5 Nootropics

Women
Should
Never Take
Most of them are actually recreational
drugs, causing addiction & withdrawal

By:

John Tilton
Admin of the Facebook group
Nootropics are for Women too
Before You Read
Know what a nootropic is. A nootropic is a drug, supplement, or other substance that gives cognitive
benefits to the human brain. The problem is that only two of the substances I mention in this guide have
been proven to enhance cognition. Thus, they are the only nootropics included. But due to false
advertising and misinformation that is exchanged through subreddits, Facebook groups, YouTube
videos, etc., you may falsely believe that the other three substances are nootropics as well. This can
potentially get you into a world of trouble due to the inherent dangers of these three substances. You
may believe that just because something is labeled as a ‘nootropic,’ that it is inherently safe. But as you
will learn in this guide, that is far from the truth. Let’s start at number five with one of the substances
that is misidentified as a nootropic.

By The Way
I have included what I believe to be a harsh truth about the nootropic community at the very end of this
guide. It’s kind of sad!

5 Nootropics Women Should Never Take / 01

APOAEQUORIN
Apoaequorin (or Prevagen)
Prevagen (sold as a supplement) is a synthetic version of Apoaequorin, a calcium-binding protein
isolated from the jellyfish Aequorea Victoria. Out of all the substances listed in this guide, Prevagen is
the only one that does not have the potential for abuse. Nevertheless, it can still be dangerous to use as
a nootropic. As a matter of fact, I’d be willing to bet that you have seen the commercial for Prevagen
before. You know, the one where a man claims that a protein originally found in jellyfish can improve
your memory (with clips of jellyfish in the background). You can watch it by clicking here (surely it will
ring a bell). While Prevagen may not be heavily discussed in the nootropic community (despite its
notoriety elsewhere), it is sold on the premise that it has a nootropic effect, meaning it can improve
memory. Let’s investigate that claim and the potential dangers of Prevagen-use below.

Can Prevagen
Improve Your Memory?
According to the Madison Memory Study, Prevagen can, in fact, improve your memory. More
specifically, it can improve verbal memory, reduce the need for reminders, and improve memorization
of driving directions. Therefore, it does support better memory, right? Not so fast. There are two major
flaws in the Madison Memory Study. The first is that the company that sells it (Quincy Bioscience)
sponsored the study. This is known as a funding bias, which means the study results were most likely
bias toward Quincy Bioscience’s interests. The other flaw is the study was never published in a peer-
review journal. In a peer-review journal, experts in that particular field review the study for accuracy.
This was not the case for the Madison Memory Study, as a non-bias expert never critiqued it.

I am not the only one to pick up on those flaws of the Madison Memory Study. In fact, the FTC (Federal
Trade Commission) did as well, and even went as far as confronting Quincy Bioscience about it. In the
end, the FTC concluded that the Madison Memory Study failed to show an improvement in the
treatment group (those taking Prevagen) over the placebo group (those not taking it) [1] . The FTC also
went on to make the following statements regarding Prevagen:

• There is not “competent and reliable scientific evidence” to support Prevagen’s claims
• The claim that Prevagen is clinically proven is false

But it doesn’t stop there. Quincy Bioscience also faced a lawsuit alleging deceptive marketing practices
[1] . That is, based off the fact that Apoaequorin is unlikely to be absorbed to a significant enough degree
and degrades into amino acids instead of improving memory. New York attorney general Eric
Schneiderman went on to say, “The marketing for Prevagen is a clear-cut fraud, from the label on the
bottle to the ads airing across the country.” Federal Trade Commission

5 Nootropics Women Should Never Take / 03

Why Women
Should Not Take Prevagen
Even if the Madison Memory Study proved that Prevagen improves memory, it would still be dangerous
to take it. One of the reasons is that it has never been tested for safety on humans, only on rodents
[2] and Petri dishes [3] . Being the sketchy, deceptive company they are, Quincy Bioscience labeled their
testing on rodents and Petri dishes as “extensive safety testing.” Another reason Prevagen is dangerous
comes from a scary finding that FDA inspectors discovered about Quincy Bioscience that was revealed
in this warning letter. They found that they had only reported two of more than 1,000 adverse effects
users had reported from Prevagen-use. These adverse effects included heart arrhythmias, chest pain,
vertigo, tremors, seizures, strokes, and worsening of multiple sclerosis. Scary Stuff, but not as scary as
the dangers of using the next substance.

