What are nootropics? A UK guide
What nootropics are, which ones have real evidence behind them, what UK law says and how to choose a supplement.
- Written by
- Mustafa K.
- Last updated
- Reading time
- 7 min read
Overview
Nootropics are substances taken to support focus, memory or calm. They range from caffeine and natural supplements such as ashwagandha and lion's mane to prescription "smart drugs". Caffeine has the strongest evidence, for attention. Natural nootropics sold as food supplements are legal in the UK, but supplying prescription drugs without a prescription is an offence.
Key points
- What they are: substances taken to support focus, memory or calm.
- Best evidence: caffeine for attention, and a multivitamin for memory after 60.
- Plant nootropics: ashwagandha and lion's mane have early, small trials.
- UK law: natural nootropics sold as food supplements are legal.
- Smart drugs: supplying modafinil without a prescription is an offence.
What are nootropics?
Nootropics are substances people take to support how they think: focus, memory, alertness or calm. In the UK the word covers very different things. It can mean the caffeine in your coffee, natural supplements such as ashwagandha and lion's mane, or prescription drugs sold online as "smart drugs".
The word was coined by the Romanian scientist Corneliu Giurgea, who led the research on piracetam, the first drug of its kind. He meant it for drugs that enhance learning and memory [1]. Today it's used far more loosely. Read the full story in our history of nootropics.
Types of nootropics
Most nootropics fall into one of four groups, and the law treats each one differently.
| Type | Examples | UK status |
|---|---|---|
| Everyday stimulants | Caffeine in coffee, tea and some supplements | Legal; exempt from the Psychoactive Substances Act [8] |
| Natural supplements | Ashwagandha, lion's mane, bacopa, L-theanine, creatine, vitamins and minerals | Legal; sold as food, which the Act exempts [8] |
| Prescription "smart drugs" | Modafinil, methylphenidate (Ritalin) | Prescription only; supplying them without one is an offence [9] |
| Synthetic compounds | Racetams, such as piracetam | Not named among the Act's exemptions [8] |
Natural nootropics are the plant extracts, mushrooms, amino acids and nutrients in the second row. They're what most UK nootropic supplements contain.
Do nootropics work?
Some do, modestly. The best evidence is for caffeine and, in people over 60, a daily multivitamin. Most plant nootropics have only small trials so far, and some popular ones don't hold up.
| Ingredient | What studies found | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Caffeine | Faster and more accurate on attention tests within hours, across 31 trials of 1,455 adults [2] | Strong |
| Multivitamin, aged 60+ | Slightly better memory and overall thinking over 2 to 3 years, in 3 trials of 5,203 people [3] | Strong |
| Creatine | Better memory overall, clearest in adults aged 66 to 76, with no clear effect in people aged 11 to 31 [4] | Moderate |
| Ashwagandha | Better memory and attention scores across 20 small trials of 1,249 adults [5] | Early |
| Lion's mane | Quicker on an attention test an hour after one dose, in 41 young adults [6] | Early |
| Ginkgo, healthy people | No measurable benefit when 13 memory trials were pooled [7] | Mixed |
Even where the evidence is strong, the effects are small. In the multivitamin trials, the gain was about the same as 2 years less brain ageing [3]. Most trials also used young adults, so results may differ at 45 or 65.
Are nootropics legal in the UK?
Natural nootropics sold as food supplements are legal, and so is caffeine. The Psychoactive Substances Act 2016 bans producing, supplying and importing substances that affect your mental functioning or emotional state. It exempts food, caffeine, alcohol, nicotine and licensed medicines [8]. Simply having a psychoactive substance isn't an offence under the Act, except in prison [8].
Prescription drugs are a different matter. The MHRA, the UK medicines regulator, says modafinil is licensed for specific medical conditions and is "not for use as a 'boost' during exams". Supplying prescription-only medicines without a prescription is a criminal offence, and websites offering them are acting illegally [9].
Racetams such as piracetam aren't named among the Act's exemptions [8], and the law doesn't spell out where they stand.
Are nootropics safe?
