>>13963408methylphenidate (ritalin) is better for you long term compared to amphetamine.
there's some neuroprotective effects from methylphenidate, and the reuptake inhibition is a "better" way to increase synaptic dopamine compared to just releasing it (amphetamine-style)
even then though, i think you're probably not going to find great results going down the nootropics path. most evidence is for restoring "normal" mental functioning in those who are defective. last time i looked through the literature, it seemed like very minor if any benefits were present for people who were already operating "normally". that is to say, for piracetam, choline compounds, various herbal whatevers, it's minor at best.
i'm reminded of the yerkes–dodson law, specifically with respect to fighter pilots. back when they used to give amphetamines to pilots, increasing the dose would give negative returns after a point.
the ability for the pilot to make decisions was definitely faster even with higher doses, but the quality of the decision making was reduced. i can't recall the specifics of the paper but it was basically that the subjective confidence of the pilots would still increase, but they would just make poor decisions, faster. the optimal performance was with a lower dose where effects like "hyper focus" and "tunnel vision" would be avoided.
tl;dr taking more doesn't make you better, past a point. there's a limit.
