7 Best Nootropics for Depression: Beat the Blues in 2023

From improving concentration to aiding muscle recovery, nootropics have several benefits for the mind and body. But did you know that these smart drugs can also help improve the symptoms of depression?

Of course, with such a wide variety of stress-relieving products on the market, it can be difficult to select the right one for you. 

So, if you’re struggling, read on to discover the top 7 nootropics to help cure your blues and put you on the right road to mental health recovery.

Top 7 Best Nootropics for Depression

Depression is one of the most common yet most damaging mental disorders in the US, with approximately 21 million adults having had at least one major depressive episode.

Luckily, many nootropics have been found to boost mood and reduce depression. If you’re unsure where to start when selecting a smart drug, we’ve rounded up the top 7 nootropics for mental health below.

#1 NooCube

NooCube is a brain supplement that not only boosts cognitive health but also helps improve your mood, reduce stress levels, and treat depression.

Made in collaboration with top neuroscientists, its 13 science-backed ingredients include vitamins, minerals, and herbal extracts, all of which work together to provide these health benefits. 

For instance, NooCube contains L-tyrosine and L-theanine, amino acids that help the body produce neurotransmitters such as dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin. These “happy hormones” are essential for lowering levels of stress, anxiety, and depression.

The smart drug also has added vitamin B1 and oat straw extract, which both typically help users to maintain a clear mind and positive mood. 

Although research is limited, oat straw extract has been shown to inhibit the action of the PDE4 enzyme and reduce levels of inflammatory cytokine proteins. Both the enzyme and proteins can contribute to the development of depression and other psychiatric disorders.

#2 Mind Lab Pro

Mind Lab Pro (MLP) is an all-in-one nootropic containing 11 high-quality, vegan ingredients. Their latest V4.0 formula is described as “universal,” meaning it provides a range of cognitive benefits rather than just focusing on a single area.

One of these mood-boosting ingredients is lion’s mane mushroom, a type of medicinal mushroom that has been shown to reduce inflammation in the brain that leads to anxiety and depression. 

It may also improve the functioning of the hippocampus, a region within the brain that processes emotional responses such as depression.

MLP contains a range of essential B vitamins, including B6, B9, and B12. All of these vitamins have a positive impact on mental health, but supplementing B12 has been proven to delay the onset of depression and improve the effectiveness of antidepressants.

Another key ingredient of the nootropic is citicoline, which studies have shown is also effective alongside antidepressants such as citalopram in treating major depressive disorder.

#3 Alpha Brain

Created by Texas supplement manufacturer Onnit, Alpha Brain is a nootropic that helps to put users into an “in the zone” flow state that is important for focusing on and completing tasks.

The supplement focuses on two specific functions to help you achieve this goal, supporting the production of neurotransmitters and alpha waves in the brain.

Research suggests that problems with alpha waves may be related to social withdrawal and major depressive disorder.

Alpha Brain contains several ingredients that promote acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter that influences focus and memory. 

Acetylcholine also activates the parasympathetic nervous system, helping to calm the body after a fight-or-flight response while helping release the mood-boosting chemicals serotonin and dopamine.  

However, having more than 3,500mg of neurotransmitters daily within the body can have some unsafe side effects, such as cramps, muscular weakness, and even paralysis, which isn’t disclosed on the packaging or the manufacturer’s website.

To avoid this, be sure to stick to the recommended dosage of Alpha Brain, which is 2 capsules per day.

One of the other downsides of Alpha Brain is that Onnit isn’t transparent about how much of each ingredient they use in their blend. This means that it can be difficult to judge whether there is enough of each to be effective for the nootropic’s purpose.

#4 Performance Lab Mind 

If you’re looking for a daily supplement that enhances cognitive functioning and helps your brain recover from mental exertion, Performance Lab Mind might be a good choice for you.

Made from easy-to-swallow fermented tapioca capsules for comfortable digestion and a healthy gut, Performance Lab Mind helps fight the burnout that you may experience from a buildup of chronic stress and overworking.

It does this with the help of the amino acid l-tyrosine and a fatty substance called phosphatidylserine, which help to release important mood-boosting brain chemicals, including dopamine, norepinephrine, serotonin, and epinephrine.

This nootropic helps boost blood flow to the brain through its citicoline content, which helps restore essential brain nutrients, including healthy fats, that you may be struggling to get through your diet. 

The ingredient, therefore, supports and stabilizes brain cell membranes for healthy neural repair and function.

