Have you ever met someone who always seems to be in a good mood? Have you ever wondered how they could possibly be so happy all the time?

It all comes down to brain chemistry. There are chemicals in the brain called neurotransmitters that regulate how we feel. We know that certain neurotransmitters, like serotonin, dopamine, and GABA all affect our mood.

Sometimes the levels of these neurotransmitters get so out of whack that it causes severe depression. Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is a common illness in the United States. It affects 14.8 million Americans. And 13 percent of American adults are taking at least one prescription anti-depressant.

But what if you are not clinically depressed but are looking for a non-prescription mood-boosting supplement? Well then, you're in the right place. We are going to look at the best nootropics for mood.

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1 The Best Nootropics For Mood

These are not intended for people who are severely depressed. If you are suffering from severe clinical depression, then you should see a mental health professional. But if you are just looking for a little something to improve your mood without any major side effects, these nootropics are the perfect place to start. Here are some of the best nootropics for mood.

The Best Nootropics For Mood

Aniracetam

This is a popular nootropic and a great one to start with if you are a first time user. Aniracetam has been around for a while and is considered to be safe when taken at the recommended dosages. It has mood-boosting, anxiety-reducing, and cognition-enhancing properties.

In some countries, aniracetam is only available with a prescription. In the United States, however, it is sold legally as a dietary supplement.

This nootropic is a member of the racetam family. It works in a similar way to the other racetams. It has been shown to stimulate the AMPA receptor site. This explains some of its brain-boosting ability. Aniracetam's mood-boosting and anxiety-reducing properties are thought to be caused by activating dopamine receptors, specifically D2 and D3. And aniracetam also seems to have an effect on the serotonin receptor, 5-HT2a. This explains why it is able to improve mood and reduce anxiety without causing sedation.

Benefits of Aniracetam:

Improved Mood
Reduced Anxiety
Improved Memory
Increased Learning Ability
Improved Cognitive Processing
Heightened Reflexes

The recommended dosage for aniracetam is between 1 and 2 grams. It is recommended that you start with just 1 gram to see how it affects you. Some people get great results with just 1 gram. Start low and see what works for you.

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

Sulbutiamine

This is a very mild nootropic and mood-booster. It was developed in Japan as a more efficient version of thiamine (Vitamin B1). It is able to cross the blood-brain-barrier much more effectively.

Sulbutiamine has been used for quite a while as a general mind-boosting nootropic. Only recently has it started to be used to boost mood and reduce anxiety. And users are reporting that its mood-boosting effect is subtle, yet noticeable.

It is thought that sulbutiamine's anti-depressant effect is due to its ability to affect dopamine in the brain. Users often report an increase in mood and a reduction in anxiety without sedation. Some users even report a very mild stimulant effect. This is consistent with what is known about dopamine.

Benefits of Sulbutiamine:

Improved Mood
Reduced Anxiety
Mildly Stimulating
Stacks Well With Other Nootropics

Many users find that sulbutiamine works best when stacked with other nootropics. Piracetam, oxiracetam, and aniracetam have all been reported to go well with sulbutiamine.

The recommended dosage for sulbutiamine is between 400 and 1000 milligrams. You should always start at the low end (400 mg) and see how it works for you. Some users report that tolerance builds quickly to sulbutiamine, so you should use the smallest effective dose.

You can learn more about sulbutiamine here: Sulbutiamine For Mood and Anxiety.

L-Theanine

This is a great nootropic if you are looking for a little mood boost. L-Theanine is safe, inexpensive, and effective.

You know how everyone is always talking about how great green tea is for you? Well, L-Theanine is a big part of the reason why. It was first identified in 1949, and has been used ever since. Unfortunately, to get the nootropic effects of L-Theanine you'd have to drink a lot of tea. Supplementing with L-Theanine is a great way to reap the benefits without having to use the bathroom every 15 minutes.

