I have been researching and experimenting with nootropics for about 6 years now. Some of them do work, but most of them don't. The problem is twofold:
a) many nootropics simply have zero evidence that they do anything, but are prompted up on anecdote and marketing
b) the majority of companies sell products with underdosed, fake, or cheap contaminated chinese bullsh!t.
Nootropics and dietary supplements in general are often thrown out as snake oil; this is because it's easier for someone to dismiss all of them than it is to individually research and specific substances, which can take many many years. Things are further complicated by the fact that some substances work will work for you and not others, and are dependant on your own unique neurochemistry and lifestyle factors. Despite this, most people focus almost exclusively on anecdotes and reviews, and fall prey to marketing/branding; as such the placebo/nocebo effect is
rampant.
Anyway, as for which products to try, that comes down to your own goals. The best ones out there in my opinion are selank, semax, modafinil, tianeptine, selegiline, and
mayyybe phenibut (PM me if you want legit sources).
If you want to get started, I'd strongly recommend purchasing from nootropics depot, they are the gold standard in the nootropics community and no other company comes close in terms of purity, R&D, and quality control. I'd suggest starting with something safe and effective, try phenylpiracetam + citicoline or alpha-gpc from nootropics depot and see that makes you feel, then go from there. Don't make the mistake of trying a dozen new things at once, or you won't know how each invidiual substance is effecting you.
For research purposes,
examine.com and
nootropics professor are great sites to check out if you want to learn more.
