Comment · Fri, September 20, 2013 · Ceretropic
Best nootropics you could get from a psychiatrist?
Original post in this thread
trifilij · 11 points
If you could magically get any drug from a psychiatrist which one would you get and why?
What they were answering
Ponchito147 · 3 points
What is your opinion about memantine? When I first started researching nootropics almost everybody at the forums I read said it wasn't good. Actually, a lot of people said it could be dangerous, so I didn't even researched it further.
Where I live, memantine is OTC, so that won't be the problem.
u/MisterYouAreSoDumb · Ceretropic
Memantine is the most intelligent NMDA receptor antagonist that I know of. It binds to an open channel binding site within the NMDA channel. That means that it can only bind once the neuron reaches excitability, and the magnesium blockage clears the channel. Because of that, it allows for normal operation of the NMDA channels, but closes them before too much calcium can pass through and damage the neuron.
It's a must for those on dopaminergic stimulants for multiple reasons. One, tolerance to said stimulants is mediated by excess calcium through the NMDA channels. Taking memantine slows or stops the tolerance buildup. Also, excess calcium influx into the neurons is call excitotoxicicity. This means that neurons can be damaged or even killed if left unchecked. So preventing that mechanism from getting out of control is crucial to one's health.
I also have a feeling that all of this positive allosteric modulation of the NMDA receptors is creating some sort of tolerance to racetams. I can definitely notice it in myself, after having done a LOT of racetams. My tolerance to excitability has gone way up. Memantine might be able to prevent that from happening, or even reverse it.