Buy Nootropics in Russia | The #1 A-Z Guide
Curious how to buy nootropics in Russia? If so, you’ve come to just the right place.
This guide will explain everything you need to know about buying and using nootropics in Russia.
You’ll learn:
- The most effective natural and synthetic nootropics to try
- The proper dosages and potential side-effects
- The legal status of nootropics in Russia
- Where to buy nootropics for the best prices
- And more!
P.S: Here’s my top 100% legal recommendation!
Whether you want to work or study more effectively, increase your productivity, or simply protect and optimize the overall health of your brain, this guide will help you find the right nootropics to get you where you want to go.
Table of Contents
This is not medical or legal advice. This guide is strictly for entertainment purposes only. Always consult a medical professional before consuming any nootropic and always abide by the laws of your country. Please read my disclaimer page, too.
What are Nootropics?
In 1964, a Romanian psychologist and chemist called Dr. Corneliu Giurgea discovered Piracetam and soon observed that it had a positive effect on memory. He wanted to create a new word to describe Piracetam and other such substances, so he combined the Greek words ‘nous’ meaning ‘mind’, and ‘trepein’ meaning ‘to bend’ to form the new term ‘nootropics’ [1].
According to Dr. Giurgea’s original definition, a nootropic is any substance that can:
- Enhance memory, attention span, concentration, and the ability to learn.
- Help the brain function under distress.
- Protect the brain from chemical and physical stress.
- Increase the efficacy of neuronal firing.
- Produce virtually zero side effects and be non-toxic.
This definition applies to both naturally-occurring substances, like caffeine, and synthetic substances like Piracetam and other medicines.
Natural Nootropics
Natural nootropics come from plants or plant extracts, amino acids, or other nutrients sourced from nature.
Some of the most popular natural nootropics are:
- Caffeine, a natural stimulant found in foods like cocoa beans, tea leaves, and coffee beans that helps improve attention span and information retention [2].
- Ginkgo biloba, which comes from the Chinese maidenhair tree, and has been shown to improve memory and prevent dementia [3].
- Creatine, an amino acid found in the liver and kidneys that can facilitate cognition on mental tasks [4].
- Lion’s Mane Mushroom, (Yamabushitake), which helps protect against cognitive impairment [5].
- Maritime Pine Bark Extract, which helps improve spatial memory almost as much as Piracetam [6].
Synthetic Nootropics
Synthetic nootropics are chemically synthesized substances like Piracetam that offer cognitive benefits.
Some of the most popular synthetic nootropics are:
- Piracetam, which helps improve learning, memory, and brain metabolism [7].
- Ritalin (Methylphenidate), a stimulant that boosts short-term memory, information-processing speed, and attention [8].
- Adderall, (a combination of racemic amphetamine and dextroamphetamine) which helps improve concentration and attention span [9].
- Modafinil, a ‘eugeroic’ or ‘wakefulness’ agent that helps improve emotion recognition and task-related motivation [10].
Nootropics Side Effects and Safety
Alongside numerous cognitive benefits, nootropics may produce unwanted side-effects that you should be aware of.
While rare, we’d like to present you with all the relevant scientific data regarding nootropic safety.
Natural Nootropics Side Effects
Naturally-occurring substances like caffeine, Ginkgo biloba, and creatine, Yamabushitake, and Pine Bark Extract are among the safest nootropics that we know of. They are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease, and are freely available throughout Russia as over-the-counter dietary supplements.
Natural nootropics are generally regarded as safe and non-toxic when taken at the recommended doses, however, how you respond to them will depend on a host of variables including your current state of health and genetic factors.
If you are currently taking any prescription drugs, always read the ‘prescription drug interactions’ of any nootropic before taking it. Caffeine, for example, interacts with several prescription medicines [11], while Ginkgo biloba can increase the risk of bleeding when taken with certain herbal medications, antiplatelet agents, or warfarin [12].
