Brain Function Boosters 2.0

Nutrition
41

[quote]bushidobadboy wrote:
andersons wrote:
bushidobadboy wrote:
…
Vinpo is a powerful antioxidant for neurons. So if by some unfortunate chance he did have a stroke whilst on vinpo, then the damage would likely be less and the recovery better and more total.

BBB

bushy, sorry this is somewhat off-topic, but do you have any ideas of things that might help peripheral neuropathy? I have two friends right now suffering from this. Friend A is 65, 10-year survivor of Stage IV colon cancer. Although chemo causes neuropathy, he didn’t have the neuropathy symptoms until 6 years after treatment. His problem is burning and stinging in his feet. Friend B is in his 20’s and just finished chemo and radiation treatment for nasal cancer, and has numbness in his hands and feet.

If I were trying to help my friends out in this regard, my first course of action would be injectable b complex vitamins and injectable B12, as they are well known for their neuroprotective effects (the reason alcoholics get nerve palsies is because the constant drinking robs the body of B vits).

Since B12 may have questionable oral absorbtion even in healthy folks, and since both your patients have had gastrointestinal ‘issues’ (colon cancer and GI cell die-off from chemo), then as far as I’m concrned intramuscular injection is the only valid way to ensure absorbption.

Vinpocetine can’t hurt I think. It does have PNS healing abilities - I’ve seen studies where tinnitus and other nerve damage was partially treated with it.

IGF1 also has very strong neuroprotective effects. In fact I was talking with a guy over at EM about this very thing and he mentioned it to his Dr who said that yes, IGF1 is being looked into for nerve regeneration, etc.

I wish them both luck (your friends).

BBB[/quote]

Thanks very much for the suggestions. I will pass them on. I had Friend A get a blood test for B12, and to my surprise it came back normal. He had so many symptoms of deficiency, I couldn’t believe it. Should he try an injection anyway?

42

[quote]andersons wrote:
middleageguy wrote:
andersons wrote:
bushidobadboy wrote:
…
Vinpo is a powerful antioxidant for neurons. So if by some unfortunate chance he did have a stroke whilst on vinpo, then the damage would likely be less and the recovery better and more total.

bushy, sorry this is somewhat off-topic, but do you have any ideas of things that might help peripheral neuropathy? I have two friends right now suffering from this. Friend A is 65, 10-year survivor of Stage IV colon cancer. Although chemo causes neuropathy, he didn’t have the neuropathy symptoms until 6 years after treatment. His problem is burning and stinging in his feet. Friend B is in his 20’s and just finished chemo and radiation treatment for nasal cancer, and has numbness in his hands and feet.

I read that benfotiamine (from americannutrition.com) has been used to treat alcoholic neuropathy and lipoic acid to treat diabetic neuropathy

Thanks, middleageguy. I’ve read about both of those, plus a few others including acetyl-l-carnitine, for neuropathy, and they might work by clearing out advanced glycation endproducts (AGEs). It is kind of interesting that Friend A (who experienced the neuropathy so long after the chemo, which is odd) eats a diet higher in AGEs than anyone else I have ever seen. We are talking several quarts of Diet Coke per day, and virtually everything on the plate grilled or roasted till it’s nearly burnt. Lots of sugar and baked goods, and nearly no fresh fruits and vegetables. [/quote]

There is an interesting product I read about but have not tried from the life-enhancement website called “AGEless” http://www.life-enhancement.com/product.asp?id=621
You should take a look at the ingredients in it…hope this helps.

44

I’ve just read 26 pages of the other thread and am now tired and in need of some drugs lol.

I’m in the middle of memorising a 600 page book, word for word, (personal project) and have memorised a fair bit - over 100 pages so far. I memorise 1.5 pages a day so it is a long term project.

I’m after something to give my brain a boost. Not sure which nootropics/supplements would do the job. I live in the UK so I’m sure I will have great fun sourcing and receiving items. (Any help in that field would be appreciated too.)

As of now I am in Pakistan so walking into a pharmacy and buying generic shouldn’t be too much of a problem. I hope.

Goals are to improve ability to:
a) concentrate,
b) memorise
c) retain/recall.

I’ve got lots of eph but don’t like taking it too much, especially in the heat - it’s scorching!

Also since this is a long term project (the book should take me about a year to complete with proper revision so it is retained properly) I need to be fairly economical too.

