There are plenty of nootropics that work great by themselves. But some work even better when taken together with other nootropics. That's why nootropic stacks are so popular.

Stacking simply means taking two-or-more nootropics together at the same time to increase their effects. It's common practice in the nootropics community among beginners and experienced users alike. By stacking certain nootropics, even greater results can be achieved than by taking any of them alone.

Nootropic stacks can get quite complicated. Some experienced users stack ten-or-more substances. However, the most popular nootropic stacks are often the simplest ones. While huge nootropic stacks can be quite effective, you don't need to combine that many ingredients to get great results.

Many people prefer to keep things simple and only stack two or three individual nootropics together. That's why the following nootropic stacks are so popular. They're simple, generally considered to be quite safe, and are effective for most people.

Whether you're just trying to learn more about nootropics or you are a seasoned user, you should know about these simple yet effective nootropic combinations. Here are three of the most popular nootropic stacks being used today.

3 Popular Nootropic Stacks

L-Theanine & Caffeine

To those of you who have at least some experience with nootropics, you're probably familiar with this popular-yet-simple nootropic stack. Maybe you've even tried it yourself!

If not, you've definitely consumed one of its ingredients before: caffeine. Even if you're not a regular consumer of coffee, tea, energy drinks, or any of the other million beverages that contain caffeine, it's also found in chocolate and some other foods – just in very small amounts.

And if you're a green-tea drinker like me, you've also tried L-theanine. Green tea contains both caffeine and L-theanine. The only problem is, it doesn't really contain enough L-theanine for its effects to be felt.

That's why L-theanine has to be taken in supplement form – usually as a capsule but sometimes in other preparations. When taken at the right dosage, L-theanine helps to boost the good things about caffeine and reduce the bad.

Many people get jitters, insomnia, anxiety, and the dreaded crash a few hours after consuming caffeine. By taking L-theanine along with caffeine, all these things are either greatly reduced or eliminated altogether.

L-theanine is calming but not sedating. Some people say it can be sedating at higher doses but it's usually not when taken between 100-400 milligrams (mg). When L-theanine is taken with caffeine, users often report a sense of calm focus, anxiety-free thinking, increased productivity, and a feeling of relaxed alertness.

Most people find that a 2:1 ratio of L-theanine to caffeine works best, but it can vary from person to person. For people who don't consume a lot of caffeine, 200 mg of L-theanine and 100 mg of caffeine is usually the perfect dose for getting in the zone. For people who regularly consume caffeine-containing products, 400 mg of L-theanine and 200 mg of caffeine tends to be a better starting point.

The perfect L-theanine/caffeine dosage and ratio depend on the person (which is true for all nootropics and nootropic stacks). There are products out there that contain both L-theanine and caffeine in a variety of ratios. Some common L-theanine-to-caffeine ratios I've seen in these products are 1:1, 1.5:1, and 2:1. But for most people, a 2:1 L-theanine-to-caffeine ratio seems to be ideal.

Many nootropic users – especially experienced ones – like to purchase nootropics individually so they can control the dosage and ratio of their stacks. If you're looking for high-quality caffeine and L-theanine powder, you can find them at Pure Rawz. They have an awesome selection of products, reasonable prices, fast shipping, and good customer service.

You can buy also caffeine and L-theanine together in a single product. This is often preferred by people new to the world of nootropics. There are a number of brands that sell L-theanine and caffeine capsules. I've tried several of them and this one has been my favorite for a long time. While many nootropics can only be purchased from online nootropic vendors, the product I just mentioned, along with lots of other brands (some good, some not), can be found on Amazon.

If you'd like to learn more about this simple-and-effective nootropic stack, you can read this: L-Theanine and Caffeine – The Perfect Combo.

The Happy Stack

This is another popular nootropic stack that contains three different ingredients: uridine monophosphate, cdp-choline, and fish oil. Taken together, they work synergistically to increase focus, motivation, and mood.

When I first tried what is commonly referred to as The Happy Stack, I was surprised by how effective it is. I wasn't surprised that it was effective, but by how strong the effects were.

Within a few days my mind felt sharper, I had more motivation, I could focus better, and my mood brightened a bit. Sleep felt more refreshing and I needed a little less of it to feel good all day. I started getting more stuff done, which made my mood even better because I was being more productive.

The way the Happy Stack works is likely due to the way it interacts with the neurotransmitters dopamine and acetylcholine. It alters the concentrations of these neurotransmitters in certain parts of the brain which allows them to work better. Here's a brief breakdown of what each of the three ingredients do:

Uridine Monophosphate – This is naturally present in the body and is found in small amounts in meats and other foods. When taken in supplement form uridine can improve mood, memory, sleep, and motivation.

