Nootropics are used for a lot of different reasons. Normally when we think about using smart drugs, we often think about increasing focus and motivation. But they can be used for a lot more than just studying for exams and pulling all-nighters. One of the things nootropics can be used for is to make socializing easier.

In this post, we're going to look at some nootropics for socializing. These are nootropics that can help to make you feel more comfortable in social situations, increase conversational flow, and improve your social interactions overall. Many people have reaped the social benefits of the nootropics we're going to look at in this post and so can you. 

But before we get to some nootropics for socializing, let's take a quick look at what drives social interaction.

What Is Socializing?

Socializing can simply be defined as interacting with one or more other people. No matter how much we may dislike it, no matter how hard we may try to avoid it, socializing is a necessary part of being human. We all need to rely on others for at least some things and socializing with them is how get those needs met.

Being social comes naturally to some people while to others it can be incredibly difficult. The Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung came up with the ideas of introversion and extroversion to help explain this.

Introverts (like myself) find social interaction to be draining and sometimes difficult. But this doesn't mean that us introverts don't like to be social. I love spending time with family and friends, going out on the town, meeting new people, and just being social in general. However, I also require a lot of alone time. If I spend too much time around others, I often start getting frustrated and exhausted.

Extroverts, on the other hand, find that social interaction energizes them. While many extroverts are okay being alone for short periods of time, too much isolation makes them feel frustrated and anxious. When they are out in public, extroverts are in their element.

Extroversion/introversion is a spectrum and most people tend to find themselves somewhere in the middle. Most people are either slightly introverted or slightly extroverted. Some people, however, are really introverted or extroverted. I'm sure you've met several or may even be like that yourself. These are the people who are always the life of the party and never alone. Or on the other side of the spectrum, the ones who rarely leave home and do almost everything by themselves. Odds are you find yourself somewhere in the middle.

Whether you're a hardcore introvert, a super extrovert, or somewhere in the middle, there are nootropics that can help you in social situations. Being social is necessary to form friendships and relationships, to make business transactions, to get through school, and in many other areas of life. Now that we've defined what it means to be social, we can get to the nootropics that people have been using to improve their social interactions.

Nootropics For Socializing

L-Theanine (with or without caffeine)

L-theanine is an amino acid analog that is commonly found in green tea.¹ It's incredibly popular in the nootropics community for its ability to decrease anxiety without causing sedation. While L-theanine can be taken on its own, a lot of people like to take it with caffeine. L-theanine can significantly reduce the negative effects of caffeine like anxiety, jitters, and the inevitable crash that comes a few hours after consumption.²

A lot of L-theanine users report that it helps them to feel more relaxed in social situations. And unlike prescription anxiolytics (anxiety-reducing drugs), L-theanine does it without making the user feel sleepy and hazy. People often report that L-theanine makes them feel more comfortable in social situations, that conversations flow more smoothly, and that they're able to express themselves easier.

For many, L-theanine works great on its own. However, when taken with caffeine, the two substances together have a synergistic effect. It's no secret that caffeine can energize you and make you feel more outgoing. But it can also cause anxiety. When L-theanine and caffeine are taken together, the L-theanine cancels out the anxiety and overstimulation that caffeine can cause. This combo has also been shown to improve working memory, reaction time, and verbal accuracy.³

You can learn more about L-theanine here: L-Theanine – A Calming Nootropic. Or if you'd like to learn more about taking caffeine and L-theanine together, read this: L-Theanine and Caffeine – The Perfect Combo. 

Ashwagandha

This is an adaptogenic plant that has been used all over the world for centuries. In recent years, nootropic users have been taking ashwagandha to reduce anxiety and to improve overall cognitive performance. A number of these users report that this medicinal plant helps them to socialize.

Ashwagandha is known to reduce cortisol, aka the stress hormone.⁴ When we are in stressful situations, including stressful social situations, our bodies produce a lot more of this hormone. Increased cortisol can have a negative effect on our social interactions.⁵ Ashwagandha works to keep cortisol levels in check, making you feel more comfortable when socializing. The effects of ashwagandha can be felt after just one dose. However, it works best when taken daily for several weeks. 

When this article was first published in 2019, ashwagandha wasn't nearly as popular and widely used as it is now. Over the past few years, its use has really exploded. But I'm not surprised. Of all the anxiety-reducing nootropics out there, I've found ashwagandha to be one of the most effective. I've even seen products with ashwagandha in them advertised on cable television. 

You can learn more about this fascinating plant here: The Many Benefits of Ashwagandha. While it can be great for socializing, ashwagandha has tons of other potential benefits worth checking out. 

