Foundations
Safety guidelines
These three pillars apply to every compound on this site. They prevent most adverse events and help you actually identify what's working.
One at a time
Introduce a single new compound at a low dose for 3–5 days before adding anything else. If you stack everything at once and something goes wrong, you have no idea what to blame.
Track effects
Score focus, mood, energy, and sleep on a 1–10 scale daily for at least the first month. Subtle effects show up in the trend line, not the day-to-day.
Check interactions
Before combining nootropics with each other or with prescription meds, run them through the Interaction Checker. Some pairs (e.g. ACh inhibitors + strong choline) cause predictable problems.
When to discontinue immediately
- Cardiovascular symptoms (palpitations, chest pain, persistent elevated heart rate)
- Severe or persistent headache
- Sleep disruption that lasts more than 2 consecutive nights
- New psychiatric symptoms (anxiety attacks, mood crash, dissociation)
- Any new neurological symptoms (tremor, numbness, vision changes)
- Rash or hives (rare but serious with some compounds, e.g. Stevens-Johnson with modafinil)
Substance-specific cautions
- Pregnancy / nursing: assume no nootropic is safe unless your physician explicitly clears it.
- SSRIs, MAOIs: serotonergic compounds (incl. some adaptogens) can cause serotonin syndrome.
- Anticoagulants: omega-3 and high-dose magnesium can increase bleeding risk.
- Cholinergic stacking: huperzine A + strong choline source = excess cholinergic symptoms.
- Stimulants: caffeine + modafinil + phenylpiracetam dramatically raises anxiety/insomnia/HR risk.
This page is informational only. It is not medical advice and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before starting any new supplement.