Afobazole: My Experience
I believe Russia is the leading producer of new nootropics. They’re constantly coming out with new and promising things to try. After having great success with the racetam powder, I did a little reading to find what else I could take (hah, maybe curiosity got the better of me?). In case you’re wondering, there are many sources where noopept can be purchased.
I 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.