IN the 60s Americans thought LSD to be messiah, to be God. But as LSD is not God, the same way MB is not Messiah. And I found out that the real value of MB is its antidepressant properties. The same way as alcohol creates a kind of wall between you and reality - the protevtive wall i mean - the same way MB creates such a wall by changing your perception to - let me say - more nice vision of reality which is explained by its antidepressant properies. That's why first time you may feel like it is a nooptrope. Of course, no doubt, if you feel well you think better. However it does not increase speed of thinking, nor it increases your IQ. After a while you get accustomed to that "protective wall" and the feeling of well-being but actually your life remaines "a kind of shit" coz the actual level of your life depends on your salary and social well-being and probably love and nice feeling. So as soon as you are accustomed to MB it become just an antidepressant and probably a life-extender which is not yet proved. But as far as it's nootropic properties are concerned it's greatly doubtful.
The other aspect is its ability to help against sleepiness. This effect is observed also only during the first days of taking it but soon it diminished and almost disappear. And it's true that 1.15 mg dose causes tension in chest and probably bad for heart and probably causes high blood pressure. I reduced dose to 300 mcg and now feel better. However if you are going to have an unpleasant talk with your boss prepare to take no less than 1.15 mg dose and after that you can shout on your boss and throw papers into his face without any consequences coz he will think are completely mad and will be sorry for you. That's the MB action.
I would also claim that it is antinootropic at high doses like 1.15. In the morning i took noopept and started rearing a very hard-to-understand book and I understood everything - it was easy to read. I was fully absorbed. I felt like 20 years younger. And imagine - the time comes to take MB. I take MB and what happens? I return to reading but i find that i cannot understand anything anymore! what a shit- i say. And then I gradually begin to understand that if you are already OK then taking MB will only spoil your perception and cognition. That actually it is not nootropic but just and an antidepressant protective wall. So folks, think twice or thrice before taking it. Think about the current situation you are in.
Very interesting Dan!
Hadn't thought of MB in terms of antidepressant properties...
it does seem to me to have consciousness/awareness brightening properties, but also creates a kind of "trance", which may correspond to what you mean by antidepressant properties. I see the trance-effect as related to "help against sleepiness" also, as while my energy may be down I don't feel "edgy, ragged"... I will still feel a "flow".
The same antidepressant properties may help me in concentration as I don't feel as restless, am more patient. And that effect could be deemed nootropic.
Interesting what you say about noopept, as I have just ordered some and am looking forward to trying it.
So is MB a nootropic or a nice dope? Perhaps I do find some complex elaboration of thought, a higher dimensionality of thought, but not a "speeding up of thought" (as you say). More of an easy slow-motion kind of view... but higher dimensional nevertheless. Which I can see as "smarter", actually... as lending to greater creative potential. Speed isn't everything. But I need more exploration with my brain on MB, as have only been using for about two weeks. I do find it very interesting stuff. And I have been using every kind of nootropic I can get my hands on for close to 20 years. Also, what else is in the mix? It is not just MB by itself that I am evaluating, by how it compliments other things. I am experimenting with adderal, aniracetam, oxiracetam, modafinil, hydergine, etc. in conjunction with MB and each other.
I will say that MB does not seem to me to be merely an antidepressant in the sense of cymbalta, celexa, prozac, etc, as MB does have a distinct "enlivening" of consciousness for me. I do experience an "up" with MB, not just a "smoothing" as with celexa, buspar, or propranolol. But the "up" is not like that of stimulant medications such as amphetamines. It is more of a "flow" kind of up, soft and smooth.
I think your cautions are appropriate, Dan, as what MB is doing to our consciousness may be much more complex than it seems, and we can easily deluded, as you suggest. Important to be attentive and reflective... this is not an easy substance to understand by any means... (or so it seems to me).