Noopept Versus Addium

Lumonol’s Noopept Provided Superior Focus

Of the two, our testers overwhelmingly preferred Lumonol for the consistent, fast-acting focus they felt they got from taking it in the morning (and often again in the afternoon, one capsule per serving). Read our full Lumonol review and a more in-depth discussion of noopept here.

This is probably due – at least in part – to the inclusion of noopept in Lumonol. Noopept is a compound related to the racetam class of nootropics, powerful synthetic compounds that have shown significant promise in the field of brain enhancement. Research suggests noopept may have a similar effect to piracetam – the father of the racetam class of compounds – at much lower dosages. Noopept also metabolizes quickly, which could be one reason our testers felt Lumonol was among the fastest acting nootropic supplements they’d ever tried.

Addium does not contain any racetam or related compounds; that in and of itself doesn’t mean it’s not a good nootropic, and the racetams and related compounds aren’t right for everyone. But our testers didn’t have good experiences overall when taking Addium.

While our testers generally recommend folks start slowly with Lumonol (and any racetam or noopept-containing supplement) to assess tolerance (for example, not pairing it with coffee at first so as to keep caffeine intake under control), they generally didn’t experience many if any jitters from the supplement. That wasn’t the case with Addium, which caused an energy spike, but one accompanied by significant jitters and unrest for more than one of us. Read our full Addium review here.

Both Lumonol and Addium contain proprietary blends of nootropic ingredients, meaning the manufacturers don’t release exactly how much of certain compounds are in one serving (this is pretty common in the industry, even for leading sellers like Onnit’s super-popular Alpha BRAIN and Alpha BRAIN Instant). However, it can make it challenging to assess tolerance, which is why we often start with less than the recommended dosage to see how our bodies and minds respond.

Even with the recommended dosage of Addium – just one capsule per day – we experienced unrest and jitters that made it difficult to focus, as opposed to the enhanced concentration the manufacturer would imply users experience.

Looking for Something Without a Proprietary Blend?

Lumonol is preferred head and shoulders above Addium among our testers, but if you’re looking for something without a proprietary blend, neither is the best option for you.

Companies like Nootrobox – which is backed by some of the world’s leading venture capitalists – are now rolling out products that clearly indicate the amount of each active ingredient. Nootrobox’s RISE supplement is one of our top choices right now, and among BrainWiz’s favorite nootropics that are stimulant free. Read our full review of RISE here, and check out our interview with one of Nootrobox’s founders here.

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Yet comparing the two based purely on the label is difficult, because both include “proprietary blends” that don’t reveal the exact dosage of everything included. (Read more about proprietary blends and what they really mean a few sections below.)

Overall, our testers liked Neurofuse, and it’s currently one of our top-rated nootropics. We found its effects to be consistent, and the main criticism is that the ideal dosage will vary from person to person, so we recommend starting with just one capsule to assess tolerance. Most of our testers feel increased energy when using Neurofuse, in addition to better productivity and focus, along with a higher tolerance of stress. The amount of caffeine is unlisted, but we found it to feel comparable to a cup or two of regular coffee.

Read our full Neurofuse review here.

Addium, on the other hand, had our testers feeling all sorts of jitters, even with the minimum dosage of one capsule. Instead of prolonged focus and productivity, the days we tested Addium tended to result in energy crashes. We’re not sure of the exact ingredient doses in this stack, but whatever they are, they simply didn’t work that well for us, especially compared to other broad spectrum stacks. If you’re very sensitive to caffeine, this might be one to avoid.

Read our full Addium review here.

Want Something Without a Proprietary Blend?

Many nootropic and brain supplement manufacturers use proprietary blends to protect their exact formulas, meaning the specific dosages of some ingredients aren’t listed on the label. Some of our favorite nootropics, and some of the world’s most popular, do this, including Neurofuse and Alpha BRAIN. While we like both, we understand some people prefer a more transparent option or want to know exactly how much of each ingredient they’re taking.

Nootrobox, which just raised $2 million in venture capital funding, is a company that insists upon listing full ingredient amounts on each label. Currently, the company produces the daily nootropic stack RISE, the caffeine-containing SPRINT, a sleep supplement called YAWN, and “chewable” coffee called GOCUBES. Learn more about Nootrobox and the ethos behind their company and supplements in our interview with Nootrobox co-founder Geoffrey Woo. Nootrobox’s RISE supplement (full RISE review here) is one of our top-rated nootropic stacks that doesn’t contain stimulants like caffeine.

