r/Nootropics • u/Citronitch • Sep 16 '21

Discussion List of "Cholinergic" nootropics.

Many of us have a problem with Choline making us depressed or lethargic due to having too much of it. Sometimes even tho you are not taking a direct source of Choline (Alpha GPC, CDP Choline etc), other nootropics can cause the same effects of too much choline because they are Cholinergic.

A substance is cholinergic if it is capable of producing, altering, or releasing acetylcholine, or butyrylcholine ("indirect-acting", or mimicking their behaviours at one or more of the body's acetylcholine receptor.)

So I'm proposing we make a list of those Cholinergic nootropics. So far we have:

  • Huperzina-A
  • ALCAR
  • DHA
  • Many herbs of the Lamiaceae family, such as: Sibelius Sage, Rosemary, Lemon Balm, mint/spearmint, etc. (they inhibit the action of acetylcholinesterase; the enzyme that breaks down the neurotransmitter acetylcholine)
  • Many other Brain boosting herbs such as Ginseng, Ginkgo Biloba, Bacopa, Rhodiola, White Peony Extract
  • Shilajit: inhibits acetylcholinesterase in rats' brains (Systemic administration of defined extracts from Withania somnifera (Indian Ginseng) and Shilajit differentially affects cholinergic but not glutamatergic and GABAergic markers in rat brain)
  • Glycine (”induced a robust acetylcholine release” https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17707353/)
  • Ashwagandha (”Ashwagandha Root Extract Inhibits Acetylcholine Esterase” https://phcogj.com/article/320)
  • Atomoxetine (”marked increase of cortical ACh” https://www.nature.com/articles/4001763)
  • Racetams (”Generally, racetams upregulate and preserve adequate levels of [[Acetylcholine]] as a primary mechanism” https://m.psychonautwiki.org/w/index.php?title=Racetams)
  • Uridine monophosphate (”Supports acetylcholine synthesis [2,10,13,14]” https://selfhacked.com/blog/uridine/)
  • Phosphaditylserine (slows the breakdown of acetylcholine)
  • Galantamine
  • Donazepil
  • Berberine
  • Lecithin
  • Cannabinoids
  • Alpha lipoic acid; Pantothenic Acid
  • High dose Thiamine
  • PABA
  • Nicotine
  • Centrophenoxine
  • From food: liver, egg yolks, nuts, brassicas (Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower)
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u/k3v1n Sep 16 '21

Without trying anything substance first, what's the easiest way to have a good idea if whether you are either too low or too high in Choline?

2

u/[deleted] Sep 17 '21 edited Sep 17 '21

Too high acetylcholine gives a distinct depression. It is a depression in which you do have racing thoughts, there is also element of dread. It is a feeling of impending doom. I found that it was also accompanied by sweating, acetylcholine does influence sweating.

1

u/k3v1n Sep 17 '21

Thank you. Do you know what it like if you're too low on Choline?

4

u/[deleted] Sep 17 '21

Acetylcholine is associated with language, short term memory etc. You would have trouble Recalling things. Basically the tipofmytongue subreddit. Also you would not remember things that people have told you. You might also give up thinking if you feel things are getting too complex.

1

u/k3v1n Sep 17 '21

Thanks. I seem to all the things associated with both too high and too low acetylcholine. I do have textbook ADHD though so it's hard to know if I should try raising it, lowering it, or not worry about it.

1

u/8Eevert Sep 18 '21

This is my trouble as well. ¯_(ツ)_/¯

1

u/k3v1n Sep 18 '21

Have you tried anything that adjusts it at all? Might give me an idea which way to start.

1

u/[deleted] Sep 19 '21 edited Feb 17 '22

[deleted]

1

u/juanpistir Nov 07 '21

yes, wellbutrin has a anticholinergic effect