Onset & timing

How long does each nootropic take to work?

Onset, half-life, and duration for every substance in our library. Sorted by onset time — fastest acting first. Substances marked “weeks” require chronic dosing to show effect; the onset minutes field captures the acute response window.

SubstanceOnsetHalf-lifeDuration
Nicotine10 min2 hDetails →
Semax15 min0.5 hDetails →
Noopept20 min0.5 hDetails →
Yohimbine20 min0.5 hDetails →
Alpha-GPC30 min6 hDetails →
Amphetamine (Adderall)30 min10 hDetails →
Aniracetam30 min2 hDetails →
Caffeine30 min5 hDetails →
Fasoracetam30 min5 hDetails →
L-Theanine30 min1 hDetails →
Melatonin30 min1 hDetails →
Methylphenidate30 min3 hDetails →
Phenotropil (Phenylpiracetam analog)30 min5 hDetails →
Phenylpiracetam30 min4 hDetails →
Pramiracetam30 min5 hDetails →
Modafinil45 min14 hDetails →
Oxiracetam45 min8 hDetails →
Piracetam45 min5 h5 hDetails →
Sulbutiamine45 min5 hDetails →
Acetyl-L-Carnitine (ALCAR)60 min4 hDetails →
Adrafinil60 min1 hDetails →
Armodafinil60 min15 hDetails →
Atomoxetine (Strattera)60 min5 hDetails →
CDP-Choline60 min56 hDetails →
Galantamine60 min7 hDetails →
Huperzine A60 min12 hDetails →
L-Tyrosine60 min2 hDetails →
Guanfacine (Intuniv)120 min18 hDetails →
Phenibut120 min5 hDetails →
Donepezil (Aricept)180 min70 hDetails →
Memantine (Namenda)180 min70 hDetails →
5-HTP2 hDetails →
Aged Garlic ExtractDetails →
Agmatine Sulfate2 hDetails →
Alpha BrainDetails →
Alpha-Lipoic Acid1 hDetails →
ApigeninDetails →
Ashwagandha6 hDetails →
AstaxanthinDetails →
AstragalusDetails →
B-ComplexDetails →
Bacopa Monnieri4 hDetails →
BerberineDetails →
Beta-AlanineDetails →
BoronDetails →
BPC-157Details →
CarnosineDetails →
CBD (Cannabidiol)Details →
Centrophenoxine4 hDetails →
CerebrolysinDetails →
ChagaDetails →
ChlorellaDetails →
Choline BitartrateDetails →
Coluracetam3 hDetails →
CoQ1033 hDetails →
CordycepsDetails →
Creatine3 hDetails →
Curcumin (Turmeric)Details →
DamianaDetails →
DihexaDetails →
Dihydromyricetin (DHM)Details →
DMAE4 hDetails →
Dynamine (Methylliberine)4 hDetails →
EGCG (Green Tea)Details →
EleutheroDetails →
FisetinDetails →
Folate (Methylfolate)Details →
Forskolin (Coleus forskohlii)Details →
GABADetails →
Ginkgo Biloba5 hDetails →
Glycine1 hDetails →
Gotu KolaDetails →
GuaranaDetails →
He Shou Wu (Fo-Ti)Details →
HesperidinDetails →
Honokiol (Magnolia Bark)Details →
IdebenoneDetails →
Inositol (Myo-Inositol)Details →
IodineDetails →
Iron BisglycinateDetails →
KannaDetails →
Kava9 hDetails →
Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa)Details →
Krill OilDetails →
L-ArginineDetails →
L-CarnitineDetails →
L-CitrullineDetails →
L-GlutamineDetails →
L-Tryptophan2 hDetails →
Lemon BalmDetails →
Lion's Mane8 hDetails →
Lithium OrotateDetails →
Lutein + ZeaxanthinDetails →
MacaDetails →
Magic MindDetails →
Magnesium GlycinateDetails →
Magnesium L-Threonate6 hDetails →
MCT OilDetails →
MetforminDetails →
Mexidol (Emoxypine)Details →
Mind Lab ProDetails →
Mucuna PruriensDetails →
Muira PuamaDetails →
N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC)6 hDetails →
N-Acetyl L-Tyrosine (NALT)Details →
Nefiracetam4 hDetails →
Neurohacker EternusDetails →
Nicotinamide Riboside (NR)Details →
NMNDetails →
Omega-3 (DHA/EPA)24 hDetails →
Panax Ginseng (Korean)Details →
Pantogam (Hopantenic Acid)Details →
PassionflowerDetails →
PEA (Phenylethylamine)0.2 hDetails →
Performance Lab MindDetails →
Phosphatidylcholine (Lecithin)Details →
Phosphatidylserine (PS)12 hDetails →
PicamilonDetails →
Polygala (Yuan Zhi)Details →
Pomegranate ExtractDetails →
PQQDetails →
PterostilbeneDetails →
Pycnogenol (Maritime Pine Bark)Details →
Qualia MindDetails →
Qualia NightDetails →
QuercetinDetails →
RapamycinDetails →
ReishiDetails →
Resveratrol9 hDetails →
Rhodiola Rosea4 hDetails →
SaffronDetails →
SAMeDetails →
SchisandraDetails →
SelankDetails →
SeleniumDetails →
Spanish SageDetails →
SpermidineDetails →
SpirulinaDetails →
Sulforaphane (Broccoli Sprout)Details →
Synephrine (Bitter Orange)Details →
Taurine1 hDetails →
Theacrine17 hDetails →
TheobromineDetails →
Thesis (Personalized Blends)Details →
TMG (Trimethylglycine / Betaine)Details →
Tongkat AliDetails →
Tribulus TerrestrisDetails →
Tulsi (Holy Basil)Details →
Turkey TailDetails →
Urolithin A (Mitopure)Details →
Valerian Root2 hDetails →
Vinpocetine2 hDetails →
Vitamin B12Details →
Vitamin B6 (P5P)Details →
Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid)Details →
Vitamin D3360 hDetails →
Vitamin E (Mixed Tocopherols)Details →
Vitamin K2 (MK-7)Details →
Yerba MateDetails →
ZincDetails →