I already have Ginkgo Biloba & Korean Ginseng tablets, Omega 3 capsules and Creatine (CEE) so I would be working off that as a base.

So far I’m thinking of Vinpocetine, Huperzine and ???

I used to take 5g Taurine, 1.5g ALCAR and 2g L-Tyrosine pre-workout and found it good for focus (as well as the other gym benefits). Considering maybe using that stack again too???

What would you do? (Aside from not memorising the book in the first place lol)

45

[quote]smartypants wrote:
I’ve just read 26 pages of the other thread and am now tired and in need of some drugs lol.

I’m in the middle of memorising a 600 page book, word for word, (personal project) and have memorised a fair bit - over 100 pages so far. I memorise 1.5 pages a day so it is a long term project.

I’m after something to give my brain a boost. Not sure which nootropics/supplements would do the job. I live in the UK so I’m sure I will have great fun sourcing and receiving items. (Any help in that field would be appreciated too.)

As of now I am in Pakistan so walking into a pharmacy and buying generic shouldn’t be too much of a problem. I hope.

Goals are to improve ability to:
a) concentrate,
b) memorise
c) retain/recall.

I’ve got lots of eph but don’t like taking it too much, especially in the heat - it’s scorching!

Also since this is a long term project (the book should take me about a year to complete with proper revision so it is retained properly) I need to be fairly economical too.

I already have Ginkgo Biloba & Korean Ginseng tablets, Omega 3 capsules and Creatine (CEE) so I would be working off that as a base.

So far I’m thinking of Vinpocetine, Huperzine and ???

I used to take 5g Taurine, 1.5g ALCAR and 2g L-Tyrosine pre-workout and found it good for focus (as well as the other gym benefits). Considering maybe using that stack again too???

What would you do? (Aside from not memorising the book in the first place lol)[/quote]

Last couple of days I’ve been using 1200mgs Piracetam, with 500mgs Aniracetam, 5mgs vinpo for study sessions, it’s awesome! Don’t know how I ever got by without it! IMO if you are studying without 'racetams you are wasting time…

46

The only thing about vinpo is that it only works for so long if you take it every day.

I use about 20-30mg a day for around a week a week and a half and then take 2 weeks off b/c it starts to loose it’s effect.

I’m sure you could probably get less of an effect for longer if you took less then i do.

47

[quote]smartypants wrote:
I’ve just read 26 pages of the other thread and am now tired and in need of some drugs lol.

I’m in the middle of memorising a 600 page book, word for word, (personal project) and have memorised a fair bit - over 100 pages so far. I memorise 1.5 pages a day so it is a long term project.

I’m after something to give my brain a boost. Not sure which nootropics/supplements would do the job. I live in the UK so I’m sure I will have great fun sourcing and receiving items. (Any help in that field would be appreciated too.)

As of now I am in Pakistan so walking into a pharmacy and buying generic shouldn’t be too much of a problem. I hope.

Goals are to improve ability to:
a) concentrate,
b) memorise
c) retain/recall.

I’ve got lots of eph but don’t like taking it too much, especially in the heat - it’s scorching!

Also since this is a long term project (the book should take me about a year to complete with proper revision so it is retained properly) I need to be fairly economical too.

I already have Ginkgo Biloba & Korean Ginseng tablets, Omega 3 capsules and Creatine (CEE) so I would be working off that as a base.

So far I’m thinking of Vinpocetine, Huperzine and ???

I used to take 5g Taurine, 1.5g ALCAR and 2g L-Tyrosine pre-workout and found it good for focus (as well as the other gym benefits). Considering maybe using that stack again too???

What would you do? (Aside from not memorising the book in the first place lol)[/quote]

Thanks for the replies so far chaps. Anybody else? :slight_smile:

49

[quote]bushidobadboy wrote:
…

Leave the HupA out. I no longer recommend it.
…

BBB[/quote]

If it’s not to much trouble, would you mind explaining why? Thanks!

50

Probably because of the possible drug interactions. It’s basically an acetylcholinesterase

Also, it gives me terrible headaches.

51

For those that are new to piracetam and aniracetam: Don’t knock the benefits. They’re like antidepressants, they take anwywhere from 2-4 weeks to work. In addition, it takes awhile to find the correct dose. Too little and you don’t notice anything. Too much and your head seems in the clouds. Just be patient.

Like I said, they worked extremely well for me.

