Millions of people all across the globe are looking for an edge. In the office, in the dating field, in the gym–wherever you find the modern human, you find someone competing. It’s no surprise then that drug use, whether by prescription or otherwise, has risen sharply in the last fifteen years. Between 2008 and 2012, for instance, Adderall use tripled in the US. Approximately 11% of Americans in their 20’s use Adderall, and a shocking 2.7% of adolescents in Florida are abusing it.
Considering these numbers, it’s natural and commendable to look for an alternative. So if you’ve looked into the use of stimulant drugs like Adderall, we’ve compiled this list of safe, legal, and effective Nootropics that can help you.
Note
This article is not intended to help diagnose, treat, or cure any disease or disorder. If you have a prescription for Adderall or similar medication, consult your physician before making any changes to your supplement or medication routine.
What is Adderall?
Adderall is a drug technically classified as an amphetamine. This means that it chemically stimulates our neurons and speeds up certain neurological processes. This has led to misuses and abuse by millions of people, both those who have a prescription and those who do not.
It does have addictive properties, which is why so many people seek out alternatives. Many people want help with non-prescription purposes, such as those who do not have ADHD, but who do want help focusing for exams or office performance.
How Can Nootropics Help?
Nootropics, for the purposes of this article, refer to non-prescription supplements that can:
Unlike Adderall, Nootropics can even improve your literal thinking power. Especially for people who are risking non-prescription Adderall use, Nootropics can offer a much more safe and highly effective alternative to Adderall.
Top 3 Adderall Alternatives
Feedamind
Best overall
Overall Rating: 4.9/5
✔️ 13 proven ingredients
✔️ Improve motivation, focus, memory, cognition, and drive
✔️ Transparent formula lists
Noocube
Best guaranteed nootropic
Overall Rating: 4.7/5
✔️ Formula designed for anyone’s cognitive needs
✔️ Well-researched ingredients
✔️ For better attention & focus
Vyvamind
Best neurostimulant
Overall Rating: 4.5/5
✔️ Improve focus in high-acuity situations
✔️ Great for multi-tasking
✔️ Improved reaction times
1. Feedamind
Drawing inspiration from breakthrough scientific studies, Feedamind has crafted their formula at the absolute cutting edge of research. By combining only the best-proven ingredients in effective doses, Feedamind delivers a fast-acting, high-performing Nootropic.
Why Feedamind is Number One
Feedamind is our top recommendation for people looking to steer clear of stimulants like Adderall because of their formula. By taking both Lutein and Zeaxanthin from the Marigold plant, and combining it with Chocamine and Dynamine, you’ll feel all the benefits of traditional stimulants without any chemical drawbacks.
How it Works
Feedamind first enters the system with Oat Straw that can super charge your attention span in a matter of hours. Then, ingredients like Chocamine and Dynamine, begin to build in your system and provide long-term focus for hours.
Subsequently, Bacopa Monnieri and L-Tyrosine join the mix, bolstering mental agility, stress resilience, and fostering an environment conducive to sustained concentration and heightened cognitive function.
Pros
Cons
Chocamine® | 500 mg
Bacopa Monnieri | 250 mg
L-Tyrosine | 250 mg
Alpha-GPC | 100 mg
L-Theanine | 50 mg
Dynamine | 50 mg
Biotin | 50 mg
Pterostilbene | 47 mg
Avena Sativa (Oat Straw) | 20 mg
Cat’s Claw | 20 mg
Resveratrol | 14 mg
Lutein–from Marigold Extract | 6 mg
Vitamin B12 | 2.5 mg
Vitamin B1 | 1.1 mg
Vitamin B6 | 1.5 mg
Last Word
There’s really nothing missing from the ingredient list in Feedamind. After years studying supplement ingredients and their efficacy, I’ve long wondered why some manufacturers haven’t put together a formula that looks like this. Finally, Feedamind has, and their product checks every box.
Want to read more about Feedamind? Check out our full review here.
2. Noocube
Noocube has been the standard and stalwart of the Nootropics field for years. They’re the safest option for people who want to increase their cognitive performance and like the security of a long-standing name brand.
Their consistent success can be attributed to their well-curated blend of ingredients that guarantee a steady and gradual boost in cognitive function.
How it Works
NooCube has earned their reputation through its inclusion of mood-balancing ingredients such as Pterostilbene and L-Theanine. While it also contains stand-alone cognitive boosters, its real secret is in calming the mind–giving you clarity amidst anxiety to amplify your existing acuity.
Pros
Cons
Bacopa Monnieri | 250 mg
L-Tyrosine | 250 mg
Cat’s Claw | 175 mg
Avena Sativa (Oat Straw) | 150 mg
L-Theanine | 100 mg
Alpha-GPC | 50 mg
Huperzia Serrata | 20 mg
Lutemax | 20 mg
Resveratrol | 14 mg
Vitamin B1 | 1.1 mg
Pterostilbene | 140 mcg
Vitamin B7 | 50 mcg
Vitamin B12 | 2.5 mcg
Last Word
NooCube is the safest, least stimulating option on our list, though it doesn’t have the acute effects of Feedamind (via Dynamine and Chocamine) or Vyvamind. But for anyone who wants to boost their focus with a more gradual approach, NooCube can’t be beat.
