The Adderall Stack

One of the most common questions that gets asked about nootropics is “What nootropic is the most like Adderall?” It's a question that can be found on nootropics message boards around the internet, and it's one that we've been asked countless times.

If we had to pick a single nootropic as the best Adderall alternative, it would have to be phenylpiracetam. But, by itself, it really can't compare to Adderall. As of now, no single nootropic even comes close to being as motivating, mood-enhancing, and focus-improving as the powerful prescription drug Adderall.

You probably noticed that we said that no single nootropic can compare to Adderall. However, when we start stacking nootropics, we can recreate just about all of it's positive effects.

After doing tons of research, asking around the internet on nootropics message boards, and testing over a dozen different stacks ourselves, we've come up with the the Adderall stack. This is the ultimate stack to recreate the effects of Adderall.

As with all nootropics, everyone's results are gonna be different. But this is the stack that has the most Adderall-like effects for everyone that tries it. If you're looking to recreate the benefits of Adderall, without all the side effects, this is the stack for you.

First we're gonna go over the effects of Adderall. Then we'll look at how these effects can be replicated by using the basic Adderall stack. Lastly, we'll look at what additional nootropics can be added for even more benefits in the advanced Adderall stack.

The Effects of Adderall

Adderall is a prescription medication that is approved for the treatment of narcolepsy and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)¹. It's also prescribed for a number of off-label uses.

It's made up of 4 different amphetamine salts: dextroamphetamine sulfate, dextroamphetamine saccharate, amphetamine sulfate, and amphetamine aspartate². This combination provides a number of different effects in the body and brain.

Adderall is a potent stimulant³. As such, it affects several aspects of the central nervous system. Some of the positive effects include increased focus, motivation, alertness, and energy, and improved mood.

However, it also comes with a lot of potential side-effects. Some common side effects include insomnia, reduced appetite, anxiety, restlessness, irritability, headache, dry mouth, abdominal pain, and increased blood pressure⁴. Less common but more serious side effects include painful urination, uneven heartbeats, tremors, hallucinations, extreme hypertension, and psychosis.

There's no question that Adderall is effective. Its popularity is a testament to this. Approximately 1 in 3 college students admit to using Adderall, whether they have a prescription or not⁵.

But with such a lengthy list of side effects, it should come as no surprise that a lot of people are looking for alternatives to Adderall. There are several products on the market right now that claim to be Adderall alternatives. Unfortunately, none of these products can even come close to replicating the powerful effects of this prescription drug.

We've come up with what we believe to be the best solution to the Adderall problem. The Adderall stack that we've put together is meant to replicate all the positive effects of Adderall without most of the negatives.

The Basic Adderall Stack

The basic Adderall stack consists of 3 different nootropics. Most users that try this stack experience most of the positive benefits of Adderall, without experiencing most of the negative ones.

The 3 nootropics in the basic Adderall stack are phenylpiracetam, adrafinil, and citicoline. These nootropics are all effective by themselves. But when taken together, seem to have a synergistic effect. Let's look at what each of these substances do.

Phenylpiracetam

This potent nootropic is an analog of the well-known drug piracetam. Studies on humans and animals have shown that it has a number of benefits, including improved memory, motivation, and mood, improved sports performance, and decreased anxiety⁶⁷.

Phenylpiracetam is a prescription drug in Russia and some European countries. It is prescribed for its general stimulant properties and to increase tolerance to stress and extreme temperatures⁸.

It's so effective, in fact, that phenylpiracetam (listed as fonturacetam) has been banned from in-competition use by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA)⁹. Anyone that competes in a competitive sport that is subject to WADA testing is not allowed to use it.

Phenylpiracetam brings a number of benefits to the basic Adderall stack. First of all, it has some stimulant properties. It's not as stimulating as Adderall, but it shares some of its ability to stimulate the central nervous system. Unlike Adderall, though, it can also have anxiety-reducing effects.

Another benefit of phenylpiracetam is that it has a mood-boosting, antidepressant effect for many users. One of the most attractive qualities of Adderall is that it acts as a mood-brightener. Unfortunately, this is usually followed by a “crash” in mood several hours later. Phenylpiracetam's mood-boosting effects are more subtle than Adderall. But most users say that they don't experience the dreaded crash a few hours later.

Lastly, phenylpiracetam is able to improve memory and motivation. These are two of Adderall's nootropic benefits. Phenylpiracetam is able to improve memory and motivation without the overstimulation and anxiety that often come with Adderall use.

You can learn more about phenylpiracetam here: Phenylpiracetam – The Best Adderall Alternative.

Adrafinil

The second ingredient in the basic Adderall stack is adrafinil. This is a eugeroic (wakefulness-promoting agent) that converts to modafinil in the body¹⁰.

