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Science And Research

What Are Nootropics?

Written by Dr.Marcus 

Published on August 15, 2025

Common nootropics for improved cognitive health and function

Nootropics offer plenty of potential benefits, including (but far from limited to) boosts to cognitive health and wellbeing. They can greatly improve areas like working memory, energy, anxiety levels, sleep, creativity, and recall in many cases. Plenty of nootropics are also able to hold age-related cognitive decline at bay.

 

And, with natural, over-the-counter nootropics, there are typically very few side effects to worry about, and even these are typically quite mild.

 

And, in this world of optimisation and wellness, of grind and hustle and making the best of ourselves, nootropic ‘stacks’ can give us more energy, improved motivation, longer-term brain health, improved mental wellbeing, and lots more.

 

Very broadly speaking, there are two categories of nootropic: synthetic compounds originally developed for clinical use and natural or plant-based supplements available over the counter. This article is concerned more with the latter – with natural nootropics that can synergise well to give you some really quite wonderful results – than the former (though, of course, both have their place for plenty of people.)

 

There are a dizzying number of nootropic compounds out there on the market, plenty of natural ingredients known to offer some kind of cognitive benefit to users. It can be hard to make sense of them all, so we’ve done some of the legwork for you and gathered 100 of the best. These are some of the most widely used, best-studied, potent and usable ingredients going, all listed with a brief explanation about what they do and how they work.

 

Whether you’re looking to build your own nootropic stack or simply understand the state of play, what’s going on in the sector, you should find a good starting point below.

 

Of course, you will always need to keep in mind that nootropic supplements are not magic pills. Far from it. Plenty of them have plenty to offer, with a wealth of benefits available, especially when used consistently and as part of a healthy diet and lifestyle. However, they won’t be a one-stop shop to a better you – they are best used holistically, as part of a healthy lifestyle and diet.

What Nootropics Can (and Cannot) Do

There are some genuinely brilliant and profound benefits to be gained from long-term nootropic use. However, it’s always important to bear in mind (no pun intended) that they are not magic pills. Far, far from it, especially in the case of natural, over-the-counter nootropics (see below for more information on this distinction).


You will need a good understanding of their abilities and capabilities, including, importantly, their limits, if you’re to get into the world of nootropic use. Because there is a lot they can’t do, or at least not to the extent you might be thinking.

Nootropic Capabilities: What They Can Do

Nootropics are able to support cognitive health and function; many different ingredients have been shown to have very specific areas within this that they can support very ably. These include, for example:

  • Focus and Attention: ingredients like L-theanine, citicoline, and Rhodiola rosea can aid with maintaining sustained concentration, especially during tasks that are particularly mentally demanding.
  • Memory and Recall: ingredients like Bacopa monnieri, Lion’s Mane mushroom, and Ginkgo biloba are known for their ability to improve working memory, learning retention, and cognitive processing speeds, among other things.
  • Mood and Motivation: ingredients like saffron N-Acetyl L-Tyrosine, and L-phenylalanine help with maintaining optimal levels of mood supporting neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin, which will in turn help to support mood stability and motivation.
  • Neuroprotection: antioxidants in particular – like PQQ, CoQ10, and resveratrol – are known for their ability to ward against help oxidative damage and inflammation to your neurons. This is a key factor in age-related cognitive decline (and in protecting against it). 
  • Stress Resilience and Mental Energy: adaptogens like Ashwagandha and Panax ginseng may help the brain respond more calmly to physical and emotional stress, which should help you to maintain mental clarity and stamina whilst keeping cortisol production down.

Nootropic Limitations: What They Can’t Do

These benefits are obviously very good. Life changing, in a small number of cases. Certainly, most people will see a benefit from pretty much all of the above.

 

However, we do need to manage expectations with nootropics – or, at least, with the kinds of natural, over-the-counter nootropics we will be discussing below. They are not shortcuts to you becoming a genius or solving complex problems; they won’t make you a creative miracle worker. And they certainly can’t replace fundamental health basics like:

  • Quality sleep
  • Balanced, nutrient-dense nutrition
  • Regular physical activity
  • Stress management
  • Mental stimulation and social engagement

As well as this, the effects on offer from nootropics as a whole and from individual ingredients will vary, often drastically, between individuals. We are all different and will all respond to nootropics differently, as we will to all supplements.

 

Genetics, baseline brain chemistry, dosage, and lifestyle, among other variables, will all influence outcomes.

 

In some cases (in many, in fact, especially with natural, over-the-counter nootropics), benefits may be subtle or only emerge over sustained use.

 

Used wisely, nootropics can support cognitive optimisation. But they are supplements, not substitutes for either effort or self-care.

Prescription Smart Drugs vs. Supplements

These benefits are obviously very good. Life changing, in a small number of cases. Certainly, most people will see a benefit from pretty much all of the above.

