Nootropics - Piracetam for Studying/Memory
Has anyone discovered any prescription drug or supplement that has helped them study? ... If there was something that could improve my concentration and mental stamina just for a short while it would make a world of difference to me.
Hi Tally,
I researched Piracetam several years ago, and have experimented with it. The literature says Piracetam will help "wake up the brain". It also describes how it is supposed to help the two hemispheres of the brain communicate with each other.
The recommended dosage is 800 mg., up to 3 times/day. My first 800 mg. capsule sort of sent me flying. I quickly discovered I could only tolerate about 100 mg. once a day. As time went by, I noticed I could tolerate less and less, until I finally realized there was a price to pay for the benefits I was noticing.
I would describe the benefits as being somewhat similar to coffee. I discovered it did tend to perk me up, and help make mental tasks a bit easier. I also noticed it helped me do a bit more physical activity. The price however, was it could cause me to crash mildly. The more I take, the harder the crash, leaving me with sort of a wired out feeling.
These days, I reserve my use of Piracetam for those times when I absolutely, positively, have to get something done. Ill take just a very small amount (perhaps about 10-20 mg), and put it in my morning tea. If I get the dosage just right, it can be very helpful for several hours, with a very minimal crash. But if I try to do this for several days, this delicate balance gets tipped, and I begin to pay for the extended use.
I got my Piracetam at a health food store called Harvest Moon in Kansas (without a prescription). I've heard it is very popular in other countries and is often used on surgery patients. The reason is that it helps the body use oxygen and if oxygen flow is disrupted during surgery, damage can be delayed from a normal of 5 minutes to as much as 45 minutes.
I believe Piracetam is technically a drug (a nootropic drug, or smart drug as they're called) that has a formulation based on the amino acid l-pyroglutamic acid. I read some people can get very good benefits from just taking the l-pyroglutamic acid. When I tried it however, I found the benefits to be modest, and had nowhere near the punch as the Piracetam.
I would recommend giving Piracetam a try, although I would start out at a very low dose to see what affect it might have. I've come to believe it is quite safe, and it's easy for me to see how it could be quite helpful for some PWCs.
I've noticed that more retail (online) outlets sell it now than in the past, and I would suggest shopping around a bit for better prices and/or more choices (such as other "cetams" as heapsreal suggested). Good luck with finding something that works for you. One other thing: When I started taking digestive enzymes, I immediately noticed an improvement in my ability to read.
Best Regards,
Wayne