53

[quote]MuscleGeek wrote:
For those that are new to piracetam and aniracetam: Don’t knock the benefits. They’re like antidepressants, they take anwywhere from 2-4 weeks to work. In addition, it takes awhile to find the correct dose. Too little and you don’t notice anything. Too much and your head seems in the clouds. Just be patient.

Like I said, they worked extremely well for me.[/quote]

Yes, I agree…the correct dosage is important. Also, in my case, aniracetam must be taken simultaneously with some type of choline, to avoid feeling high. You must also experiment with different amounts of choline. Be patient and keep a diary…it is worth the effort!

54

Would DMAE be necessary if you’re not experiencing any headaches from the racetams? I currently take Pira, Ani, Vinpo and DMAE (along w/ the basics), but my DMAE caps are only 100mg and I only take one per day. Should I up the dosage regardless, or is the DMAE merely to prevent side effects from acetylcholine depletion?

55

[quote]Hawkguy wrote:
Would DMAE be necessary if you’re not experiencing any headaches from the racetams? I currently take Pira, Ani, Vinpo and DMAE (along w/ the basics), but my DMAE caps are only 100mg and I only take one per day. Should I up the dosage regardless, or is the DMAE merely to prevent side effects from acetylcholine depletion?[/quote]

I would keep the dose the same if you are not having any problems…too much and you will get tension headaches/stiff neck muscles from to much acetylcholine. With me, the range of benefits is a pretty narrow window…100 to 350 mgs per day of choline bitartrate.

57

[quote]bushidobadboy wrote:
Vinpo is the cheapest noop By far, for the benfit ratio. Plus, all the side benefits make it hard to justify NOT using it, especilly in the older subject.

Leave the HupA out. I no longer recommend it.

Get your base parameters in check - diet, hydration, b vits, good sleep, etc.

And don’t worry about a source for nootropic powders like aniracetam. PM me for more details :wink:

BBB[/quote]

Thanks dude. I’m working on getting the other things in order, especially sleep. I’ll get some B vits. When back in the U of K I will be in touch :slight_smile:

For the time being, I will settle for:

Ginkgo Biloba & Korean Ginseng
Omega 3
Creatine (CEE)

Vinpocetine
Piracetam

And perhaps: Taurine, ALCAR and L-Tyrosine if I can get a friend to bring them out for me.

I went into a pharmacy yesterday and bought some Piracetam, manufactured by Gloabl Pharmaceuticals, sold as Piractim.

I paid 780PKR (Pakistani Rupees) (£5.86) for 90 x 800mg tabs which broken down is
260PKR FOR 30 x 800mg tabs = £1.96
1 x 800mg tab = 8.67PKR per tab = 0.066P (6.5P)

That is 30 doses of 2400mg daily for under £6.00.

I split a tab into 3 and took a third. I then nodded off whilst lying on my bed reading something - a) I went to sleep at 7am that morning and woke up at 2pm and b) I tend to doze off quite often like that if I recline, due to bad sleeping habits.

I later checked my notes on Nootropics (from the other thread which I have now reached page 38) and realised that I had taken way less than what a normal dose is. I had taken about 267mg haha - a little over a tenth of what a normal dose is!

Today I have taken the other 2 bits leftover and tomorrow I will take a full pill and just increase to 2400mg a day. I think I will try it for a month (use all the tabs up) and see where I end up.

As mentioned in this thread, it may take a few weeks to notice the effects of Piracetam. Does that mean that no immediate (in the hours after taking it) effect is noticed whatsoever?

Vinpocetine is sold as Cavinton here so will try to get some.

I’ve checked for the trade names of other racetams but it seems like they don’t make them here so if sold they’ll be imports = expensive! I don’t want to risk importing as the customs here are so corrupt it is unbelievable.

I can also buy sulbutamine here Sulbutiamine - Wikipedia . Any thoughts? Is it worth a go?

As for a source of Choline, I’m not sure. Citicoline seems to be very widely available Citicoline - Wikipedia . But I don’t know if it is what is needed. ???

I want to be a Pharmacist now!

58

Have not read much about sulbtiamine. I have tried benfotiamine (not as a nootropic) but I thought it lowered my blood sugar so much it made me tired…

60

Cool, cheers chaps.

middleageguy: you mentioned in a post about keeping a diary. Did/do you keep one? If so do you mind sharing an excerpt or 2? I would like to keep some sort of captain’s log for my first venture.