7 Best Nootropic Supplements for Improving Creativity and Imagination
Many college students, entrepreneurs, and other hard-working professionals use nootropics or “cognitive enhancers,” to improve creativity and imagination. There are many different nootropics, but what is the best nootropic for creativity? In a competitive world, it’s hard not to want an edge in everything you do. To unleash your artistic abilities, creative thinking, or musical genius, sometimes you need something to push you over the top. Since the limitless pill does not exist, we have some real world supplements that you can explore. Today’s article will focus on these 7 noteworthy supplements for creativity in: Aniracetam, Piracetam, Coluracetam, Phenibut, Sulbutiamine, Noopept, and Armodafinil.
Best Creativity Enhancing Supplements & Nootropics
1. Aniracetam
Aniracetam is part of the racetam family and is one of the most popular nootropics for creativity. Racetams are known for their ability to enhance learning and memory, but they’re capable of much more. Aniracetam is called an AMPA modulator. If something is an “AMPA modulator,” that means it’s capable of improving the function of AMPA receptors that respond to glutamate. These receptors, excitatory in nature, are associated with memory, learning, and sensory perception. Aniracetam is not a pill that makes you smarter, but it certainly helps enhance overall cognition.
Aniracetam also increases motivation and mood by acting as a dopamine and serotonin reuptake inhibitor. The most common types of anti-anxiety and antidepressant drugs are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI’s). By inhibiting the reuptake of these chemicals, it will increase their presence in the brain. Dopamine and serotonin are neurotransmitters associated with mood, motivation, focus, reward, and decision-making.
For those creative juices to flow, you need to be in a focused state of relaxation. Much like many natural remedies for ADHD, Aniracetam helps you get there. All of the anxiolytic and cognitive enhancing benefits work to improve creativity and imagination in an individual. Thus, taking Aniracetam for creativity is a common practice among those in the nootropic community.
This nootropic supplement is also relatively safe when using the proper dosage. One common side effect of Aniracetam may be occasional headaches. Headaches occur because racetams tend to inhibit production of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. Using a reliable choline source such as Citicoline or Alpha GPC in your nootropic stack for creativity can prevent these headaches.
2. Piracetam
Piracetam is a racetam nootropic that is popular among college students due to its lack of serious side effects. In addition to unleashing one’s artistic abilities, Piracetam is also one of the best nootropics for memory. Taking Piracetam for creativity has been shown to be very effective. It works by increasing the impact neurotransmitter acetylcholine can have in the brain. Piracetam does this by acting as a positive allosteric modulator of acetylcholine receptors. In simpler terms, Piracetam takes the chemicals released by nerve cells and improves their efficiency in communication with other cells.
Multiple studies have confirmed that Piracetam supplements increase communication between the two halves of the brain. It improves communication via the brain’s corpus callosum, the band of nerve fibers connecting our brain’s hemispheres. Increased activity between the two halves of our brain will improve creativity, memory, focus, and mood. Since Piracetam is also a racetam, a possible side effect is headaches. As with Aniracetam, choline can be used to counter headaches by working to increase production of acetylcholine.
3. Coluracetam
Coluracetam is new on the nootropic scene, but it’s quite similar to Aniracetam. Coluracetam is known as a “choline uptake enhancer.” Therefore, it’s able to increase the amount of neurotransmitter acetylcholine in the brain faster and more efficiently. Coluracetam is said to improve creativity by making you more sensitive to external stimuli and enhancing your sensory perception. The effects of this nootropic supplement on creativity are right in the name.
Coluracetam’s sensory enhancing properties allow you to see colors more vividly and hear sounds more clearly, placing you into a state of relaxation and free thinking. Coluracetam also improves memory, focus, and mood, which will further help to increase creativity. Keep in mind that this nootropic is still very young. More research needs to be done before we’re able to say with certainty how effective this drug can be. If the newness of this one scares you, stick with some of the other creativity supplements that we’ve discussed.
