It looks like 2023 is going to be another big year for nootropics. Every year more and more people are using nootropics to improve memory and mood, increase focus and motivation, and reduce anxiety – among other things. That’s why I’ve put together this list of the best nootropics of 2023.
Just a few short years ago the only people using nootropics were biohackers and chemistry nerds. Now people from every conceivable background are reaping the benefits of these marvelous compounds. Doctors, lawyers, students, computer programmers, artists, musicians, writers, shift workers, teachers, and politicians are all using nootropics to boost productivity and improve cognitive performance.
Whether you need more focus, want to reduce anxiety, are looking to improve your memory, or are simply looking for something to boost your mood, there is a nootropic that can help. All the nootropics on this list are backed by science and have plenty of case reports to support their safety and effectiveness. And every year more research and anecdotal reports come out supporting their use.
So let’s jump right into the best nootropics of 2023. All the nootropics on this list have been shown to be effective and very safe for most people. However, since everyone’s brains are different, everyone’s results may vary. But I’ve had a lot of success with the following nootropics and I hope you do, too. Oh, and I should mention that you should always consult with a licensed physician before starting or stopping any supplement, drug, diet, or exercise program. Now here’s my list of the best nootropics of 2023.
The Best Nootropics Of 2023
Armodafinil
Though armodafinil has been around for years, it’s only been over the past few that this smart drug has become popular. It’s very similar to the well-known nootropic, modafinil. However, armodafinil is considered to be a “cleaner” version of modafinil.
Classified as a eugeroic (wakefulness-promoting agent), armodafinil has an impressive list of benefits. It can increase focus and motivation, improve mood and memory, and reduce fatigue. These are the same benefits that users report from using modafinil, but with a couple key differences.
The first difference is that armodafinil is a little bit more potent than modafinil. Taking 150 mg of armodafinil is the equivalent of taking 200 mg of modafinil. It’s not a huge difference but, milligram for milligram, it is stronger.
The other major difference is that the effects of armodafinil last longer than modafinil. Most people who use smart drugs want to stay focused and motivated longer, which makes armodafinil the better choice.
In some countries, armodafinil is only available as a prescription drug. In others, it can be purchased online. There are several reputable online vendors. To see if they ship to your country, check with the individual vendor.
Benefits of Armodafinil
- Increased focus
- Improved memory
- Reduced fatigue
- Increased vigilance
- Increased motivation
- Reduced reaction time
- Improved mood
Phenylpiracetam
This is a powerful nootropic that was developed in Russia in the 1980’s. Since then, it’s become popular around the world for its cognition-enhancing properties. Phenylpiracetam can increase focus and motivation, improve memory and mood, and even improve physical performance.
In fact, this popular nootropic is banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) in all major sports. They don’t go around banning any old supplements – only the ones that work. And there’s no question that, for many people, phenylpiracetam works.
Phenylpiracetam was created by adding a phenyl group to the well-known nootropic, piracetam. Russian scientists found that by doing this they had created a compound that was much more potent than piracetam. Phenylpiracetam is estimated to be about 60 times more potent than the drug it was created from.
Some smart drug users find that phenylpiracetam is effective on its own. However, many users find that it works best when taken with other nootropics (or stacked in nootropics lingo). Phenylpiracetam is usually stacked with a choline source, like alpha-GPC (next on the list) or CDP-choline. It also stacks well with most other nootropics, especially some of the other racetams.
Benefits of Phenylpiracetam
- Increased focus
- Improved memory
- Improved mood
- Increased motivation
- Improved physical performance
- Increased alertness
Alpha-GPC
Nootropics work by changing the way certain chemicals in the brain interact with each other. These chemicals are called neurotransmitters. One of the main neurotransmitters affected by a number of nootropics is acetylcholine. It is known to play an important role in learning, memory, and motivation, among other things.
Alpha-GPC works by increasing acetylcholine levels in the body and brain. If you don’t have adequate levels of this neurotransmitter, you can experience brain fog, memory problems, decreased motivation, and other cognitive problems. Taking a cholinergic, like alpha-GPC, will ensure that you maintain optimal acetylcholine levels. That’s why it definitely belongs on this list of the best nootropics of 2023.
Not all cholinergics (things that increase acetylcholine) work the same, though. Alpha-GPC is considered to be one of the best choline sources because it is more efficient at raising acetylcholine levels than other cholinergics. For this reason, most nootropic users prefer alpha-GPC to other cholinergics. However, some users prefer CDP-choline because it has been shown to have additional benefits.
