Dimethylhexylamine (DMHA) has come a long way. Originally developed as a drug to clear nasal congestion, DMHA has become a staple ingredient of various well-known dietary supplements. Beginners, bodybuilders, and even non-professionals currently use this drug.
One of the reasons is that it helps boost exercise performance. Users also credit DMHA for assisting them to burn weight, lose weight and focus better. It has been shown to increase the pain threshold and motivate bodybuilders to do more intense workouts.
Yet another reason behind its fame is that DMHA is readily available. Unlike experimental therapeutics and other banned substances in the US, DMHA is still marketed as a nasal decongestant. You can thus buy and use it without any legal risks.
In this article, we’re going to tell you everything you need to know about DMHA. That includes this drug’s benefits, side effects, and dosage guidelines. We’ll also discuss the various types of DMHA. You’ll also get to know how it compares with DMAA.
What Is DMHA?
DMHA, like Meldonium, belongs to the class of “Performance and Image-Enhancing Drugs” (PIEDs). It helps users boost physical performance, enhance psychological status, improve cognitive abilities, and enhance appearance. Which is a surprise given that it wasn’t meant to do this. [R]
DMHA was initially developed as a nasal decongestant in the 1950s. It was designed to be mixed with aerosols and increase respiratory volume through the nose. It was only later that it emerged that this drug could have benefits away from the narrow nasal cavity. [R]
Even though the drug has natural origins, almost all the DMHA prescription drugs you see on the market are made in a laboratory. One reason is that synthetic DMHA is inexpensive to manufacture. Another is that it’s less toxic and has more research backing its benefits.
There’s one extra thing you’d do well to keep in mind. DMHA is currently available under many names, including Octodrine, Amidrine, and 2 amino 6 methylheptane. This is to avoid FDA scrutiny, which has sent warning letters to DMHA manufacturers like Hi Tech Pharmaceuticals. [R]
Overview of Benefits and Side Effects
Before diving deep into the benefits, side effects and many more aspects related to DMHA, let’s have a glance at this fat burners’ pros and cons.
Benefits
- Boosts Energy Levels
- Enhances Mental Alertness
- Aids In Weight Loss
- Raises Pain Threshold
- … And Many More
Side Effects
- Increases Blood Pressure
- Nausea and Palpitations
- Rapid Heartbeat
Due to these side effects, people with heart disease or a weak heart shouldn’t take DMHA.
How Does DMHA Work?
DMHA works by increasing the uptake of dopamine and norepinephrine. This lets users experience a quick burst of energy, as both these neurotransmitters increase your energy levels. However, the mechanism with which DMHA boosts energy levels is different from that of classic stimulants. [R]
By increasing norepinephrine uptake, DMHA extracts a ‘fight-or-flight’ response out of your body, increasing blood pressure and energy levels. This can be described as a condition of ‘high’. Together, both these effects give you the energy needed to perform intense workouts.
Its association with dopamine helps DMHA users lose weight and burn fat. Research published in peer reviewed journal has shown that elevated dopamine levels in the body reduce cravings, forcing you to trim your diet. This results in a reduced appetite, translating to fat burning and weight loss. [R]
All in all, DMHA stimulates the release of dopamine and norepinephrine to help with weight loss, fat burning, and increased energy. The fact that it increases the uptake of both these neurotransmitters also helps this fat burner improve your focus and attention.
Types of DMHA
Two types of DMHA are used in pre workouts, including the synthetic (2 amino 6 methylheptane) and the naturally occurring 2 amino 5 methylheptane. Both share chemical characteristics with sympathomimetic stimulants in the supplement industry, namely Ephedrine, AMP Citrate and DMAA.
In separate animal studies, both the natural and synthetic types of DMHA were found to elevate pain threshold and increase blood pressure. They were also linked to blood vessels’ contraction. This suggests that both of them could offer similar benefits to users. [R]
However, they also have their fair share of differences. While the synthetic DMAA has six methyl groups and is prepared in the lab, its natural counterpart has five methyl groups and reportedly extracted from the Asian geranium plant, native to South Africa.
Almost all of the pre-workout supplements that contain DMHA contain its synthetic version. Mainly because the natural version is too pricey. But also because most of the studies conducted on DMHA have been carried out on the man-made version.
DMHA Vs DMAA
Dimethylhexylamine (DMHA) and dimethylamylamine (DMAA) are both central nervous system stimulants. Originally used as nasal decongestants, they work similarly – by increasing the uptake of dopamine and norepinephrine neurotransmitters.
What is more, DMAA and DMHA are both on the World Anti-Doping Agency’s Prohibited List. The FDA is yet to approve either for usage as a dietary ingredient. Despite that, many bodybuilders, professional athletes and even non-professionals use these pre workouts.
Here’s how DMHA and DMAA compare on various counts:
1) Beneficial Effects
Both DMHA and DMAA produce similar effects. This shouldn’t come as a surprise given that both of them work by stimulating the release of dopamine and norepinephrine, neurotransmitters that boost your energy levels, focus, attention and aid in weight loss.
For this reason, you can use either of these pre-workout supplements to get the intended results. Using them could boost your energy levels to give you the physical drive you need to perform excruciating workouts. However, as stated below, only one of them is legal in the US.
2) Legal Status
Both the World Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) and the US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) have placed DMHA on the list of banned stimulants. Testing positive for this drug could result in athletes getting slapped with a long-term ban. The sale of dietary supplements with DMAA is banned in the US, too.
DMHA is legal and commercially available in the United States at the time of writing. The FDA has issued a 2-point guideline to manufacturers who want to legally market dietary supplements containing DMHA. But dietary supplements containing DMHA are banned by WADA. [R]
3) Strength and Dosage
Given that both these weight loss supplements haven’t undergone rigorous human studies, further research is needed for official dosage guidelines. However, as you might guess, the lack of clinical data hasn’t stopped users from experimenting.