5 Nootropics Women Should Never Take / 04

Apoaequorin Citations
[1] Van Laack, Riëtte, “District Court Dismisses FTC Lawsuit Regarding Marketers of Prevagen; FTC
Failed to Carry Burden,” FDA Law Blog,

[2] Daniel Moran, Palma Ann Marone, Mark Bauter, Madhu Soni. “Safety assessment of Apoaequorin, a
protein preparation: Subchronic toxicity study in rats.” Food and Chemical Toxicity 57, (2013): 1-10. URL:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0278691513001567?via%3Dihub.

[3] Daniel Moran, Afua Tetteh, Richard Goodman, Mark Underwood. "Safety assessment of the calcium-
binding protein, apoaequorin, expressed by Escherichia coli.” Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology
69, no. 2(2014): 243-249. URL:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0273230014000671?via%3Dihub.

5 Nootropics Women Should Never Take / 05

MODAFINIL
Modafinil
In the intro, I mentioned that two of the substances in this guide are proven nootropics. Modafinil is one
of them, but there is no denying that it can be dangerous. The dangers of modafinil-use are covered
below, but for now, let’s discuss what exactly Modafinil is (no it’s not a limitless pill).

Modafinil is undoubtedly the most popular nootropic within the industry. Why? It works extremely well
and its effects are noticeable. As a wakefulness-promoting agent (or stimulant), it’s most commonly
used for treating narcolepsy. Modafinil also goes by the brand name Provigil and is marketed as an
alternative to amphetamines in some cases. But as you will learn (if you keep reading), it is not the safe
alternative to amphetamines that it some claim it to be.

Yes, Modafinil Is A Nootropic

Unlike Prevagen, Modafinil has proven nootropic effects. For women who experiment with nootropics,
this can be enticing, especially since the effects of most other nootropics are not immediate or obvious.
According to a paper that reviewed all modafinil-related studies on healthy, non-sleep-deprived
humans (most likely you), Modafinil was found to enhance executive function (a set of mental skills that
help you get things done) and improve attention, learning, and memory in half the studies [1] . However,
there is also a significant amount of anecdotal evidence to support the nootropic effects of Modafinil.
Some people report that it heightens motivation, boost energy, and even makes you more talkative. To
demonstrate how powerful the focusing effects of Modafinil are (according to users), I’m going to share
with you someone’s experience from Reddit. It’s funny but also a bit scary at the same time.

This Is How Powerful Modafinil Is…

This man (whose experience report I found on Reddit) had been doing Christmas shopping prior to
taking Modafinil. Even after finishing his Christmas shopping, he still had a lot of work left to do. It was
around 8 PM when he took Modafinil. However, he wanted to let the effects of the Modafinil kick in first
before he started working. He decided to watch some YouTube videos while he waited. That turned out
to be a huge mistake. Before he knew it, it was 1 AM (5 hours later) and he was still on YouTube
watching videos about “diode pulsed solid state lasers.” The point is that Modafinil can have such a
strong focusing effect that it becomes easy to get distracted by something irrelevant to your work for
hours on end. While Modafinil does have fewer side effects than amphetamines like Adderall [2] it still
has dangers. Those dangers are covered below.

