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Uridine Supplement Stacks Help Repair Dopamine Receptors

For many people, the neurotransmitter dopamine is a key factor in success when optimizing mental function.

Having steady levels of dopamine in the right areas of the brain is important for maintaining motivation, attention span and supporting the ability to learn.

A localized deficiency in dopamine is believed to cause problems such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, unipolar depression, and even persistent anxiety.

On the other hand, an excess of dopamine can lead to severe mood disturbances such as bipolar disorder.

Many pharmaceutical drugs exist to treat disorders caused by dopamine imbalance, including the common brands Adderall (amphetamine salts) and Ritalin (Methylphenidate).

Standard medications can be beneficial in the short term, but they introduce side effects such as increased blood pressure, over-stimulation and withdrawal upon cessation.

Plus, these drugs mainly serve to mask the symptoms of the disorders and are not designed to correct the underlying source of the problem.

Treatment Using Uridine and DHA Supplements

Thankfully, recent studies into a common group of organic substances have revealed a method of correcting dopamine imbalance in the long term.

All of this research has led to the creation of a nootropic stack with the important genetic factor uridine monophosphate at its core.

The individual ingredients of the stack are necessary but interchangeable, meaning many different supplements could be used for a particular role in synergy.

The basic requirements for this officially unnamed stack (I call it the uridine stack) are as follows:

  1. Uridine in a bioavailable form (the various forms are covered later)
  2. DHA or decosahexaenoic acid, an omega-3 fatty acid
  3. A choline source
  4. Highly absorbable B vitamins, especially B12 (cobalamin) and B9 (folate)

Note: you can get the whole stack (Uridine, DHA, Choline, and B vitamins) with one click from Amazon: click here to buy.

You will need to take:

  • 1 Uridine capsule
  • 2 Fish Oil capsules
  • 1 CDP Choline capsule
  • 1 B-Complex capsule
Three nootropics comprise this new stack.

The uridine stack.

The bioavailable uridine (1) is absolutely necessary for the stack as it serves as the core.

Given the research evidence, DHA (2) should also be considered mandatory in order to see benefits from taking the stack.

The choline and B vitamins (3, 4) are highly recommended but not absolutely required, as they may increase effectiveness in some individuals but not all.

Another possible add-on to the stack is magnesium, which can aid with anxiety and memory function.

As mentioned, all four of the base components can be satisfied according to personal preferences.

Much of the information contained in this article regarding ingredients and dosing comes from a major thread on Longecity.org, the same place in which the famous CILTEP stack originated.

Components of the Uridine Stack

1. Uridine (UMP)

Uridine is a major component of RNA and a promoter of DNA repair and cell growth.

When combined with other members of its eponymous stack, uridine can stabilize dopamine activity at the receptor level as well as encourage healthy levels of nerve growth activity.

By itself, uridine cannot be taken as a supplement. It must be ingested as one of two compounded forms in order to cross over into the bloodstream in high enough amounts.

The first form is uridine monophosphate (or UMP), which is generally less expensive and can be taken either orally or sublingually.

UMP taken sublingually is seven to ten times more potent than taken orally, although some users report a slight burning sensation when taking it in this manner. The standard oral dosage is 250mg.

The second form of bioavailable uridine is triacetyluridine (or TAU), which is approximately four to seven times more potent than UMP taken orally. TAU is lipid-soluble, meaning it can only be administered orally and not under the tongue. However, the benefit to this is that TAU absorbs without a problem with food in the stomach, as opposed to UMP where this is questionable. The standard dosage is between 25-50mg.

Both forms of uridine can be bought online in the form of powder and sometimes in pre-filled into capsules. A few websites where they can be found are smartpowders.com, superiornutraceuticals.com and of course amazon.

Jarrow formulas also make capsuled UMP (250mg) which can be found in supplement stores outside the web.

2. DHA (docosahexaenoic acid)

Those taking fish oil may be familiar with DHA because it is one of two major omega-3 fatty acids, which are the desired parts of the oil. DHA is needed in order to create and maintain myelin sheaths on nerve cells, which greatly help in propagating impulses efficiently.

