“I want it all and I want it now.” You might recognize those lyrics from a popular Queen song. They happen to be relevant to what this post is about: nootropics that work and do so right away.

Lots of nootropics take days and even weeks to start working. But the nootropics we're going to discuss in this post all start working after the very first dose. So let's get right to them.

5 Nootropics That Start Working Right Away

In today's fast-paced world, we all want instant results. Unfortunately, many things worth having take lots of time and effort. This is also true of many nootropics. You have to take them everyday for several weeks to experience their full benefits. But not all nootropics work this way.

There are some nootropics that start working after the very first dose. The effects of all the nootropics on this list can be felt within an hour or so of taking them. It's no coincidence that many of them also made it onto our list of the best nootropics of the year.

I'm not going to link to any scientific articles from this post. To learn more about any of the nootropics we discuss here, I'll include a link to a cited post you can read. Now let's take a look at some nootropics that work right away.

Modafinil

This is and has been one of the most popular nootropics for at least as long as I've been writing about them. Modafinil is one of the most effective and commonly used nootropic around the world. It has mounds of evidence to support both its safety and effectiveness.

Classified as a eugeroic or wakefulness-promoting agent, modafinil was first created in the 1970s. However, it didn't see widespread use until the 1990s. It was first used as a prescription drug in France in 1994 and then in the United States in 1998. That means modafinil went through rigorous clinical trials and passed all necessary safety tests.

To the best of my knowledge, modafinil started being used as a nootropic in the early 2000s. There might have been a handful of people who used it for this purpose earlier, but it didn't see widespread use until the 2000s. Today it's one of the most commonly used nootropics around the world.

Modafinil is popular in nootropic communities for its ability to increase focus, attention, and alertness. And it does these things after the very first dose. Usually within an hour of taking modafinil, users will report these nootropic benefits and more. Although everyone's brain chemistry is different and results can vary greatly, here are some of the benefits people have claimed:

• Increased focus
• Increase attention
• Improved mood
• Increased wakefulness/alertness
• Improved memory
• Reduced reaction time
• Increased motivation
• Increased productivity

As you can see, modafinil boasts an impressive list of potential benefits. Though it doesn't seem to work for everyone, for those it does work for it can be a game changer. You can learn more about modafinil here: Modafinil – A Powerful and Popular Nootropic.

Phenylpiracetam

This is another popular nootropic that has seen widespread use over the past decade or so. Phenylpiracetam is closely related to the first nootropic ever created, piracetam. They're both in the same family of substances known as the racetams.

Like many of the racetams, phenylpiracetam was created in Russia. It was developed in the 1980s and became a prescription drug used to treat various ailments, many of them fatigue related. Before long, people realized that phenylpiracetam has performance-enhancing effects. Users often report that it is mildly stimulating, increased focus, improves mood and more. Here are some of the benefits people have reported from phenylpiracetam:

• Increased focus
• Improved mood
• Improved memory
• Increased motivation
• Improved physical performance
• Higher cold tolerance
• Increased productivity

Not everyone responds to phenylpiracetam. However, those who do usually report that they notice its effects after one dose. Some people even claim that phenylpiracetam's focus enhancement is on par with Adderall (mixed amphetamine salts). Personally, I definitely notice an increase in focus and productivity from phenylpiracetam, but it's nowhere near as strong as Adderall.

Phenylpiracetam has an excellent safety profile. And it stacks well with many other nootropics. Users often take phenylpiracetam with a choline source like Alpha-GPC, other racetams, or one-or-more adaptogens. You can learn more about it here: Phenylpiracetam – The Best Adderall Alternative?

Aniracetam

Here we have another racetam. Like phenylpiracetam, aniracetam was created by slightly changing a piracetam molecule. It was developed in the 1970s and has been used as a prescription medication in parts of Europe and other parts of the world to treat a variety of conditions.

Aniracetam has been very popular in the nootropics community, especially among people who suffer from anxiety. That's because aniracetam can increase focus and motivation while, at the same time, reduce anxiety. Though it doesn't work for everyone, lots of nootropic users have reported various benefits from taking aniracetam. These benefits include:

• Reduced anxiety
• Improved mood
• Increased focus
• Increased motivation
• Increased productivity

There is plenty of science to support aniracetam's safety and effectiveness. And for those who respond to it, aniracetam works after the very first dose. It's a great choice for someone who has anxiety and wants to try a racetam but isn't sure which one to pick. Many aniracetam users report that they notice both an increase in focus and a reduction in anxiety.

