Being faced with fatigue almost daily, my first goal in finding a nootropic was something that would give me energy all day long. That’s when I heard about sulbutiamine.
In Comes Sulbutiamine
Sulbutiamine is a synthetic version of the B-vitamin thiamine (B1). It was one of the first nootropics I tried and turned out to be a successful experiment. Even just reading about sulbutiamine before actually trying it was incredibly interesting to me.
Maybe it was because of how bizarre and multi-faceted its mechanisms seemed and how they affect the brain. A stimulant that causes an increase in the regulation of dopamine. [1]
What is Sulbutiamine?
Basically, sulbutiamine is a synthetic version of B1, thiamine, that can cross the blood-brain barrier much more efficiently than actual B1. It then raises the levels of thiamine and thiamine phosphate esters in the brain, increasing focus and endurance. [2]
It’s also a brain supplement that promotes increased cognitive energy and cognitive function. In some studies it has been shown to increase patient’s memories and help with the retention of knowledge. [2]
More specifically, sulbutiamine is two B1 molecules joined together. This was first synthesized after World War II when Japan’s population was facing Beriberi, or thiamine deficiency due to a lack of B vitamins in the diet. This relationship of thiamine deficiency and diet was discovered by Japanese navy surgeon, Takaki Kanehiro.
Sublutiamine owes its increased ability to pass the blood-brain barrier to its lipophilic profile. In other words, sulbutiamine is fat, or lipid, soluble. Lipid-soluble substances more easily pass this barrier since the blood-brain barrier consists of endothelium cells. These cells only allow lipids, glucose, oxygen, and carbon dioxide molecules across the barrier.
There is some evidence that sulbutiamine may be helpful with neurotransmission. Sulbutiamine has been shown to protect neurons within the brain from the effects of oxygen and glucose deprivation and can help treat symptoms of type II diabetes and diabetic neuropathy. [2]
Sulbutiamine Dosage
An important aspect to keep in mind is the correct dosage of sulbutiamine to take. I tried small doses at first to get a feel for the experience, but these did not seem to produce any noticeable effect. It was only once I got into the 800 mg and above zone that anything close to “stimulation” occurred. Even then, it was a far different effect than I was expecting.
If you’ve never taken sulbutiamine before, start with a 200mg dose to assess tolerance. This is ideal to start with to ensure you do not experience negative side effects. Most sulbutiamine capsules start around 200mg, which is convenient.
Most human studies use 400mg daily, but some individuals take up to 1000mg daily. Regardless of your ideal dosage, do not take sulbutiamine before bed as it has stimulant-like properties although it’s not technically a CNS stimulant.
Sulbutiamine Half-Life and Redosing
Its biological half-life is 5 hours. To account for this, redose at 50% of your starting dosage about once every 5 hours. For example, if you find your ideal dosage to be 400mg, then redose 200mg at 5 hours after your initial 400mg dose. Remember not to take this within 5 hours of bedtime.
Assuming you sleep at least 6 hours, this should equate to a maximum of 1 initial dose and 1 redose (possibly 2 redoses if you want to risk sleep issues).
Personal Experience with Sulbutiamine
While the brain chemistry was interesting, I found once I got my sulbutiamine dose high enough, the subjective effects were different than anything I expected. The energy felt “deeper” than a caffeine or even an amphetamine boost. Rather than feeling stimulated, I just felt awake. Completely awake. I had moments where I would feel drowsy, but, again, it all seemed to be “on top” of a deeper energy that I could tap into and move on.
You can use sulbutiamine as a caffeine substitute if you’re trying to quit or cycle off caffeine or your morning coffee. I was able to reduce my caffeine intake by over half on the days I supplemented with sulbutiamine. It’s also synergistic with caffeine, in case you just want to reduce your caffeine usage.
Wow This Stuff Works.
My language became more fluid and complex than usual, and there were undeniable empathogenic qualities that stimulants typically give me. I was talking to coworkers about their families, offering advice, and complimenting people genuinely whenever I could. It was here that I saw how effective Sulbutiamine powder could be as an anxiolytic product for people with social anxieties.
