Question: Which of the smart drugs is best to start with? ——MH

Answer: This is a question we’re frequently asked. The answer is, “it depends.” Unfortunately, there is no magic bullet smart drug that works well for everyone. Nor is there any known way to test in advance who will respond best to which smart drug. Therefore, the use of smart drugs remains empirical, and the choice of which drug/substance to start with is a very individualized one. For example, many users of cognitive enhancing substances prefer to use natural (non-drug) substances. For them, the best substances to start with are 1) over-the-counter nutrients from health food stores, like dimethylaminoethanol (DMAE), Gingko biloba, or phenylalanine, or 2) preprepared combination products containing neurotransmitter precursors like choline, tyrosine, phenylalanine, pyroglutamate, etc. For those that have a cooperating knowledgeable physician, Hydergine and vasopressin may be tried initially. For those who live close to the Mexican border, or who can order from overseas pharmacies, well-tested drugs that can be highly recommended for first-time include piracetam and deprenyl. ——WD