Natural supplements taken as the label says carry the least risk. The one ingredient to keep count of is caffeine. Up to 400 mg a day from all sources is unlikely to harm adults. A caffeine supplement shouldn't give more than 200 mg in one serving [10]. Too much can cause anxiety, sleeplessness, palpitations and restlessness, and the NHS advises no more than 200 mg a day in pregnancy [10].
Smart drugs taken without a doctor carry the most risk. The MHRA lists dependence, heart and circulation problems and psychosis among their possible side effects [9].
How to choose a nootropic supplement
- Start with your goal. Focus, memory and calm call for different ingredients. Our guide to nootropic stacks matches ingredients to goals.
- Look for trials in people like you. An ingredient tested only in students may not do the same at 55.
- Check every amount is on the label. You should be able to see how much of each ingredient you get.
- Buy from a seller you trust. The Food Standards Agency advises against buying supplements online unless you're confident the seller is reputable [10].
- Give it time. Plant extracts were tested over weeks, not hours: ashwagandha trials ran for up to 60 days [5].
Where Nooroots fits
Nooroots Ashwagandha + Lion's Mane is a natural nootropic. Two caffeine-free capsules give you 120 mg of KSM-66 ashwagandha and 500 mg of lion's mane extract, made for calm focus on demanding days.
Because it has no caffeine, you stay in charge of your morning coffee or tea. Read more in our guides to ashwagandha and lion's mane.
Frequently asked questions
What is a nootropic?
Anything taken to support thinking, such as focus, memory or alertness. The word first meant drugs that enhance learning and memory [1]. Now it also covers caffeine and natural supplements.
What is in nootropics?
Most UK nootropic supplements contain plant extracts such as ashwagandha or bacopa, mushrooms such as lion's mane, amino acids such as L-theanine, creatine, vitamins and minerals. Some add caffeine.
What are the best nootropics in the UK?
Caffeine has the strongest evidence for attention [2], and a daily multivitamin for memory in people over 60 [3]. Among plants, ashwagandha and lion's mane have early trial results [5, 6].
Are nootropics the same as smart drugs?
No. "Smart drugs" usually means prescription medicines such as modafinil taken without a prescription, which it's illegal to supply [9]. Natural nootropics are sold as food supplements.
Is caffeine a nootropic?
Yes. It's the best-studied one: across 31 trials, a single dose made people faster and more accurate on attention tests [2].
References
Every study here is listed so you can read it yourself. This guide is for general information and doesn't replace advice from your GP or pharmacist. We review it when new research is published.
- Shorvon S (2001). Pyrrolidone derivatives. The Lancet 358(9296): 1885–1892. PMID 11741647
- Kløve K, Petersen A (2025). A systematic review and meta-analysis of the acute effect of caffeine on attention. Psychopharmacology 242(9): 1909–1930. PMID 40335666
- Vyas CM et al. (2024). Effect of multivitamin-mineral supplementation versus placebo on cognitive function: results from the clinic subcohort of the COSMOS randomized clinical trial and meta-analysis of 3 cognitive studies within COSMOS. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 119(3): 692–701. PMID 38244989
- Prokopidis K et al. (2023). Effects of creatine supplementation on memory in healthy individuals: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Nutrition Reviews 81(4): 416–427. PMID 35984306
- Zhu X et al. (2026). Effects of Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha) on cognitive and physical function in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Frontiers in Pharmacology 17: 1799467. PMID 42199854
- Docherty S, Doughty FL, Smith EF (2023). The acute and chronic effects of lion's mane mushroom supplementation on cognitive function, stress and mood in young adults: a double-blind, parallel groups, pilot study. Nutrients 15(22): 4842. PMID 38004235
- Laws KR, Sweetnam H, Kondel TK (2012). Is Ginkgo biloba a cognitive enhancer in healthy individuals? A meta-analysis. Human Psychopharmacology 27(6): 527–533. PMID 23001963
- Psychoactive Substances Act 2016, section 2 and Schedule 1. legislation.gov.uk. Accessed 17 October 2026. legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2016/2/contents
- Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (2016). Freshers warned to be smart and avoid Modafinil. GOV.UK. gov.uk/government/news/freshers-warned-to-be-smart-and-avoid-modafinil
- Food Standards Agency (2024). Food supplements containing caffeine. GOV.UK. gov.uk/government/publications/food-supplements-containing-caffeine
