Higenamine
Higenamine (norcoclaurine) is a plant-derived beta-adrenergic agonist found in species such as Nandina and Aconitum and sold in pre-workout and fat-burner supplements. It raises heart rate and is promoted for stimulation and fat loss, but its cardiac stimulant activity raises safety concerns and it is banned in sport at all times by WADA.
01 Overview
Higenamine is a benzylisoquinoline alkaloid used in some traditional medicines and now added to over-the-counter pre-workout and weight-loss supplements as a beta-adrenergic (particularly beta-2) agonist. It is marketed for thermogenesis, energy and performance.
Human data are limited. A key concern is that many supplement products contain highly variable and often undeclared amounts, and beta-adrenergic stimulation can increase heart rate and cardiac workload. Regulators (including the US FDA and UK/EU authorities) have flagged higenamine as an unapproved and potentially unsafe ingredient, and WADA prohibits it in and out of competition as a beta-2 agonist.
02 Mechanism
Acts as a beta-adrenergic receptor agonist (with beta-2 activity), increasing heart rate, contractility and metabolic/thermogenic signalling.
03 Dosing
| Tier | Dose | Route | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Common (supplement) | 25–75 mg | Oral | Typical pre-workout label amounts; actual content varies widely and is often undeclared. |
04 Effects
| Effect | Magnitude | Evidence | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stimulation and energyPerceived energy and alertness, marketed as a pre-workout benefit. | Anecdotal | ||
| Thermogenesis / fat oxidationBeta-agonist activity is proposed to increase fat oxidation, but human evidence is weak. | Preclinical | ||
| Increased heart rateBeta-adrenergic stimulation raises heart rate and cardiac workload. | Observational |
05 Side effects
| Effect | Severity | Frequency | Evidence | Countermeasures |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anxiety and tremorJitteriness, tremor and anxiety typical of beta-adrenergic stimulation. | Mild | Common | Anecdotal | |
| Cardiovascular stimulationTachycardia, palpitations and raised blood pressure; concern for arrhythmia, particularly with undeclared high doses or stimulant stacks. | Moderate | Common | Observational | |
| Unpredictable dosing / adulterationSupplement analyses have found large, undeclared and inconsistent higenamine content, making exposure hard to control. | Moderate | Common | Observational |