Because of this, supplementing DHA can greatly aid in the creation of new nerve connections and ensure that existing ones stay healthy.

DHA helps neurons form new connections.

Getting DHA as a supplement is rather easy, as fish oil typically suffices for this purpose. However, it is generally recommended to get a formulation with a higher ratio of DHA to EPA, as high as 4:1.

This is because DHA is more important than EPA for nerve maintenance, yet you don’t want to take unnecessary amounts of fish oil and waste money.

Fish oil is available in almost all grocery stores and on the internet, and is perhaps the most popular supplement taken. A general recommendation for dosage is between 500mg and a gram of DHA.

Vegetarians can opt for flaxseed oil as a source of DHA/omega-3 if needed.

I take these Fish Oil capsules (600 DHA, 1500 Omega-3).

3. Choline

Choline is a nutrient that is required to build cell membranes and produce the neurotransmitter acetylcholine.

In the uridine stack, choline supplementation helps in the maintenance of nerve cells, similar to what the DHA does.

Additionally, choline is thought to have a balancing effect on dopamine systems of the brain, as it counteracts high levels of the neurotransmitter.

There are many forms of choline available on the market, all with their own pros and cons.  Users on the main uridine Longecity thread mention alpha-gpc at the start, but any type will do.

Interestingly, CDP-choline (or citicoline) has an additional effect relevant to the purpose of the stack.  In the process of breakdown, one of the metabolites is in fact uridine!

This is perhaps one of the reasons why CDP-choline is such an effective supplement, as noted by my recent take on it.

A quick breakdown of available choline sources for the stack, from least to most potent: Soy Lecithin, Choline Bitartrate, Choline Citrate, Alpha GPC, and CDP-Choline.

Another possible additive is Acetyl L-Carnitine (or ALCAR), which aids in acetylcholine production and could serve as an alternative to other choline supplements for those who are sensitive to the typical options.

Here is a good supplement on Amazon.

4. B Vitamins

Because one of the main effects of uridine involves DNA repair, the B vitamin folic acid or folate is used up more quickly since it is required for the process.

If you don’t get enough folate in your everyday diet, supplementation may be needed in order to see the full benefits of the uridine stack.

Vitamin B12 (cobalamin) is also involved in DNA maintenance and may require supplementation. If you choose to take vitamins, it’s best to go with forms that are more bioavailable, so you can rest assured that the nutrients are absorbed properly.

Methylfolate and methylcobalamin are the active forms of folate and B12, which are superior to “inactive form” supplements that are far more common.

They are not common supplements in stores, although the online sellers Jarrow Formulas and Swanson Vitamins carry these high potency methylated nutrients.

How the Uridine Stack Works

The uridine stack works through two main mechanisms to provide therapeutic and nootropic effects.

  1. The chemical uridine promotes the creation of new dopamine receptors in the brain, an effect which is more pronounced in brains with fewer dopamine receptors. This is done by activating the D1 and D2 receptor signaling cascade, which stabilizes spikes of dopamine activity that would normally “burn out” receptors and reduce their effective number. Modulation also increases the rate of new receptor formation in areas where they are less dense, effectively increasing the number and density of dopamine receptors. Choline – particularly CDP-choline – also has the potential to increase dopamine receptor density.
  2. The stack as a whole supports growth of neural tissue and the protective phospholipid material around it. Having a well-connected and healthy set of dendritic pathways in the brain can improve both mood and cognition, because functionality is optimized or restored.

Main Benefits and Effects of Uridine

Some of the details surrounding the mechanisms of the stack come from clinical trials and animal research, which show positive feedback for the combination in a variety of applications.

1. Dopamine Balance

In a study done at Rutgers University, researchers measured rats’ performance on behavioral tests after being given cocaine or amphetamines.

In an experimental group that was also given uridine, the rats reacted much more sensitively to the illicit dopamine-stimulating drugs, demonstrating that the population of dopamine receptors was denser.

Another observation with the uridine group was that amphetamines did not raise striatal dopamine levels as much as with the placebo group, because of the balancing effect provided by modulation.

A study done in France provided further evidence for uridine’s benefit for dopamine levels.

