When it comes to improving our brain function with pills, there are two routes you can take: natural or synthetic.
Which one you will go for depends on many factors, including your age, lifestyle, your goals and needs, and the opinion of your doctor.
We are going to help you make the decision by giving you a complete overview of Neuriva Plus and Adderall, and their pros and cons for your brain health.
Curious as to which one is healthier, safer, and more effective for your mind? Read on as we start off with a TL;DR for those in a hurry.
Neuriva Plus vs Adderall SUMMARY:
Neuriva Plus and Adderall are two completely different products. Whereas Neuriva contains relatively weak and (partly) understudied ingredients that are unlikely to cause any side effects, Adderall is a harsh stimulant that comes with a long list of possible adverse reactions, making it a good option only for short-term use (provided you’ve been able to get it through your doctor’s prescription and recommendation). Neuriva is definitely the better option if you plan on supporting your brain health naturally long-term, but it’s also far from the best nootropic we’ve seen – missing many core ingredients.
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Neuriva Plus vs Adderall: About the Products
Neuriva Plus
Neuriva Plus is a natural brain support supplement for both men and women. It is a dietary supplement that you can get over the counter in numerous health stores as well as online retailers such as Amazon.
So, what does Neuriva do?
According to its manufacturer, Schiff Vitamins, Neuriva Plus should help improve your memory function, think sharper, and remember information with quicker recall.
You should notice reduced brain fog, resulting in better focus, learning, and productivity throughout the day.
These effects are said to be the result of certain ingredients in Neuriva, including Coffee Fruit Extract, which Schiff Vitamins claims can boost your BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor). More on that in a minute.
For now, let’s talk a little bit more about Adderall.
Adderall
Adderall is a prescription drug that is used to treat ADHD and narcolepsy. It falls into the amphetamine class of drugs.
Adderall contains a mix of amphetamine and dextroamphetamine, which are central nervous system stimulants. It is used for the treatment of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and narcolepsy, as well as for weight loss in adults who are obese or have type 2 diabetes.
It is also used by people without these conditions to increase alertness, concentration, energy, and motivation.
The problem with Adderall, however, is that it can be addictive due to its stimulating effects on the brain’s reward system – along with myriad other side effects which we’ll talk about more in the following sections.
Neuriva Plus vs Adderall: Ingredients
Neuriva’s Ingredients
Neuriva Plus contains 5 active ingredients, they are:
- Vitamin B6 (1.7mg)
- Folate (680mcg)
- Vitamin B12 (2.4mcg)
- Coffee Fruit Extract (200mg)
- Phosphatidylserine (100mg)
There are a few flaws with Neuriva’s formula. Because of these flaws, we don’t think it’s going to be as effective as the manufacturer made it out to be.
For one, three out of five ingredients are basic B vitamins, which you can find in any multivitamin. These are most likely not going to have any noticeable effect on your cognition unless you’re severely deficient (which is rare as most foods contain these B vitamins).
That leaves us with the last two ingredients in Neuriva – Coffee Fruit Extract and Phosphatidylserine.
Coffee Fruit Extract is said by the manufacturers of Neuriva to boost brain cell growth, thanks to its active compounds. Schiff Vitamins cited a study on Neuriva’s website which showed a significant increase in BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor).
The problem is, that study is using a different form of coffee fruit than the one in Neuriva. The study is using a whole coffee fruit concentrate powder, whereas Neuriva contains a coffee fruit extract. Which part of the coffee fruit is extracted, we don’t know. As a result, any potential benefits of BDNF are questionable. Furthermore, even if Neuriva used the same form of the coffee fruit, it would still be a questionable ingredient due to the lack of more human evidence. One study alone doesn’t really cut it!
That leaves us with Phosphatidylserine. Let’s just say that this is the only ingredient in Neuriva that is likely to give you some form of noticeable cognitive improvement. While it doesn’t work immediately, Phosphatidylserine can, after a few weeks of supplementation, improve concentration, reduce symptoms of ADHD, and alleviate brain fog.
Essentially, there is only one ingredient in Neuriva – Phosphatidylserine – that has enough clinical evidence to support some of the claims made by the manufacturer. However, Phosphatidylserine alone is not going to give you drastic improvements in your cognitive well-being. Neuriva’s formula as a whole is incomplete. It would benefit massively from adding proven nootropics such as Pine Bark Extract, CDP-Choline, and Lion’s Mane Mushroom, to name a few.
As it is right now, Neuriva is far from the most effective nootropic formula we’ve seen on the market.
Adderall’s Ingredients
Adderall contains amphetamine salts which are classified as stimulants. It also contains dextroamphetamine which is an amphetamine that has a different molecular structure from other drugs in the same class. In the USA, amphetamine is a controlled substance classified as a Schedule II drug.
Adderall is taken orally in tablet form or as a solution to be injected subcutaneously or intramuscularly. Intravenous injection can cause strokes that can lead to death. Doses of Adderall vary based on the individual and severity of the condition but are typically for adults at 10 milligrams per day to 20 milligrams per day with a one-time double dose for emergency use. Adderall is used to treat a number of conditions, including ADHD, narcolepsy, and some forms of depression. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, Adderall is a Schedule II drug in the USA and has the potential for both abuse and addiction.
Put simply, Adderall is far more effective than Neuriva – or any other natural brain supplement – at increasing your concentration and focus, but it also comes with a severe risk of withdrawal, weight loss, nausea, and insomnia, among many other side effects. Adderall is typically prescribed for short-term use only because of the aforementioned reasons. So if your goal is to support your memory, protect your brain cells, and improve your mood long-term, it’s best to look into the current best-rated natural brain health supplements.
Neuriva vs Adderall: Side Effects
In terms of safety alone, Neuriva is the clear winner. Its ingredients are unlikely to cause you anyu side effects, especially at the dosages that are as light as those in Neuriva Plus.
By contrast, Adderall is known to cause headaches, insomnia, anxiety, stomach discomfort, high blood pressure, heart palpitations, diarrhea, and a slew of other side effects, especially when taken for prolonged periods. The most notorious side effect of Adderall, however, is probably its potential to make you dependent on it – making withdrawals a nightmare for many people.
Final Verdict
If you’re looking for the best natural brain supplement on the market, Neuriva Plus is not one of them. Although it’s significantly less risky than Adderall, it’s too weak to cause any substantial improvements.
Adderall, on the other hand, is only for people whose doctor recommended it to them, otherwise, it’s best to stick to safe and natural alternatives that are healthy for daily use.
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