Poppin’ Piracetam
One in five readers responding to a recent online survey by the prestigious journal Nature said they took smart drugs to improve their concentration, focus, or memory. Four-fifths of all 1,400 respondents — users or not — said they thought adults should be allowed to take cognition-enhancing drugs if they saw fit.
The top three smart drugs that readers are poppin’:
Ritalin - The pill of choice for attention deficit disorder treatment in children (and also a popular stimulant among college students), was the first choice of almost two-thirds of the people.
Provigil (Modafinil) – A little less than half said they had taken this nootropic which is meant for people suffering sleep disorders or jet lag, to enhance performance.
Beta Blockers – Fifteen percent said they had used these heart-rhythm drugs for their anti-anxiety properties.
In the world of athletic performance, the idea of cognitive enhancement seems to sit in the shadows of the latest obsession with steroids, HGH and even ephedra. But, it’s there – 5 year ago, American sprinter Kelli White swept the 100 and 200 meters at the track and field world championships in France.She also tested positive for modafinil, (see above). That year, five other American athletes were caught taking the same medication. Modafinil has been placed on World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) banned substance list under “stimulants.”
While I haven’t dabbled in the top three, I’ve mixed up some more common nootropics in the name of razor-like focus and concentration. My hands down favorite – Piracetam. I’ve followed the research and protocol mapped out by David Tolson in his article, “Brain Food; Piracetam”, to assess doses and other nootropics to enhance the effects. The most effective dosage Tolson found appears to be about 5 grams. 1Fast400 sells the powder in bulk form - it mixes nicely with a protein shake or a Crystal Lite packet.
You will feel the central nervous system effects for about 4-5 hours. The best way to describe the feeling is tunnel vision. You are able to focus on the task at hand with more precision and less distraction from wandering thoughts. The cognitive effect can be quite helpful to get through a challenging weight workout or a tempo run.
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