/r/StackAdvice

Photograph via snooOG

Purpose:

Due to an overwhelming number of posts in /r/nootropics where people post their stacks and ask for advice on dosages, feedback, recommendations, etc, we have created a supplementary subreddit for requesting and giving personalised advice.

Consider this a friendly environment for stack advice, Nootropics recommendation, supplement information, and any question concerning Nootropics.

Please include medications/supplements you use, any health conditions, your sleep, diet and exercise habits.

Posts need to be either asking for stack advice, offering stack advice, requesting someone to rate a stack, or other Q&A type posts.

Advertisers should not advertise your products here and product advertisements will be removed.

Links to resources and references are fine.

Other subreddits:

/r/StackAdvice

61,755 Subscribers

2

Psychedelics (for depression, Anhedonia after longterm use of psych meds)?

Any neurodivergent people here (with past psych med history & complex trauma) tried psychedelics (mushrooms/truffles/ketamine/LSD or microdosing with benefit for depression or Anhedonia?

For those sensitive or prone to anxiety, have you experienced anxiety, paranoia? (Years ago I experienced anxiety, paranoia, dissociation in social settings from weed - not severe, but pretty unpleasant)

Would you do it alone at home (if u have no trusted friend or pro to work with to ground you)?

There are still risks associated with the use of psychedelics, even in small doses. While microdosing is generally considered safe, it can still cause unpredictable side effects such as: anxiety, paranoia, transient psychotic-like symptoms and altered perceptions…

9 Comments
2024/12/01
10:47 UTC

0

This piracetam dosage did nothing. Now what?

5-Day long attack dose of 3,600 - 4,200 mg (3 to 4 pills daily) then 1,200 - 2,400 mg daily for a couple of days. Pills are German medical-grade ordered by a doctor and brought from the pharmacy, were kept refrigerated, and I had them with eggs for choline. It did nothing.

2 Comments
2024/12/01
01:23 UTC

5

What supplement to stack with Fenugreek

I have Fenugreek capsules, but I don't know what herb, vitamin or mineral to stack it with to improve its absorption? Does it help in the absorption of something else? I already know not to take it with garlic, ginger, ginkgo, ginseng and turmeric. I am male.

3 Comments
2024/11/29
02:31 UTC

3

Mood disorder stack with lamotrigine

I'm starting lamotrigine today. I've had a really hard 18 months regarding up and down moods, panic and anxiety. I wonder what sort of stack I should build around this.

Few years back, I used to take at least:

L-Tryptophan
L-Tyrosine
Omega 3's
Vit D
Magnesium
Selenium
L-Teanine
Taurine
Himalayan Salt

In no specific order

All of the above have been decent for me, I've tried something else without results / negative effects too.

Any suggestions to try out?

18 Comments
2024/11/25
15:12 UTC

2

New to nootropics, could you please review my stack and dosages before I buy everything?

Hi! I'm new to nootropics in general, I don't even drink coffee at the moment, but I'm looking to build a stack that helps me improve cognitive performance, have more energy and focus in the mornings and through the day, could you please help me review my stack so far? I would really appreciate it!

I haven't bought anything yet, what would you add or remove from this stack? And do the dosages and timings look ok to you? I was thinking adding magnesium in the afternoons, or Ginkgo biloba and L-Tyrosine in the mornings, or possibly a different source of Choline, but I'm also curious if taking this many pills can be bad for my liver or my stomach? Thanks!

Morning dose(8 am):

Normal multivitamins

1 pill containing: 200mg caffeine, 200mg matcha, 100mg taurine

L-theanine: 300mg

Lions Mane Mushroom: 700mg

Alpha-GPC: 300mg

Rhodiola Rosea: 300mg

Afternoon dose(4pm):

Bacopa Monnieri: 300mg

Salmon fish oil Omega-3: 1g

One of the reasons I'm trying to build this stack is because I have been having terrible brain fog in the mornings, low motivation and its hard to focus, I suspect I have ADHD but haven't been diagnosed, as getting a diagnosis isn't easy in my country, also this brain fog is exacerbated by the fact that I have been trying to quit smoking (nicotine and cannabis) and the brain fog is even worse when I don't smoke, so I'm trying to create this stack to finally stop smoking and still be productive in the mornings, for this reason I was also considering adding NAC(N-Acetyl Cysteine) as this was recommended when stopping smoking, are there other recommendations to change in my stack to help stop smoking specifically? Please help me save and regain control of my life, thanks very much for reading and commenting. Once I'm back to full health and mental capacity, I would like to stick to a much simpler stack consisting of only Omega-3 Fish Oil, multivitamins and the occasional caffeine+l-theanine combo, do you think this is a good idea? Thanks!!