Scientists found that rats given uridine monophosphate had a higher rate of potassium-mediated dopamine release, as well as an increased rate of neurite growth.

2. Treating Mood Disorders

The co-administration of uridine and omega-3 fatty acids may be useful in treating depression, as confirmed by research done on rats given a forced-swim test.

Either uridine or omega-3s improved the rats’ rate of mobility (showing their want to live), and giving them both substances reduced the dose size of each, displaying a synergistic effect.

Triacetyluridine can be used to treat both depression and bipolar disorder, according to results of a clinical study.

Over the course of six weeks, patients of both disorders showed improvements on behavioral tests, meaning TAU could yield both stabilizing and motivating effects.

3. Improving Memory Function

A nootropic formula developed at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology was recently tested in several European countries.

The concoction – dubbed “souvenaid” – contains uridine, DHA, and choline. Souvenaid was given to early-stage Alzheimer’s disease patients to test its ability to improve memory function (ie, avoid age-related memory loss).

From a large sample size of 259 people, researchers found that patients taking souvenaid performed better on memory related tests, while those in the placebo group worsened.

According to MIT professor Richard Wurtman, the mixture works by stimulating the formation of new synaptic pathways in the brain.

richard wurtman professor of cognitive science nootropicsYou want to improve the numbers of synapses, not by slowing their degradation — though of course you’d love to do that too — but rather by increasing the formation of the synapses. (Wurtman, MIT)

4. Treating Anemia

Uridine’s benefits don’t stop at memory enhancement.

A Brazilian study showed that uridine, when combined with vitamin B12 and the additive cytidine, was effective for treating symptoms of anemia.

The experimental group’s scores on psychological tests improved significantly after a course of treatment with the drug combination.

Other Benefits Reported By Users

Besides results unveiled by clinical trials, uridine stacking has several other benefits reported by users.

The big and dandy uridine thread on Longecity has many users reporting an increase in general motivation and a feeling of meeting their potential. The original poster (Mr. Happy) had the following to say after using the stack for six weeks:

The overall ‘effect’ is that you feel like yourself, but unimpeded – existing cognitive or emotional issues disappear over a week or so and you start feeling and being awesome. Your capacity to learn and retain information is noticably better. (Mr. Happy, Longecity)

The online community at socialanxietysupport.com reports that the stack, or even uridine by itself, helps improve levels of anxiety.

Even the highly popular social forum Reddit touted uridine’s benefits in a recent thread regarding the uridine stack, with a large user base reporting their findings.

Note: delayed onset of action

Because the actions of the uridine stack have a restorative nature, effects may not be apparent right away.

Once nerve connections begin to replenish their protective material and dopamine receptor levels balance out, a significant difference in mood and cognition can be felt.

This can take between a few days and a few weeks to happen, depending on dosage and quality of materials. Many Longecity users reported quite noticeable effects within a week’s time.

Side Effects

The uridine stack behaves like a true nootropic combination in that there seem to be zero negative side effects.

Compared to the massive list of side effects of most dopaminergic substances, this truly seems miraculous. However, a few individuals have reported emotional blunting when taking larger doses.

This can be attributed to higher levels of dopamine being released, overwhelming effects of other neurotransmitters such as serotonin. Some people can be sensitive to higher doses of choline as well, often generating a similar emotional drain when taking too much.

A good idea is experimenting with the dosing (carefully and observantly) in order to find the correct balance for you.

Conclusion

The combination of uridine with DHA, choline and B-vitamins is a stack that is both highly customizable and effective.

It can heal the dopamine systems of the brain and provide the precious raw materials needed to develop new nervous connections.

Plus, the ingredients are accessible and affordable and side effects are a non-issue. Join the growing movement of nootropics enthusiasts who enjoy the benefits of the uridine stack.

You can get the whole stack at once from Amazon (take 1 Uridine capsule, 2 Fish Oil capsules, 1 CDP Choline capsule, and 1 B-Complex capsule)


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Click Here to Leave a Comment Below 30 comments
Laura - April 16, 2015

Can you take a small dose of adderall during the first couple weeks of taking this supplement? I’m a full time student and I can’t go that long without the adderall helping me study. Thank you.

