Onnit Alpha Brain delivers cognitive enhancement benefits while presenting several potential side effects that users should be aware of. Alpha Brain side effects include headaches, nausea, insomnia, anxiety, jitters, and jaw pain, typically affecting 10-20% of users during initial use.
Alpha Brain contains three proprietary blends (Onnit Flow, Focus, and Fuel) with natural ingredients like Alpha-GPC, Huperzine A, and L-Theanine that work together to improve concentration, mental processing, and memory function by promoting the brain’s “flow state.”
Despite these side effects, Alpha Brain remains safe for most healthy adults when taken as directed, with many adverse reactions subsiding after regular use. Alpha Brain undergoes extensive testing and is BSCG certified to ensure it’s free from harmful substances, though users should follow recommended dosages to avoid potential complications.
Table of Contents
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.
Alpha Brain side effects range from mild to moderate, including headaches, nausea, insomnia, anxiety, jitters, and brain fog, which typically affect 10-20% of users and often subside after regular use. In some people, Alpha-GPC, one of Onnit Alpha Brain’s key ingredients, can cause additional adverse reactions such as heartburn, dizziness, skin rash, sleeplessness, and confusion.
Below are the most common potential side effects of Alpha Brain:
Headache
Alpha Brain can cause headaches in some users, though reviews suggest these are typically minor and often result from dehydration rather than the supplement itself, as users tend to forget to drink water when they become intensely focused on their tasks.
Nausea
Alpha Brain causes nausea in approximately 10-15% of users, especially when taken on an empty stomach, which is why long-time users recommend taking the capsules with a light meal containing healthy fats to reduce this common digestive side effect. 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.
Nausea appears to be most commonly associated with the Alpha-GPC and Huperzine A components of Alpha Brain. These ingredients increase acetylcholine levels, which can trigger digestive discomfort in some users. Based on user reports, approximately 10-15% of new users experience some degree of nausea.
To minimize or avoid Alpha Brain side effects, particularly nausea, users should:
- Always take with food, preferably something containing healthy fats like avocado or nuts
- Consider a protein-rich breakfast that helps slow absorption
- Start with half the recommended dose for the first 3-5 days
- Stay well-hydrated throughout the day
- Take the supplement with ginger tea if you’re particularly sensitive
Most users report that nausea symptoms diminish significantly after 5-7 days of consistent use as the body adapts to the supplement.
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.
Alpha Brain causes insomnia in approximately 15-20% of users, making it one of the more common side effects reported in online reviews, particularly when first starting the supplement. This sleep disruption occurs because Alpha Brain’s ingredients like Alpha-GPC and Huperzia Serrata increase acetylcholine levels and neural activity in the brain, which can interfere with normal sleep patterns when taken later in the day.
To minimize insomnia risk, consider these strategies:
- Take Alpha Brain early in the morning (before 10 AM)
- Start with half the recommended dose to assess your sensitivity
- Avoid combining with other stimulants like coffee
- Establish a consistent sleep routine with a wind-down period
- If insomnia persists beyond a week of use, consider taking a 2-3 day break from the supplement
For most users, sleep disturbances tend to diminish after the first week as the body adjusts to the supplement’s effects on neurotransmitter levels.
Is There an Alpha Brain Alternative with Fewer Side Effects?
NooCube serves as an Alpha Brain alternative with fewer reported side effects while still containing several ingredients that help improve concentration, memory, learning ability, and mood through similar cognitive enhancement mechanisms.
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?
Alpha Brain is safe for most healthy adults when taken as directed, though it could pose risks to some users’ health despite being well-tolerated and free from toxic substances, which is why you might want to consider an alternative to Alpha Brain if you experience persistent side effects.
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.
Comparing Alpha Brain Side Effects to Other Onnit Products
When considering Onnit’s product line, it’s important to understand how Alpha Brain’s side effect profile compares to other Onnit supplements.
Alpha Brain vs. New Mood
Onnit’s New Mood supplement focuses on serotonin production and stress reduction rather than cognitive enhancement. Unlike Alpha Brain, New Mood rarely causes insomnia or jitters. However, it may cause mild digestive discomfort in some users, similar to Alpha Brain’s nausea side effect but typically less intense. New Mood contains 5-HTP, which can cause drowsiness in some users – the opposite of Alpha Brain’s wakefulness effect.
Alpha Brain vs. Shroom Tech Sport
Shroom Tech Sport is Onnit’s energy and performance supplement. While Alpha Brain focuses on cognitive function, Shroom Tech targets physical performance. Shroom Tech contains cordyceps mushroom and B vitamins that may cause similar digestive discomfort to Alpha Brain but is more likely to cause increased heart rate and blood pressure due to its energy-boosting properties. Unlike Alpha Brain, Shroom Tech is not recommended for evening use due to its stimulatory effects.
Alpha Brain vs. Total Human
Total Human is Onnit’s comprehensive supplement pack containing elements of Alpha Brain along with additional vitamins and minerals. The side effect profile is broader than Alpha Brain alone, with potential for more digestive issues due to the higher mineral content. However, the cognitive-enhancing ingredients are more diluted in Total Human, potentially reducing the intensity of side effects like insomnia and jitters compared to Alpha Brain.
When choosing between Onnit products, consider your specific needs and sensitivities. If you’re primarily concerned about cognitive enhancement but find Alpha Brain’s side effects challenging, other Onnit products might offer some benefits with different side effect profiles. However, for targeted cognitive enhancement, Alpha Brain remains Onnit’s flagship product despite its potential side effects.
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?
Alpha Brain can be taken daily by most users without developing significant side effects after the initial adjustment period, though there are no long-term studies confirming its safety for continuous use, which is why some experts recommend occasional rather than daily consumption to prevent potential tolerance development.
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.