#5 Nooceptin 

By targeting cortisol, the hormone responsible for the fight-or-flight response, Nooceptin is one of the best nootropic supplements for those suffering from depression and brain fog.

The adaptogens within this supplement help suppress the release of cortisol, which makes your brain more resistant to the stress and panic-inducing effects of the hormone.

Nooceptin also contains Rhodiola rosea, a flowering plant that inhibits enzymes in the brain that break down serotonin and dopamine – the neurotransmitters that control your mood. 

This ingredient works in combination with L-theanine, an amino acid that increases levels of serotonin, dopamine, and GABA. Particularly, GABA is a neurotransmitter that has powerful anti-anxiety effects, promoting alpha brain waves to give you a clear and calm mind.

Finally, the nootropic’s Panax ginseng content protects long-term brain health and plays a key role in stress control, which is essential for reducing levels of depression. It does this by fighting oxidative stress in the brain.

#6 Ginkgo biloba 

Ginkgo biloba is a leaf extract commonly used in nootropic supplements for its brain-enhancing effects. There is also evidence to suggest that it may support long-term cognitive functioning, although more research is needed in this area.

This “living fossil” has been used for thousands of years and helps to inhibit enzymes such as monoamine oxidase, which breaks down the “happy hormone” dopamine. 

This means that it is beneficial for those suffering from anxiety and depression, both of which can impair how the brain functions.

For instance, a study found that patients with generalized anxiety disorder who took ginkgo biloba extract had significantly reduced anxiety symptoms by the end of the trial. 

A review of clinical trials also found that the nootropic may help to alleviate the symptoms of depression for older adults.

#7 Genius Joy

Described as a “mood-boosting” supplement, Genius Joy is designed to provide relief from anxiety and mood swings. 

Unlike the other products in the brand’s nootropics range, it isn’t an all-out cognitive booster but instead focuses on promoting a sense of calm.

The nootropic’s natural ingredients help support greater focus, better motivation, and improved energy, all of which are factors contributing to overall happiness and well-being. 

They do this by increasing the production of serotonin, a neurotransmitter that is reduced by depression. Serotonin carries messages between nerve cells in the brain and the rest of the body and helps boost happiness and optimism to fight the symptoms and signs of depression.

One such ingredient is s-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAMe), a substance that occurs naturally in the body and is often prescribed in supplement form for treating depression, liver disease, and osteoarthritis.

However, this molecule may interact negatively with antidepressants, so avoid Genius Joy if you are currently taking medication to treat anxiety or depression.

Genius Joy also contains a range of other natural, clinically proven mood boosters, such as red Panax ginseng, L-theanine, L-tyrosine, Rhodiola rosea, and 5-HTP.

Comparison Table

How to Choose the Best Nootropics for Depression

When choosing any dietary supplement, medication, or product to help beat depressive symptoms, it’s important to test it against a variety of factors to decide whether it can really help you.

We reviewed the top 7 nootropics for depression in 4 different categories – keep reading to find out what they are and why each one is so important.

Quality

Choosing to purchase nootropics is an important investment in your health. They should always contain high-quality, clinically-proven, and natural ingredients to boost your mood without the presence of harmful or artificial chemicals. 

Price

It’s often the case that nootropics are expensive. However, selecting the best dietary supplements should always be a priority for your health, and although they may be expensive, the benefits should outweigh the cost.

Brand reputation

Brand reputation is a crucial factor, as companies should always be transparent about the ingredients, blends, and formulations that they’re using. Look at the brand’s website to get an overview of why they decided to create the nootropic and read customer reviews to see whether or not they are truly trustworthy.

Effectiveness

To make it onto our list, the nootropic needs to actually be effective in relieving the symptoms of depression. This means that each product’s ingredients should have at least some scientific evidence supporting their role as mood boosters and that they contain the correct dosage of every ingredient to achieve these effects.

FAQs

Conclusion

There are a number of nootropics on the market that are effective in treating the symptoms of depression. All of them are caffeine-free and naturally boost your mood with ingredients such as B vitamins, amino acids, and herbal extracts.

Overall, the best nootropic for depression is NooCube, the all-in-one supplement that not only enhances cognitive performance but also acts as a brain booster for good mental health.

If you are really struggling with depression or other mood disorders, it’s important that you speak to your doctor as soon as possible. They can provide you with more advice on nootropics, as well as other treatments that may be beneficial for your specific situation.

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