Reply
    Danny - April 17, 2015

    Hey Laura,

    Good question. If you’re tapering off adderall and replacing it with this stack (or another supplement), then you should be okay as long as you’re addy dose is small enough. However, since there is limited since and research to support this uridine stack, I would proceed with total caution.

    Dan

    Reply
      Laura - April 17, 2015

      I have a 20 mL (morning) and 10 mL (afternoon) prescription so I would probably only take one of the two. It’s very small compared to most people. Thank you so much for responding so quickly!

      Reply
alberto - June 4, 2015

may you help me with de dosage?

Reply
Windwalker - June 28, 2015

So may facts give me a headache. Will someone simply give me a list of things to buy and use that omit so many study results?EXAMPLE: Liquid B12, Choline, etc.
Windwalker

Reply
Dan - June 29, 2015

Hi Windwalker,

Thanks for your comment! I know how you feel getting bogged down with different studies and personal accounts of nootropics use. I feel the same way and wish there was just a standard GO-TO dosage for everything! Keep in mind, nootropics are a fairly new type of drug so everyone is going to respond differently based on different doses.

That said, the optimal Uridine Stack doses are as follows:

Uridine Mono-Phosphate (UMP:150-250mg, twice daily (AM & PM)
DHA: 2g (or 4 standard fish oil capsules)
Choline: 50mg to start, then ramp up to 300mg gradually over the course of 2 months
B Complex multivitamin: 1 pill

Cheers,
Dan

Reply
    Ed Freire - July 9, 2015

    Dan when you say 2 gr of dha you mean dha only or 2 gr of fish oil? I have capsules that are 820mg of dha, is that sufficient or need more? Does the epa content matter or not?

    Thanks

    Reply
      Dan - July 9, 2015

      Ideally 2grams of DHA, which is a lot. But the DHA is what you want. So take a high DHA/EPA ratio fish oil, or just get a DHA supplement. Having lots of EPA is not an issue, but most fish oil supps have the reverse: high EPA/DHA ratio, so you’d have to take a lot to get to 2grams of DHA.

      Reply
        Daniel - July 19, 2017

        Where do you come up with the 2g of DHA?

        Reply
jeffrey - August 3, 2015

You actually want more EPA for better brain health

Reply
Michelle - October 23, 2015

What would be the dosage for a mild autistic child of 4 1/2 years old?

Reply
    Dan - October 25, 2015

    Hi Michelle,

    I’m not qualified to answer that question. I’m not sure if an experimental nootropic stack is a smart choice for a 4 1/2 year-old, especially not as a means to treat autism.

    Best of luck,
    Dan

    Reply
Travis - April 25, 2016

I’m hoping this article is still active/monitored. Has anyone seen beneifits to this stack? I’m attempting to desensitize my DOP receptors to a “normal” or balanced level.

Thanks!

Reply
prakashkumarAgarwal - May 13, 2016

Respected sir I have a problems of forgetfulness

Reply
Amy - June 7, 2016

Dan,

Can taking Uridine cause gout?

Thanks,

Amy

Reply
    Dan - June 7, 2016

    Good question Amy. I spent the last hour searching the literature and here’s what I found:

    There is no connection between supplemental uridine and gout.

    However, they are mentioned together in a few studies in a different context. Gout causes uric acid build up, which leads to more uridine in your blood.

    Here’s a good study explaining how that happens: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25470512

    But again, it does appear as if there is a connection. If you have gout or could potentially have it, definitely ask your doctor before taking uridine or the uridine stack.

    Good luck,
    Dan

    Reply
Amy - June 7, 2016

Dan,

Thank you for your prompt reply and research! I’ve been taking and cycling nootropics for the last two years with much success. I just recently found uridine as I was researching other supplements to cycle with the racetams. I decided to add it to my stack which I cycle on a regular basis. I’ve never had gout and I don’t feel like I have gout. I too, researched uridine before taking the supplement. Once I started taking it, I found two cases (probably the same ones you found) that referenced possible gout from taking uridine, so naturally I was concerned. I am not a big red meat eater and I rarely have alcohol, so I now feel safe taking uridine.

