DMAA
DMAA (1,3-dimethylamylamine) is a synthetic aliphatic amine stimulant once marketed as a nasal decongestant and later sold widely in pre-workout and weight-loss supplements. It raises blood pressure and heart rate and has been linked in case reports to hypertension, cardiac events, cerebral haemorrhage and stroke, prompting regulators including the FDA to warn against it and remove it from supplements.
01 Overview
DMAA was patented as a decongestant in the 1940s, then reappeared in the late 2000s as a stimulant ingredient in sports and diet supplements, sometimes labelled as a 'geranium extract'. Its stimulant effects come from sympathomimetic activity, and users take it for energy, focus and appetite suppression.
The safety concern is cardiovascular: DMAA constricts blood vessels and raises blood pressure, and case reports have associated it with severe hypertension, arrhythmia, myocardial events, cerebral haemorrhage and stroke, including some fatalities, particularly during exertion or when combined with caffeine or other stimulants. The FDA has stated that DMAA is not a lawful dietary-supplement ingredient and has acted to remove products containing it; it is also banned in sport by WADA.
02 Mechanism
A sympathomimetic amine that promotes release and reduces reuptake of noradrenaline, producing vasoconstriction, raised blood pressure and CNS stimulation.
03 Dosing
| Tier | Dose | Route | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Light | 10–25 mg | Oral | Historic supplement doses; no established safe recreational dose. |
| Common | 25–50 mg | Oral | Typical pre-workout range; cardiovascular risk rises with dose and with caffeine. |
| Strong | 50–75 mg | Oral | Higher doses markedly increase cardiovascular risk. |
04 Effects
| Effect | Magnitude | Evidence | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stimulation and increased energyAlertness, energy and drive, sought for training and focus. | marked | Observational | |
| Appetite suppressionReduced appetite, exploited in weight-loss products. | moderate | Observational | |
| Raised blood pressure and heart rateMeasurable increases in blood pressure demonstrated in human studies. | dose-dependent | Clinical |
05 Side effects
| Effect | Severity | Frequency | Evidence | Countermeasures |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hypertension and cardiovascular eventsCase reports link DMAA to severe hypertension, arrhythmia, myocardial injury and death, especially with exertion or other stimulants. | Life-threatening | Uncommon but serious | Observational | |
| Cerebral haemorrhage and strokeCase reports describe intracranial haemorrhage and stroke associated with DMAA use. | Life-threatening | Rare but documented | Observational | |
| Anxiety, palpitations and insomniaTypical stimulant effects of anxiety, racing heart and disturbed sleep. | Moderate | Common | Observational |