NSI-189 is not exactly a widely used nootropic. However, if you’ve spent any time on Reddit (specifically r/nootropics), then you’ll know that the small percentage of people who use NSI-189 are generally huge fans of the compound.
However, there is actually very little information out there on NSI-189, its benefits, how it works, or why anyone would want to use it.
In this article, we’re going to look at NSI-189 in more detail to tell you everything you need to know about this fascinating nootropic compound. We’ll cover user reviews, side effects, where to buy, and the main mechanisms of action. We’ll also compare NSI-189 to other nootropics. If you have experience using NSI-189, please let us know in the comments!
What is NSI-189?
NSI-189, an experimental neurogenic compound, may be used to treat MDD, traumatic brain injuries, stroke, cognition issues, mental disorders, posttraumatic stress disorder and neurodegenerative diseases due to aging.
Neuralstem Inc, a biopharmaceutical firm that develops NSI-199, is Neuralstem Inc. This chemical is being studied as an alternative drug for patients who have not responded to traditional medications.
The phase I clinical trials were completed by 41 volunteers in 2011 (Reference). The phase IB trial, which was conducted in 2012 and 2014, focused on the treatment of patients with MDD.
The phase II clinical trial, however, was not as successful than phase I. It did not meet the primary efficacy endpoint of MDD (Reference).
NSI189 is currently being evaluated for other conditions, such as better brain health, stroke, diabetic neuropathy and neurodegenerative diseases, Angelman syndrome, and post-traumatic stress disorder. It is used to treat trauma brain injury.
FDA granted NSI189 Orphan Drug Designation to treat Angelman syndrome, a rare condition.
The study included patient recruitment as well as NSI imaging.
NSI189, like all antidepressants, increases hippocampal volume. Its ability to screen rodents for compounds that cause the increase is what makes it stand out.
Its ability to increase hippocampal volume, despite not being tested in humans, makes it an effective treatment for depression.
Mechanism of Action: How does NSI-189 work?
NSI-189 could promote neurogenesis in the hippocampus derived neural stem cell. It may also affect the parts that are responsible for memory, learning, and emotion. This is in addition to other processes.
The drug is a benzylpiperazine-aminopyridine that may pass the blood-brain barrier.
Neurogenesis is stimulated by the hippocampal slices. This includes the left side of a human brain.
It may also increase Ki67 or MAP2 in some cases (e.g. after stroke). It can also improve BDNF, GDNF and VEGF.
Similar activities can be seen on the Skp complex, Cullin and F-box complex.
NSI-189 has a few additional mechanisms that could prove its effectiveness as a treatment for depression.
NSI 189 in the brain increases the size of the hippocampal by 20% and modulates aldosterone receptors through improved glucocorticoid resistant.
Other possible mechanisms include TRPV1 antagonist and norepinephrine-dopamine reuptake inhibitor with binding affinity.
Benefits and Effects
To prove that this nootropic is effective in treating mental disorders, a sufficient clinical trial must be done on humans.
This NSI 189 review outlines the benefits of using the product starting with the first trial.
Broadly speaing, NSI-189 is thought to have both procognitive and antidepressant benefits. It appears to both broadly improve cognitive performance while reducing anxiety and symptoms of depression.
On Human Studies
- Improvement in depression. A placebo-controlled study showed that several people experienced significant improvement in their depression symptoms after taking 40 to 80 mg of NSI 189 daily for 28 days.
- Improvements in cognition. Participants in the phase I trial reported self-reported cognitive improvements. This does not just include memory, but also learning ability or focus.
On Animal Studies
Supplements have shown more benefits for humans.
- Induced stroke. NSI-189 reverses cell deaths caused by oxygen deprivation. This effect lasted for 24 weeks.
- Diabetic neuropathy. Neuropathy is a type of nerve damage. NSI-189 is a medication that aids in nerve regeneration. It stops further damage to the brain or limbs and helps in the growth and maintenance of the nerve.
- Angelman Syndrome. The nervous systems are the most affected by Angelman syndrome. This genetic disorder causes motor and cognitive impairments. NSI 189 activates TrkB/Akt pathways and reverses these impairments.
Does NSI-189 work for ADHD?
There is no reason to think that NSI-189 would be good for ADHD symptoms. As far as know (going off the latest clinical data), symptoms of ADHD are primarily the result of neurotransmitter imbalances in the brain. Specifically, ADHD appears to be characterised by issues with both dopamine and norepinephrine. We know this because medications which cause spikes in these neurotransmitters calm the ADHD brain. NSI-189 does not have any effect on these neurotransmitters, so it is unlikely to help ADHD.
Some people have claimed that NSI-189 is in fact effective for ADHD, and that it may even be the closest thing to Adderall in effects you can buy over the counter. However, we see absolutely no evidence to support these claims.
Dosage and how to take NSI-189
For visible results, NSI supplements should only be taken in the recommended dosage. For starters, a dose of 40mg is recommended.
It can be taken one, twice, or three times a day for 28-days, depending on how the body reacts to it, according to a clinical trial that was focused on major depressive disorder (MDD) and neurodegenerative diseases.
To avoid any adverse reactions, you should consult your doctor before taking the drug or other supplements.
NSI-189 Side Effects
Is NSI-189 safe?
The majority of clinical research on NSI 189 has been done on animals. Very few studies have been conducted on humans.
However, side effects can be reported by patients in small doses or greater.