You should also monitor your dosage carefully as some natural nootropics can produce serious side effects when taken in excessive quantities. Caffeine, for instance, can cause anxiety, hallucinations, and even dizziness when taken in high amounts [13].
Synthetic Nootropics Side Effects
The side effects and safety of synthetic nootropics vary widely from one drug to another. Most side-effects are extensions of the drug’s pharmacological effects and subside as soon as usage is stopped.
The safest known substances are Piracetam, Aniracetam, and other racetams. Studies have shown that racetams possess very low toxicity and produce no serious side effects in healthy individuals [14].
The side-effects and safety of other synthetic nootropics like Ritalin, Adderall, and Modafinil are less well known and have been less widely researched. These drugs are considered safe when used for their intended use under medical supervision but there is little published research into their side effects and safety when used ‘off-prescription’ as nootropics.
For example, one of the most popular synthetic nootropics – Modafinil – is a prescription medication for narcolepsy, a brain disorder that causes the sufferer to suddenly fall asleep at inappropriate times. It has been well-researched for this use and is considered to be a safe drug when taken at prescribed doses under medical supervision. But there has been limited research into its side-effects and safety when taken ‘off-prescription’ as a nootropic by people who don’t suffer from narcolepsy.
One study found that when Modafinil administered to patients who had been incorrectly diagnosed with narcolepsy, it caused several unexpected side effects [15].
These included:
- Headaches
- Nausea
- Anxiety
- Insomnia
- Lumbago
- Diarrhea
- Dyspepsia
- Rhinitis
- Vertigo
Fortunately, these side effects were found to be mild and subsided as soon as the dose was reduced, however, there have been no long-term studies into off-prescription Modafinil use.
Another popular synthetic nootropic, Phenibut, is prescribed in Russia to treat a range of conditions such as anxiety, insomnia, and depression [16] and has several documented side effects, including:
- Fatigue
- Nausea
- Dizziness
- Stomach cramps
A particular concern with Phenibut is its potential for addiction [17], with one study finding that patients experienced severe withdrawal symptoms when they stopped using Phenibut [18]. It is recommended to limit Phenibut intake to less than 500mg per dose and never more than 4,000mg per fortnight.
Overall, the nootropics on this list are safe and produce minimal side effects when taken at the recommended dosages.
Are Nootropics Legal in Russia?
In Russia, natural nootropics like caffeine, Ginkgo biloba, and creatine, Yamabushitake, and Pine Bark Extract, are 100% legal and can be purchased online or over-the-counter without a prescription.
Almost all synthetic nootropics like Modafinil and Phenibut are prescription drugs and can only be obtained from a pharmacy if they have been prescribed to you by a doctor to treat a relevant medical condition. Modafinil is classified as a Schedule II controlled substance, and possession without a prescription can lead to imprisonment.
If you aren’t from Russia and are simply visiting or living in the country as an expat, you can bring a personal supply of certain prescription nootropics into the country provided they are legal in Russia. You should keep the drugs in their original pharmacy packaging with the prescriber’s letter to help in the case of border control checks.
If you are traveling with controlled drugs like Modafinil, you must get the prescriber’s letter apostilled and may need to obtain an export license if you are bringing in more than three month’s supply.
However, we’re guessing you don’t have one or you wouldn’t be reading this guide!
One of the most common ways of buying nootropics in Russia is ordering them online. While this is technically illegal, we’ve yet to hear of anyone experiencing any difficulties getting a personal supply of nootropics shipped to their address in Russia.
Our recommended nootropics vendor guarantees all shipments to Russia and offers a free reshipment or a full refund in the highly unlikely event that an order doesn’t get through.
Basically, you have no risk.
But again, this isn’t legal advice and we advise you to abide by Russian laws at all times.
Top 2 Legal Nootropics in Russia
Many people don’t want to take the risk of being caught importing prescription medications into Russia, and many people are uncomfortable using drugs ‘off-label’.
We get it.