5 Nootropics Women Should Never Take / 07

Why Women
Should Never Take Modafinil
First things first, although Modafinil is marketed as an alternative to amphetamines, it still works in a
similar fashion. More specifically, it increases dopamine in the nucleus accumbens [3] . That mechanism
is similar to other drugs that have potential for abuse, including cocaine and amphetamine. Since
Modafinil use can become addictive, withdrawal is also a possibility. Of course, one time or occasional
use of Modafinil is not going to send you into withdrawals. However, you still have to be careful due to
it’s addictive properties. Withdrawal from Modafinil is typically characterized by the following
symptoms:

• Brain fog
• Fatigue
• Depression
• Shortness of breath
• Sleepiness

In addition to potential addiction and withdrawal, Modafinil has other dangers, some of which occur as
side effects from simply using it. These side effects from general use can include:

• Insomnia
• Headaches
• Skin rashes
• Anxiety attacks

Finally, there are no studies on the long-term effects of Modafinil-use. There’s no way of knowing if
using it now may come back to bite you later. Your best bet is to stay away from this nootropic
altogether.

5 Nootropics Women Should Never Take / 08

Modafinil Citations
[1] R.M. Battleday, A.K. Brem. “Modafinil for cognitive neuroenhancement in healthy non-sleep-deprived
subjects: A systematic review.” European Neuropsychopharmacology 25, no. 11(2015): 1865-1881. URL:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0924977X15002497?via%3Dihub.

[2] R. Pigeau, P. Naitoh, A. Buguet, C. McCann, J. Baransk, M. Taylor, M. Thompson, I. Mack. “Modafinil, d-
amphetamine and placebo during 64 hours of sustained mental work.” Journal of Sleep Research 4, no.
4(1995). URL:
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1365-2869.1995.tb00172.x?sid=nlm%3Apubmed&.

[3] Nora D. Volkow, Joanna S. Fowler, Jean Logan, David Alexoff, Wei Zhu, Frank Telang, Gene-Jack
Wang. “Effects of Modafinil on Dopamine and Dopamine Transporters in the Male Human Brain.” JAMA,
(2009). URL: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/183580

5 Nootropics Women Should Never Take / 09

NICOTINE
Nicotine
Nicotine is one of the most notorious drugs out there, mainly because of its presence in tobacco. Similar
to Caffeine, it is an alkaloid found in plants. More specifically, nightshade-family plants such as
tomatoes, potatoes, and eggplant contain Nicotine. However, Nicotine comes in much smaller amounts
than tobacco, which is also a member of the nightshade family. These nightshade plants contain
Nicotine as a protective mechanism against herbivorous bugs. For these little bugs, Nicotine is a deadly
poison. For us, it is also akin to a poison, although its deadly effects are not as immediate. When we
ingest Nicotine, it can either act as a stimulant (in higher doses) or as a depressant (in smaller doses) [1] .
Some even say Nicotine can act as a nootropic. Discover how below.

Smoke A Cigarette To Focus?

It’s hard to admit, but Nicotine is technically a nootropic. According to a study published by the
Department of Psychology at the University of Reading (UK), Nicotine exerted two different nootropic
effects on healthy test subjects by improving both their attention and immediate long-term memory [2] .
It’s important to note that these test subjects were not animals, they were humans like me and you. As
someone who has sadly used Nicotine, I have to agree with the findings of the University of Reading’s
study. Whether I vaped or chewed Nicotine gum, I would immediately feel sharper and had better
recollection, despite the sometimes overwhelming head rush. Of course, these nootropic effects of
Nicotine are short-lived, and in my experience, I noticed it gives you a mini-crash afterward. During this
mini-crash, you physically feel drained and exhausted with little motivation to do anything. In turn, you
want to ingest more Nicotine to achieve the previous effects. This is why I believe there is no such thing
as using it in moderation, regardless of your intentions. Overall, using Nicotine for nootropic purposes is
counterproductive, even with a small dose. Not to mention, the dangers of Nicotine (which you will find
below) make it not worth trying even once, especially for women.

Women: Beware of Nicotine

Many of Nicotine’s dangers depend on the delivery system you are using. For example, using any
tobacco products as a delivery system is particularly dangerous. With regard to cigarettes, you are not
just inhaling Nicotine, but also thousands of other harmful chemicals, of which, over 70 are known to
cause cancer [3] . Dip not only contains more Nicotine than cigarettes, but it also contains 30 other
chemicals that are linked to cancer [4] . But let's focus on the dangers of nicotine by itself, without the
added dangers of a particular delivery system.