Modafinil is a prescription drug in the United States. It is prescribed to treat narcolepsy, sleep-disorders, and a number of other conditions¹¹. Adrafinil, however, is available in the U.S. without a prescription. It is sold as a dietary supplement.

Some of the benefits of adrafinil include increased alertness, attention, wakefulness, and improved mood¹⁰. As you can see, these are some of the benefits of Adderall.

Like phenylpiracetam, adrafinil is on WADA's banned substances list⁹. Professional athletes are prohibited from using adrafinil because it is able to improve performance, alertness, mood, and energy levels. However, research shows that it is still being used by a lot of professional athletes¹². This can be interpreted as a testament to its effectiveness. If athletes would risk getting banned for using it, it must work!

And work it does. Adrafinil brings a number of benefits to this stack. First and foremost, it provides the wakefulness and alertness that Adderall does. It does this without the overstimulation that often comes with Adderall use.

Adrafinil also has mood-boosting properties. Combined with phenylpiracetam, these effects become amplified. The same is also true of both these nootropics' ability to increase motivation.

You can learn more about adrafinil here: Adrafinil For Focus.

Citicoline (CDP-Choline)

The last nootropic in our basic Adderall stack is citicoline. Also known as CDP-choline, this is a cholinergic nootropic that has a number of benefits in the body and brain. Some of these benefits include improved memory, attention, and motivation¹³¹⁴.

Citicoline converts to choline and uridine in the body¹⁵. This results in an increase in acetylcholine in the brain¹⁶. Acetylcholine is a neurotransmitter that is known to play a role in memory, learning, motivation, muscle activation, and arousal¹⁷.

Most experienced nootropics users always include a choline source in their stacks. There are two reasons for this. First, many nootropics work by affecting acetylcholine in different ways. By taking a cholinergic, you make sure that your brain has plenty of acetylcholine to work with. There is a lot of anecdotal evidence that taking a cholinergic with other nootropics increases the effectiveness of both.

Second, some nootropics can cause headaches as a side effect. This is thought to be caused by insufficient choline levels in the brain. Many users that get headaches report that this side effect can be reduced or eliminated by taking a choline source, like citicoline.

Citicoline is what brings the basic Adderall stack together. It protects against some of the potential side effects of phenylpiracetam and adrafinil. And it also works synergistically with them to increase memory, attention, wakefulness, and motivation.

You can learn more about citicoline here: CDP-Choline For Memory and Motivation.

Basic Adderall Stack Dosages

If you are new to nootropics, or have only tried a few mild nootropics, you should start with the beginner dosage. The goal is to get the benefits of this stack with the smallest dosage possible.

It should also be noted that this stack should be taken early in the day (assuming you want to sleep at night). All 3 of these nootropics have stimulating qualities. Adrafinil (and the substance it converts to in the body, modafinil) is prescribed specifically to increase wakefulness. Taking any or all of the nootropics later in the day could result in insomnia (inability to fall/stay asleep).

Beginner Dosages

• Phenylpiracetam – 100 mg
• Adrafinil – 300 mg
• Citicoline – 500 mg

Intermediate Dosages

• Phenylpiracetam – 200 mg
• Adrafinil – 600 mg
• Citicoline – 1,000 mg

Advanced Dosages

• Phenylpiracetam – 300-400 mg
• Adrafinil – 900-1200 mg
• Citicoline – 1,500-2,000 mg

For best results, take all 3 nootropics in the basic Adderall stack early in the day, preferably on an empty stomach. If you experience nausea or upset stomach, you can take them with a small meal. This may slightly reduce the effectiveness of the stack, as well as delay the onset.

Side Effects/Warnings

All of the nootropics in the basic Adderall stack are generally well-tolerated by most people. Side effects are rare, and are usually reversed upon cessation.

However, some people may experience some side effects. The most common side effects are headache, upset stomach, nausea, insomnia, restlessness, dry mouth, changes in blood pressure, and dizziness.

Some side effects can be reduced or eliminated by making some changes in dosing. If you experience unwanted insomnia, try taking this stack earlier in the day. If you experience nausea and upset stomach, you may be able to reduce or eliminate this by taking the Adderall stack with a small meal, or eating a small meal shortly (~30 min) after.

Whenever you start or stop any new supplement, drug, vitamin, mineral, plant, herb, or anything else, you should always check with your doctor before doing so. Most physicians are not familiar with nootropics. You may have to educate your doctor about what they are.

Lastly, if you are taking a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI), you should probably not take any of the nootropics in this stack. Although we could not find any adverse reactions in the literature, taking certain nootropics with an MAOI could lead to a potentially dangerous situation known as serotonin syndrome.