L-Theanine has been shown to increase dopamine in certain parts of the brain. This explains why it has mood-boosting and anxiety-reducing properties. It also has a low affinity for AMPA, NMDA, and kainite receptors. This is, at least in part, how it exerts its ability to improve cognitive function.

Benefits of L-Theanine:

Improved Mood
Reduced Anxiety
Reduced Stress
Improved Cognitive Performance

L-Theanine can be taken by itself, but it works best when stacked with caffeine. 200 mg of caffeine with 200 mg of L-Theanine will increase the effectiveness of caffeine. Users report that this combo increases the focus that caffeine provides, but completely eliminates the jitters that often come with caffeine. This stack creates a state of relaxed focus.

The recommended dose for L-Theanine is between 150-250 milligrams. You should always start low and work your way up as needed. L-Theanine is considered to be very safe in this dose range. Many users report using much higher dosages with no ill effects.

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

Noopept

Noopept seems to work great for some people while not at all for others. It is very popular right now, for its mood-boosting, anxiety-reducing, and overall cognitive enhancing effects.

Noopept, while not technically a member of the racetam family, works in a similar way to them. It is considered to be 1,000 times more potent than piracetam, the first racetam ever created. This is part of the reason why it is so popular. You only need a small dose to get big results.

Like nootropics in the racetam family, Noopept works on NDMA and AMPA receptor sites in the brain. It also has an affinity for the Acetylcholine system and the Ach receptor sites. These factors contribute to the vast array of nootropic benefits that Noopept provides.

Noopept's mood-boosting and anxiety-reducing effects are thought to be caused by its ability to stimulate dopamine (specifically D2 and D3) and serotonin receptor sites. These neurotransmitters are well known to play a vital role in mood, appetite, sleep, motivation, reward, and focus.

Benefits of Noopept:

Improved Mood
Reduced Anxiety
Enhanced Memory
Better Overall Cognitive Performance
Advanced Logical Thinking
Increased Creativity

Since Noopept is so powerful, you only need a small dose to achieve big results. The recommended starting dose is only 10-40 milligrams. As always, it is recommended that you start with a low dose (10 mg) and work your way up, as needed. Some people report impressive results with only 10 milligrams.

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

Rhodiola Rosea

This is a plant that grows naturally in several parts of the world. Rhodiola rosea, often simply called rhodiola, has been used around the world in traditional medicine for centuries. It has a variety of known health benefits. Rhodiola also has a number of nootropic benefits including improved mood.

Rhodiola users often report an improvement in mood, a reduction in anxiety, and an increase in energy levels. And there is quite a bit of science to support these claims. Rhodiola works on several neurotransmitters including serotonin and dopamine. Both of these are known to play a role in mood and energy levels.

Benefits of rhodiola rosea:

Improved Mood
Reduced Anxiety
Increased Energy Levels
Reduced Fatigue
Improved Overall Cognitive Performance

Rhodiola belongs to a class of substances known as adaptogens. These substances help the body and brain to function optimally – to adapt to various stressors. Other adaptogenic plants include ashwagandha and bacopa monnieri, both of which may also have an affect on mood.

Most users who benefit from rhodiola find a dosage of anywhere from 300-1000 mg to work best. Some people find higher doses to be mildly sedating and lower doses to be mildly stimulating.

You can learn more about rhodiola here: The Benefits of Rhodiola Rosea.

Conclusion

And there you have it: the best nootropics for mood. If the first one that you try doesn't work for you, don't get discouraged. I always recommend that you order several nootropics to try. That way if the first one you try doesn't work, you'll have others. And some nootropics work best when combined with others.

Everyone's brain chemistry is different. Some people get amazing results from the first nootropic they try. Others have to experiment with several nootropics before they find the right one or ones that work for them. Don't get discouraged!

You may also like to check out the other posts in our “Best Nootropic For” series:

[Originally published June 22, 2015. Updated April 9, 2020.]

Best Nootropics For Mood