5 Nootropics Women Should Never Take / 11

One obvious danger of Nicotine is that it is addictive. In fact, it might just be the most addictive
substance mentioned in this guide. To put into perspective how addictive Nicotine can be, an orgasm
from sex raises your dopamine level approximately 200 units [5] . Nicotine, on the other hand, raises
your dopamine between 100 and 225 units [6] , making it comparable to sex in terms of pleasure. Of
course, most people are not addicted to sex. Also, after using Nicotine over time, it will not be as
pleasurable as when you first used it. Another danger of Nicotine is that it’s accessible (or easy to get).
You can find it at essentially every gas station or mini-mart. Unlike sex, you can do it whenever you want
and wherever you want to. While your initial intention to use Nicotine may be to enhance cognition, your
intention will soon be to get a head rush or relieve stress. After that stage, you will use Nicotine just to
feel normal. A Nicotine addiction that starts with gum or vaping could even lead you to using tobacco
products, which are known to cause cancer.

For women, an addiction to Nicotine is especially dangerous because it tends to affect them more than
men. There are a few reasons behind this. For one, a woman’s body is faster at processing Nicotine than
a man’s body due to higher levels of the sex hormone estrogen [7] . Since this is the case, the perceived
positive effects of having a cigarette wear off faster for a woman, thus creating a shorter time window
for them in between smoking, vaping, etc. Secondly, women tend to use Nicotine when they are
stressed [8] as opposed to men who tend to use it when they are content. Since women tend to be
more stressed than content throughout the day, you can see how it would be tough for a woman
addicted to Nicotine to give it up.

Regardless of gender, there are more inherent dangers to Nicotine itself aside from addiction. To
demonstrate this, Indian researchers at the Institute of Indian Medicine searched the databases of
Medline and PubMed for “All the animal and human studies investigating only the role of nicotine.” Their
review found that Nicotine-use increases the risk of cardiovascular, respiratory, and gastrointestinal
disorders. It also decreases immune response, negatively effects reproductive health, and leads to
cancer through cell proliferation, oxidative stress, apoptosis, and DNA mutation [9] . Yikes!

In my experience, one of the biggest dangers of nicotine-use was how it induced anxiety. This was
especially troubling when I was driving since I would sometimes have to pullover on the shoulder of the
road because of Nicotine-induced anxiety. Another danger that was quite apparent to me was a rise in
blood pressure. I specifically remember (during my days of Nicotine-use) that sometimes if I stood up
too fast I would get a temporary sense of lightheadedness. Sometimes it would be a double whammy,
as the lightheadedness would then send me into an anxiety attack. Trust me, Nicotine is not worth it, not
even once and not even in a small dosage as a nootropic. The next substance is not worth it either.

5 Nootropics Women Should Never Take / 12

Nicotine Citations
[1] “Nicotine and Tobacco Products.” Ochsner. https://www.ochsner.org/health-resources/tobacco-
free-living-the-legacy/tobacco-free-resources/nicotine-and-tobacco-products.

[2] Warburton, DM. “Nicotine as a cognitive enhancer.” Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry,
(1992). url: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/1579636/.

[3] Government of Canada. Carcinogens in Tobacco Smoke.

[4] The National Cancer Institute. The Dangers of Dip.

[5] Rawson, Richard. “Meth and the Brain.” Frontline. February 14, 2006.
https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/meth/body/methbrainnoflash.html.

[6] Rawson, Richard. “Effects of Drugs on Dopamine Levels.” February 14 2006. online image. Frontline.
https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/meth/body/methbrainnoflash.html.

[7] Benowitz, Neal L., Christina N. Lessov-Schlaggar, Gary E. Swan, Peyton Jacob III. “Female sex and oral
contraceptive use accelerate nicotine metabolism.” Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics 79,
no.5(2006): 480-488. doi: 10.1016/j.clpt.2006.01.008

[8] Torres, Oscar V. and Laura E. O’Dell. “Stress is a principal factor that promotes tobacco use in
females.” Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry 65, (2016): 260-268. url:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0278584615000718?via%3Dihub.

