Onnit Alpha Brain Side Effects & Adverse Reactions

Updated on February 9, 2024
 by — reviewed by Jason Williams, PhD (Contributor: George Collins / Editor: Yoko Hill)
Exploring the side effects and adverse reactions of Onnit Alpha Brain.

Headaches, nausea, insomnia, and anxiety are possible Alpha Brain side effects. Overdosing can cause overstimulation and a variety of negative side effects. Taking a break from the capsules can help to restore normal levels. Also, take extra caution to not exceed the recommended dosage.

Continue reading to learn more about the potential side effects of Onnit Alpha Brain and what you can do to avoid them.

What Are the Side Effects of Alpha Brain?

These are the side effects of Alpha Brain and its main ingredient, Alpha-GPC. 
The side effects of Alpha Brain can be headaches, nausea, insomnia, anxiety, jitters, or brain fog. In some people, Alpha-GPC can cause adverse effects like heartburn, headaches, dizziness, skin rash, sleeplessness, and confusion.

Below are the most common potential side effects of Alpha Brain:

Headache

Review shows having minor headaches issues when taking Alpha Brain. However, dehydration, and not the supplement itself, is the culprit as users tend to forget to drink water when they are too focused on their tasks.

Nausea

Taking Alpha Brain may cause nausea, especially when taken on an empty stomach. Long-time users recommended taking the capsule with a light meal. According to reviews on the website, people who are new to nootropics could also experience this, but no need to worry as this would not be long-term. It would likely subside as you start to get adjusted.

Jaw Pain

This side effect is caused by tightening your jaw as you become too focused for hours. However, most online reviews report that the pain is not intense and will go away quickly.

Body Odor

Although this is not common, some users report on a review that they experience a slight change in body odor when taking Alpha Brain. Make sure to apply extra deodorant just to be sure.

Jitters and Anxiety

You may feel a little jittery from the first 15-20 minutes of taking the smart drug. As you may know, caffeine likely caused this side effect; but since Alpha Brain is free from this substance, the jitters and anxiety you feel are due to an elevated mood caused as your mental performance improves.

Insomnia

Since Onnit Alpha Brain promotes wakefulness and intense concentration, you have to take it in the morning to be at your most productive. Taking it late in the afternoon or at night will only cause disrupted sleep quality and time.

Is There an Alpha Brain Alternative with Fewer Side Effects?

NooCube is a brain supplement that contains several ingredients that help improve concentration, memory, learning ability, and mood.

Its ingredients are very similar to those of Alpha Brain, but NooCube is half the price and users report fewer side effects.

As a result, if you’re looking for a good brain-boosting supplement, we recommend NooCube over Alpha Brain.

Huperzine A is one of NooCube’s best ingredients because it prevents the brain from producing acetylcholinesterase, a protein that can break down neurotransmitters in the brain. Huperzine A protects the brain’s long-term health by limiting acetylcholinesterase production. Furthermore, the Alpha-GPC in it works in tandem with huperzine A. NooCube can also increase energy and improve alertness.

NooCube is inexpensive and only available through the official website. It is shipped for free worldwide. The NooCube website also provides a 60-day money-back guarantee, allowing you to try the nootropic supplement without risk.

What is Alpha Brain?

Launched in 2011, Onnit Alpha Brain is among the most popular over-the-counter nootropics that help you achieve peak mental performance through enhancing concentration level, improving mental processing, and boosting memory functions.

The supplement is a cognitive product that will help you gain focus for 6+ hours to complete complex tasks without distractions and perform at your best. Onnit Alpha Brain reviews are generally positive which speaks for its quality.

A study only supports this nootropic supplement product for its cognitive-enhancing benefits.

In the 2016 placebo-controlled double-blind clinical study by Todd M. Solomon et al., it was reported that healthy adults who consumed Onnit Alpha Brain for six weeks improved their executive functions and verbal memory as compared to those who received placebo.

Alpha Brain is BSCG Certified Drug-Free, and a review shows that it is keto-friendly, caffeine-free, gluten-free, and dairy-free.

How Does Onnit Alpha Brain Work?

Have you ever experienced being engrossed in your tasks that you seem to forget about the time and anything else? This intense concentration is called the “flow state,” the optimal level of consciousness where you feel the most productive.

Taking Alpha Brain allows you to reach this state, making you more absorbed in your tasks while tuning out distractions. If you tend to procrastinate as you feel demotivated to review or work, Alpha Brain can help you freshen up your mind to be more productive and creative. With this, you can review your lessons for hours without being distracted.

