How Do Nootropics Differ from Amphetamines?
Amphetamines are central nervous system stimulants that affect chemicals in the brain and nerves that contribute to hyperactivity and impulse control. They have proven useful to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
Evekeo, a brand-name amphetamine, is regularly prescribed to treat ADHD and also narcolepsy. Evekeo is sometimes used to treat obesity in people who have not lost weight with diets or other treatments.
Stimulants are not considered nootropics. Like nootropics, stimulants also work on certain neurotransmitters and receptor groups. One may feel like stimulants increase their productivity because it is true. Certain stimulants like coffee, for instance, help to block a chemical known as adenosine which inhibits the central nervous system.
Coffee: Stimulant or Nootropic?
Coffee is widely accepted as a stimulant, but some may contend that it is a nootropic as well due to the energy and stimulation it provides. However, it is important to note that coffee is not a true nootropic because it does not possess the same pharmacological effects of traditional nootropics.
Adenosine is a key component in the effects of coffee, and it has the ability to block the effects of both monoamine neurotransmitters and two different nootropic neurotransmitters. This means that coffee does not have the same effect as traditional nootropics, and therefore does not qualify as a true nootropic.
The other key difference between coffee and nootropics is that coffee is often followed by a crash. This can lead to drowsiness, fatigue, and headaches. Nootropics, on the other hand, do not have this effect, and instead can provide a sustained and sustained period of focus.
For these reasons, coffee should not be considered a nootropic, but rather a stimulant. While both have the potential to improve mental performance, they do so in very different ways.
Then there are other stimulants that work off amphetamines. Many of these amphetamines are being referred to as “smart drugs” because many students are using them illegally to help them study and do better in exams. It is important not to confuse smart drugs with nootropics. Most smart drugs are just stimulants.
Stimulant amphetamines can help one focus and get more done however they have a big downside because they have a really bad side effects and tolerance profile. Nootropics, on the other hand, are usually very well tolerated and do not have many side effects or withdrawal symptoms.
Amphetamines mostly work on monoamine neurotransmitters which do have some nootropic actions. Unfortunately, they do not have many effects of other important neurotransmitters like acetylcholine and glutamate. The neurotransmitters acetylcholine and glutamate help with focus but also contribute to other areas of cognitive function like memory, learning and perception.
The Main Difference between Nootropics and Amphetamines
The main difference between nootropics and stimulants are side effects as well as the psychoactive profiles. Stimulants have a lot of side effects and downsides. Apart from the bad side effects, one can also experience tolerance, addiction and with drawl with stimulants. In the end, you may become more productive on stimulants however you may find become addicted and worse off mentally due to these effects.
Here are some of the bad side effects associated with stimulants:
- Irritability
- Insomnia
- Headache
- Nausea
- Anxiety
- Paranoia
Nootropics have much less of these side effects because they don’t act to be psychoactive on the central nervous system. They are not psychoactive and work to increase neurotransmitters that work to improve cognitive function. Also, since nootropics are not psychoactive, they produce less noticeable side effects and do not have a crash that follows your body’s elimination of the substance.
Another excellent thing to note about nootropics is that some have neuroprotective effects. Of course, not all nootropics have these effects, but many have been shown in studies to have great effects in reducing oxidative stress. Oxidative stress has been known to influence receptors and destroy important parts in the brain that relate to cognitive function. This is thought to play a very large role in diseases like Alzheimer’s. Stimulants never have a neuroprotective trait.