[9] Mishra A, Chaturvedi P, Datta S, Sinukumar S, Joshi P, Garg A. “Harmful effects of nicotine.” Indian
Journal of Medical and Paediatric Oncology 36, no. 1(2015): 24-31. url:
http://www.ijmpo.org/article.asp?issn=0971-
5851;year=2015;volume=36;issue=1;spage=24;epage=31;aulast=Mishra.

5 Nootropics Women Should Never Take / 13

KRATOM
Kratom
Kratom is a hybrid. In small doses it acts like a stimulant, but in larger doses, it’s akin to an opioid.
Regardless, it should not be mistaken as a nootropic. As you will learn below, in no way, shape, or form
does it provide cognitive enhancement. Despite being a heavily discussed substance among many
nootropic users, here is what Kratom really is:

Kratom is a tree (also known as Mitragyna Speciosa) that is prevalent in parts of Southeast Asia. In the
United States, its leaves are usually sold in powdered form (as a herbal product) at smoke shops and
gas stations. The reason being that the Kratom tree’s leaves contain about 40 alkaloids in which two of
them (Mitragynine & 7-hydroxymitragynine) are thought to have psychoactive effects [1] . While there
are few people who will overtly refer to Kratom as a nootropic, it is still a common topic on blogs,
subreddits, and Facebook groups within the nootropic community. That being said, it is easy to mistake
Kratom as a nootropic. However, it’s actually more of a recreational drug. This will become evident to
you after reading the next few paragraphs.

My Unexpected
Experience With Kratom
Most of Kratom’s effects are similar to those of recreational drugs. Many people use it as a way to get
“high.” Trust me, I know from experience. One of the first times I ever took Kratom was back in high
school (this was years ago by the way). I dosed it perfectly, according to several dosage charts I found
online (like this one), and then proceeded to walk into school for the start of class that day. As I started
my day, the nasty taste of Kratom was still stuck in my mouth (along with green powder in between my
teeth). As I got to homeroom and sat in my seat, I really began to feel the effects. It was overwhelming,
so much so that I felt intense waves of anxiety that disabled me from focusing on my work. By the time
the anxiety and stimulatory effects had passed, I began to feel tired, further diminishing my ability to
focus. In fact, I became so tired that I was falling in and out of sleep during class. By that time, it was
only the second period of the eight-period day. Eventually, I returned to a baseline level; however, one
thing was certain: Kratom was counterproductive for not only focus, but also productivity. Despite that
experience, I would go onto to take Kratom numerous times after that, sometimes in smaller dosages
and sometimes in larger dosages. Every time, the initial stimulatory effects would always lead to a crash
characterized by extreme tiredness. The only time I ever use it anymore is during my fantasy football
league’s draft ritual, and trust me, we don’t take it to be productive.

5 Nootropics Women Should Never Take / 15

Kratom: It’s Not A Nootropic
As mentioned, Kratom acts as a stimulant when taken in smaller doses. In fact, many article posts say a
small dose is best for someone trying to achieve nootropic effects. However, as we have learned, the
effects of a smaller dosage do not actually enhance cognition. Instead, the effects of a small dose are
increased energy/motivation and improved mood, similar to a strong cup of coffee but even stronger.
In fact, before gaining popularity in the western world, Kratom was used by farmers in Southeast Asia
for those very effects [2] . But compared to an office job the typical American works nowadays, these
farmer’s jobs were not nearly as cognitively demanding. Instead, they used Kratom more so for physical,
not cognitive, enhancement. In other words, they knew it did not have cognitive-enhancing effects.

In larger doses, Kratom acts more like an opioid that’s typically used for chronic-pain management
(analgesia). Some of the other effects of large doses of Kratom include euphoria, drowsiness, a
dreamlike mental state, and cough suppression. However, reducing the symptoms of opioid withdrawal
is the best-known effect of taking a larger dose of Kratom. This is why many ex-Heroin addicts credit
Kratom for helping them get them clean. They swear by Kratom, claiming it was what got them through
the intense withdrawal symptoms. Just check out this video by Vice that shows how Kratom helped a 6-
year Heroin addict kick the addiction in under a month. With regard to Heroin users trying to get clean,
Kratom can indeed do wonders. However, in the scenario of someone who is just looking to enhance his
or her cognition, it should be avoided. That is, due to the dangers of Kratom discussed below.

