Scary Hours Pre-Workout - Stimulant Pre-Workout

L-citrulline and citrulline malate

L-citrulline is an amino acid that the body converts to arginine, a precursor of nitric oxide, which widens blood vessels. Citrulline malate combines citrulline with malic acid².

Beta-alanine

Beta-alanine is an amino acid that combines with histidine in muscle to form carnosine, which helps buffer acid during intense exercise³.

Betaine (trimethylglycine)

Betaine (trimethylglycine) occurs naturally in beetroot, spinach and wheat. It acts as an osmolyte and as a methyl donor in homocysteine metabolism.

Caffeine

Caffeine is a stimulant that blocks adenosine receptors in the brain, reducing perceived effort and fatigue. It is found in coffee, tea and energy drinks and is a common ingredient in pre-workout products⁴.

Dicaffeine malate (sold as Infinergy®) is caffeine bonded to malic acid. Its caffeine adds to the total caffeine in a product, but labels do not always state the caffeine equivalent.

DMHA (2-aminoisoheptane, octodrine) and DMBA

DMHA, also labelled 2-aminoisoheptane or octodrine (2-amino-6-methylheptane), is a synthetic aliphatic amine stimulant found in pre-workout and weight-loss supplements, sometimes alongside the related compound DMBA⁵.

Phenylethylamine (PEA) and Eria jarensis

β-Phenylethylamine (PEA) is a naturally occurring trace amine with stimulant properties. "Eria jarensis" extract is marketed as a source of related phenethylamines such as N-phenethyldimethylamine. These compounds belong to a large chemical family that also includes synthetic stimulants found in supplements⁶.

Noopept (omberacetam)

Noopept (N-phenylacetyl-L-prolylglycine ethyl ester, omberacetam) is a synthetic compound described as an active pharmaceutical ingredient with nootropic activity⁷.

L-citrulline and citrulline malate

A review of human studies found that citrulline supplementation raises plasma arginine, and that several studies report improved exercise performance or recovery, but the results are inconsistent².

Beta-alanine

The International Society of Sports Nutrition concludes that 4–6 g a day for at least 2–4 weeks raises muscle carnosine and improves performance in exercise lasting about 1–4 minutes³.

A meta-analysis found a significant overall ergogenic effect, with the size of the benefit depending on the type and duration of exercise⁸.

Betaine (trimethylglycine)

A meta-analysis found that betaine supplementation for at least 7 days improved muscular strength, especially lower-body strength, and may improve jumping performance⁹. The EU authorises a claim that betaine contributes to normal homocysteine metabolism at 1.5 g a day¹⁰.

Caffeine

The International Society of Sports Nutrition concludes that caffeine consistently improves exercise performance when consumed in doses of about 3–6 mg per kg of body mass, with benefits for muscular endurance, movement velocity, strength, sprinting, jumping and aerobic exercise⁴.

DMHA (2-aminoisoheptane, octodrine) and DMBA

There are no controlled human trials showing that DMHA improves exercise performance or weight loss.

Phenylethylamine (PEA) and Eria jarensis

There are no controlled human trials showing that PEA or Eria jarensis extracts improve exercise performance or focus. Most published research concerns detection of phenethylamines in supplements and their regulatory status⁶¹¹.

Noopept (omberacetam)

There are no robust controlled trials in healthy people showing improved memory or focus. Published research is mainly chemical, animal or from limited clinical settings⁷.

L-citrulline and citrulline malate

Studies differ in dose, form (citrulline or citrulline malate, often with an unverified ratio) and exercise test, and many are small. The mechanism behind any performance effect is not established².

Beta-alanine

Effects on strength and on endurance exercise beyond about 25 minutes are not established³. A single serving taken before training does not reproduce the daily supplementation used in research.

Betaine (trimethylglycine)

The studies are small and differ in dose and duration⁹.