Want to read more about Noocube? Check out our full review here.
3. Vyvamind
Vyvamind has stood out to me and the other researchers here at the Great Green Wall because it a simplified formula that executes a specified function. In short, if you’re a high performer in a fast-paced field, Vyvamind can heighten your focus and mental speed on the same day you try it.
It achieves this through its potent blend of ingredients, delivering immediate, tangible results in cognitive enhancement.
How it Works
Vyvamind brings Caffeine, L-Theanine, L-Tyrosine, and Choline together into a single package for acute stimulation. Theanine boosts your attention and helps you avoid distractions while Theanine helps you regulate your stress hormones when you’re under increased pressure.
Pros
Cons
L-Tyrosine | 300 mg
Citicoline | 200 mg
L-Theanine | 150 mg
Caffeine Anhydrous | 75 mg
Vitamin B12 | 2.5 mg
Vitamin B6 | 1.5 mg
Last Word
Anyone who feels their memory and clarity are in fine shape, but who wants to hone their situational focus and processing speed will benefit from Vyvamind’s unique formula. Some users report seeing results in as little as half and hour!
Want to read more about Vyvamind? Check out our full review here.
Related Articles: What Are Nootropics?, Are Nootropics Legal?, Best Nootropics.
4. Nooceptin
Nooceptin makes our list for two reasons with a huge impact. One, they have no stimulants in their formula. Two, they have a huge dose of the mushroom Lion’s Mane. At 400 mg per serving of Nooceptin, Lion’s Man helps you actually grow more neurons, thus forming more synaptic connections, resulting in better cognitive performance over time.
How it Works
Nooceptin’s main vehicle for delivering focus and boosting cognition is the Lion’s Mane mushroom I mentioned. By providing your brain with the building blocks of neuron growth, and stimulating the hormone receptors responsible for signaling that growth, you can expect ever-increasing focus and motivation the longer you take it.
Pros
Cons
Lion’s Mane Extract | 400 mg
Citicoline | 200 mg
L-Theanine | 200 mg
Panax Ginseng Extract | 200 mg
Rhodiola Rosea | 150 mg
Bacopa Monnieri | 150 mg
Ginkgo Biloba Extract | 100 mg
Last Word
Nootropic like Feedamind can give you a punctuated burst of focus and performance, but Nooceptin takes a different approach. Not better or worse, just different. Because it can deliver over time, it’s an excellent Adderall alternative for anyone looking for a more holistic model.
Want to read more about Nooceptin? Check out our full review here.
5. Mind Lab Pro
Mind Lab Pro has a different tact than the previous entries on the list, and because of that I think they provide an alternative to the alternatives, if I can phrase it that way. Two ingredients specifically, Maritime Pine Bark and Phosphatidylserine, help with brain-blood flow and brain cell protection, offering a path to better focus that other Nootropics don’t.
How it Works
Phosphatidylserine helps our brain cells literally build better walls for themselves. This increases how well they can absorb nutrients and improves their defenses. In addition, Maritime Bark reduces the inflammation of blood vessels in the brain, improving the flow of oxygen to our neurons.
Pros
Cons
Organic Lion’s Mane Mushroom | 500 mg
Citicoline | 250 mg
L-Tyrosine | 175 mg
Bacopa Monnieri | 150 mg
Sunflower Lecithin (phosphatidylserine) | 100 mg
L-Theanine | 100 mg
Rhodiola Rosea | 50 mg
Maritime Bark Extract | 50 mg
Vitamin B6 | 2.5 mg
Vitamin B9 | 100 mcg
Vitamin B12 | 7.5 mcg
Last Word
Mind Lab Pro has sold over a million bottles of their Nootropic, and for good reason. It can help your memory, mood, and clarity. And yes, it can also help boost your focus and attention, which makes it a great choice for people wanting to steer clear of Adderall-type products.
Want to read more about Mind Lab Pro? Check out our full review here.
Final Thoughts
Like I said above, every decision you make about your supplement routine should be discussed with your physician. Especially if you currently have a prescription for any medication. That being said, millions of people every year fall into the thought-trap that Adderall or something like it is the only solution to finding better focus, activating their attention, or competing with distractions for clear thinking.
But as we’ve seen, there are solutions, and they’re effective and safe. None of them require a prescription, and none of them contain any illegal or banned substances. With each of them you have it within your grasp to become the best version of you–the one that’s already inside.
Editor's Choice: Feedamind
Quality
INGREDIENTS
cost
FAQs
No, not in any sense. In generations past, the word “nootropic” referred to psychotropics, stimulants, and all sorts of “smart drugs. Today, and at the Great Green Wall, we use the word to refer to natural, safe, over-the-counter supplements. They are non-habit-forming, and are not intended to treat, diagnose, or cure any disease.
By and large, yes. If you have questions about a specific ingredient, or your country in particular, check out my in-depth exploration of the topic, here.
We get this question a lot, and that’s why we’ve actually done some side-by-side comparisons. Check the “Product Comparisons” tab under our Nootropics heading.