The Dangers of Kratom

Kratom is yet another substance within this guide that has addictive properties and can result in
withdrawal symptoms. Other than the next substance, Kratom’s withdrawals are the most significant.
These withdrawals are so bad that most online sources do not recommend going the cold-turkey route
(complete cessation). Instead, they recommend weaning off it by lowering your dosage by 10% every
month [3] . Yes, a month. Of course, the severity of Kratom withdrawal depends on various factors,
including how long you used it and the dosages taken. Nevertheless, it is nothing you want to go
through. The following are just some of the effects of Kratom withdrawal (which typically lasts 7-10
days): insomnia, hot flashes, fever, diarrhea, nervousness, hostility, and sadness.

Even if you are not withdrawing off Kratom, but simply using it on a regular basis, it still has the potential
to cause psychotic symptoms, such as mental confusion, delusion, and hallucinations [4] . According to
multiple published case reports, it can even cause seizures, regardless of the size of the dosage [5] .
Another factor that makes Kratom dangerous is its legal status. It’s banned in some states but not in
others. In fact, a single county in Florida (Sarasota) has banned Kratom (while it is legal in the rest of a
state). Individual towns in Illinois (Jerseyville) and California (San Diego) have also banned Kratom
(although you would be able to possess it everywhere else in those states) [6] . The following states are
where you could be fined, penalized, or even sentenced to jail time if caught in possession of Kratom
[6] :

• Alabama
• Arkansas
• Wisconsin
• Tennessee
• Vermont
• Indiana
• New Hampshire (if you are under 18)
• Illinois (if you are under 18)
• Banned for members of the US Armed Forces as well

5 Nootropics Women Should Never Take / 16

Kratom is not a nootropic. As mentioned, it is more of a recreational drug or a tool for opioid addicts to
get clean. If you want some of the effects that a small dosage of Kratom can provide (but way less
intense), drink a tall cup of coffee in the morning. All in all, make sure to stay as far away from Kratom as
possible, and same is equally true for the next substance...

5 Nootropics Women Should Never Take / 17

Kratom Citations
[1] European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction. Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa) drug profile.

[2] Suwanlert, Somsong. “A study of kratom eaters in Thailand.” Bulletin on Narcotics 27, no. 3(1975): 21-
27. url:
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.researchgate.net/publication/22112751_A_study_of_kratom_e
aters_in_Thailand/amp

[3] PsychedSubstance. “Why I Stopped Taking Kratom.” January 11 2018. online video. YouTube.
https://youtu.be/HedEeSDzNSY.

[4] Eduardo Cinosi, Giovanni Martinotti, Ornella Corazza, et al. “Following ‘the Roots’ of Kratom (Mitragyna
speciosa).” Biomed Res Int., (2015). doi: 10.1155/2015/968786.

[5] Bellamy, Josh, “Kratom: another dangerous ‘natural’ remedy.” Science-Based Medicine,

[6] “Is Kratom Legal in USA 2019? The Legality of Kratom.” Endonurse. January 5, 2019. url:
http://www.endonurse.com/is-kratom-legal/

5 Nootropics Women Should Never Take / 18

PHENIBUT
Phenibut
Phenibut is a derivative (or something similar) to the neurotransmitter GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid).
However, the two are not identical. In fact, if you take GABA by itself as a supplement, it does not cross
the blood-brain barrier, which prevents materials in the blood from entering the brain. Phenibut, on the
other hand, does. This is because the Russian scientists whom synthesized it back in the 1960s added a
phenyl ring to butyric acid, thereby allowing it to enter the brain (or surpass the blood-brain barrier).
Whether Phenibut has nootropic properties or not is debatable from person to person. Nevertheless,
like Kratom, it is a substance that is thrown around with the likes of actual nootropics, even though
Phenibut itself is not a clear-cut nootropic. Here is what someone taking Phenibut can actually expect…