7 Comments
2024/11/25
04:50 UTC

1

How would you structure this daily stack?

I suffer with anxiety, OCD, and depression at times. Been looking for a mood support stack as well as something for overall ewellness.

That said... Wasn't sure when the best time of day would be for some of these (e.g. saffron, black seed oil) or which ones work most synergistically or should be spread apart? How would you guys stack these throughout the day?

* black seed oil

* saffron extract

* bacopa

* turmeric curcumin

* ashwagandha (probably alternate with bacopa? or can both be taken concurrently?)

* agmatine

* theanine

* NAC

* sulforaphane

* black ginger

Thanks!

3 Comments
2024/11/24
22:54 UTC

5

catecholamines, dopamine and noradrenaline

hey which suupelements help with catecvholamines , dopa and noradrenaline for adhd meds ? I feel terror if I mix meds with food

7 Comments
2024/11/23
17:15 UTC

0

Guys what low side effect pro natty supp would you suggest me ? Withiut tampering w my hormones

Im currently 18 training for 3-4 years s:120 b:90 d:175 kgs

17 Comments
2024/11/22
13:14 UTC

2

Stack advice for social and general anxiety?

Hi everyone,

I’m looking for advice on supplements or nootropics that could help with high general anxiety and my mind going blank in social situations.

I’ve previously tried CBT and exposure therapy, but neither seemed to address my issue of my mind blanking out. One challenge with CBT is that I don’t seem to have any automatic thoughts driving the anxiety—my mind just goes blank, making it difficult to engage with the process.

Currently, I’m taking:

  • Fluoxetine (40mg): Helps moderately with general anxiety but no noticeable effect on social anxiety.
  • Fish Oil (1400mg)
  • Vitamin D (2000 IU)

I’d greatly appreciate any stack recommendations or insights into supplements and nootropics that could directly address these issues. Thanks in advance for your suggestions!

14 Comments
2024/11/22
12:54 UTC

5

Which selank?

Hey guys, recently ordered some NA semax amidate from sciencebio. I have had great experiences with it in the past. I've heard selank pairs very well with semax, but i've never tried it. I see they have Selank, NA Selank, and NA Selank Amidate. I've tried all forms of semax, and amidate has been my favorite by far. May be my favorite nootropic i've tried. I'm having trouble finding experiences with NA selank amidate. Could anyone tell me their experiences with any of the 3, particularly paired with Semax? Looking for the mood benefits and increased sociability without being tired, as many things that are meant to decrease anxiety (like ashwaganda) tend to make me lethargic. I'm leaning towards amidate, but don't want to pay extra if it has no noticeable difference.

3 Comments
2024/11/22
04:39 UTC

11

Looking for advice on my stack to restore brain function after stimulant abuse

I abused vyvanse the last 8 months by taking at least 150mg everyday while exceeding 180mg (almost three times the recommended dose) about twice a week. I rarely took breaks and they were never longer than 2 weeks.

My focus and memory got noticeably worse and I feel close to no joy when not on stimulants or other drugs. Even when on stimulants I feel no drive or motivation at all anymore because I fucked up my reward system. So after stopping them I thought about taking supplements to improve my mood and mental capabilities by reversing any neurotoxic damage.

To improve my memory by increasing my neuroplasticity I thought about taking either dihexa or selank and lions mane to generally support neurogenesis.

For more dopamine and a better dopamine regulation acetyl-l-carnitine and for the first 2-4 weeks sober mucuna pruriens to improve my mood.

And lastly to reduce glutamate-induced stress and neurotoxicity NAC and/or magnesium threonate. Also I heard that rapamycine might help.

I hope my post isn‘t too specific. Any advice on the supplements mentioned or others that could potentially help me would be greatly appreciated.

24 Comments
2024/11/21
19:16 UTC

2

How would you replace Ozempic?

What stack would you suggest that would help with appetite control as much as possible? Realistically, i expect it to be as close as caffeine is to Adderall in terms of focus/energy.

Thank you!

2 Comments
2024/11/20
16:23 UTC

2

Is saffron, bacopa, black ginger, black seed oil and c3g a safe / effective stack for mood boost and “natural” antidepressant effects?

Mostly concerned about potential of increasing serotonin too much.