Patients who take 40 mg of the drug may experience dry mouth, sleeplessness, headaches, dizziness and hyperthermia.
High doses of the drug have not been associated with any long-term side effect.
Does NSI-189 Affect Sleep?
There is no solid evidence that NSI-189 affects quality or duration of sleep. Nor does it appear to regularly affect reported levels of fatigue or sleep satisfaction.
NSI-189 and Anhedonia
Some NSI-189 users report experiencing anhedonia (inability to feel pleasure of happiness) either while on or shortly after taking NSI-189. It is not clear how this nootropic would cause anhedonia or low mood but if this happens to you, stop using the nootropic immediately and seek medical advice.
Despite the inability to conduct a sufficient clinical trial on humans, the phosphate compound was made available for human consumption.
This is what users get from using NSI 189.
According elasticoder:
It has been working for me for over a month, along with consistent exercise and taking vitamins. The results have been amazing, I can’t believe it. Every morning, I add 40 mg to my coffee or orange juice. Within 15 minutes, you will start to feel the effects. You will feel stimulated, motivated and energized at first. It’s similar to Adderall, but more intense and healthier. The best thing about NSI189 is that you can stop taking it at any time. This compound is difficult to find. I was able to locate a legitimate vendor that had signed lab reports. You can check out their site ->https://science.bio/. “
According falre1028us
“Personally, NSI-189 has been very helpful to me. I take 50mg of NSI-189 once daily in the morning. I feel a calm wave, improved long-term memory, as well as a significantly improved vision. “
According To ThechanceW:
“So, I began taking NSI189 a little over a month ago, freebase from science.bio…The initial day, I took 40mg sublingually in my morning to very little effect… The next and third days, I did the exact same thing, but with no results. I noticed a slight lift in my mood the fourth day when I took 40mg of it with water. I have taken 80 to 110mg orally every morning since the fifth day, and on all subsequent days. I feel like I’ve been brought back into life. “
NSI-189 Freebase vs. Phosphate Powder – What’s the Difference?
Sometimes, both freebase or phosphate may be available. Users can get confused and lose track of which one they should get.
Both can improve their cognitive function and depressive symptoms.
To help you understand the differences, here are some things to consider.
Phosphate
Neuralstem Inc uses phosphate in its clinical trials. It can be taken orally, and it is approximately 15 to 20% more costly than the other versions. However, it is more stable and has better bioavailability.
Freebase
Sublingual ROA is done with the freebase version. It is the secondary amino, a nitrogen atom that has been bonded to two carbon and one hydrogen atoms. It is not bioavailable.
You might want to think about the following factors before you decide to purchase NSI 189.
Where can I buy NSI-189 phosphate powder?
Because of its rarity, it is difficult to find NSI 189 to buy. Even if there is NSI 189 for sale, you still need to verify that the vendor you choose is trustworthy and that the product you are purchasing is legal.
Some compounds and supplements are very expensive, while others are too cheap. To avoid problems with NSI189, purchase from trusted sources.
- Credentials. Independent laboratory testing has been done by the vendor.
- Trustworthiness. The vendor has received many positive reviews.
- Availability. Customer service support should be available to answer customer questions.
Organoleptic verification can be a powerful method to identify compounds.
If the online reports match, this method allows you to observe the chemical’s physical properties and appearance.
Organoleptic verification is often based on appearance, taste, or smell. A chemical can be crystallized, have a faint odor, and taste bitter.
NSI-189 has a lower density than other chemicals. 50mg of the supplement is equivalent in volume to a 0.15cc scoop.
This dose is commonly used to treat patients suffering from depressive symptoms and cognition problems. The 40-120 mg NSI189 dosage may be used in a clinical trial.
Editor’s Review: NSI-189 personal experience
I took NSI-189 every morning for 2 weeks. I generally found it to be a pleasant experience; this is clearly a effective nootropic compound with both enjoyable and noticeable effects. As I expected after reading the clinical trials, I experienced both antidepressant and nootropic effects from NSI-189. About an hour after taking my dose each morning I felt my tension and anxiety dissipate (like the “calming wave” mentioned in user reviews) accompanied by a definite increase in focus and motivation.
I can definitely say that NSI-189 helped me be more productive for the 2 weeks I used it, and it unarguably kept me less anxious and in a more positive mood.
Is NSI-189 the best nootropic I’ve ever taken? Certainly not. Nor is it the most powerful, nor the best for long-term brain function support. But for anyone interested in using NSI-189, I can say that for me it was an effective cognitive enhancer with multiple benefits.
Conclusion: Is NSI-189 worth using?
NSI-189 is a fascinating nootropic. It has some really interesting mechanisms of action, and it is not thought to pose any serious side effect or long-term health risks.
The compound clearly has both antidepressant and procognitive benefits, with few downsides (that we can tell from the scientific evidence so far).
However, it must be said that NSI-189 has not been extensively studied in large-scale human clinical trials. A lot of the evidence we have is from rodent studies.
We also think there are better options out there than NSI-189 for people who are looking for total brain optimization.
If your goal is top-to-bottom, long-term, all-in-one cognitive enhancement and brain health protection, we recommend using a comprehensive nootropic stack.
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Brian Johnson is current Editor of Vagarights.com and a long-time writer for VAGA. A former psychologist, Brian is passionate about improving mental health and finding ways to stave off cognitive decline. He is an expert on nootropics, cognitive enhancement and biohacking more broadly. You can see his work on Google scholar.
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