Phenibut Might Be A Nootropic

Phenibut is comparable to drugs such as Valium, Ambien, or Alcohol. Someone taking it can expect less
stress and anxiety and more sedation. In fact, many users say Phenibut feels like being drunk but
without the sloppiness or lack of control. One YouTuber who made a Phenibut experience report
described it as a “functional depressant” since he felt an effect similar to typical depressants (like
alcohol) but was still able to function at a high level [1] . Regardless, we are more concerned with
whether Phenibut has nootropic effects or not. There are two studies that say it does, one published in
2016 [2] and one back in 1997 [3] . There’s a catch to those studies, however. They were both published
in Russia and the participants who showed cognitive improvements were specifically children with
ADHD. Not to mention, there are only around 300 published papers on Phenibut. That’s a small amount
of information considering it has been around for over 50 years. Also, since it was synthesized in Russia,
most of these papers are in Russian, making them difficult to understand. So, perhaps the only way to
know if Phenibut has nootropic properties or not is through anecdotal evidence. To gather anecdotal
evidence, I did not cherry-pick answers from Reddit or Quora supporting that Phenibut is not a
nootropic. Instead, I simply posted the following question in a popular nootropic Facebook group: “For
those that have taken Phenibut, did any of you all experience cognitive enhancement?” Here are three
of the most popular responses:

• “Yes and no. In certain areas I noticed positive effects though in certain areas it exacerbated some
already negative symptoms I have like ADD. It highly spikes you're creative output potential and
increased drive and motivation. It’s effects on focus are iffy. In a light, it helps though due to
everything being twice as enjoyable and appealing. It’s easy to bounce from subject to subject or
project to project due to the mental stimulation.”
• “Yes it was pretty good for focus and attention at a medium to high dose for me. Smaller doses made
me a little too sleepy.”
• “No, only relaxation.”

With those responses in mind, the nootropic effects of Phenibut seem to vary from person to person.
But assuming it enhances cognition, it still would not be worth taking. After all, there is a reason it is
number one in this guide. Discover the scary dangers of Phenibut below.

5 Nootropics Women Should Never Take / 20

This Is Why
Phenibut Is number 1
First things first, Phenibut can be addictive. As Duffy MacKay, senior Vice President at the CRN (Council
for Responsible Nutrition), puts it, “once you go to a higher amount, Phenibut becomes a ‘high’ if you
will, and has some addictive principles, and that’s where it harms.” [4] Even if you start taking Phenibut
in small doses, continual use can result in a tolerance that will lead to you taking more. Not to mention,
one-time use of Phenibut results in a hangover effect due to GABA receptor down regulation and
tolerance [5] . Also, Phenibut withdrawals for some people can occur just after only a few days of use.
When it comes time to quit (so you do not have to take Phenibut everyday for the rest of your life), you
inevitably have to endure a withdrawal that many have described as “hellish” and “something they
would not wish on their worst enemy.” Here is what one going through Phenibut withdrawals can
expect.

During Phenibut withdrawals (caused by excessive glutamate floating), users can expect uncomfortable
feelings of physical stimulation/energy, anxiety/fear/panic, depression, social withdrawal, insomnia,
muscle twitches, sweating, hot flashes, irritability, and even nightmares/hallucinations [6] . Simply listing
all the effects of Phenibut withdrawal does not nearly do justice demonstrating how bad it is. Instead,
here is what a former user who had gone through withdrawals had to say about the experience in a
nutshell: “If you had problems in your life anyway, and were using Phenibut to mask them, then they will
come back twenty times as bad.” [7] The former user goes onto add: “You find it easy to believe in Hell,
but impossible to believe in Heaven.” Besides the potential withdrawals after just a few days of use,
even one-time use of Phenibut can subject the user to certain dangers that you will discover below.