My understanding is that bacopa can upregulate serotonin, while saffron works as a reuptake inhibitor?

I believe black seed oil may work as a mild monoamine inhibitor or at least helps regulate neurotransmitter activity?

C3G supposedly does something similar and not entirely sure about black ginger.

I’m looking for a good mental health stack to help with my adhd, anxiety and mild depressive symptoms - I just don’t want to mix TOO many serotonergic supplements together if they could cause something like serotonin syndrome.

6 Comments
2024/11/20
13:06 UTC

5

Why is Pycnogenol so expensive?

Was looking at pycnogenol for help with poor blood circulation and dry skin. My hands and feet are always cold. L-Citrulline never helped with circulation much. Damn pycnogenol is expensive, though! One of the most expensive supplements I've seen. Is it worth it?

I do take 50mg of sildenafil once in a while to help with increased blood circulation 😅 but maybe that's overkill, and sildenafil causes headaches (true of most things that increase circulation, though, like Ginkgo biloba). I may just end up taking ginkgo again.

Speaking of Ginkgo biloba, there was a reason I stopped taking it, some side effect, but I don't remember what it was exactly...🤔 maybe I won't remember. Maybe it increases serotonin too much for those of us who are sensitive to it? I can't remember, I should have written it down somewhere.

Also sorry to see this subreddit is not so popular these days, any post I make in r/supplements usually just gets autoremoved right away with no explanation.

5 Comments
2024/11/20
06:59 UTC

2

Is Piracetam 3,600mg enough or do I need 4,800mg?

I only have 70 pills and want to see what it can do for me.

4 Comments
2024/11/19
16:14 UTC

2

Not sure why DHEA makes me feel so foggy?

I am always naturally low in DHEA and Estrogen (for whatever reason, 37/M), so in theory, DHEA supplements should be helping me, but instead they put me in a dream-like daze all day, a fog, where I am barely a functioning human being. I have taken DHEA in the past and didn't notice this effect so much, but around 2 months ago, I started DHEA supplements again as instructed by my Doc (25mg per day, a pretty standard dose, not high). I tried a couple of different brands, one is ionized. I guess I could try taking them at night, but generally it is recommended to take them in the morning.

1 Comment
2024/11/19
08:07 UTC

1

Mexidol and antipsychotics?

I ordered Mexidol and one of the uses is "condition after acute intoxication with antipsychotics." What does this mean? I am currently taking an antipsychotic; is this going to reduce the effectiveness of my meds?

1 Comment
2024/11/19
05:13 UTC

8

mood boosters with adhd

hi guys, i currently take adderall xr for adhd-pi. however, i deal with bouts of depressive symptoms. the most prominent of which are hypersomnia (oversleeping) and anhedonia, the anhedonia often leads to lack of motivation due to being in a bad/dull mood. looking for recommendations to boost mood and sense of well being, additional motivation/energy would be nice too but that's not my main concern. long shifts at my monotonous part time job can be unbearable.

kratom and phenibut have been the most effective by far, especially in combination with my meds. however, i find it difficult to use either in moderation and i feel as though they dumb me down and make me lazy/too carefree the day(s) after dosing. kratom also kills my libido. been using kratom again, but would like to find substitutes and discontinue use entirely.

not looking for the basics like diet, sleep, sun exposure, exercise, magnesium, zinc, tyrosine, etc, have most of these decently in check, although diet and sleep schedule could be improved a bit, as i mentioned oversleeping is an issue. racetams don't seem to do much for me (tried oxi, ani, phenyl, faso, prami). polygala makes me tired/foggy. was interested in bromantane, memantine, 9mebc, nsi 189, NA semax amidate, selank, sam-e, st johns wort. which of these, or any others that come to mind, work to boost mood/kill anhedonia without interfering with my meds, as combatting adhd is main priority due to being in university. not planning at beginning all these nootropics at once, to clarify. adderall works well for me, not looking to switch meds mid semester. i would also like to clarify that the anhedonia/low mood is NOT a result of adderall, as i've dealt with it since before being medicated. anhedonia may be slightly exacerbated but i don't believe that is the case. i do not fit the full diagnostic criteria for MDD, anhedonia is primary concern. i don't feel blue/sad/hopeless, more just dull or discontent. could also be a result of past kratom overuse/abuse, can go a couple months without using kratom, but eventually the dullness gets to me, i don't believe it is entirely a result of drug use tho. any suggestions appreciated, thank you. please let me know what has worked for yall, even if you don't have adhd/are medicated.

