If Piracetam is so effective, why isn't it more popular with the general public? Is Piracetam limited to a cult following? Why isn't the military using it for pilots and special operations soldiers? There are news stories about the popularity of Provigil, but nothing about Piracetam. I also haven't read any articles from mainstream doctors who recommend it as a supplement for healthy adults. There also hasn't been any updated information on nootropics for the general public since "Smart Drugs II" was published in 1993.
From my 10+ years of personal experience, I have found that many times Piracetam made me sleepy, and/or I got a severe brain fog. I have tried it at dosages from 800mg up to 4,800mg "attack" dosage per day, both with and without choline (either Alpha-GPC, Citicoline, or Phosphdylcholine in dosages from 300mg - 1000mg per day). I have also taken it with Hydregine (up to 4.5mg per day), and I have also tried Aniracetam, Oxiracetam, and Pramiricetam with similar results. I have also tried different brands of Piracetam from Nootropil to Primaforce. I also don't use any recreational drugs, other than a glass of beer or wine a few nights a week, I get 6-8 hours of sleep a night, and I have no psychological conditions(i.e. bi-polar, depression, etc). I have a job where I need to maintain alertness and clear thinking 8-10 hours a day, so I can't afford self induced brain fog.
I have always taken nootropics on faith, thinking that they were somehow helping me, even if I didn't notice any effects. I'm now starting to think that in order for a nootropic to be called effective, you should be able to notice a positive result within a reasonably short period of time (none of this "you need to try it for 6 months before you notice a result"). I am also starting to believe that in order to be called an effective, a nootropic like Piracetam should never make you feel worse. I was sitting there one day in a Piracetam induced fog, thinking to myself that I paid money for this result.
I'm now at a point in my middle age where I want to limit myself to effective (the best cost/benefit ratio) and sustainable (i.e. you can take over a long period of time with no adverse effects or withdrawl) supplements and/or nootropics. I was thinking of a 6xday multivitamin, Acetyl-L-Carnithine, Alpha Lipoic Acid, Phosphedylserine, Essential Fatty Acids, and 50mg of caffenine spaced 6x throughout the day.
I wanted to hear from other long term Piracetam/nootropic users. Are you still using it after several years? Have you increased or scaled down the number nootropics/supplements and/or the dosages? What are your thoughts on your future supplementation?
Edited by Legolas, 29 July 2011 - 02:51 AM.