Aniracetam

These next two substances on our list of nootropics for socializing are both racetams. The racetams are a group of nootropics that are all structurally similar to each other. Many of them have focus-enhancing properties, but only two have both scientific-and-anecdotal evidence to support their use in social situations. The first of these is aniracetam.

Users often report that they feel more comfortable in social situations, have an easier time finding the right words to say, and experience less social anxiety. Though the only human studies done on aniracetam have been done in Russia and Europe where it's a prescription medication, several animal studies have been published in English. These studies support the anecdotal reports that aniracetam can improve mood⁶ and reduce anxiety.⁷

Aniracetam is often effective when taken by itself but is often stacked with other racetams and/or a choline source like CDP-choline. You can learn more about it here: Aniracetam For Focus and Anxiety.

Fasoracetam

This is another nootropic in the racetam family. Like aniracetam, fasoracetam is often used for its anxiety-reducing properties. Many users report that it helps them to socialize better.

Fasoracetam hasn't been studied nearly as much as some of the other racetams. However, there are numerous reports of it being used as a social enhancer. And fasoracetam made it to phase three of a clinical trial in the United States, which means it passed the rigorous safety standards of phase two.⁸

Unfortunately, no new research has been published on fasoracetam since this article was first written. Personally, I've found fasoracetam to be as effective as aniracetam at increasing sociability. Some people like to take both together, though I've never tried this stack. 

You can learn more about it here: Fasoracetam – An Anxiety-Reducing Nootropic.

Rhodiola Rosea

The last substance on our list of nootropics for socializing is rhodiola rosea. Like ashwagandha, rhodiola is another adaptogenic plant that has been used in traditional medicine for centuries. Not only are there countless anecdotal reports of it being used to improve socializing, there is plenty of science to support rhodiola's use as a social enhancer.

A scientific review done in 2011 looked at eleven previously published studies about rhodiola.⁹ The review found that rhodiola can improve both physical performance as well as mental performance. One of the aspects of mental performance that it was found to improve is socializing. Rhodiola users often report that they feel better in social situations and have an easier time being themselves. 

Like so many other nootropics, this one seems to work wonders for some people while doing nothing for others. Personally, I find ashwagandha to make me feel more social than rhodiola. But I've spoken with others who report the exact opposite. The only way to know what will work for you is to experiment a bit. 

Rhodiola can take several weeks for its full effects to become noticeable. It is often taken by itself but also stacks well with most other nootropics. You can learn more about it here: The Benefits of Rhodiola Rosea.

Conclusion

Social situations can be challenging sometimes, especially for those of us who are introverts. Fortunately, there are several nootropics that can help us to feel more comfortable when interacting with others. All the substances on our list have been widely used to improve various aspects of social functioning. 

Have you used any of the nootropics on the list for socializing? How about any other nootropics not mentioned on the list? Please leave your response in the comments section at the bottom. And if you haven't already, make sure to sign up for the NZ newsletter below. 

References

1Theanine. (n.d.). Examine.com. Retrieved August 11, 2023 from https://examine.com/supplements/theanine/

2Haskell, C., Kennedy, D., Milne, A., Wesnes, K., & Scholey, A. (2008). The effects of L-theanine, caffeine, and their combination on cognition and mood. Biological Psychology, 77(2):113-122.

3Owen, G., Parnell, H., De Bruin, E., & Rycroft, J. (2008). The combined effects of L-theanine and caffeine on cognitive performance and mood. Nutritional Neuroscience, 11(4):193-8.

4Chandrasekhar, K., Kapoor, J., & Anishetty, S. (2012). A prospective, randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled study of safety and efficacy of a high-concentration full-spectrum extract of ashwagandha root in reducing stress and anxiety in adults. Indian Journal of Psychological Medicine, 34(3):255-62.

5Smeets, T., Dziobek, I., & Wolf, O. (2009). Social cognition under stress: differential effects of stress-induced cortisol elevations in healthy young men and women. Hormones and Behavior, 55:507-13.

6Nakamura, K., & Tanaka, Y. (2001). Antidepressant-like effects of aniracetam in aged rats and its mode of action. Psychopharmacology (Berl.), 158(2):205-12.

7Nakamura, K., & Kurasawa, M. (2001). Anxiolytic effects of aniracetam in three different mouse models of anxiety and the underlying mechanism. European Journal of Pharmacology, 420(1):33-43.

8ClinicalTrials.gov. (2017). Efficacy and safety of NFC-1 in adolescents with genetic disorders impacting mGluR and ADHD. Retrieved June 1, 2019 from https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/study/NCT02777931

9Hung, S., Perry, R., & Ernst, E. (2011). The effectiveness and efficacy of rhodiola rosea: a systematic review of randomized clinical trials. Phytomedicine, 18(4):235-44. 

[This article was originally published on June 7, 2019. Updated August 11, 2023.]