Rankings / Cognitive
Cognitive — Nootropics
Racetams, Russian peptides, choline sources, and other prescription-free nootropics. Evidence is thinner than forum-hype suggests.
| # | Compound | Ev | Bn | Sf | Grade · Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Caffeine Methylxanthine / adenosine antagonist | 8.0 | 8.0 | 7.0 | B+ 7.5 |
| 2 | Memantine NMDA antagonist | 8.0 | 5.0 | 9.0 | B+ 7.3 |
| 3 | Armodafinil Wakefulness-promoting | 8.0 | 6.5 | 7.0 | B+ 7.2 |
| 4 | Modafinil Wakefulness-promoting | 8.0 | 6.5 | 7.0 | B+ 7.2 |
| 5 | Pitolisant (Wakix) H3 receptor inverse agonist | 8.0 | 6.5 | 7.0 | B+ 7.2 |
| 6 | Solriamfetol (Sunosi) DNRI / wakefulness-promoting | 8.0 | 8.0 | 5.0 | B+ 7.1 |
| 7 | Nicotine Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonist | 8.0 | 8.0 | 5.0 | B+ 7.0 |
| 8 | Propranolol Non-selective beta-blocker | 8.0 | 3.5 | 9.0 | B 6.9 |
| 9 | Alpha-GPC (alpha-glycerophosphocholine) Choline precursor | 6.0 | 5.0 | 9.0 | B 6.9 |
| 10 | Alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) Antioxidant / mitochondrial | 6.0 | 5.0 | 9.0 | B 6.9 |
| 11 | Bacopa monnieri Ayurvedic adaptogen | 6.0 | 5.0 | 9.0 | B 6.9 |
| 12 | L-theanine Amino acid (tea-derived) | 6.0 | 5.0 | 9.0 | B 6.9 |
| 13 | L-tyrosine Amino acid | 6.0 | 5.0 | 9.0 | B 6.9 |
| 14 | Phosphatidylserine Membrane phospholipid | 6.0 | 5.0 | 9.0 | B 6.9 |
| 15 | Rhodiola rosea Adaptogen | 6.0 | 5.0 | 9.0 | B 6.9 |
| 16 | Guanfacine Alpha-2A agonist | 8.0 | 5.0 | 7.0 | B 6.8 |
| 17 | Cordyceps (militaris/sinensis) Medicinal mushroom | 6.0 | 5.0 | 9.0 | B 6.7 |
| 18 | Saffron extract (Crocus sativus) Herbal (crocin/safranal) | 6.0 | 5.0 | 9.0 | B 6.7 |
| 19 | ALCAR (acetyl-L-carnitine) Mitochondrial / cholinergic | 6.0 | 5.0 | 7.0 | B 6.4 |
| 20 | Atomoxetine Selective NRI | 8.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 | B- 6.3 |
| 21 | Ketamine NMDA antagonist | 8.0 | 6.5 | 3.5 | B- 6.3 |
| 22 | CDP-choline (citicoline) Choline precursor / membrane substrate | 6.0 | 5.0 | 9.0 | B- 6.3 |
| 23 | Lion's mane (Hericium erinaceus) Medicinal mushroom | 4.5 | 5.0 | 9.0 | B- 6.3 |
| 24 | Psilocybin Classic psychedelic / 5-HT2A agonist | 8.0 | 6.5 | 5.0 | B- 6.2 |
| 25 | Cerebrolysin Neurotrophic peptide mix | 6.0 | 5.0 | 7.0 | B- 6.0 |
| 26 | Huperzine A AChE inhibitor (natural) | 6.0 | 5.0 | 7.0 | B- 5.9 |
| 27 | Phenylpiracetam (Phenotropil) Racetam | 6.0 | 5.0 | 7.0 | B- 5.8 |
| 28 | Oxiracetam Racetam | 4.5 | 5.0 | 9.0 | B- 5.8 |
| 29 | Piracetam Racetam | 4.5 | 5.0 | 9.0 | C+ 5.7 |
| 30 | Gotu kola (Centella asiatica) Ayurvedic adaptogen | 3.0 | 5.0 | 9.0 | C+ 5.7 |