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Both supplements have proprietary blends, meaning that the exact quantities of each ingredient in their formulas are not disclosed. While this is a fairly common practice in the supplement industry, it makes it harder to compare the efficiency of formulas with similar ingredients.

Read our full Lumonol review, and find out what our testers thought about the manufacturer’s other formula, Lumonol Nova.

In the case of Lumonol vs Addium, the comparison is easier, since these two supplements only have a couple of ingredients in common, namely L-Tyrosine and caffeine. Both Addium and Lumonol rely on caffeine as a stimulant, but Lumonol’s caffeine largely comes from guarana, a plant that contains both more caffeine and more phytonutrients than coffee.

Lumonol combines well-researched nootropic  that are not only powerful, but also fast-acting, perhaps due to the inclusion of noopept in its formula, in a package that is a favorite of many of our testers. The combination of stimulants and fast-acting ingredients  makes the effects of Lumonol felt almost instantaneously. Another benefit of this formula is that its Energy Blend, while strong, did not result in a crash when we tested it out. Our testers also reported a wave of energy from Addium, but they were more likely to experience a crash, usually in the afternoon, once the caffeine wore off.

Find out what our testers thought about Addium.

In general, our testers prefer Lumonol for the observationally “powerful” formulation; they experienced few if any jitters and sustained energy when taking the supplement. While Addium did provide a boost of energy, some of our testers were disappointed with the relatively short duration of the pill’s effects, along with the abrupt dropoff in energy levels after a few hours.

Want to find out more about Lumonol? One of our testers tried it for 90 days straight, find out what they had to say at the end.

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This means they don’t publicly list exactly how much of each ingredient is in a serving of their respective supplements. (This is a fairly common practice in the supplement industry and companies work to protect their formulas from each other, though there are notable exceptions; see Natural Stacks and truBrain.)

However, while they share a significant number of ingredients, our experiences with Alpha BRAIN and Addium differ in some key ways. First, it’s worth noting that Alpha BRAIN (an Onnit product) is stimulant/caffeine-free. While the exact amounts of ingredients in Alpha BRAIN differ between its regular and powdered instant formulas, neither caused jitteriness in our testers. (Read our full review of Alpha BRAIN, including our thoughts on timing, as well as our full review of Alpha BRAIN Instant.)

Alpha BRAIN’s stimulant-free nature also makes it a valuable part of one of our favorite travel stacks.

Alpha BRAIN in capsule form paired especially well with coffee in our experience, and it’s a regular part of the morning routine for several of our testers. They especially like the cumulative effect and tend to get more out of Alpha BRAIN after taking if for several weeks. However, some people sensitive to adaptogens like bacopa may see diminishing returns and could get more benefit from cycling off Alpha BRAIN every few days. Like any nootropic, personal experience will vary somewhat!

In contrast to the caffeine-free Alpha BRAIN, Addium does contain caffeine in its proprietary blend, though in an unspecified amount. After just a single capsule of Addium, our testers felt a different rush from the caffeine; some enjoyed this, while it gave others excess jitters, and we didn’t have much success stacking it with coffee or other nootropics. Read our full Addium review to see how our testers reacted to their proprietary formula.

Addium also contains GABA (gamma-Aminobutyric acid), which may have a positive effect on sleep and rest for certain users; even though it’s an ingredient that can have difficulty crossing the blood-brain barrier, we recommend becoming familiar with its effect before users stack with other nootropics or stimulants, and we use caution or avoid drinking alcohol on days when we consume GABA-containing stacks.

While Alpha BRAIN tends to give our testers a bit more mental energy and focus that gradually builds over the day, Addium felt like a quick rush, with some jitteriness, that risked a crash shortly thereafter.

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There are no newcomers to the list of ingredients in Addium, at least nothing we haven’t seen many times before, and as with many supplements containing a “proprietary blend,” Precision Labs does not list the quantity or concentration of most of the active ingredients. Read on to find out if Addium boosted our testers’ brain performance, or if this is just another supplement with unrealistic claims.

Addium Nutrition Label

The Ingredients

Vitamin B3 (Niacin) – 30mg

Vitamin B3 acts within the adrenal system to synthesize a number of sex- and stress-related hormones, along with serotonin, a neurotransmitter acting on the central nervous system and the GI tract. Some people experience a harmless “flush” when taking niacin-containing supplements.

Vitamin B6 (as Pyridoxine Hydrochloride) – 5mg

Vitamin B6 is involved in the production of neurotransmitters. When taken with phenylalanine, vitamin B6 can improve cAMP levels, and dopamine synthesis.