The Advanced Adderall Stack

For most people, the basic Adderall stack will be adequate to experience all the benefits that they are looking for. However, as everyone's brains and bodies are different, some people may need a little extra to really feel the power of the Adderall stack.

That's where the advanced Adderall stack comes in. It contains the same 3 nootropics as the basic stack. But it also adds 3 more to this already-powerful stack.

You can add any or all of these to the basic stack. They are all effective on their own. But when they are all taken together, they have a synergistic effect.

Caffeine

We won't say too much about caffeine here, since most people are intimately familiar with it. In fact, if you are like most people, you've already had some caffeine today¹⁸.

Caffeine is a central nervous system (CNS) stimulant¹⁹. It can reduce fatigue and prevent drowsiness, increase wakefulness, focus, and coordination²⁰, and improve reaction time, arousal, and concentration²¹.

Adding some caffeine to the Adderall stack will help to increase all of these desirable effects. Here are the recommended dosages to add to the stack:

• Beginner – 100 mg
• Intermediate – 200 mg
• Advanced – 300-400 mg

You can learn more about the nootropic benefits of caffeine here: Nootropics That Stack Well With Caffeine.

L-Theanine

Theanine is an amino acid that is found in a number of plants and herbs. One of the most well-known sources of theanine is green tea.

Theanine is known to have relaxing properties, but without causing sedation²². It has been shown to improve cognition²³ and to reduce stress²⁴. And, best of all, it works synergistically with caffeine to boost mood and cognitive performance²⁵.

Theanine brings a couple things to the Adderall stack. First of all, it helps to reduce some of the negative effects of caffeine and other stimulants in the stack. Theanine has a calming effect, but without causing sedation.

Also, it helps to boost the effectiveness of the caffeine, while reducing its side effects. Taken by itself, the effects of theanine are mild, if noticeable at all. But when combined with caffeine, they work together creating a synergistic effect.

Here are the recommended dosages for adding L-theanine to the stack:

• Beginner – 100 mg
• Intermediate – 200 mg
• Advanced – 300-400 mg

Notice that the dosages for l-theanine are the same as those for caffeine. A 1:1 ratio of caffeine:theanine seems to be optimal for most people.

You can learn more about l-theanine here: L-Theanine – A Calming Nootropic.

Aniracetam

The last component of the advanced Adderall stack is aniracetam. This is a popular nootropic that is known to improve memory²⁶ and mood²⁷, while reducing anxiety²⁸.

Aniracetam is sold as a prescription drug in Europe⁷. In the U.S. it is available without a prescription. While there is not an abundance of aniracetam studies done on humans, there is tons of anecdotal evidence to support its effectiveness.

Aniracetam adds a few different things to the Adderall stack. First, it is able to improve the mood of most of its users. Second, it seems to reduce anxiety without causing sedation. Third, many users report that aniracetam helps with “collective and holistic thinking”²⁹. And lastly, aniracetam is known to improve memory.

Here are the recommended aniracetam dosages for this stack:

• Beginner – 400 mg
• Intermediate – 600 mg
• Advanced – 750 mg

You can learn more about aniracetam here: Aniracetam For Anxiety and Focus.

Advanced Adderall Stack Dosages

To recap, here are all the dosages for the advanced Adderall stack (AAS):

Beginner AAS

• Phenylpiracetam – 100 mg
• Adrafinil – 300 mg
• Citicoline – 500 mg
• Caffeine – 100 mg
• L-Theanine – 100 mg
• Aniracetam – 400 mg

Intermediate AAS

• Phenylpiracetam – 200 mg
• Adrafinil – 600 mg
• Citicoline – 1,000 mg
• Caffeine – 200 mg
• L-Theanine – 200 mg
• Aniracetam – 600 mg

Advanced AAS

• Phenylpiracetam – 300-400 mg
• Adrafinil – 900-1,200 mg
• Citicoline – 1,500-2,000 mg
• Caffeine – 300-400 mg
• L-Theanine – 300-400 mg
• Aniracetam – 750 mg

Conclusion

And there you have it: the Adderall stack. With the nootropics that are available today, this is the closest we can come to recreating the subjective effects of Adderall.

There's a common phrase in the nootropics world: “Your mileage may vary (YMMV).” Everyone responds differently. A lot of people may find that this stack actually works better than Adderall. It certainly has the potential to do so.

But everyone is different. The only way to know if this stack will work for you is to try it yourself. It's recommended that you start with the beginner dosage of the basic Adderall stack. See how works for you. If you're happy with the results, great! If not, you can move on to the intermediate and advance dosages, or add the additional nootropics to create the advanced Adderall stack.

References