Anxiety. We all experience it. And a lot of the time it can be good for us. But when it prevents us from living the life that we want to, it can become a real problem.
Historically, anxiety was a good thing. “Oh no, here comes a tiger. I better do something so I don't get eaten.” This kind of anxiety was helpful.
Nearly 1 in 5 adults have an anxiety disorder
But in today's world, where all of our basic survival needs are generally met, anxiety looks a lot different. “Oh no, I have to prepare for that test… And figure out what to wear to that party… And I need to do laundry… And go food shopping… But I can't spend too much money… And I need to go to the ATM….”
In our fast paced world, worry is unavoidable. We all have a million things to get done every day. Naturally, this creates a great deal of anxiety. We all stress ourselves out a bit more than we need to.
But a lot of people are using nootropics to reduce stress and anxiety. One of the biggest benefits that nootropics have over prescription anxiety pills is that they don't cause the same tiredness and loss of motivation. In fact, most people report having more motivation and less anxiety with these nootropics.
Another major benefit of nootropics is that they are generally safer and don't carry the same risk of addiction as many prescription anxiety meds. Of course, anything that improves the way you feel can be addictive, so make sure to always use good judgement.
So what are the best nootropics for anxiety? Let's take a look at some of the top nootropics being used for anxiety around the world today.
The Best Nootropics For Anxiety
Aniracetam
Aniracetam is great for anxiety, especially if you are new to nootropics. With its low side effect profile and ability to reduce anxiety without causing sedation, this supplement is perfect if you have never taken a smart drug before. Users generally report a reduction in anxiety and stress with a slight increase in focus. Some even report laser-like focus from this and other similar nootropics.
Aniracetam is in the racetam family of nootropics. It is slightly more potent than piracetam and was created in the 1970's by the chemist, Hoffman La-Roche.
Like all nootropics, it is not known exactly how aniracetam reduces anxiety. But it is thought to work in the same way as other drugs in the racetam family. Aniracetam has been shown to stimulate the AMPA receptor site. AMPA plays an important role in learning and memory. The anti-anxiety effects of aniracetam are thought to be caused, at least in part, by the activation of the D2 and D3 dopamine receptors. This causes a reduction in anxiety without sedation.
Benefits of Aniracetam:
- Reduced Anxiety
- Improved Memory
- Increased Learning
- Improved Mood
- Heightened Perception
Taking 750 milligrams (mg) or more of Aniracetam can really take the edge off of day-to-day anxiety and help keep you focused. When taken at these doses, Aniracetam is generally considered to be safe.
To learn more about aniracetam, read this: Aniracetam For Anxiety and Focus.
L-Theanine
Perhaps you have heard about all of the benefits of drinking green tea. Most of these benefits come from an amino acid found in tea called t-theanine. This amino acid promotes a calm, focused feeling.
Unfortunately, you'd have to sit around drinking tea all day to get enough l-theanine to reap its benefits. But you can get all of the benefits by supplementing with anywhere from 100-600 mg of l-theanine. Some users take higher doses, but most people notice the effects within this range.
It is currently thought that l-theanine works by mimicking the naturally occurring amino acid, glutamate. L-theanine has also been shown to boost dopamine levels in the brain. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter known to play a role in motivation, pleasure, and reward. This explains why l-theanine is able to reduce anxiety without causing too much sedation.
Benefits of l-theanine:
- Reduced Anxiety
- Reduced Mental and Physical Stress
- Enhanced Memory
- Synergistic with Caffeine
A lot of people like to take l-theanine with their morning cup of coffee. Caffeine and l-theanine are a powerful combination. The caffeine in coffee with the l-theanine create a very focused, yet relaxed feeling. If you enjoy coffee but it gives you the jitters, then taking some l-theanine will allow you to enjoy the stimulating qualities of coffee without the jitters.
You can learn more about l-theanine here: L-Theanine – A Calming Nootropic.
Ashwagandha
Ashwagandha is an adatogenic plant that has been used in traditional medicine for centuries all over the world. Adaptogens help the body maintain stability and homeostasis. In addition to a variety of other benefits, ashwagandha is great at reducing anxiety.
This plant is easily one of the best nootropics for anxiety. Its effect can be felt after just one dose. But to experience the full anxiolytic (anxiety-reducing) effects ashwagandha, it needs to be taken daily for several weeks.
The lowest effective ashwagandha dosage seems to be around 500 mg. However, the dosage shown to have the most significant effects in clinical trials is 6,000 mg (6 grams) a day, taken in 2-3 divided doses.
Here are just some of ashwagandha's benefits:
- Reduced Anxiety
- Improved Mood
- Increased Motivation
- Reduced Fatigue/Stress
- Decreased Cortisol
- Improved Cholesterol Levels
- Improved Immune Function
You can learn more about ashwagandha here: The Many Benefits of Ashwagandha.