Alpha-GPC can be taken on its own, but is usually stacked with other nootropics. Most commonly, alpha-GPC is stacked with one or more racetams. There are two reasons for this: First, most racetams work better when taken with a cholinergic. This is because many racetams change the way acetylcholine works in the brain. If you don’t have adequate acetylcholine levels, you won’t experience the full benefits of these racetams.
Benefits of Alpha-GPC
- Improved learning
- Increased motivation
- Improved memory
- Improved physical performance
- Faster reaction time
- Improves the effectiveness of many nootropics
- Reduces/eliminates side effects of many nootropics
Aniracetam
This is a popular nootropic that is a relative of number two on our list, phenylpiracetam. Like phenylpiracetam, aniracetam was first created in Russia by slightly altering a piracetam molecule. But the effects of aniracetam are much different than piracetam or phenylpiracetam.
The thing that nootropic users love most about aniracetam is its ability to reduce anxiety without causing sedation. Many users – myself included – find that aniracetam helps to improve productivity by keeping the mind sharp and free from unnecessary worry. Although more human studies are needed to confirm these claims, initial results from animal studies have been encouraging. A study done on rats, for example, found aniracetam to have strong anxiolytic (anxiety-reducing) properties. This study also looked at how aniracetam worked in the body and found it to affect dopamine, serotonin, and acetylcholine. These neurotransmitters are known to play a role in motivation, mood, sleep, memory, and more.
The medical community has shown some interest in aniracetam as a potential treatment for several disorders. The authors of the study concluded that aniracetam may have memory-boosting properties and that it seems to be very safe. They also note that more human studies are needed before anything can be stated conclusively.
Benefits of Aniracetam
- Reduced anxiety
- Increased focus
- Improved memory
- Improved mood
- Improved learning ability
Ashwagandha
This plant, utilized worldwide for centuries, has been particularly prominent in Ayurvedic medicine, originating in India. Ashwagandha’s potency has earned it the title “the king of Ayurvedic herbs.”
Ashwagandha is popular with nootropic users mainly because it can reduce stress and anxiety. However, it’s on this list of the best nootropics of 2023 for another reason: because it can also improve immune function.
Since the global coronavirus pandemic began, people have been looking for ways to boost their immune systems. Ashwagandha and several other nootropic adaptogens have demonstrated the ability to achieve this. Adaptogens are plants that help the body to regulate a variety of physiological processes including ones that involve the immune and nervous systems. Here are some other nootropics that can boost the immune system.
Benefits of Ashwagandha:
- Decreased anxiety
- Decreased stress
- Improved mood
- Increased motivation
- Increased/improved social functioning
- Improved immune health
- Reduced fatigue
Modafinil
The last item on our list of the best nootropics of 2023 is modafinil. It was on our list of the best nootropics of 2018, 19, 20, 21, and 22 – and will likely still be one of the best nootropics in 2024 and beyond. That’s because it works, it’s generally safe, and there are mounds of evidence to support its use.
Classified as a eugeroic, modafinil was first created in the 1970’s but didn’t see widespread use until the late 1990’s and early 2000’s. In 1994, France approved it as a prescription drug, followed four years later by the United States. Modafinil is only approved to treat narcolepsy, sleep apnea, and shift work sleep disorder. However, doctors widely prescribe it off-label (for unapproved reasons) to treat dozens of other disorders, including daytime sleepiness, depression, brain fog, and memory problems.
Nootropic users have been using this amazing smart drug for more than two decades because of its impressive list of benefits. Modafinil can increase focus and memory, reduce fatigue and reaction time, and improve mood and overall cognitive performance. Numerous scientific studies support its use, generally considering it very safe.
Many modafinil users have switched to using armodafinil, as it requires a lower dosage and the effects can last several hours longer. However, some nootropic users prefer the shorter-acting modafinil to its newer relative. The best way to know which one will work best for you is to simply try them both and compare the results. No matter which one you prefer, there’s no denying that they both belong on this list of the best nootropics of 2023.
Benefits of Modafinil
- Increased focus
- Improved mood
- Improved memory
- Reduced fatigue
- Reduced reaction time
- Increased motivation
- Increased wakefulness
Also read our blog on Best Prebiotics
