Doxiderol - Nootropics on the MCAT?

[Renaissance Man]

I know a lot of threads have been made on nootropics, but I haven't seen one about using them for the MCAT. I recently tried Doxiderol (who actually advertises on this SDN) and wrote a review about it here. Have any of you all used nootropics (non-prescription) while studying for the MCAT? I am curious to see what supplements work and don't work.

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[Plane]

What the heck is going on? Coffee is all I need, and I have experimented with ADHD medication in the past, but seriously? For the MCAT, I pumped coffee into my system for the last two weeks before the test, and during the test I drank some out of a Thermos, and I thought I was being hardcore...

Anyway if you are going to take some pills, at least do some actual research on them like looking up journal articles and reviews instead of posting on a random forum.

Best of luck!

 

[maybemed2013]

Just take a multivit... and complex b , save ur money.

 

[Renaissance Man]

What the heck is going on? Coffee is all I need, and I have experimented with ADHD medication in the past, but seriously? For the MCAT, I pumped coffee into my system for the last two weeks before the test, and during the test I drank some out of a Thermos, and I thought I was being hardcore...

Anyway if you are going to take some pills, at least do some actual research on them like looking up journal articles and reviews instead of posting on a random forum.

Best of luck!

I see you didn't read what I posted...I have already taken the MCAT and done quite well, without "experimenting" with prescription meds. Doxiderol is mostly vitamin B5, B12, and amino acids mixed with caffeine.

In my blog post, I did do research. Was just trying to see if others have used nootropics in the past and what their experiences were like.

 

[Renaissance Man]

Just take a multivit... and complex b , save ur money.

Yeah it is mostly caffeine and vitamin B. Although there are some cool amino acid components, and natural compounds that seem to have some substance behind their claims. It obviously energized me, but I felt more focused as well.

 

[SPerry90]

Thanks for the post. I've been someone who has experimented with nootropics before. Specifically taking Bacopa and CDP-Choline. I think many people underestimate the power of nootropics beyond the use of caffeine of course. Regarding your question about which supplements work, I can vouch for choline, bacopa and obviously caffeine. As a begin prep for the MCAT I think I will begin using nootropics again. I never tried Doxiderol but I think I will give it a go. Seems like the consensus on Reddit nootropics forum is that it looks like a solid blend. http://www.reddit.com/r/Nootropics/comments/zmt3p/rnootropics_is_doxiderol_any_useful/.

 

[Testosterone]

Yeah it is mostly caffeine and vitamin B. Although there are some cool amino acid components, and natural compounds that seem to have some substance behind their claims. It obviously energized me, but I felt more focused as well.

I tried piracetam/choline before. I felt more talkative for like a week, but it could have totally could have just been a placebo effect. I did have vivid dreams though. Honestly, I think nootropics are just a big waste of money for minimal if any effect. The stacks that you see people on the longecity forums cost around 100 dollars a month and if you search nootropics on youtube, most people you see on there look more high and ridiculous sounding than 'smart'.

 

[Renaissance Man]

I tried piracetam/choline before. I felt more talkative for like a week, but it could have totally could have just been a placebo effect. I did have vivid dreams though. Honestly, I think nootropics are just a big waste of money for minimal if any effect. The stacks that you see people on the longecity forums cost around 100 dollars a month and if you search nootropics on youtube, most people you see on there look more high and ridiculous sounding than 'smart'.

There is definitely a psychosomatic component to taking these kinds of things. I only tried Doxiderol because it seemed to be mostly vitamins and caffeine. My grandma swears by choline too, so I wanted to see what that would do as well.

 

[SPerry90]

There is definitely a psychosomatic component to taking these kinds of things. I only tried Doxiderol because it seemed to be mostly vitamins and caffeine. My grandma swears by choline too, so I wanted to see what that would do as well.

There's a psychosomatic competent to almost anything you take. With regards to nootropics, although there are mixed reviews, I think the consensus is that there are supplements that help your brain. There's probably a good reason your grandfather likes his choline.