That’s why we recommend two powerful over-the-counter nootropics – Mind Lab Pro and Qualia Mind – that are 100% legal in Russia. These nootropics contain all-natural ingredients that work across multiple areas of cognitive enhancement and can be used year-round with virtually zero side-effects.
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Mind Lab Pro
Mind Lab Pro is the most effective over-the-counter nootropic we’ve ever reviewed and is our top pick for anyone in Russia who wants a safe, legal, reliable, nootropic. Mind Lab Pro contains a unique blend of 11 different natural nootropics that work in synergy to deliver a massive boost to concentration, focus, creativity, and productivity.
We found that Mind Lab Pro gave us:
- A huge increase in alertness and overall well-being
- A surge of energy that lasts for over eight hours
- Inability to feel fatigue
- Lower anxiety while sharpening mental performance
- Better short-term memory and recall
All 11 of the nootropics in Mind Lab Pro are safe and have been well-researched. They include Maritime Pine Bark Extract, Lion’s Mane Mushroom, (Yamabushitake), and Bacopa monnieri, which has been shown to boost cognition and decrease choice reaction times [19], as well as Citicoline, which has strong neuroprotective properties [20], and L-Tyrosine, which has been shown to boost motivation and mental performance [21].
We found that Mind Lab Pro lit us up like Christmas trees and helped optimize our brains like nothing else. It’s the closest thing to an ‘all-in-one’ nootropic that we’ve ever tested and is the perfect all-round nootropic for enhancing memory, boosting attention span and supercharging your concentration levels!
Qualia Mind
The other natural nootropic we recommend is Qualia Mind. It’s a complete cognitive enhancer that supercharges your productivity from the very first dose. Qualia has a unique two-step schedule; you take the first three pills in the morning and then six more later on in the day. We found that this kept us energized all day and helped us power through work without any fatigue!
As Qualia Mind is caffeine-free, we didn’t experience any common side-effects like jitters when we took it. Instead, we got a cool rush of energy that lasted for hours without any peaks or troughs. Instead of feeling ‘wired’ and irritable, we found that we could easily transition into other activities like mediation when we wanted to.
Alongside this extra mental energy, we found that Qualia Mind gave us tons more creativity. Our minds started buzzing with new thoughts and ideas that helped us power through tasks with ease.
Qualia Mind contains a unique blend of 21 natural nootropics, including:
- Bacopa Monnieri, which helped increase reaction times and reduce anxiety [22].
- Citicoline, which helps boost memory and recall [23].
- Huperzine A, which has strong neuroprotective properties [24].
- Phosphatidylserine, to help with cognitive functioning [25].
- Ginkgo biloba, one of the best evidence-backed memory nootropics shown to improve short term recall and memory [26].
If you’re looking for a natural nootropic that gives you an instant boost with zero side effects, Qualia Mind is one of the best cognitive boosters on the market right now.
The World’s Best Nootropic…
Earlier in this guide, we explained that Modafinil is a prescription medication for narcolepsy, used to prevent sufferers from falling asleep during the day. However, in non-sufferers, it acts as a powerful stimulant and has earned itself the reputation of being the world’s best nootropic. If you ever need to work or study for longer, cram before an exam, or meet a tight deadline, Modafinil is the only ‘smart drug’ you need!
A single 100-200mg dose of Modafinil can:
- Dramatically increase attentiveness
- Boost concentration
- Enhance alertness [27]
- Improve learning
- Optimize working memory [28]
Modafinil works by elevating histamine levels in the hypothalamus region of the brain [29]. This increases wakefulness and prevents you from feeling sleepy [30]. Modafinil also binds to your brain’s dopamine transporter and inhibits the reuptake of dopamine [31], which increases the amount of dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine in your prefrontal cortex and significantly improves your working and episodic memory [32].
Modafinil is extremely helpful if you are ever feeling stressed, anxious, or worried and need to work more productively. It reduces reactivity to fear stimuli in the brain region involved in anxiety, (the amygdala) [33], and lets you think more clearly even if you are under a lot of pressure.