CDP-Choline – A popular choline source that can improve memory, motivation, and focus.

Fish Oil – This contains docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), an omega-3 fatty acid that is known to play a role in brain health. You can substitute an omega-3 supplement for fish oil as long as it's high in DHA.

As far as dosage goes, when I tried the Happy Stack, I just used whatever dosage was listed on the bottles of each item. It took a few days for the effects to really be felt, so don't expect them to come on suddenly. Some may, but the full effects of this stack can take several days to happen. Like with all nootropics, you may have to experiment with the dosage to find what works best for you.

Of the three ingredients in the Happy Stack, uridine monophosphate is the powerhouse and the other two work synergistically along side it. All three together are far more powerful than any of them individually. The Happy Stack truly is a winning combination.

This stack can be especially effective if you have trouble with motivation and energy levels. That's where it tends to really shine. When you're feeling tired and unmotivated for long periods of time, the Happy Stack can often give you the boost needed to get back on track.

Unlike L-Theanine and Caffeine, you won't find all three ingredients of the Happy Stack together in one product. But you can buy uridine, CDP-choline, and fish oil (or omega-3s) individually and take them together.

If you'd like to learn more about this potent nootropic stack you can read this: The Happy Stack.

Piracetam, Oxiracetam, Aniracetam, & Choline

This popular nootropic stack consists of three racetams (piracetam, oxiracetam, and aniracetam) and a choline source. When taken together, users report a sense of calm focus, improved memory, increased motivation, and reduced anxiety.

Racetams are chemically-related substances, many of which have nootropic properties. The three in this stack have all been extensively studied and shown to be safe and effective for most people. Let's take a quick look at each of them:

Piracetam – The first nootropic ever created, piracetam has been around a long time and has an excellent safety record. It can enhance memory, improve learning, increase motivation, and boost mood.

Oxiracetam – Chemically similar to piracetam, oxiracetam also has an excellent safety profile. What makes it different is that it can improve memory and increase motivation without affecting mood or anxiety levels. Oxiracetam has also been shown to be mildly stimulating.

Aniracetam – The third racetam in this stack is arguably the most popular of them all. Aniracetam has been shown to be very safe and can decrease anxiety while increasing focus and drive.

In addition to these three powerful racetams, this stack also includes a choline source. The two most commonly used are alpha-GPC and CDP-choline – but there are others. Taking a choline source with the above racetams makes them work better and can reduce unwanted effects in the people that get them (namely headaches).

Negative effects from the above racetams are rare but may include headache and upset stomach. Fortunately, taking a choline source with them usually eliminates the headaches in the people that get them. If you experience an upset stomach when taking this stack, simply take it with food and that should remedy the problem.

Which choline source you use doesn't seem to matter very much as long as you do use one. Alpha-GPC and CDP-choline are the two most commonly used choline sources because they have both been studied and found to be both safe and effective. My personal preference is for CDP-choline, but either one is fine.

I've only tried this stack once several years ago early in my nootropic journey. Some effects were noticeable right away while others took a few days to really become noticeable. This stack can be hit or miss for people. For some, it's an absolute game changer. For others, it doesn't do much. The only way to know if it'll work for you is to try it yourself.

While you won't find most of the nootropics in this stack at places like Amazon, you can purchase them from an online nootropic vendor like Pure Rawz. They offer all the nootropics in this stack in powder form. That makes it ideal for trying different dosages and ratios. Pure Rawz has an awesome selection of products, nootropic and otherwise. Definitely check them out if you haven't already. And you can save 10% off your order by using the code nz10 during checkout.

Conclusion

These three popular nootropic stacks have plenty of research to support their safety and effectiveness. Users from all around the world have had great success with them. Increased focus and motivation, improved mood and memory, and reduced anxiety are all possible with these popular stacks.

One thing that you might've noticed is how simple all of these stacks are. You don't need to take a dozen nootropics to get amazing results. Sure, you can get as complicated with this stuff as you'd like. But you can also have great success with simple nootropic stacks.

As always, it's a good idea to consult with a licensed medical professional before starting any new supplements, drugs, exercise programs, diets, or behavioral routines. Since doctors aren't taught about nootropics in medical school, you may have to educate yours a bit. This website and the references it provides can be a great starting point.

If you're interested in learning about a more-advanced stack, you may want to check out this post: The Adderall Stack. It's the closest you can get to reproducing the nootropic benefits of Adderall but without all the potential for unwanted effects.

Have you tried any of these stacks? What has your experience been like? Please leave your answer in the comments section at the bottom. And if you haven't already, please sign up for the Nootropics Zone newsletter below. You'll learn about dozens of brain-boosting substances.

[This article was originally published on August 3, 2018. Updated July 11, 2025.]