Last modified on January 14th, 2023
Dark Energy Dmaa Pre Workout was a popular supplement, but if you’ve looked recently to try and buy it, you may notice that it’s either no longer listed or listed as being out of stock.
So what’s the deal? Why is Dark Energy Dmaa Pre Workout no longer available?
What are good alternatives? We’ll cover these topics below.
What Is Dark Energy Pre Workout?
This preworkout was a popular supplement for an energy boost, but in March of this year (2021), the manufacturing facility that makes it was shut down.
This pre-workout isn’t being manufactured anymore due to the potential health risk and powerful stimulants in the formula.
There wasn’t a lot of official information from the FDA about why the supplement was banned, but we do know that it contains two ingredients called DMAA and DMHA.
At one point, DMAA was marketed and approved as a drug to help with nasal congestion, but now the FDA doesn’t recognize it as having any legitimate medical use.
These are banned substances as far as being sold as dietary supplements.
Interestingly, as a way of getting around it, the pre-workout was labeled as a research product and also as “not for human consumption.”
FDA Warnings
The FDA warns about the risk of adverse events from DMAA pre-workout for about a decade. The FDA seized products from facilities that didn’t agree to voluntarily stop making them.
There have been dozens of reports of death, adverse effects and illnesses related to supplements that had DMAA.
Other Ingredients
Also in this pre-workout are:
- Beta-alanine: Beta-alanine is a non-essential amino acid that your body can naturally produce. It’s also in a lot of pre-workout and sports supplements because it may help improve muscular endurance and performance.
- Taurine: This amino acid can help with mental focus and clarity. Taurine in supplement form may help boost athletic performance and energy. Taurine may also help with liver inflammation and congestive heart failure.
- Caffeine: Caffeine is an ingredient in a lot of pre-workout supplements that increases energy. When combined with the controversial ingredients in this supplement, the caffeine content can be especially dangerous.
- GABA: GABA is a neurotransmitter that helps calm your brain activity. Gaba is also a supplement, although we don’t know if it can actually cross the blood-brain barrier.
- DMAE: Another ingredient is DMAE. DMAE is a compound that some people feel helps with mood elevation, memory, and brain function. DMAE may help reduce age-related decline and memory loss. Other purported benefits of DMAE include improved athletic performance, more focus, and a better mood.
Before the ban, people had pretty good things to say about Dark Energy Dmaa Pre Workout. We read some reviews from people who actually used it, and they said they found that as well as giving them a great workout, it also acted as a focus-enhancer and nootropic for them.
Unfortunately, it seems like there are some very real risks associated with the product, which we’re going into more detail about
What is DMAA?
The biggest reason Dark Energy is no longer available is that it contains something called DMAA, one of the most hardcore stimulants.
- DMAA is short for dimethylamylamine, which can create a massive energy rush.
- It was in many preworkout supplements at one point, including Code Red, Napalm and Nitric Blast.
- The initial use was in 1948 as a way to help with nasal allergies. By the 1970s, it no longer had approval.
- As a supplement, DMAA re-emerged in 2006.
- The product is a powerful stimulant, and many experts say it is stronger than ephedra, which is also banned.
- DMAA comes from geranium extract technically, but what’s used in workout supplements is usually synthetic.
- The effects of DMAA are compared to methamphetamine and cocaine, both of which have potentially severe or deadly side effects.
- This ingredient works on hormones like adrenaline to produce effects. The ingredient may also affect the reward system of the brain, which can boost energy but can also affect blood pressure in dangerous ways.
- DMAA can replicate adrenaline, which then stimulates an artificial fight-or-flight response like other stimulants. The ingredient can cause you to feel high, and it has abuse potential.
Risks of DMAA
Some of the adverse side effects of DMAA include:
- Liver damage: In 2013, there were 36 people who took a supplement that had DMAA, called OxyELITE Pro, and were subsequently hospitalized for liver damage. Of those people, one died, and two had to get a liver transplant.
- Brain bleeds: There have been at least three reports of people suffering from brain bleeding after using DMAA.
- Blood pressure and heart rate: Taking DMAA supplements with this dangerous ingredient has been consistently linked with increases in heart rate and blood pressure. It has been associated with an increased risk of a heart attack and irregular heartbeat.