I have read in a few forums that some people build a tolerance rather quickly. Wanting to avoid a new tolerance or dependence was not in my plans so I never took Sulbutiamine three days in a row. This is probably a good rule of thumb, at least. I wouldn’t recommend non-stop usage, just a few days a week with breaks in between. [2]
Even though I never experienced any adverse effects, I need to mention that using high doses for weeks in a row can cause withdrawal symptoms if you stop cold turkey. Make sure you consult a doctor beforehand if you’re on any prescriptions as well since a case study does exist that shows a patient on antipsychotics growing addicted to this supplement. [2]
What I found was a very pleasant and powerful energy and anxiety aid. I look forward to my next shipment and hope it will be as good as the first.
Sources
Afobazole: My Experience
/in Uncategorized/by Phillip JohnsonI came across this anxiolytic (anti-anxiety) stuff called Afobazole. I’m writing this with extreme caution because although I’ve taken it many times, I’m still unsure how safe it is – so be careful if you decide to try it. Disclaimers aside, Afobazole has been a great nootropic for me.
There’s almost no research in English on this particular nootropic, and at this point, everything is anecdotal. There are studies on this drug, but only the abstracts are in English. The rest of the studies are in Russion. However the Russion studies seem to claim it’s a safe compound with no known adverse side effects while taken alone or with other drugs. I’ve taken up to 20mg at a time (one tablet is 10mg) and I’ve been fine.
One point I have to make is that just because the studies do not claim negative interactions with other drugs, doesn’t mean it’s safe. There may be a negative interaction with drugs that warn not to take an MAOI since one study suggests that Afobazole is an MAO-A inhibitor.
Afobazole Effects
I notice myself feeling calmer and less self-critical. I tend to be a fairly self-conscious guy who can occasionally have a hard time in social settings, but on Afobazole (especially after several days of use, allowing it to build up in my system), I feel more at ease. Social interaction feel normal and there seems to be less pressure when I’m in public.
The Russians take pride in this nootropic drug because of its powerful anxiolytic properties while being non-sedating (typically, to find anything anxiolytic in the U.S. that is truly effective, a tradeoff is sedation). I certainly have not noticed any sedative effects with Afobazole and for this I am greatly appreciative.
Even though I find myself at ease, I’m still unsure if what I’m feeling is Afobazole or just placebo. Anti-anxiety meds are hard for me to measure because I still feel the same, yet overall more positive. Even if the effect is placebo, the fact is the drug is helping me through certain situations that might otherwise deter me. It’s made days go by easier and I’ve certainly enjoyed the experience. I might try to figure out a way to test the actual effectiveness of the drug by writing logs of how I am feeling throughout the days I take it versus the days I don’t.
Dosage
The recommended dosage is 10 to 20mg 1 to 3 times daily. Start with a single 10-20mg dose to see if you have any negative side effects. Then wait until the next day before increasing to two doses.
L-theanine as an Afobazole Alternative
Because Afobazole is extremely difficult to purchase in the U.S., similar results can be obtained by taking a proper theanine dosage. It calms the body considerably, and is also commonly paired with caffeine supplements for a clean energy boost.
Other Alternatives
Ashwagandha is an adaptogen. Adaptogens are herbs that help the body deal with stress. Although not as strong as afobazole or phenibut in lowering socially prohibitive levels of anxiety, ashwagandha is a natural, and likely healthier, alternative.
Where to Buy Afobazol
You can purchase this from cosmicnootopic.com. They seem to get rave reviews on reddit/r/nootropics.
Sulbutiamine Dosage, Description, and Experiences
/in Uncategorized/by Phillip JohnsonIn Comes Sulbutiamine
Sulbutiamine is a synthetic version of the B-vitamin thiamine (B1). It was one of the first nootropics I tried and turned out to be a successful experiment. Even just reading about sulbutiamine before actually trying it was incredibly interesting to me.
Maybe it was because of how bizarre and multi-faceted its mechanisms seemed and how they affect the brain. A stimulant that causes an increase in the regulation of dopamine. [1]
What is Sulbutiamine?