The nootropics boost the brain’s alpha wave and support neurotransmitters’ production, giving you charged-up cognitive function.

Aside from the intense focus and heightened flow state, Alpha Brain also supports memory functions, specifically recent verbal memory. Additionally, it allows you to improve short-term memory by recalling what you read or heard.

Ingredients and Dosage

Alpha Brain contains proprietary blends that allow your brain to operate on all cylinders and function at its best.

Onnit Alpha Brain’s composition has three blends: Onnit Fuel Blend, Onnit Flow Blend, and Onnit Focus Blend.

Onnit Flow Blend (650 mg) provides amino acids and helps in alpha brain wave production. The second is Onnit Focus Blend (240 mg) which targets optimal acetylcholine levels. The last one is the Onnit Fuel Blend (60 mg), which targets optimal nervous system communication for brain health.

Listed below are the Alpha Brain ingredients found in the three blends of the Onnit Alpha Brain:

  • L-Theanine
  • L-Tyrosine
  • Phosphatidylserine
  • Oat Straw Extract
  • Cat’s Claw Extract
  • Huperzia Serrata
  • Bacopa
  • L-Leucine
  • Pterostilbene
  • Cat Claw Extract
  • Vitamin B6
  • Alpha-GPC

Alpha Brain’s label only indicates the dosages of the formulated blends, vitamin B6 and Cat’s Claw, while the dose of the rest of the nutrients found in the blends is not transparent.

Natural Ingredients and Their Possible Dangers

Most of Alpha Brain ingredients are natural and herbal nootropics. Unfortunately, clinical studies on these ingredients are still young and do not provide conclusive information on its cognitive effect.

The studies on organic nootropics are said to be inconsistent, usually due to the small participant pool. Nonetheless, there are still available studies that show significant results on their nootropic benefits, pushing the community to conduct more research.

As with any brain supplements with natural content, there are risks due to interaction with other medications or increased consumption.

One example of a natural nootropic is caffeine, which could cause headaches and jitters if consumed with a huge dose per day. Caffeine, like other nootropic content, can be toxic when used in excess.

Some herbal ingredients may also pose hazardous effects that could potentially cause permanent damage. Some of these are comfrey, coltsfoot, and germanium, associated with kidney and liver damage. The FDA also banned some ingredients because of the dangerous stimulating effects, like the Bitter orange ingredient and the Lobelia.

Is Alpha Brain Safe?

Despite being good, well-tolerated, and free from toxic substances, Onnit Alpha Brain could pose risks to many users’ health, which is why you might want to consider an alternative to Alpha Brain.

Onnit Alpha Brain undergoes extensive tests to ensure that the product is free from harmful substances. It is also clinically-studied to ensure that the supplement is effective, thus supporting the formula’s positive effects. However, some studies are said to be not peer-reviewed.

It was also not disclosed that some nutrients do not require regular supplementation for those who are under a healthy diet. Therefore, consuming them could only result in the accumulation of neurotransmitter chemicals like acetylcholine to a possibly dangerous level.

Alpha Brain is BSCG (Banned Substances Control Group) certified to ease your worries, confirming that the supplement is free from banned and toxic substances.

Various performers who use Alpha Brain before competitions also underwent drug tests by anti-doping labs, including the U.S Olympic Committee (USOC) and Anti-doping Agency (WADA), in which no harmful substances were found.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Your questions answered.

Can You Overdose From Alpha Brain?

Overdosing is not a concern.

Alpha Brain is a dietary supplement that does not intend to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. It only contains natural ingredients and is caffeine-free, making it safer to consume without any severe side effects.

Just to be sure, it is recommended to take only two capsules after a meal as per the official website of Onnit Alpha Brain. Effects may vary on the users due to different body chemistry.

Can You Take Alpha Brain Every Day?

While there are no studies that show if Alpha Brain is addictive, it is safer to consume it occasionally and not every day.

There may be a chance that your body will get dependent on it or develop a tolerance to the substance.

Conclusion

Alpha Brain is a good nootropic supplement that is generally safe and effective to use. It only contains natural substances that are tolerated by the body.

Although side effects may not be inevitable, like with other brain focus pills and dietary supplements, this is not a huge issue as long as you consume the right dosage.

Remember that this review does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

To avoid any worries, you must consult your physicians first before taking Alpha Brain.

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