Have a great day!

Thanks again,

Amy

Reply
    Dan - June 7, 2016

    Thanks for letting me know Amy. It’s good to have the opinion of someone who’s tried and tested the supplement. It helps everyone else who may come across this article in the future.

    I’m a big red meat eater too, though usually with glass or 2 of red wine! 🙂

    Reply
Repair Dopamine Receptors with URIDINE – Nootropics Korea - November 23, 2016

[…] Uridine Supplement Stacks Help Repair Dopamine Receptors […]

Reply
Philippe - February 18, 2017

Hi Dan,

how long do we have to use this stack for permanent results? What is the maximum time?

Thank you for your acknowledgments!

Reply
nickelelr - May 17, 2017

“TAU is lipid-soluble, meaning it can only be administered orally and not under the tongue” Lipid solubility INCREASES sublingual absorption in most cases. Did you mean TAU is not lipid-soluble? Because you went on to say that “this means it can be absorbed without food in the stomach”, which is also more of a property of non-lipid soluble things.

Reply
Jim - October 8, 2017

Hi, is there any long term cons to taking this stack? What about solely uridine? Are the dosage recommendations for oral or sublingual? I’ve been taking 150mg monophosphate sublingually, which seems to work as well as 75 and 300, for about a year now, and I no longer have depressive episodes, it’s amazing!, but for the past 3 months I’ve been traveling, so taking a bag of fish oil or choline with me is not feasible. Only a good multivitamin. Do you think there is any potential for harm by only taking these two, and not the stack?

I’ve also notice if I take 300mg or more sublingually, the skin just behind my finger cuticles starts to peel back and bleed, very strange side effect, and I’ve confirmed 100% it’s dose dependent on the uridine.

Reply
Tanya Zivin - October 14, 2017

Hello,

My daughter has a tic disorder resulting from Adderall. Don’t understand exactly what the Adderall did to her, but I think it did something to her dopamine receptors. The Uridine stack looks like something that could address either her deficit in dopamine receptors and/or their ability to receive dopamine. She currently takes ALCAR and a number of B vitamins (B5, B6, Methyl-B12) as well as methylfolate. I understand that she should remain on the Bs and methylfolate. Should I remove the ALCAR while we start her on a regimen of Uridine and Fish Oil? Per the blog post: http://corpina.com/three-weeks-using-uridine-stack/ – he waiting 2 weeks before supplementing with the ALCAR into this uridine stack trial. Or, since she’s already taking ALCAR, can I just start with the fish oil and uridine. Thanks in advance for your help.
-Tanya

Reply
Doug - May 18, 2018

Mr. Happy says that his stack requires “a large dose of fish oil with >700mg DHA + >300mg EPA” but this article only stipulates DHA. Why is that? Is only DHA necessary?

Reply
Fredrik - August 25, 2018

This is all bullshit! This stack fucks up more people then it helps!
Just look at all the people on Reddit and Longecity that is in heavy depreession now from This stack!
Be aware dont try this,

Reply
Donald E Howard - February 15, 2021

HI
I took Uridine 150/mg/daily last week and DHA 1200mg/daily. I am 73 and in much better shape than most my age. The effect of Uridine was dramatic. It was like my mental state reset to when I was much younger. Motivation, mood, positive outlook all increased dramatically. However, my sleep which has never been that great deteriorated. Sleep fragmentation, coupled with very light sleep resulting in feeling tired the next day. I had to stop Uridine as I was getting exhausted.

My guess the increase in dopamine also increased cortisol levels thus causing poor sleep.

Any ideas on how to counter the effects of poor sleep when on Uridine.

Reply
Susan - April 9, 2021

I take Rx Venlafaxine ES 150mg. Will this conflict with the stack approach? When I do not take my Rx for 3 days or so, I am highly emotional and get argumentative, defensive and sometimes mean! That was never me when younger! I’m age 70 and take BP Rx as well.Carvedilol 25mg.and Amlodipine/Valsartin HCTZ10/320/25. Any hope for me? I like natural paths to good health and diet.Thank you

Reply

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