21 Comments
2024/11/18
16:32 UTC

21

Does ADHD have anything to do with acetylcholine?

Generally, ADHD is thought to be closely related to dopamine, but are there any other neurotransmitters that are related?

For example, in my case, all stimulants have the opposite effect, and dopamine greatly worsens my ADHD.

On the other hand, drugs that increase noradrenaline and acetylcholine seem to greatly improve my ADHD. Also, for some reason, taking drugs that act on GABA greatly reduces the symptoms of ADHD.

I suffer from chronic brain fog, and I feel that my acne, dry throat, and dry eyes are linked to the worsening of my ADHD, so I may have MCAS or some kind of autoimmune disease (I would like to hear your opinions on this as well).

Apart from dopamine (plus noradrenaline), which are generally said to be related to ADHD, what other brain substances are there that are closely related to ADHD or that may be useful in treating it?

9 Comments
2024/11/18
14:59 UTC

8

Stack of 30 compounds for depression, anxiety, chronic fatigue, hypersomnia

Hi, I've been struggling with depression and anxiety, manifesting as severe fatigue and hypersomnia ever since I remember (due to childhood trauma). I tried multiple SSRIs with little effect. In middle school, I started modafinil (first without a prescription; a few years later, I got it approved by a psychiatrist).

My current stack:

  • MCT Oil: 1-2 tsp (5-10 ml)
  • L-Carnitine: 500-1000 mg
  • Huperzine A: 200 mcg (only when not on modafinil)
  • Rhodiola Rosea: 200-400 mg
  • Ashwagandha: 300-600 mg
  • Guarana: 0.5-2 grams
  • Maca: 1500-3000 mg
  • Creatine: 3-5 grams
  • Cordyceps Pills: 500-1000 mg
  • Chia Seeds: 1-2 tbsp (10-20g)
  • Acai Powder: 1-2 tsp (5-10g)
  • L-Theanine: 100-200 mg (Morning) or 200-600 mg (Evening)
  • Caffeine Pills: 100-200 mg
  • PQQ (Pyrroloquinoline Quinone): 10-20 mg
  • CoQ10 (Coenzyme Q10): 100-200 mg
  • Tyrosine: 500-2000 mg
  • Ginseng: 200-400 mg (standardized extract)
  • Magnesium L-Threonate: 1-2 grams
  • GABA: 250-500 mg
  • Escitalopram: 10 mg
  • Aniracetam: 750-1500 mg (only when not on modafinil)
  • Oxiracetam: 750-1500 mg (only when not on modafinil)
  • Choline: 250-500 mg
  • Huperzine A: 200 mcg (only when not on modafinil)
  • NAC (N-Acetyl Cysteine): 1g
  • ALCAR (Acetyl-L-Carnitine): 1g
  • Lion's Mane: 500-1000 mg
  • Minocycline (Antibiotic): As prescribed
  • Probiotic: 1-2 grams
  • Modafinil: 200 mg
  • Omega-3: 1000 mg (EPA & DHA combined)
  • Vitamin D: 2000 IU

Full blood panel (before and 2 months after starting this stack), MRI, EEG didn't show anything. Sleep study showed low sleep quality (probably due to depression).

I will be grateful for any suggestions and recommendations.

8 Comments
2024/11/17
06:08 UTC

2

Dietary vs. Isolated Amino Acid Nootropics — What Is the Difference?

The supplementation of several AAs (ALCAR, NAC, Tyrosine, Carnosine, etc...) is known to have a nootropic effect. After analyzing my diet though, (it seems) I'm already ingesting far higher doses of these AAs than one might supplement. Does this mean I'm already sufficient in these AAs and don't need to supplement them isolated? If I eat a nutritious diet more-than-covering each of said AAs would consuming the isolated versions later on an empty stomach provide an additional nootropic effect? In which case, why does the addition of isolated supplements on top of a sufficient diet create an effect? I read about the various AAs in a full meal potentially competing for uptake with the desired AAs, impeding their absorption. Would it then make sense to supplement different isolated AAs at different times to avoid competition between them?

1 Comment
2024/11/16
09:27 UTC

3

Is my feeling the effects of TTFD thiamine 20-30mins after consuming a placebo?

I swear I feel a really clean energy about me and my brain fog clears, it just feels like the lights switch on inside. Is it impossible for it to work that quickly?

2 Comments
2024/11/15
16:00 UTC

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