Personally, I've noticed exactly that. Though its focus-enhancing effects aren't as strong as say, modafinil, aniracetam definitely helps me to focus better and get more done. And I feel more relaxed and less stressed about other stuff, so I can focus whatever I need to get done. You can learn more here: Aniracetam For Anxiety and Focus.

Armodafinil

When it comes to focus-enhancing, wakefulness-promoting nootropics, modafinil gets all the glory. But its younger cousin, armodafinil, may be even better. By slightly altering a modafinil molecule, scientists created a more potent and powerful eugeroic. Armodafinil users all over the world have reported the same benefits of modafinil but with a couple of key differences.

The first major difference between modafinil and armodafinil is dosage. Since armodafinil is more potent, a lower dose is needed to get the same benefits. 200 milligrams (mg) of modafinil, a typical starting dosage, is equivalent to 150 mg of armodafinil.

Another difference is duration of effects. Most users who have tried both nootropics report that the effects of armodafinil last slightly longer than those of modafinil. For these reasons, a lot of modafinil users have switched over to using armodafinil.

The nootropic benefits of armodafinil are pretty much identical to the benefits of modafinil. Increased focus and improved memory are among the top reasons people use armodafinil. Here are some of the top benefits users have reported:

• Increased focus
• Improved mood
• Increased wakefulness/alertness
• Improved memory
• Increased motivation
• Increased productivity

I've tried both modafinil and armodafinil and find their effects to be indistinguishable from each other. Though they don't seem to work for everyone, for those of us who they do work for, they can both dramatically increase productivity. Like modafinil, armodafinil has been through rigorous clinical trials and found to be safe. You can learn more about it here: Armodafinil For Cognitive Enhancement.

Caffeine & L-Theanine

The last item on our list of nootropics that start working right away isn't a single nootropic: it's a nootropic stack. Granted, it's the simplest stack there is. But this mini-stack is on the list because it's simple, safe, and effective. I'm talking about caffeine and l-theanine.

I'm sure you already know what caffeine is. You've probably got some pumping through your veins as you read this. Caffeine is a natural stimulant found in coffee, tea, chocolate, and lots of other things. L-theanine, on the other hand, isn't nearly as well known.

L-theanine is a nonessential amino acid that is found naturally in green tea. It's been extensively studied and, in addition to having an excellent safety profile, l-theanine has been found to reduce anxiety. But unlike prescription anxiolytics (anxiety reducers), l-theanine doesn't cause sedation.

So what do caffeine and l-theanine have to do with each other? While each substance is effective on their own, when taken together they have a synergistic effect. The anxiety-reducing effects of l-theanine work together with caffeine's stimulating effects leading to a state of relaxed focus. Here are some of the nootropic benefits of caffeine and l-theanine that have been reported:

• Increased focus
• Reduced fatigue and tiredness
• Improved memory and concentration
• Increased energy
• Promotes a state of calm alertness
• Increased productivity

Nootropic stacks don't have to have dozens of ingredients to be effective. Caffeine and l-theanine is proof of that. I've used this simple stack more times than I can count and it always delivers a calm, focused state of mind. And like all the nootropics on this list, I'm much more productive on it. The effects are noticeable within 30-60 minutes and last for several hours.

L-theanine has been shown to be very safe. And so has caffeine at reasonable dosages. When taken together, they're a great combo. You can learn more about this simple, safe, and effective nootropic stack here: L-Theanine and Caffeine – The Perfect Combo.

Conclusion

We all want fast results. And while Mick Jagger said “you can't always get what you want,” in this case, you can. All of the nootropics discussed above start working after the very first dose. I've tried them all at one time or another and can confirm what lots of other nootropic users have reported.

Have you used any of the nootropics on this list? Feel free to discuss your experiences in the comments section at the bottom. And if you haven't already, make sure to sign up for the NZ newsletter below.