Have you ever met one of those people who ace every exam put in front of them without ever having to crack open a book? I know I have and it drives me crazy!

If you're like me (and most people are), then you're not one of those people. You need to study before taking a test.

Of course, there's nothing wrong with that. Most of us have to study, at least a little bit, to retain information. But, there's good news for people like us. There are brain-boosting supplements that can help make studying easier.

I'm talking about nootropics. Sometimes called smart drugs, study aides, and cognitive enhancers, nootropics can help you retain information better by boosting the levels of certain neurotransmitters in the brain.

Here we are going to look at the best nootropics for studying. These were picked because they are the safest and most effective nootropics that improve memory, focus, and motivation. These 3 things are essential for effective studying.

The Best Nootropics For Studying

Modafinil

This is a potent nootropic that is certain to help you study. Modafinil is a powerful cognitive enhancer that is also used as a prescription drug in some countries. It's been through rigorous safety testing and is one of the most popular nootropics being used around the world today. While modafinil is only approved to treat wakefulness disorders like narcolepsy, doctors have been successfully using it off-label to treat depression, brain fog, fatigue, ADHD, and a number of other conditions.

Modafinil is classified as a eugeroic (wakefulness-promoting agent). Users often report that it makes them feel more alert and awake, more focused, able to remember things better, and able to get more done.

Benefits of modafinil:

• Increased focus
• Increased mental alertness
• Improved memory
• Promotes wakefulness

Like all substances that affect the brain, it is not entirely clear exactly how modafinil works. One thing that is certain, however, is that it does work for most people. It is thought to increase the neurotransmitter hypocretin. This neurotransmitter is involved in wakefulness, arousal, and appetite. Increasing hypocretin seems to increase dopamine, norepinephrine, and histamine. These neurotransmitters play a crucial role in focus, memory, and motivation.

The recommended dosage for modafinil is between 100 and 200 milligrams. You should always start low and work your way up, as needed. You may find that as little as 50 milligrams is all you need. Modafinil does have some potential side effects like upset stomach and insomnia, but they are typically mild if experienced at all. And you probably should not mix modafinil with stimulants like methylphenidate (Ritalin) or Adderall (amphetamine), as this can put a lot of strain on your cardiovascular system.

To learn more, read this: Modafinil – A Powerful and Popular Nootropic.

Oxiracetam

This is a popular nootropic that is great for studying. Oxiracetam is a member of the racetam family of drugs. It has been around for a long time, has a good safety record, and is known to be effective for many people.

Oxiracetam works in a similar way to the other racetams by influencing the cholinergic and acetylcholine systems. It has also been shown to stimulate AMPA and NDMA receptors in the brain. Because of this, oxiracetam is able to help you study by increasing focus and memory.

Benefits of oxiracetam:

• Increased focus
• Improved memory
• Enhanced learning ability
• Advanced technical and logical thinking

The recommended dose for oxiracetam is between 800 and 1500 milligrams. You should always start low and work your way up as needed. Many people report that they need a higher dose (1500 mg) to get the full benefits of oxiracetam. This nootropic is very safe and is generally well-tolerated. However, if you take the mood-stabilizer carbamazepine, you should not take oxiracetam, as they are known to interact negatively.

Oxiracetam can be taken by itself, but for best results it should be stacked with a choline source like alpha-GPC. These two nootropics work together to optimally boost neurotransmitters in the brain that are known to play a role in focus, memory, and learning.

You can learn more about oxiracetam here: Oxiracetam – A Safe and Effective Nootropic.

Noopept

Noopept is considered by many people to be the nootropic. It is generally safe, inexpensive and, most importantly, it works.

Although not technically a racetam, Noopept is chemically similar to them. One of the main differences is that Noopept is much more potent than any of the racetams. In fact, it is considered to be 1,000 times more potent than piracetam, the first racetam to be created.

