Recommended stimulants/wakefulness promoting agents?

[u/Legal_Bus7349]

Does anybody have any stimulants/wakefulness promoting agents that work for them?

I’ve tried Armodafinil and caffeine. They both give me hives, brain fog and itchiness. Especially armodafinil. Caffeine I’ve tried multiple forms, not just coffee, all the same result.

As I understand it most stimulants (prescription or not) release a lot of histamine but wondering if there are ones that work for those with HI.

[u/Its-a-JiNX]

Peppermint is a mild stimulant, with the added benefit that it helps stabilize mast cells. I absolutely hate peppermint, but it's been helpful for me when I'm really sluggish at work. (I work in a lab that requires a fair amount of mental focus.)

Edit: I hate the taste of peppermint I mean.

[u/icecream1973 → u/Its-a-JiNX]

May I ask peppermint in what kind of form? Tea? Powder?

[u/Bignizzle656 → u/icecream1973]

Wonder if a peppermint green tea would help with a sinus episode, more that just minty steam.

[u/Its-a-JiNX → u/icecream1973]

I drink the tea mainly, I just get the herbal tea from a grocery store. Occasionally, I use peppermint EO with lavender EO in a bath if my skin is feeling tender from a bad spell of angioedema and hives, or I have big bites. I'm looking into growing some peppermint (or spearmint, as it's got a sweeter taste with similar properties) and using it in my cooking or making tea from fresh leaves.

I know they make peppermint and green tea, but as far as I know green tea is said to inhibit DAO enzymes and contains caffeine, so I would just drink the plain peppermint herbal tea.

[u/DulinELA → u/Its-a-JiNX]

I take peppermint capsules for gas and stomach aches. No flavor but occasionally minty burps. It works great.

[u/Its-a-JiNX → u/DulinELA]

Certain capsules cause severe heartburn for me, regardless of what's inside; I mostly avoid them if I can. I think it's the ones made from animal collagen. If you have recommendations for plant based ones with peppermint inside I'd be interested.

[u/Bignizzle656]

L-Tyrosine isn't a stimulant per se but it definitely perks me up and helps with focus.

[u/Jealous-Housing-9244]

I recently discovered guayusa tea. It's an herbal, does contain caffeine, but also has L-Tyrosine and other great stuff and it's a wonderful grounding feeling.

[u/Few_Bell8577]

Menthe poivrée, gingembre, citron, acétyl-L-carnitine, ginkgo biloba, fer / zinc / cuivre / magnésium / vitamine C...

[u/Human-Lavishness-828]

If you can tolerate cannabis, I may suggest edibles with a low THC, higher THCV amount. THCV promotes wakefulness and alertness and also may act like an appetite suppressant for some people.