- Nausea and vomiting: This is a very common side effect related to the use of supplements that have DMAA.
The risk of side effects from DMAA is higher in combination with caffeine, which is also in Dark Energy, or alcohol.
Each dose of this workout supplement has 60 mg of DMAA, which is a high dose.
What is DMHA?
DMHA is also in Dark Energy Pre Workout, and it’s a central nervous system stimulant developed in the 1950s originally to treat bronchitis and similar conditions.
The ingredient is also in pre-workout and fat burner supplements because it theoretically can reduce appetite and boost energy.
The FDA describes DMHA as a banned ingredient that lacks evidence for safe use.
DMHA is thought to have the potential to cause harmful heart-related side effects.
DMHA acts in many of the same ways as DMHA.
Safer Alternatives to Dark Energy Pre Workout
Don’t Use Dark Energy Dmaa Pre Workout.
Our big warning is that you avoid this product, even if you find somewhere still willing to sell it. This product is a potentially dangerous supplement that you should avoid.
Manufacturing of the product has been discontinued for a reason, and if you use it, it could cause heart damage, brain bleeding, or liver damage.
So what can you use instead?
We put together a few alternatives that are good pre-workouts and are considered safer.
Insane Labz Psychotic Gold
Insane Labz Psychotic Gold is a pre-workout available on Amazon, and it has some of the same ingredients and blend of stimulants as Dark Energy, but without the banned additions.
- Insane Labz Psychotic Gold is a high-stimulant option, which makes it similar in some ways.
- It’s also highly rated and reviews indicate it can give you “insane energy.”
- Insane Labz Psychotic Gold can help provide you with clean energy and focus.
- Ingredients in Psychotic Gold include nitric oxide boosters like L-citrulline, beta-alanine, and agmatine sulfate.
- This helps give you a pump, in addition to improving focus and stamina.
- There are patented Insane Labz ingredients included in this formulation, like Oxygold, which help you absorb the ingredients for maximum effectiveness.
According to user reviews, Insane Labz Psychotic Gold is a pre-workout that people turned to because they wanted an alternative to FDA-banned ingredients.
As a warning, you should know that this is again, a high-stimulant pre-workout so you will feel pretty strong effects.
You may also experience side effects like some nausea or insomnia if you’re not used to a powerful, stimulant-based pre- workout supplements.
Total War Pre Workout
We’ve actually done a full review on Total War Pre Workout, which we encourage you to check out. This supplement is a good alternative that may increase endurance and focus. Total War may provide mood enhancement.
It’s a nitric oxide booster that’s keto-friendly and comes in fun flavors like rainbow candy. Some of the ingredients in Total War are similar.
Total War is free of banned substances but does have ingredients that can help with focus, energy and boosting nitric oxide.
According to users, Total War pre workout supplement does work well and doesn’t have some of the uncomfortable side effects that other pre-workouts do.
Bucked Up Woke
Finally, another alternative pre- workout you might want to try is called Bucked Up Woke. It’s a high-stimulant pre-workout and nootropic.
It has 333 mg of caffeine, as well as ingredients like Huperzine A and theobromine which can improve your motivation. There’s also beta-alanine which reduces fatigue and increases endurance to facilitate more muscle growth.
Where to Buy Dark Energy Pre Workout
As we’ve mentioned throughout, we don’t recommend that you try Dark Energy. It’s unlikely you would be able to find it in any traditional retailers since the products are banned.
You may be able to find it online, but retailers have to market it as not being safe for human consumption.
Final Thoughts- Dark Energy Pre Workout Review
Dark Energy is a potent stimulant that’s no longer available because it has ingredients the FDA considers dangerous, including DMAA and DMHA. These ingredients can affect your heart health, increase the risk of liver damage and may lead to bleeding in your brain.
There are Dark Energy alternatives to consider. However, that will give you a stimulant-based pump and raise energy levels and improve exercise performance without all of the possibly harmful and severe side effects.
References
https://www.ktnv.com/13-investigates/dangerous-nutrition-supplements-highlight-dark-secret-in-fitness-industry
https://www.fda.gov/food/dietary-supplement-products-ingredients/dmha-dietary-supplements
https://www.opss.org/article/dmha-octodrine-dietary-supplement-products
https://www.healthline.com/health/senior-health/dmae#benefits
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