| 31 | Uridine monophosphate Nucleotide / membrane substrate | 3.0 | 5.0 | 9.0 | C+ 5.7 |
| 32 | Methylene blue Alternative electron carrier / MAOI | 6.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 | C+ 5.5 |
| 33 | LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide) Classic psychedelic / 5-HT2A agonist | 6.0 | 6.5 | 5.0 | C+ 5.4 |
| 34 | Vinpocetine Cerebral vasodilator | 4.5 | 5.0 | 7.0 | C+ 5.2 |
| 35 | Agmatine sulfate Neuromodulator (decarboxylated arginine) | 3.0 | 5.0 | 7.0 | C+ 5.2 |
| 36 | Aniracetam Racetam | 3.0 | 5.0 | 9.0 | C+ 5.2 |
| 37 | CILTEP (forskolin + artichoke extract) Stack — cAMP/PDE4 | 3.0 | 5.0 | 7.0 | C+ 5.2 |
| 38 | Polygala tenuifolia TCM herb | 3.0 | 5.0 | 7.0 | C+ 5.2 |
| 39 | Sulbutiamine Thiamine derivative | 3.0 | 5.0 | 9.0 | C+ 5.2 |
| 40 | Selegiline (L-deprenyl) MAO-B inhibitor | 6.0 | 3.5 | 5.0 | C 5.1 |
| 41 | Noopept (GVS-111) Peptide-like | 3.0 | 5.0 | 9.0 | C 5.1 |
| 42 | MDMA (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine) Entactogen | 6.0 | 6.5 | 3.5 | C 5.0 |
| 43 | Coluracetam (MKC-231) Racetam | 3.0 | 5.0 | 9.0 | C 5.0 |
| 44 | DSIP (delta sleep-inducing peptide) Neuropeptide | 3.0 | 5.0 | 9.0 | C 5.0 |
| 45 | Fasoracetam Racetam | 3.0 | 5.0 | 9.0 | C 5.0 |
| 46 | NSI-189 Hippocampal neurogenesis | 3.0 | 5.0 | 9.0 | C 5.0 |
| 47 | Pramiracetam Racetam | 3.0 | 5.0 | 9.0 | C 5.0 |
| 48 | Selank Russian peptide | 3.0 | 5.0 | 9.0 | C 5.0 |
| 49 | Semax Russian peptide | 3.0 | 5.0 | 9.0 | C 5.0 |
| 50 | Ayahuasca / DMT Classic psychedelic / 5-HT2A + MAOI combo | 4.5 | 6.5 | 3.5 | C 4.8 |
| 51 | Anti-amyloid mAbs (lecanemab / donanemab / aducanumab) Amyloid-beta-targeting monoclonal antibody | 8.0 | 3.5 | 0.0 | C 4.7 |
| 52 | Tianeptine Atypical antidepressant / mu-opioid agonist | 6.0 | 5.0 | 2.0 | C 4.6 |
| 53 | Choline bitartrate Choline precursor | 3.0 | 2.0 | 9.0 | C- 4.5 |
| 54 | Ibogaine Iboga alkaloid / NMDA antagonist + kappa-opioid | 4.5 | 8.0 | 2.0 | C- 4.4 |
| 55 | Tesofensine Triple reuptake inhibitor | 3.0 | 6.5 | 3.5 | C- 4.2 |
| 56 | Phenibut (β-phenyl-GABA) GABA-B agonist (with weak GABA-A activity) | 3.0 | 5.0 | 2.0 | D+ 3.5 |
| 57 | 9-Me-BC (9-methyl-β-carboline) Beta-carboline / neurotrophic | 2.0 | 5.0 | 4.0 | D+ 3.4 |
| 58 | Dihexa (N-hexanoic-Tyr-Ile-(6) aminohexanoic amide) HGF/c-Met activator | 2.0 | 5.0 | 4.0 | D+ 3.4 |
| 59 | IDRA-21 Ampakine | 2.0 | 5.0 | 4.0 | D+ 3.4 |
| 60 | P21 peptide Peptide (CNTF analog) | 2.0 | 5.0 | 4.0 | D+ 3.4 |
| 61 | PRL-8-53 Obscure nootropic | 2.0 | 5.0 | 4.0 | D+ 3.4 |
| 62 | Sunifiram (DM-235) Ampakine-like | 2.0 | 5.0 | 4.0 | D+ 3.4 |