In short, Modafinil is the world’s best nootropic for cognitive enhancement for one simple reason:
Nothing else comes close.
Is Modafinil Legal in Russia?
Modafinil in Russia is an interesting topic.
In Russia, Modafinil is a prescription medicine meaning it is only legal to obtain and use if it has been prescribed to you. To be prescribed Modafinil, you must be diagnosed with a sleep-related disorder such as:
- Narcolepsy
- Shift Work Sleep Disorder (SWSD)
- Obstructive sleep apnoea hypopnoea syndrome (OSAHS)
Modafinil is classified as a Schedule II controlled substance, and possession without a prescription can lead to imprisonment.
In certain cases, doctors in private clinics may prescribe Modafinil to foreigners (tourists, expats, or long-term visitors) on the basis of a letter or prescription from the patient’s doctor in their home country, but this is rare.
If you are visiting Russia, it is legal to bring a personal supply of Modafinil into the country to last for the duration of your visit. You must keep the tablets in their original pharmacy packaging with the prescriber’s letter and this letter must be apostilled. If you want to bring in more than three month’s supply, you may need to obtain an export license.
Given the difficulty of obtaining Modafinil in Russia, most people opt to order it online and have it shipped from overseas. While this is illegal, we’ve yet to hear of anyone having any issue getting a personal supply (90 days’ worth) of Modafinil shipped to their address in Russia.
Our recommended Modafinil vendor guarantees all shipments to Russia and even offers a free reshipment or a full refund in the highly unlikely event that the order doesn’t get through.
So basically, you have no risk.
But again, this isn’t legal advice and we always encourage you to abide by Russian laws.
Top “Social” Nootropic
The top “social” nootropic in Russia is undoubtedly ‘Phenibut’, a synthetic central nervous system (CNS) depressant that makes users feel more confident by lowering inhibitions. Phenibut is an analog of GABA, the main inhibitory or relaxing neurotransmitter in your brain, and taking Phenibut helps boost GABA which leads to:
- Enhanced sleep cycles
- Improved blood pressure
- Better well-being, mood, and clarity
- Reduced stress levels
- Increased working memory, verbal fluency, and alertness [34]
Phenibut has earned a reputation as ‘the happy pill’ for its alcohol-like effects on sociability. It helps you calm down, and gives you a nice warm ‘buzz’ while killing any feelings of nervousness or anxiety. Phenibut has become a popular alternative to ‘pre-drinks’ before going for a night out as it makes you more outgoing without any of the side-effects of alcohol like drowsiness, slurred speech, or lack of awareness.
Phenibut offers a cool, calm feeling of euphoria that lasts for hours and is perfect for anyone trying to avoid alcohol for health reasons.
It’s become especially popular with fitness enthusiasts and bodybuilders who want to avoid the sugar and ethanol in alcoholic drinks, which have been shown to increase cortisol and lower levels of free testosterone [35].
Is Phenibut Legal in Russia?
Yes!
Russia is one of only four countries (besides Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Latvia) where Phenibut is marketed for medical use. Unlike Modafinil, Phenibut is not a controlled substance and there are currently no laws prohibiting its sale or use.
It is available online and is commonly marketed as either a dietary supplement to promote relaxation or as a sleep aid.
Our recommended Phenibut vendor offers fast shipments to Russia and offers a free reshipment or a full refund in the highly unlikely event that an order doesn’t get through.
Nootropics Russia | Verdict
If you were curious about buying nootropics in Russia, hopefully, we’ve answered all your questions.
We’ve given you a complete rundown on the best natural and synthetic nootropics to buy, where to get them for the best prices, their side-effects and safety, legality, and everything else you could possibly want to know.
Culturally, Russians are a very pro-nootropic people — they even invented some of the most popular nootropics around, like Phenibut!
Order Modafinil while in Russia by clicking here!
References
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