Smart Drugs
At the age of 54, I’ve embarked on learning an entirely new discipline and felt mentally challenged in a concerning way: I couldn’t focus and learn like I used to.
I’ve been reading about the racetams for over 10 years now, specifically researching on the benefits of the racetams, which include Aniracetam and Oxiracetam. their differences, and studies supporting the use of nootropics, commonly referred to as “Smart Drugs.”
I decided to purchase from Pure Nootropics for many excellent reasons:
- Quality!
- They conduct third party testing & verification.
- Testing for purity and heavy metals.
- Vegan capsules.
- Certificates of analysis for the most current batch are available on each product’s individual page.
- 30 Day Money Back Guarantee.
- Free shipping.
- Capsules & Powders.
- Bulk Discounts.
- Affordable prices.
- Pure Nootropics is an FDA registered company…and that’s all they need do since they are not classified as drugs.
I also was assured by strong reviews from user forums. This always a great source for the nitty gritty truth as users know it.
I started conservatively self-titrating, monitoring for headaches and other symptoms that may indicate too much too soon or any unpleasant side effects like jitteriness.
I’ll be sharing about my own experience, the dosages I’ve used, the frequency, any side effects and any change in my cognitive ability starting from my baseline. I’m not in a study, so this is a anecdotal review, but wherever measurable, I’m including metrics.
Starting Low and Slow
A variety of sites recommended a variety of dosing sizes. However, I chose the dosing range of 900 mg – 2,400 mg per day in divided doses. I started at 900 mg per day with 450 mg first thing in the morning at 7 am and another 450 mg around 1 pm.
Within 20 minutes of taking my first dose with my breakfast, always contains walnuts, flaxseed, sometimes butter, and I could feel a subtle but noticeable sensation at the top and front of my brain. It felt like I was becoming more awake and aware. This was an interesting sensation. While not painful, it had the feeling of being “engaged” and remaining focused.
I have remained at this low dose purposely and I haven’t noticed any headaches. I have noticed falling asleep takes a bit more time, so I get in bed earlier and read until my eyes close.
I’ve been monitoring myself for headaches to see if I needed to supplement with Choline GPC, but so far I’ve been fine. As I titrate up in the future I will most likely add it in starting at 400 mg twice daily.
Three Weeks and Counting
It has been three weeks of this very prolonged use of a low dose. I’ve been taking Oxiracetam, from Pure Nootropics, and I feel a clean, subtle, focused mental energy that lasts throughout the day. I feel myself less distracted, I’m better able to concentrate, and I’m achieving my goals one-at-a-time. My to-do list is getting a nice set of ”line throughs” daily.
What I can measure are my output and my response to learned material.
My writing productivity has been measurably increased from one 600 – 900 word article per week to three 600 – 900 word articles per week.
My ability to learn and retain new material has jumped significantly.
While I lack a metric such as a post-tutorial testing instrument (a quiz), I have been in continuous discussion and collaboration with an advanced user of this new software I’m studying. In a short period of time (two weeks) I’ve ramped up and have kept up with the high-level applied understanding he is operating at. His assumption remains that I’ve been using this software for at least six-months based on my understanding, my ability in using it, and my questions and inference which he himself only just started asking and applying.
In short, I am impressed with my ability to absorb and apply new, high level content.
Supporting Research
My initial research listed benefits including an increased mental focus, enhanced learning, and moving new learning into long-term memory. Together, with preventing age-related cognitive decline, it has been very compelling.
I’d noticed some new cognitive issues related to a physical injury I’d sustained and a subsequent neurologic diagnosis, Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) with symptoms that had been affecting me globally. With this neurological disorder, sleeping irregularities have been huge! And perpetual interruption of consistent sleep affects learning and mental focus.
One such review coming out of the NIH was on the effectiveness of nootropic drugs with cholinergic activity in the treatment of cognitive deficit, and this review included Oxiracetam2.
The review concluded that nootropics improve cognitive performances except in patients with dementia. Some studies have shown nootropic do this, including improving Alzheimer’s disease, while some don’t. The exact reason for this variation isn’t clear.
However, the 40 years of study of the racetams confirm they are safe, and that nootropics consistency improve your ability to think, reason, reference memories, preserve mental function and add new learning to your long-term memory.
Furthermore, these studies support the idea that nootropics may be an effective alternative in strengthening and enhancing cognitive performance in patients with a range of brain pathologies…such as brains like mine. CRPS has a detrimental effect on the brain’s ability to think, regulate sleep – wake cycles, and future learning ability.
My Outcome
And the CRPS was the result of physical injuries had to both my shoulders and my neck…which was painful! I didn’t sleep much for about 1.5 years. My brain was a mess along with my body. But now…with Oxiracetam, I’m making sustained improvement and getting back my ability to focus, sustained study, long-term learning, and quality sleep.
1. Luisa Colucci,Massimiliano Bosco, Antonio Rosario Ziello, Raffaele Rea, Francesco Amenta, and Angiola Maria Fasanaro. Effectiveness of nootropic drugs with cholinergic activity in treatment of cognitive deficit: a review. J Exp Pharmacol. 2012; 4: 163–172. Published online 2012 Dec 11. doi: 10.2147/JEP.S35326
2. Rozzini R, Zanetti O, Bianchetti A. Treatment of cognitive impairment secondary to degenerative dementia: effectiveness of oxiracetam therapy. Acta Neurol (Napoli) 1993;15:44–52. PubMed