Proprietary Blend – 545mg

Caffeine

The world’s most popular stimulant, caffeine reduces drowsiness and sedation by inhibiting adenosine (a nervous system depressant) from reaching receptors in the brain. There are extensive studies on the effects of caffeine on cognition, alertness, and athletic performance.

GABA

This amino acid acts in the central nervous system calming nervous brain activity. It is a neuropsychotropic compound that functions as both a nootropic and as a tranquilizer by stimulating dopamine production. In certain situations, GABA has been shown to both decrease anxiety and promote relaxation, though it may have difficulty crossing the blood/brain barrier through oral supplementation.

Bacopa Monnieri

Bacopa Monnieri is an herb used in Ayurveda as a revitalizer, cognitive booster, and stress reliever. Scientific tests show the positive effects the herb can have on memory and free recall, though it may occasionally cause restlessness or feelings of apathy in some users (like most adaptogens, experience varies from person to person).

Alpha GPC

L-Alpha glycerylphosphorylcholine is a phospholipid (a main component of cell membranes) that has been positively linked with increased memory and learning capacity. It is one of the most effective compounds at increasing systemic and brain concentrations of choline.

L-Theanine

An amino acid exclusive to tea in dietary forms, L-Theanine increases alpha brain waves, inducing relaxation without any drowsiness.

Phosphatidylserine

Phosphatidylserine is another phospholipid vital to the maintenance of healthy nerve cell membranes. It has a direct effect on the release of both dopamine and noradrenaline, and it positively affects memory.

L-Tyrosine

L-Tyrosine is linked to improving cognitive performance under conditions of stress, and the compound has been shown to actually reduce symptoms of stress itself, likely because it is involved in the production of dopamine.

Vinpocetine

Vinpocetine is an herb-derived chemical that has been used to treat cerebrovascular disorders in Hungary. It is both a neuroprotective and a vasodilator, possibly increasing blood flow to the brain.

Huperzine A

Huperzine A is an herb-derived chemical that has been used in the treatment of Alzheimer’s. Studies show it may improve cognitive function and memory.

Other Ingredients: Gelatin, Silicon Dioxide, Magnesium Stearate (vegetable), Titanium Dioxide, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Red #3,

Allergens: Soybeans

Usage Guidelines

• As a dietary supplement, take 1 capsule daily.
• CAUTION: Do not exceed recommended dose. Pregnant or nursing mothers, children under the age of 18, and individuals with a known medical condition should consult a physician before using this or any dietary supplement.

What Our Testers Say

“Took this in the morning with my pre-workout, and there was a definite rush of energy. Couldn’t tell whether the flush was from working out or from the niacin/B3, but I felt warmer and redder than I usually do post-workout. The effects (both the flush and the energy) didn’t last long, though, and I found myself reaching for some coffee by early afternoon.”

“I don’t know how much caffeine is in this, but it was too much for me, or at least, one pill of the stack had me jittery. This gave me tons of nervous energy, even with the included L-Theanine in a mystery amount, and I crashed hard.”

“I think this did help me focus a bit, but it works a lot more like an energy pill than a nootropic. I had it with my morning coffee, and it just edged on being too much caffeine.”

“I took this for a couple of weeks, and I could tell my focus and memory were a little better, but not as well-rounded as other popular nootropic stacks. I could see how the caffeine in this, combined with some of the other ingredients in the “proprietary blend”, could be too much for people with a stimulant-sensitivity. I tried taking it both in the morning and to combat the afternoon slump, with some luck. This felt like more of a stimulant pill than anything else.”

BrainWiz Tips

• Take Addium with food to ease absorption, especially if you are sensitive to stimulants.
• Be careful when taking other stimulants or caffeine-containing beverages with Addium.
• All of our testers experienced an increase in energy while on Addium, though a couple experienced a crash once the supplement wore off.

<li”>As with any other supplements, consult a doctor or medical professional before starting a new regimen if you are on medication or have a preexisting condition.

Supplement Summary

Although all of our testers felt something on Addium, it was far from the advertised unlocking of 100% of the brain’s potential; overall, it felt much more like a quick stimulant rush with a resulting crash. The amount of caffeine in Addium is not listed, and most testers felt like it was the equivalent to about 2 shots of espresso.  If you are a coffee drinker, you may want to try Addium in the afternoon, instead of that second cup of coffee. This may not be the best supplement for those sensitive to niacin or stimulants in general.

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