Best Nootropics For ADHD: Our Top List

Thousands of people have been diagnosed and treated for ADD (Attention deficit disorder) or ADHD (Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) in the past decade. Many useful and safe treatments are available, and there is a lot of evidence on the validity of the ADHD diagnosis. 

Due to the extent of people receiving this diagnosis, ADHD is also often mentioned in the media. While on the one hand, some articles are based on science-based knowledge available on ADHD and its treatment. On the other hand, there is a lot of skepticism presented as well. 

ADHD is a complex disorder that can have many devastating effects on individuals and those around them. However, in some cases, the common drugs prescribed by doctors for treating ADHD are not so effective or have too many side effects. In other cases, nootropics can support medication treatment.

ADHD is a syndrome, a group of symptoms that occur together and form a disorder that is mainly associated with the executive functions in the brain. 

Executive functions are associated with the frontal lobe of our brain, and they represent a specific set of mental skills - from paying attention, switching focus, remembering things, organizing, and prioritizing. [1] 

For those diagnosed in their childhood, the symptoms often go on into adulthood, but there can be some changes in the expression of the symptoms and the intensity of them. However, the ADHD/ADD similar symptoms can also occur later in life even if there was no diagnosis or such problems earlier. This often happens after traumatic brain injury, hormonal changes of menopause, or brain changes in later stages of old age. [2] 

Symptoms of ADHD mainly include inattention, the lack of focus, hyperactivity, and impulsive behavior - the lack of ability to inhibit specific behavior .ADD is a disorder that doesn’t include constant movement or hyperactivity. It mostly involves impairments in focus, motivation, memory, planning, and self-regulation. In short, the symptoms are so severe that they significantly disrupt the individual’s work, relationships, or schoolwork. 

 Some of the symptoms of ADD include: 

• Can’t pay close attention for longer periods
• Easily distracted from doing their tasks
• Problems staying focused on tasks or activities
• Often caught in “daydreaming”
• Problems organizing tasks and work - messy workplace, missed deadlines, issues with time  management
• Losing things needed for completing the tasks - books, keys, wallet, cell phone, etc.
• Avoiding tasks that require sustained mental effort (completing reports or excel sheets)
• Forgetting daily tasks - returning phone calls, paying bills, etc. 

Neurotransmitters, also called chemical messengers in the brain, are the leading communicators between the brain and the rest of the body. Deficiencies in some neurotransmitters are behind many disorders - from depression, anxiety, other mood disorders to OCD. 

And since we don’t know the exact cause of ADHD, we understand that some inconsistencies in neurotransmitters contribute to it, especially in dopamine and norepinephrine levels. The optimal levels of both dopamine and norepinephrine, are important in managing ADHD since they are both associated with thinking and attention processes. 

Dopamine, on the one hand, is responsible for regulating our emotional responses and is also one of the key neurotransmitters mentioned in connection with our reward system, motivation, and cognition. [3] 

Norepinephrine, on the other hand, regulates attention, arousal enhances vigilance and formation of memory. It’s also associated with the “fight or flight” response in stressful or dangerous situations, where the levels of norepinephrine rise significantly, causing faster heart rate, increased blood flow to muscles, and narrowed more focused attention span. [4] 

There’s more to the importance of neurotransmitters and their levels in the brain. As we’ve mentioned, dopamine is quite essential when ADHD is in play, and the traditional stimulants used for treating ADHD are interacting with the dopamine transporter protein to calm down hyperactivity in those who have ADHD. 

However, as science evolves and new research is presented, they’ve actually found that more than dopamine itself, the optimal balance between dopamine and serotonin matters when it comes to reducing hyperactivity. [5]

The most well-known and widely used medications for treating ADHD are stimulants, such as Adderall, Ritalin, Vyvanse. 

Nootropics, on the other hand, can work as supporters to those stimulants, whereas some people try to find some alternatives to those medications in nootropics. 

Either way, it is best to consult your doctor about what would be best for you and also ask about the possible effects of mixing your medication with nootropics. 

When it comes to the medications for ADHD, a lot of people experience a variety of different side effects that are also affecting the quality of their life. 

Some of those side effects are: 

It’s a long way to figure out what kind of dosage will do its best for a person without experiencing too much or too intensive side effects. 

Some people reported that taking both a certain stimulant and nootropic, helped them minimize the otherwise normal stimulant crash that often happens when taking stimulants. 

Also, nootropics can represent an additional boost in attention or focus while being a more natural and safer option for enhancing your cognition and mood. 

That’s why we created a list of some nootropics that can help when dealing with ADHD. 

PS is a compound synthesized in the body and is mainly found in the brain, where it plays an essential role in cognitive functioning. [6] 

Research shows that PS improves memory and helps in fighting with depression or anxiety. 

Moreover, some studies also show promising results for children diagnosed with ADHD - it was shown that supplementing PS helped in improving auditory memory, problems with attention, and reduced impulsive/hyperactive behavior. [7] 

Mucuna pruriens is a bean mostly found in more tropical countries. 

Mucuna is part of the list mainly because it is a powerful source of dopamine. It contains an amino acid called levodopa (L-Dopa), which is vital for producing dopamine. 

Lower concentrations of dopamine transporter proteins have been shown as a risk factor for ADHD. Furthermore, research shows differences in dopamine levels in those with ADHD and those without it. [8] 

Because of L-Dopa’s ability to cross the blood-brain barrier, and therefore represents a more direct source, Mucuna Pruriens shows more promising effects for those with ADHD than many other dietary supplements.