Hi, I'm new to nootropics and recently started a regimen. In the morning I take:
50mg........... L-5-Hydroxytryptophan
500mg......... L-Carnitine
1,000mg.......Fish Oil
180mg.......Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA)
120mg.......Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA)
340mg.......Omega-3
40mg.......Other Fatty Acids
300mg.........Alpha Lipoic Acid
120mg.........Ginko Biloba
25mg...........Dehydroepiandrosterone
950mg.........Ginseng Complex
380mg.........L-Tyrosine
240mg.........Guarana Seed Extract (22% caffeine)
20mg...........Lutein
400mg.........Echinacea

1 Multivitamin, most of the supplements listed above include Vitamin B and E in varying amounts

I have a few questions. First of all should I be taking this down all at once, or space it out through the day? Are there any compounds that I should drop from this? I recently added the 5HTP, L-Carnitine, Fish Oil, and DHEA. I'm usually fine in until mid-afternoon when I start feeling mentally tired and fuzzy, does this mean there is something wrong, or does my body need time to adapt? I do consume a lot of coffee (being in the IT field it's a requirement). Any help would be most appreciated.

Personally, I would:

-drop Ginko, Ginseng and probably Echinacea (unless you get colds alot).
- try to up my EPA: DHA ratio in favor of much more EPA.
-replace L-Carnitine with Acetyl-L-Carnitine
-Take some extra Vitamin C and Magnesium
-Look into adding a more potent Nootropic, such as a -racetam, L-Huperzine etc.
-add a GABA supplement such as taurine or theanine to negate anxiogensis from caffeine/help with generalized stress

You might be experiencing a caffeine crash in the mid-afternoon. The half-life of caffeine in most people is 3-5 hours, meaning if you only drink it in the morning by noontime it's effects might be wearing off.

Hello Deffy

First what's your age, goal, and do you have any health issues?

I would consider the following alterations in your regimen:

Replace your L-Carnitine with Acetyl-l-carnitine 1,000-2,000 mg daily

Replace your Alpha Lipoic acid with R-Lipoic acid 150-300 mg (take a time released form or 2-3 times a day)

Increase your dose of omega 3's to at least 1 gram daily unless you eat fish or another source of omega 3's 3-4 times a week.

Gingko is a potent antioxidant and has positive effects on your cardiovascular and cerebralvascular system, but generally vinpocetine (20-40 mg) or vincamine (10-20 mg) has more potent cognitive effects.

DHEA I would use cautiously. I usually recommend it for those in their 30's taken Monday to Friday and biyearly blood testing on DHEA sulfate and liver tests to ensure safe levels. I would aim for a blood test of DHEA sulfate at 500-640 ug/dL.

Echinacea is best used only as needed.




I also second Gahan comments quoted above.

Geez, with that many variables, how you would determine any relative efficacy? Just what specifically are you trying to accomplish?