Basically, sulbutiamine is a synthetic version of B1, thiamine, that can cross the blood-brain barrier much more efficiently than actual B1. It then raises the levels of thiamine and thiamine phosphate esters in the brain, increasing focus and endurance. [2]
It’s also a brain supplement that promotes increased cognitive energy and cognitive function. In some studies it has been shown to increase patient’s memories and help with the retention of knowledge. [2]
More specifically, sulbutiamine is two B1 molecules joined together. This was first synthesized after World War II when Japan’s population was facing Beriberi, or thiamine deficiency due to a lack of B vitamins in the diet. This relationship of thiamine deficiency and diet was discovered by Japanese navy surgeon, Takaki Kanehiro.
Sublutiamine owes its increased ability to pass the blood-brain barrier to its lipophilic profile. In other words, sulbutiamine is fat, or lipid, soluble. Lipid-soluble substances more easily pass this barrier since the blood-brain barrier consists of endothelium cells. These cells only allow lipids, glucose, oxygen, and carbon dioxide molecules across the barrier.
There is some evidence that sulbutiamine may be helpful with neurotransmission. Sulbutiamine has been shown to protect neurons within the brain from the effects of oxygen and glucose deprivation and can help treat symptoms of type II diabetes and diabetic neuropathy. [2]
Sulbutiamine Dosage
An important aspect to keep in mind is the correct dosage of sulbutiamine to take. I tried small doses at first to get a feel for the experience, but these did not seem to produce any noticeable effect. It was only once I got into the 800 mg and above zone that anything close to “stimulation” occurred. Even then, it was a far different effect than I was expecting.
If you’ve never taken sulbutiamine before, start with a 200mg dose to assess tolerance. This is ideal to start with to ensure you do not experience negative side effects. Most sulbutiamine capsules start around 200mg, which is convenient.
Most human studies use 400mg daily, but some individuals take up to 1000mg daily. Regardless of your ideal dosage, do not take sulbutiamine before bed as it has stimulant-like properties although it’s not technically a CNS stimulant.
Sulbutiamine Half-Life and Redosing
Its biological half-life is 5 hours. To account for this, redose at 50% of your starting dosage about once every 5 hours. For example, if you find your ideal dosage to be 400mg, then redose 200mg at 5 hours after your initial 400mg dose. Remember not to take this within 5 hours of bedtime.
Assuming you sleep at least 6 hours, this should equate to a maximum of 1 initial dose and 1 redose (possibly 2 redoses if you want to risk sleep issues).
Personal Experience with Sulbutiamine
While the brain chemistry was interesting, I found once I got my sulbutiamine dose high enough, the subjective effects were different than anything I expected. The energy felt “deeper” than a caffeine or even an amphetamine boost. Rather than feeling stimulated, I just felt awake. Completely awake. I had moments where I would feel drowsy, but, again, it all seemed to be “on top” of a deeper energy that I could tap into and move on.
You can use sulbutiamine as a caffeine substitute if you’re trying to quit or cycle off caffeine or your morning coffee. I was able to reduce my caffeine intake by over half on the days I supplemented with sulbutiamine. It’s also synergistic with caffeine, in case you just want to reduce your caffeine usage.
Wow This Stuff Works.
My language became more fluid and complex than usual, and there were undeniable empathogenic qualities that stimulants typically give me. I was talking to coworkers about their families, offering advice, and complimenting people genuinely whenever I could. It was here that I saw how effective Sulbutiamine powder could be as an anxiolytic product for people with social anxieties.
I have read in a few forums that some people build a tolerance rather quickly. Wanting to avoid a new tolerance or dependence was not in my plans so I never took Sulbutiamine three days in a row. This is probably a good rule of thumb, at least. I wouldn’t recommend non-stop usage, just a few days a week with breaks in between. [2]
Even though I never experienced any adverse effects, I need to mention that using high doses for weeks in a row can cause withdrawal symptoms if you stop cold turkey. Make sure you consult a doctor beforehand if you’re on any prescriptions as well since a case study does exist that shows a patient on antipsychotics growing addicted to this supplement. [2]
What I found was a very pleasant and powerful energy and anxiety aid. I look forward to my next shipment and hope it will be as good as the first.
Sources