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While researching nootropics, you might have come across the term “Attack Dose” and be wondering what exactly it means.
Attack dosages are part of the online nootropic community vernacular, but what are they and should you be using one with your supplements?
A nootropic attack dose is typically used at the start of taking a new drug or supplement to get the maximal effects of the substance right away.
For some people, this strategy can effectively amplify the cognitive benefits they experience when taking Piracetam, Aniracetam, Oxiracetam or Pramiracetam.
However, there is greater potential risk of side effects when using such a dosing strategy and you do not need to engage in this practice in order to see results from your nootropics.
It only works for certain nootropics – particularly those in the Racetam family – and it may be dangerous with other supplements such as Ampakines.
In some cases, when you start taking nootropics like those of the Racetam family, it can take about a week for the full effects to kick in.
This can be disheartening for novice nootropic users who expect results immediately and are concerned when they feel nothing at first.
While potentially frustrating, this delayed reaction is really no different than the common experience when one tries marijuana or other drugs for the first time.
This is because the compounds need to build up in your neurons in order to reach their maximum potential. Most nootropics like Piracetam have cumulative effects that increase and intensify with continued use.
To speed up this process, some individuals will take a larger than normal dosage of new nootropics for the first day or week of using it. This can range from taking twice as much as the recommended nootropic dosage all the way up to four or five times the normal amount.
The term “Attack Dose” seems to trace back to the 1991 book called “Smart Drugs and Nutrients” by Dr. M. D. Ward Dean and Dr. John Morgenthaler. In their book, they write about using a Piracetam attack dosage to over-stimulate your neurons when you start using it.
This process of waking up your neurons is said to kick start a higher level of sensitivity in your synaptic receptors, cause formation of new synapses, and an increase in production of neurotransmitters.
This is the direct opposite of another strategy of starting to use nootropics for the first time which recommends beginning with a smaller than normal dosage to allow your body time to adjust and develop a tolerance.
While it may be safer to start with a half dose for your first week, you have to keep in mind that you will need to give your nootropic supplements time to work properly before abandoning hope of cognitive enhancement.
One distinction that should be made is between an attack dose and a nootropic mega dose. Mega dosing is the practice of taking a significantly higher dosage than normal for recreational or research purposes.
Typically, mega doses range from 3-5 times the amount of a suggested dosage and they are not used at the beginning of a new nootropic regimen.
Instead, people tend to mega dose nootropics for recreational purposes after having used them consistently for a while. Again, mega dosing does pose increased risk of side effects and should not be undertaken without consulting a medical professional.
Piracetam is the classic example of a supplement that seems to work better when starting with an attack dosage.
In the past, Piracetam used to be taken in much smaller dosages and the average Piracetam tablet was between 400 mg and 800 mg.
Now, research studies have revealed that this supplement is most effective at a dosage of between 4.8 – 9.6 grams per day. Some people will use this full amount while other prefer to take a maximum of 2 grams per day.
Suggested Piracetam Dosage: Between 1 – 4.8 grams taken in a single dosage with two to three dosages per day. Do not exceed 9.6 grams in a single 24 hour period. Attack Dosage: 4.8 grams taken twice a day.
Aniracetam is a fat-soluble Racetam which is more bioavailable than Piracetam, but it has a shorter half-life. Depending on your primary reason for taking nootropics, the suggested Aniracetam dosage will vary greatly.
For example, people taking this supplement to improve focus and concentration will typically use a smaller dosage three or four times a day. If your goal is to take Aniracetam powder as an anti-anxiety supplement, then you will usually use a larger dosage one or two times a day.
Suggested Aniracetam Dosage: Between 800 mg – 1.5 grams per dose between 2-4 times a day. Attack Dosage: 1.6 gram – 3 grams twice a day.
Oxiracetam is a bit stronger than Aniracetam and the effects of this nootropic drug tend to last a few hours longer.
It is considered to be a purely cognitive nootropic which does not offer much benefit in the line of mood enhancement. For this reason, it is often stacked with other nootropics like Noopept or Aniracetam. If you are using it in a stack, you may want to adjust the dosages below.
Suggested Oxiracetam Dosage: 800 mg – 1.5 g with two to three dosages a day. Attack Dosage: 1.6 gram –2.5 grams taken twice a day.
Because of its modified chemical structure, Noopept is able to cross the blood-brain barrier much more effectively. It also kicks in much more rapidly, especially when administered sublingually.
Its effects are highly concentrated compared to the other racetams mentioned in this article and you need a much smaller dosage in order to see positive results.
Some people do use attack dosages with Noopept, but this can actually counteract the effectiveness of the smart drug.
When you have too much Noopept in your brain, it can lead to over-stimulation of glutamate receptors and ultimately excessive levels of GABA – an inhibitory neurotransmitter which is made from glutamate. Taking an attack dose of Noopept might lead to “brain fog” or drowsiness.
There are a few other nootropics which may benefit from using an attack dosage. For example, this practice is fairly common among Pramiracetam users.
But for most of the other common nootropics, such as Phenylpiracetam and Sunifiram, it is general not recommended to start with a larger than normal dose.
In order to determine whether an attack dose is right for you, you should make sure to read online reviews and logs from other individuals who have tried this strategy. While there have not been any cases of serious side effects reported from this methodology, it is not a guarantee that you will see better results by taking a higher than normal amount to start with.
Decide for yourself whether this is something you want to try. Otherwise, be patient with your nootropics and allow them the time they need to properly affect changes in your cognitive abilities.
daily at small doses , build up the same as piracetam . ?obviously the dosages being much different.
Because of the slightly stimulating effects of phenylpiracetam, most users report a tolerance after taking it for long periods of time. Generally, it is advised to cycle phenylpiracetam. It’s impossible to say generally for non-racetam nootropics as they all have individual mechanisms of action. Some supplements like Bacopa Monnieri and Ginkgo Biloba seem to take time to build to an effective level while others like Huperzine A seem to require less of the “loading period” effect.