 

However, we do need to manage expectations with nootropics – or, at least, with the kinds of natural, over-the-counter nootropics we will be discussing below. They are not shortcuts to you becoming a genius or solving complex problems; they won’t make you a creative miracle worker. And they certainly can’t replace fundamental health basics like:

  • Quality sleep
  • Balanced, nutrient-dense nutrition
  • Regular physical activity
  • Stress management
  • Mental stimulation and social engagement

As well as this, the effects on offer from nootropics as a whole and from individual ingredients will vary, often drastically, between individuals. We are all different and will all respond to nootropics differently, as we will to all supplements.

 

Genetics, baseline brain chemistry, dosage, and lifestyle, among other variables, will all influence outcomes.

 

In some cases (in many, in fact, especially with natural, over-the-counter nootropics), benefits may be subtle or only emerge over sustained use.

 

Used wisely, nootropics can support cognitive optimisation. But they are supplements, not substitutes for either effort or self-care.

Prescription Smart Drugs

Prescription smart drugs, also often known as pharmaceutical nootropics, are regulatory approved medications designed or found to treat specific medical concerns. Conditions treated in this way can include the likes of ADHD, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and narcolepsy.

Pharmaceutical nootropics will only ever be available on prescription from medical professionals in most jurisdictions. They will typically be used under medical supervision.

Some examples of these kinds of smart drugs include:

  • Atomoxetine, which is a norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor typically prescribed for treating ADHD.
  • Donepezil, an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor used for Alzheimer’s disease, sometimes explored off-label for memory enhancement.
  • Methylphenidate, a stimulant prescribed for ADHD that can increase focus, attention, and working memory in both patients and (off-label) in healthy individuals.

Drugs like these often offer tangible, measurable, generally immediate benefits, as opposed to over-the-counter supplements, which are generally subtler and slower acting. They will give you the effects you’re after typically in weeks or even days. However, they will also come with some nasty side effects – think insomnia, anxiety, elevated heart rate, or dependency risk – and, again, will often only be available from a medical professional, under supervision, on prescription.

Dietary Supplements

Dietary supplement, over-the-counter nootropics are the other side of this equation. They are often made from herbs, amino acids, or vitamins, and, as the name suggests, are widely available over the counter from high street and online shops. You would typically use them for enhancing an already healthy lifestyle, rather than as a medication to treat a specific condition. They can help you to build and maintain a healthy brain for the longer-term, whilst enhancing many areas of cognitive function.

Some good examples of typical, common dietary nootropic supplements include:

  • Bacopa monnieri, which may traditionally used in Ayurvedic medicine to enhance memory.
  • Acetyl-L-carnitine (ALCAR), which supports mitochondrial energy and cognitive aging.
  • Ginkgo biloba, which may help to promote cerebral blood flow and mental clarity.

Ingredients like these are generally far milder, with milder benefits on offer and correspondingly minor side effects and risks (if there are any side effects or risks at all, which there often aren’t, depending on the ingredient in question). Benefits are typically marginal and will rarely be acute – i.e., they will rarely give you immediate effects (except in some cases, as with stimulants like caffeine, taurine, and so on).

 

The 100 nootropics in our list below all fall into this category – they are all over-the-counter supplements, widely available in most jurisdictions. They all earn their place in any long term supplement programmed aimed at doing what any good nootropic should do, improving cognitive health and function ably.

 

Supplements are very much less stringently regulated than medications. In fact, they are often barely (or even not!) regulated at all. Quality and efficacy can vary greatly depending on the brand and sourcing, so always try to do a little research, read customer reviews, and go with a trusted supplier where possible.

Risks and Side Effects of Nootropic Use

Side effects aren’t too much of a concern for most nootropic users, especially where the nootropics in question are made using natural ingredients. Over-the-counter supplements are typically safe. However, there are a few side effects associated with some nootropics that you will need to bear in mind.
These potential side effects include:


•    Overstimulation and insomnia, especially from stimulants and adaptogens. We’re looking at the likes of caffeine, Rhodiola rosea, and tyrosine here, which can spike cortisol and catecholamine levels to unhealthy levels.
•    Anxiety and irritability, often linked to excess cholinergic or dopaminergic activity, and also in conjunction with the overstimulation associated with caffeine etc. High doses of Huperzine A, for example, can spike acetylcholine levels. This spike, in turn, can lead to nervousness, anxiety, and headaches.
•    Gastrointestinal discomfort, often seen with compounds like Bacopa monnieri or Alpha-GPC.
•    Dependency and/or tolerance can often be a concern. You can become dependent on your nootropics, or your body can build up a tolerance meaning you need a lot just to feel normal. However, these are most commonly associated with synthetic or stimulant-based nootropics. For example, chronic modafinil use may lead to mood instability, and has even been linked to withdrawal symptoms in some cases.

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Think through problems with composure. N-acetyl L-tyrosine supports dopamine during stress, which helps flexible thinking and working memory under pressure. Rhodiola reduces mental fatigue so you can hold complex ideas in mind. Phosphatidylserine supports executive function by keeping cell signaling sharp. Citicoline and pine bark extract support blood flow and membrane renewal so networks communicate smoothly. Acetyl-L-carnitine and PQQ back mitochondrial output for sustained mental calculation. L-theanine encourages calm concentration so reasoning feels deliberate and balanced, not rushed.

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