Caffeine

Responses vary widely between people, partly because of genetics and habitual caffeine use. Many studies use pure caffeine, so results do not automatically apply to multi-ingredient products⁴.

DMHA (2-aminoisoheptane, octodrine) and DMBA

The research concerns detection of these stimulants in supplements, not their effects. Analyses of sports and weight-loss supplements have repeatedly found stimulants that were not declared, or quantities different from the label⁵¹¹.

Phenylethylamine (PEA) and Eria jarensis

Product labels for phenethylamine ingredients are often unreliable. Supplements labelled as containing Eria jarensis that were tested were inaccurately labelled and contained high quantities of caffeine and undeclared stimulants¹²⁶.

Noopept (omberacetam)

Evidence in humans is very limited.

L-citrulline and citrulline malate

Citrulline is generally well tolerated in the doses studied. Digestive discomfort has been reported, and people taking blood-pressure or erectile-dysfunction medication should ask a doctor, because citrulline raises arginine and nitric oxide production².

Beta-alanine

The only commonly reported side effect is paraesthesia, a harmless tingling of the skin that is more likely with larger single doses³.

Betaine (trimethylglycine)

Betaine is generally well tolerated; high intakes may raise blood cholesterol in some people.

Caffeine

EFSA concluded that single doses of up to 200 mg, and daily intakes of up to 400 mg from all sources, do not raise safety concerns for healthy adults. For pregnant and breastfeeding women, daily intakes up to 200 mg do not raise concerns for the foetus or infant¹.

Higher intakes can cause anxiety, sleep disturbance, raised heart rate and blood pressure, and digestive upset. Combining several caffeine sources (coffee, energy drinks, pre-workouts) raises total intake¹⁴.

DMHA (2-aminoisoheptane, octodrine) and DMBA

Human safety data are lacking. As a sympathomimetic amine, DMHA may raise heart rate and blood pressure; avoid combining it with other stimulants. Contaminated supplements have caused positive doping tests¹¹.

Phenylethylamine (PEA) and Eria jarensis

Stimulants of this family can raise heart rate and blood pressure. A case report linked a supplement containing the related compound β-methylphenylethylamine to a haemorrhagic stroke during exercise¹³. Avoid combining with other stimulants, MAO inhibitors or antidepressants.

Noopept (omberacetam)

Human safety data are limited. Official medicines control laboratories in Europe and Australia have found illicit "smart drugs" sold as nootropic products and warn of their dangers¹⁴.

Contains a synthetic research compound that is not authorised as food (novel food) or as a medicinal product in the EU. Contains DMHA/DMBA, a synthetic stimulant that is not authorised as a novel food in the EU. No dosing information for human use is provided.

L-citrulline and citrulline malate

L-citrulline is used in EU food supplements under national rules. No health claim for citrulline is authorised in the EU¹⁰.

Beta-alanine

Beta-alanine is used in EU food supplements under national rules. No health claim is authorised¹⁰.

Betaine (trimethylglycine)

Betaine is used in EU food supplements; the homocysteine claim may be used only in its authorised wording and conditions¹⁰.

Caffeine

Caffeine is permitted in EU foods and food supplements, subject to labelling rules. It is not on the World Anti-Doping Agency Prohibited List¹⁵.

DMHA (2-aminoisoheptane, octodrine) and DMBA

DMHA and DMBA are not authorised as novel foods in the EU¹⁶. Octodrine and related stimulants are prohibited in competition by the World Anti-Doping Agency¹¹¹⁵.

Phenylethylamine (PEA) and Eria jarensis

Phenethylamine stimulants are not authorised EU food supplement ingredients, and several related compounds are on the World Anti-Doping Agency Prohibited List as stimulants¹⁵¹⁶.

Noopept (omberacetam)

Noopept is not authorised as a food or food supplement ingredient in the EU¹⁶. Substances with a pharmacological action on the nervous system are regulated as medicinal products in the EU, and Noopept is not an authorised medicine¹⁷.