Because of its high potency, Noopept only requires a small dose to get big results. This is one of the reasons that it is so popular. Of course, the main reason for its popularity is that it works. Many people who have tried Noopept report an increase in focus, memory, learning, and motivation. This all translates into more effective studying.

Like the racetams, Noopept works on NDMA and AMPA receptor sites in the brain. It also seems to stimulate certain dopamine, serotonin, and nicotinic receptors. Dopamine is known to play a vital role in learning, motivation, focus, and energy. Serotonin is a key neurotransmitter in mood, appetite, and sleep.

Benefits of Noopept:

• Increased focus
• Increased memory
• Improved mood
• Reduced anxiety
• Better overall cognitive performance

The recommended dosage for Noopept is between 10 and 40 milligrams. As always, start low and work your way up as needed. Some people get great results with only 10 or 20 milligrams. At the recommended dose, side effects from Noopept are rarely reported.

You can learn more about Noopept here: The Nootropic Benefits Of Noopept.

Sunifiram

If you are looking for an incredibly potent nootropic, then you may be interested in sunifiram. It is even more potent than Noopept.

Sunifiram has not been extensively studied in humans, yet. It has been studied in animals and has been proven to have nootropic effects. Human research is underway and is expected to yield similar results. People who have used sunifiram often report a noticeable increase in focus, motivation, and learning.

Sunifiram works by activating AMPA receptors. These receptors are responsible for the mediation of synaptic transmission in the central nervous system. Sunifiram aids in the release of acetylcholine in the cerebral cortex. It also increases phosphorylation of NMDAR and AMPAR through protein kinase activation.

Benefits of sunifiram:

• Improved memory
• Increased learning
• Enhanced cognitive performance
• Improved motor skills

This nootropic has not been scientifically studied in humans, yet. It has been studied in animals and there is no known toxicity associated with it. People that have used it report an increase in memory, learning, and focus without any side effects. Since it is so potent, only a small dose is needed to get results. The recommended dosage for sunifiram is between 5 and 15 milligrams. If you decide to try this experimental nootropic, it's strongly recommended that you start with only 5 milligrams, and go from there.

You can learn more here: The Nootropic Potential of Sunifiram.

Coluracetam

This is a relatively new nootropic and a member of the racetam family. The racetams are a group of chemically similar drugs, many of which have nootropic benefits.

Coluracetam was created by a Japanese pharmaceutical company in 2005. It was created as a possible treatment for diseases of the central nervous system.

In addition to increasing focus and memory, coluracetam also seems to help reduce anxiety and boost mood. It works better by itself than many other racetams, which work best when combined with a choline source.

Benefits of coluracetam:

• Increased focus
• Improved memory
• Reduced anxiety
• Improved mood

Coluracetam has been studied in humans and seems to be safe at the recommended dosages. Even in one study where very high doses were used, the study participants reported no side effects. The recommended dosage is between 5 and 35 milligrams. Most users report good results with around 20 milligrams.

You can learn more here: Coluracetam.

Conclusion

And there you have the best nootropics for studying. Modafinil, oxiracetam, and Noopept have all been extensively studied and are known to be safe and effective study aides. Sunifiram hasn't been studied nearly as much, but shows great promise as a nootropic. And coluracetam, which has only been around for a few years, is starting to gain in popularity as a cognitive enhancer, mood-booster, and anxiety reducer.

Although these nootropics seem to be pretty safe for most people, it's always a good idea to check with a health care professional before putting anything new in your body or making any major behavioral changes. Is there something you use to help you study that isn't on this list? Feel free to tell us about it in the comments section at the bottom.

You should also check out the other articles in the “Best Nootropics For…” series:

• The Best Nootropics For Mood
• The Best Nootropics For Anxiety
• The Best Nootropics For Memory
• The Best Nootropics For Motivation
• The Best Nootropics For Focus
• The Best Nootropics For Creativity
• The Best Nootropics For Social Anxiety

[This article was originally published on July 1, 2015. Updated July 16, 2021.]