Acetyl L Carnitine is another ingredient I like:

http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-suppl...d=834&activeIngredientName=ACETYL-L-CARNITINE

 

[Integrated MCAT Course]

Way back in the friggin 90s when I first started helping folks with the MCAT as a one-on-one tutor, occasionally a student would ask me what I thought about 'smart pills'. I would start in with some positive features and benefits. Then I would say, 'Funny you should mention, but I'm actually a rep for a few good companies.' Then I would start to open my briefcase to offer them samples. It was actually pretty humorous. Maybe you had to have been there.

I think it's good to keep in mind that the habits of life you establish in preparing for the MCAT will be the same ones you will have in medical school. It's not a sprint. It's a marathon. Relying on pills for learning will have your body breaking down in residency, even if it's 'just' megadoses of vitamins, theanine, and caffeine. Overuse of vitamin b12 can have serious side-effects. Caffeine too. Use rest, meditation, and clean living! A doctor's first patient is themselves.

 

[Renaissance Man]

Way back in the friggin 90s when I first started helping folks with the MCAT as a one-on-one tutor, occasionally a student would ask me what I thought about 'smart pills'. I would start in with some positive features and benefits. Then I would say, 'Funny you should mention, but I'm actually a rep for a few good companies.' Then I would start to open my briefcase to offer them samples. It was actually pretty humorous. Maybe you had to have been there.

I think it's good to keep in mind that the habits of life you establish in preparing for the MCAT will be the same ones you will have in medical school. It's not a sprint. It's a marathon. Relying on pills for learning will have your body breaking down in residency, even if it's 'just' megadoses of vitamins, theanine, and caffeine. Overuse of vitamin b12 can have serious side-effects. Caffeine too. Use rest, meditation, and clean living! A doctor's first patient is themselves.

Wait...so you say that one shouldn't "rely" on pills for MCAT prep as it will lead to use in medical school and residency. Yet you sold said pills in the past? Is that you Mitt?

Obviously anything that is taken in excess is bad for you. Water being one of those substances. However, to counter your point prolonged use of caffeine has been shown to decrease cancer risk. I also didn't realize taking vitamins, caffeine, and amino acids meant I wasn't living clean. I also seriously doubt anyone "relies" on nootropics such as Doxiderol for the duration of their medical career (ADHD medications may be a different story).

 

[Integrated MCAT Course]

Wait...so you say that one shouldn't "rely" on pills for MCAT prep as it will lead to use in medical school and residency. Yet you sold said pills in the past? Is that you Mitt?

There were no samples. It was a joke! For about five seconds they thought they'd stumbled into an infomercial and that I'd been waiting to make this pitch for weeks. After I started opening my briefcase, I looked up and we both cracked up. It was just something funny from years ago that this topic made me remember. They were both older fellows, nontraditional students, so they could take it. We were friends at that point and still are.

But I guess I shouldn't have come across so puritanically. The world of 'supplements' is filled with all kinds of pseudoscience. My own feeling is that a person should drink only spring water and grain alcohol. For years I pushed myself to work way too hard and drank buckets of coffee and it will start to wear you down.

 

[Renaissance Man]

There were no samples. It was a joke! For about five seconds they thought they'd stumbled into an infomercial and that I'd been waiting to make this pitch for weeks. After I started opening my briefcase, I looked up and we both cracked up. It was just something funny from years ago that this topic made me remember. They were both older fellows, nontraditional students, so they could take it. We were friends at that point and still are.

But I guess I shouldn't have come across so puritanically. The world of 'supplements' is filled with all kinds of pseudoscience. My own feeling is that a person should drink only spring water and grain alcohol. For years I pushed myself to work way too hard and drank buckets of coffee and it will start to wear you down.

Oh ok, I completely missed that it was a joke, that is on me. My apologies. I agree with you, but from what I can tell Doxiderol is not something that will be relied on from MCAT through residency. Everything in moderation.

 

[ThirdEye]

Just take a multivit... and complex b , save ur money.

This.

A protein rich meal + coffee >>>>>>>>>> doxiderol