One of these dangers is simply the fact that, in most cases, Phenibut is listed as a “dietary supplement.”
For example, all the Phenibut that Liftmode, a popular vendor in the nootropic industry, is selling has
“dietary supplement” listed on the label. Obviously, we now know that Phenibut is nowhere near a
dietary supplement and more akin to a depressant or benzo drug. However, most do not know this
because they read silly articles on the blogs of Phenibut vendors that lie to them about it having few
side effects. As a result, they are put at risk of taking way too much Phenibut (thinking it’s safe) to the
point of an overdose, which is characterized by dose-dependent cognitive impairment, drowsiness,
confusion, bradycardia, hypotension, hypothermia, respiratory depression, and variable levels of coma.
It is also easy to overdose on Phenibut because it has a slow onset, causing many first-time users to re-
dose before the initial effects set in. Even if you do not overdose, taking a little too much Phenibut can
cause you to fall asleep at random. That being said, you definitely do not want to drive under the
influence of this substance.

Another Phenibut danger that was mentioned earlier is that there are only around 300 published papers
on it, most of which are in Russian. For a substance that has been around since the 1960s, that is an
incredibly low amount of information. Therefore, we do not know the long-term risks of Phenibut use.
All in all, Phenibut is the most risky and dangerous so-called nootropic out there. As the Nootropic Dr.
Seuss would say, “I wouldn’t touch Phenibut with a thirty-nine-and-a-half foot pole!”

5 Nootropics Women Should Never Take / 21

Wait,
There’s One More Danger!
These are five nootropics (or two nootropics and three substances regarded to be nootropics) I believe
women should never take. For the record, four of them are recreational drugs. This exposes that
perhaps the biggest danger to someone who is not yet knowledgeable on nootropics is the nootropic
community itself, not the substances discussed. If you engage in nootropic forums, groups, etc., you
would be led to believe lies such as Nicotine not being that addictive and Modafinil literally making you
limitless. However, the reason behind this seems to be a harsh reality that many avid members of the
nootropic community must face. That is, safe substances that actually boost cognition (nootropics) are
rare. In turn, members of these nootropic communities latch onto anything that has gained buzz for
enhancing some any kind of brain function. Even if it is a dangerous drug, they will, in turn, sweep its
dangers under the rug. This explains Kratom, Phenibut, and Nicotine being sought out as “nootropics.”
Another example is a topic I repeatedly encounter while browsing the nootropic community: micro-
dosing the psychedelic drug LSD (such as this subreddit). The point is, be cautious of what you read on
forums and in groups within the nootropic world. Always do your own research and do not just take
what people say as truth (unless they are credible). If you have any questions, I recommend you ask
them within the Facebook group Nootropics are for Women Too. We have many knowledgeable
women in the group who would love to answer your nootropic-related questions.

Anyways, thanks for reading and best wishes to you and your brain.

John Tilton

5 Nootropics Women Should Never Take / 22

Phenibut Citations
[1] Jones, Akroma. “Phenibut Experience report.” November 21 2016. YouTube.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=K0d6qDzvtc4.

[2] N.N. Zavadenko and N. Yu. Suvorinova. “Results of Pharmacotherapy of Attention Deficit
Hyperactivity Disorder: Assessment Using Neuropsychological Methods.” Neuroscience and Behavioral
Physiology 46, no.3(2016): 354-359. url: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11055-016-0241-x.

[3] “Phenibut.” The Drug Classroom. https://thedrugclassroom.com/video/phenibut/.

[4] Menayang, Adi. “Supplement tarde associations warn retailers to not sell products with phenibut.”
Nutra. November 6, 2018. https://www.nutraingredients-usa.com/Article/2018/11/06/Trade-groups-
warn-of-potentially-harmful-brain-booster-
phenibut?utm_source=copyright&utm_medium=OnSite&utm_campaign=copyright.

[5] “Phenibut’s Insane Benefits.” Corpina. https://corpina.com/positive-negative-side-effects-

phenibut/.

[6] https://thedrugclassroom.com/video/phenibut/

[7] James, Christopher. “How Bad Are Phenibut Withdrawals?”. Quora . September 3, 2018.
https://www.quora.com/How-bad-are-phenibut-withdrawals.

5 Nootropics Women Should Never Take / 23

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