4. Phenibut
In the 1960s, Phenibut was developed by the Soviet Union to treat anxiety, depression, insomnia, and other disorders that can interfere with creative ability. Because of this, it is one of the best mood enhancing supplements available. Now, this particular drug doesn’t directly cause creativity. However, it certainly sets you up for it. It does this by putting you into a “flow state,” allowing you to focus strictly on the task at hand. By shutting out external distractions, Phenibut supplementation can promote creativity and imagination within the user.
This nootropic also stimulates dopamine receptors, heightening the sense of pleasure gained from your sensory input. The increase in mood, motivation and the anxiolytic effects of Phenibut allows individuals to discover their creative side. Phenibut is often stacked to improve the effects of other nootropics for creativity. However, this drug has been known to have some addictive potential. Tolerance can develop quickly with the regular use of Phenibut. It is advised to cycle off periodically, or only to use Phenibut as needed.
5. Sulbutiamine
Sulbutiamine, a derivative of B-vitamin based thiamine, is a nootropic supplement originally developed in Japan. It was created to remedy chronic mental fatigue commonly referred to as “asthenia.” This synthetic molecule can cross the blood-brain barrier more efficiently than thiamine; a feature that makes it more efficient at curing mental fatigue. By increasing focus, memory, and concentration, imagination and creativity can flourish.
Sulbutiamine has also demonstrated its ability to reduce psycho-behavioral inhibitions. In layman’s terms, this means to ease your conditioned fears. If you suffer from writer’s block, or if you’re stuck on a project, Sulbutiamine will make it easier to push through and finish your work. Overall, expect improvements in mood, anxiety and stress levels, as well as cognitive enhancement while using this nootropic.
6. Noopept
N-phenylacetyl-L-prolylglycine ethyl ester, or brand name “Noopept,” is a highly potent synthetic nootropic, perhaps the most powerful one available. Noopept greatly enhances creativity, imagination, memory, and boosts focus and concentration among other cognitive functions. This peptide nootropic is said to have neuroprotective, psychostimulatory, and anxiolytic effects in your brain. It also promotes overall cognitive health and memory. In other words, it does everything you’d want a nootropic to do. However, because of its potency, extra precautions should be taken.
Although Noopept is not a racetam, it does inhibit production of acetylcholine. Because of this, a larger dose can lead to headaches as a racetam would. Choline supplements should be taken with Noopept to counter the effects of acetylcholine inhibition. Do not misuse Noopept, as this may result in depression or anxiety disorders. When used in a responsible manner, Noopept is an excellent creativity and imagination enhancer.
7. Armodafinil
Armodafinil (Nuvigil) is an FDA-approved eugeroic drug used to treat excessive daytime sleepiness due to narcolepsy, shift-work sleep disorder, or sleep apnea. Armodafinil works by acting as a dopamine reuptake inhibitor. Increased extracellular dopamine concentrations can significantly increase energy and motivation, wakefulness, focus, and mood. This increase in attention will considerably enhance creativity.
When used in a stack, Armodafinil can amplify the effects of other creativity supplements or nootropics. A good stack enables users to experience superior cognitive enhancement, laser-sharp focus, and a clear mind for creative thoughts. When paired with a reliable choline source such as Alpha GPC or a cholinergic nootropic like Huperzine A, this drug becomes quite potent. Armodafinil (Nuvigil) is available by prescription only. Adverse side effects are rare, but some may experience headaches, dizziness, or nausea.
Final Thoughts on Creativity Supplements
College students, working professionals, aspiring artists and musicians, and many others can benefit from these nootropic brain supplements. It’s difficult to say what the top nootropic for creativity and imagination is. Everyone may have slightly different results with each drug. It’s best to give a few of them a try, in small doses, and see how your body reacts. Regardless, you can’t go wrong by adding any of these supplements for creativity to your nootropic stack. What do you feel is the best nootropic for creativity in? Let us know in the comments below!
