Phoenix Labs Crack pre-workout

L-arginine and AAKG

L-arginine is an amino acid used by the body to make nitric oxide. AAKG is arginine bound to alpha-ketoglutarate.

Agmatine sulfate

Agmatine is formed in the body from the amino acid arginine and acts as a signalling molecule in the nervous system. It is sold as agmatine sulfate in sports and nootropic products.

L-tyrosine

L-tyrosine is an amino acid that the body uses to make the neurotransmitters dopamine and noradrenaline. It is found in protein-rich foods; N-acetyl-L-tyrosine is a related form¹.

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 products².

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.

DMAA (1,3-dimethylamylamine)

DMAA (1,3-dimethylamylamine, methylhexanamine) is a synthetic stimulant that constricts blood vessels and raises blood pressure. It has been sold in pre-workout and weight-loss supplements and as a recreational stimulant³.

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 DMBA⁴.

Beta-alanine

Beta-alanine is an amino acid that combines with histidine in muscle to form carnosine, which helps buffer acid during intense exercise⁵.

Taurine

Taurine is an amino sulfonic acid made by the body and found in meat and fish. It is involved in bile acid formation and cell volume regulation, and it is a common energy-drink ingredient⁶.

L-arginine and AAKG

A dose-response meta-analysis of randomised trials found that L-arginine lowered blood pressure in adults⁷. Evidence for improved exercise performance or "pump" is inconsistent; oral arginine is extensively broken down before reaching the circulation, which is why citrulline is often preferred⁸.

Agmatine sulfate

Controlled human research on agmatine for exercise performance is very limited. Published human data are mostly small studies and a long-term case report⁹.

L-tyrosine

A review found that tyrosine may support cognitive performance in short-term stressful or cognitively demanding situations, when these neurotransmitters are temporarily depleted, but found no consistent effect on physical exercise performance¹.

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 exercise².

DMAA (1,3-dimethylamylamine)

No controlled trials show that DMAA improves athletic performance or weight loss. A pharmacokinetic study of a single 25 mg dose did not find meaningful changes in resting heart rate, blood pressure or body temperature¹⁰.

DMHA (2-aminoisoheptane, octodrine) and DMBA

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

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 minutes⁵.

A meta-analysis found a significant overall ergogenic effect, with the size of the benefit depending on the type and duration of exercise¹¹.

Taurine

There is no authorised EU health claim for taurine, and evidence that taurine on its own improves exercise performance in healthy people is limited.

L-arginine and AAKG

Studies vary in dose and population⁷.

Agmatine sulfate

There are no large randomised trials showing a performance benefit from agmatine in healthy people. Claims of better "pump" or focus are not established.

L-tyrosine

Most studies are small and use single doses in laboratory settings¹.

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 products².

DMAA (1,3-dimethylamylamine)

The single-dose study does not reflect repeated use, higher doses or combination with other stimulants and exercise¹⁰. Analyses of sports and weight-loss supplements have repeatedly found stimulants that were not declared, or quantities different from the label⁴¹².

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 label⁴¹².

Beta-alanine

Effects on strength and on endurance exercise beyond about 25 minutes are not established⁵. A single serving taken before training does not reproduce the daily supplementation used in research.

Taurine

Most of the research uses taurine in combination with caffeine or other ingredients.

L-arginine and AAKG

A risk assessment identified an observed safe level of 20 g a day¹³. Because it lowers blood pressure, people taking blood-pressure or erectile-dysfunction medication should ask a doctor first⁷.

Agmatine sulfate

A case report described 5 years of high daily agmatine intake without detected adverse effects⁹. One case report cannot establish safety for the wider population.

L-tyrosine

People taking MAO inhibitors or thyroid medication should not use tyrosine supplements without medical advice.

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 infant¹⁴.

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 intake¹⁴².

DMAA (1,3-dimethylamylamine)

DMAA is a potent pressor agent. Cases of cerebral haemorrhage have been reported in adults after using DMAA³.

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 tests¹².

Beta-alanine

The only commonly reported side effect is paraesthesia, a harmless tingling of the skin that is more likely with larger single doses⁵.

Taurine

A risk assessment identified an observed safe level of 3 g a day of supplemental taurine¹³, and EFSA did not raise safety concerns for the amounts used in energy drinks⁶.

Contains 1,3-dimethylamylamine (DMAA), a synthetic stimulant that is not authorised as a novel food in the EU and is on the WADA Prohibited List. Contains DMHA/DMBA, a synthetic stimulant that is not authorised as a novel food in the EU.

L-arginine and AAKG

No health claim for this ingredient is authorised in the EU¹⁵; botanical ingredients are sold under national food-supplement rules¹⁶.

Agmatine sulfate

Agmatine sulfate is used in some EU food supplements under national rules. No health claim is authorised¹⁵. Whether a product needs novel food authorisation depends on its history of use¹⁷.

L-tyrosine

Amino acids such as L-tyrosine are used in EU food supplements under national rules. No health claim is authorised¹⁵.

Caffeine

Caffeine is permitted in EU foods and food supplements, subject to labelling rules. It is not on the World Anti-Doping Agency Prohibited List¹⁸.

DMAA (1,3-dimethylamylamine)

DMAA is not authorised as food or as a food supplement ingredient in the EU¹⁷ and is prohibited in competition by the World Anti-Doping Agency⁴¹⁸.

DMHA (2-aminoisoheptane, octodrine) and DMBA

DMHA and DMBA are not authorised as novel foods in the EU¹⁷. Octodrine and related stimulants are prohibited in competition by the World Anti-Doping Agency¹²¹⁸.

Beta-alanine

Beta-alanine is used in EU food supplements under national rules. No health claim is authorised¹⁵.

Taurine

Taurine is used in EU foods and food supplements. No health claim is authorised¹⁵.