasingly desperate and competitive human race - offering and failing to deliver any real benefit to people desperately trying to get ahead or even just stay able. Some are even down right harmful - overstimulating and can cause spontaneous abortions in women, (well yes obviously few men have them).

Anyway it appears that many of them include Dopamine and Serotonin precursors and some have anti-inflammatory benefits, (which seem to be more genuine than the 'synergistic effects' of the ingredients). There is also the stimulating effects of them which would help with the fatigue from lack of sleep too.

So I was wondering if any of you out there in wiggly body land has used any of them and noticed any effects on their RLS, (if any from HU M.E. section reading I'd be interested in hearing if they found any benefits)?

[Parminter]

Yes Raffs, I have tried quite a gaggle, being a Desperate Soul.

Being also absent-minded, I cannot remember which did which, but they did what they said they would do, on the whole. At the time I made no particular connection with dopamine/serotonin.

I was first alerted to them some years ago in an online seminar about brain health and dementia, and there were a couple of very up-to-date specialists, including psychiatrists and neurologists, who were using them (and herbals) with their patients in preference to the usual Pharma chemicals.

I have notes somewhere..........

I think that with some knowledge and care they can contribute to brain function, particularly in the ageing population. No doubt they are also misused by the young, so nothing new there.

I will add to this if I can find the notes, woohoo.

[Hidden in reply to Parminter]

I spoke with my GP re Modafinil when I became unwell with M.E. however as he was against it and nootropics as a whole I decided not to explore that line any further.

That was until I clicked on a news story about nootropics and came across the anti-inflammatory claims. As inflammation is linked to RLS it has me wondering about them again, maybe wake myself up a little also, killing two birds with one stone.

[Parminter in reply to Hidden]

I think they do not remain in the system long, so there is no harm in trying.

We are a very experimental bunch, on the whole. No wonder.

[Joolsg]

Hi Raffs,

I’ve not heard much about them but am aware of modafanil. It’s used regularly in MS to treat the draining fatigue. I’ve never asked for it but I know I would be given it if I asked. I’m aware students use it to stay awake when revising for exams ( and they use ritalin to help retain info) - how they get hold of the meds is baffling!

I think I’d be a little scared of trying them with opioids and pregabalin- god knows what the drug cocktail would do to me!

Off to research this and check whether Dr B mentions them anywhere on his website.

[FluteE]

I tried using Elevate coffee that contains nootropics. I actually had good results drinking 1 cup in the morning. My RLS seemed better. I’ve since had to come off of it due to a recent Interstitial Cystitis diagnosis. My RLS is worse again good luck!

[Hidden in reply to FluteE]

Sorry to hear about the cystitis diagnosis - as if any of us need any other sh1t to deal with!

I must take a look into that coffee.

[DicCarlson]

I found this site - very interesting - any guinea pigs out there? neurohacker.com/formulation

[Alex2308]

Modafinil is restricted here in Russia (we have one of the strictest law about drugs), but I tried a lot of others. What really works is Phenotropil only. I never took more than 1 pill but it makes your brain work for sure. Had sleep issues after using, so I stopped. No apparent effect on my RLS. Also from time to time when I feel really shitty in the morning but have to meet a client I take DMAA (it's legal too). No more than half a dose and it works great too. Have to pay a price of half-sleepless night after that, so I use it really rarely. No apparent influence on my RLS though. My daily routine now has come to 200 mg of caffeine anhydrous in the morning along with 300 mg of L-theanine not to get shaky after that. And 500 mg of Phenibut (another very effective Noo) an hour before going to bed. With Phenibut you sleep soundly and don't feel groggy in the morning. In fact people pretty often call me early in the morning while I still asleep. But with Phenibut I'm able to answer almost as I'm awake. And go asleep again right after talk easily. Also with Phenibut my stomach stopped being lazy during the night which used to cause me chronic gastritis. That's my daily routine for the last 3 years and it still works.