Fasoracetam
Like aniracetam, this nootropic is a member of the racetam family. Users often report that fasoracetam increases focus and reduces anxiety. While it hasn't been around as long as aniracetam, fasoracetam is quickly becoming just as popular. It definitely deserves a spot on our list of the best nootropics for anxiety.
At least one study has shown that fasoracetam increases the number of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors in certain parts of the brain. GABA is the body's primary inhibitory neurotransmitter. It plays a crucial role in stress, anxiety, and relaxation, among other things. Fasoracetam has also been shown to affect acetylcholine and glutamate receptors. These mechanisms of action go a long way in explaining the nootropic benefits of fasoracetam.
Here are some of fasoracetam's benefits:
- Reduced Anxiety
- Increased Focus
- Increased Motivation
- Improved Memory
Fasoracetam is typically taken in dosages of 20-40 mg, 1-3 times a day. Some users require higher doses to notice its effects. While fasoracetam can be highly effective on its own, a lot of users like to stack it with other nootropics.
You can learn more about fasoracetam here: Fasoracetam – An Anxiety-Reducing Nootropic.
Rhodiola Rosea
This is another adaptogenic plant like ashwagandha. Rhodiola rosea, often just called rhodiola, has been used all over the world in traditional medicine for centuries. It has a number of health and nootropic benefits including improved mood, reduced anxiety, increased energy, and reduced fatigue.
A number of studies have shown that rhodiola is effective at reducing anxiety. And there are plenty of anecdotal reports of people finding relief from their anxiety with rhodiola. It affects several neurotransmitters, one of which is serotonin. Rhodiola seems to have a powerful effect on this neurotransmitter. Serotonin is known to play a role in mood, anxiety, sleep, and other processes.
Some of rhodiola rosea's benefits include:
- Improved Mood
- Decreased Anxiety
- Reduced Stress
- Increased Energy
- Reduced Fatigue
- Improved Athletic Performance
- Improved Sleep
Rhodiola is usually started at a dosage of 500 mg a day. A lot of people find relief from their anxiety at this dose. However, a higher dosage may be necessary. As always, start small and work your way up as needed.
You can learn more about rhodiola here: The Benefits of Rhodiola Rosea.
Conclusion
And that concludes our list of the best nootropics for anxiety. The nootropics listed above have all been shown to reduce anxiety without causing sedation. Many users find relief by taking them individually. However, some nootropics users stack several of them together for enhanced results.
We would all like to have a little less anxiety in our lives. By supplementing with one of these nootropics, you can reduce your anxiety without feeling tired or sluggish. In fact, all of them have been shown to not only make you feel less stressed, but also more focused and motivated. Always follow the manufacturer's recommendation on how much to take and when to take it. Before long your life will be a little less stressful and a lot more productive.
You may also want to check out our other “Best Nootropics For” posts:
Can you just tell me if i can order Clonazolam on this site.?
No, you cannot. Clonazolam is not a nootropic.
i am really enjoying your posts and appreciate your list here and the help you are providing to consumers. It’s great promote nootropic education wherever possible.
I would like to kindly and respectfully urge everyone on this site to be cautions of comments that a pharmaceutical company could use against the nootropics industry. Stating seemingly harmless comments like this one,
“Like all nootropics, it is not known exactly how aniracetam reduces anxiety….”
can easily be taken out of context and used as another source of “evidence” that nootropics users do not know what they are doing, that nootropics are not safe, and that the supplements should not be legal without a prescription. This would be a misdeed to the health and welfare of those who are managing their brain health with nootropic supplements and it is not entirely correct to suggest that “with all nootropics…” people don’t know how it works. Maybe true with racetams, however not all anti-anxiety nootropics. We know how many of them work with the GABA production in the brain to produce calm, such as lemon balm and bacopa monnieri. We also know how l-theanine works to build dopamine and norepinephrine. Please take this in the right way (not in the wrong way) as a note about how delicate the success of nootropics as an emerging multi-million dollar industry really is with pharmaceutical giants looking to take control of it. …just an urge to consider if this comment can be edited or reconsidered in the future.
Thank you for your kind works. And I DO take it the right way. In fact, I agree with you 100% and have tried to be conscious of what you’re talking about in more recent posts. This post is from September 2014, just 2 short months after I started the Nootropics Zone – and writing professionally in general. In recent years, I’ve made similar statements in some posts but I word it like this: “Like all substances that affect the brain, including prescription pharmaceuticals, the exact way that [insert nootropic] works is unknown. However, it IS known that at least some of its effects can be explained by…” It’s a subtle difference that I don’t think most of my readers would notice – but you did, which is great. It means you’re paying attention and it’s obvious that you care about the nootropics community as much as I do. Again, thank you for your comment, kind words, and interest in The Nootropics Zone!
And on a side note, I’ve been meaning to go back and edit/update a lot of these older posts like this one. So I will change the wording when I eventually get around to doing so.