Anecdotal evidence suggests that DMAA is effective in 70 – 75 mg daily dosage. DMHA, on the contrary, is taken by users at up to 200 mg per day. This shows that DMAA is stronger than DMHA, however, we need clinical evidence to be sure.
4) Side Effects
DMHA is considered a much safer alternative to the banned stimulant called dimethylamine. Even then, as stated above, it poses more than a few risks. These include, but aren’t limited to: heightened blood pressure, nausea and palpitations, depression, and energy crash.
Taking DMAA can expose you to severe psychological and neurological side effects, including increased heart rate, possible liver damage, and complications associated with high blood pressure. Users whose blood pressure isn’t normal shouldn’t take a DMAA like stimulant.
DMHA Benefits
Animal studies, as well as anecdotal evidence, suggest that DMHA offers various benefits. These include, but aren’t limited to, heightened energy levels, increased mental focus, appetite suppression leading to fat burning and weight loss, and an increase in motivation and the desire to train.
Taking DMHA pre workout can give you a heightened sense of your surroundings. It may also increase your pain threshold, helping you train more vigorously than ever. Users suggest that DMHA also decreases RPE (rate of perceived exertion), helping you get less fatigued post-exercise.
Here are the various proven DMHA benefits:
- Boosts Energy Levels
- Increases Mental Alertness
- Assists In Weight Loss
- Increases Motivation
- Raises Pain Threshold
- Improves Athletic Performance
Let’s discuss all these benefits in more detail.
1) Boosts Energy Levels
Like most stimulant drugs in the clinical drug library, DMHA boosts energy levels by increasing norepinephrine and dopamine’s uptake. It crosses the blood brain barrier to stimulate these neurotransmitters’ release, both of which are responsible for stimulating alertness. [R]
Animal studies give us a glimpse of why that is important. It has been revealed that dopamine levels are at their highest in the morning, just before it’s time to wake up. They naturally fall until it’s time to go to bed. This shows that the greater the dopamine levels, the higher the body’s energy levels. [R]
2) Increases Mental Focus
Animal studies have shown that DMHA demonstrates the ability to increase mental focus. It has been proven that this drug’s effects start occurring within 15 to 60 minutes after consumption. And apart from increasing your mental alertness, DMHA also raises feelings of well-being. [R]
This is excellent news for people who find it hard to concentrate. Or those who have short attention spans and find it difficult to focus on any single task for an extended period. Such people might count on DMHA to improve not only their professional but also their personal lives.
3) Aids in Weight Loss
According to an estimate, more than 42% of US adults are obese. The ratio of people aged 18 and higher who can be classified as obese has risen from 30.5% over the last two decades. This is worrying given that obesity leads to heart diseases, certain types of cancer and type 2 diabetes. [R]
The good news is that DMHA might aid in weight loss. This appetite suppressant has been shown to decrease cravings and hunger pangs in animal studies. Various users also credit this drug for making them less susceptible to disrupting their diet plan. This, in turn, helped them lose weight.
4) Increases Motivation
Researchers have drawn a straight line between dopamine and motivation. It has been proven that people or animals who are less likely to work for things have low dopamine levels in their system. Those with high levels of dopamine, meanwhile, are more motivated to achieve their goals. [R]
That’s to say that increasing your dopamine is one of the best ways to get motivated. Which is precisely what DMHA does. This drug stimulates dopamine’s release in your system by increasing the neurotransmitter’s intake, thereby spurring your capacity to accomplish tasks.
5) Raises Pain Threshold
There are various ways one could increase their pain tolerance. None of them, however, require you to make as little effort as DMHA, even as this drug significantly enhances your ability to tolerate excruciating amounts of pain. Here’s why we’re so confident about this.
DMHA raises your pain threshold by stimulating the release of norepinephrine. This neurotransmitter has been shown to suppress pain via two mechanisms, including pre-synaptic (in which it inhibits pain-causing brain chemicals) and post-synaptic (in which it suppresses pain). [R]
6) Improves Workout Performance
What would happen once your pain threshold is raised, you’re more motivated than ever to perform grueling workouts, and your energy levels are through the roof? Of course, you’ll experience an increase in workout performance. This, as you might guess, will help you achieve your fitness-related goals.
Consequently, while there are no human studies (yet) to substantiate the DMHA effects on workout performance. You don’t need to be a rocket scientist to tell what impact high pain tolerance, above-average motivation, and energy levels will have on your exercise performance.
7) Reduces Rate of Perceived Exertion
The rate of perceived exertion is how hard you perceive (or feel) your effort when performing an exercise. It ranges between 0 and 10, with zero means the activity you’re performing is child’s play for you and 10 being the maximum amount of effort you can exert.
Bodybuilders and athletes try various techniques to lower RPE. What they aren’t aware, however, is that DMHA offers them an easy solution to reduce RPE. By boosting your energy levels and increasing your motivation to train, DMHA lets you push your limits without exhausting yourself.
DMHA Dosage
Given the fact that there aren’t any human trials involving DMHA (yet), there are no officially sanctioned dosage guidelines. All we have are recommendations from users who have been using this supplement for quite some time and are willing to vouch for its efficacy.
Users suggest that using 100 million grams of synthetic DMHA (2-amino-6-methyl-heptane) is the most efficacious dosage. As for the natural DMHA (2-amino-5-methyl-heptane), provided you can find it, 75 milligrams is recommended. Natural DMHA is more potent.
Assuming you’re going to use DMHA or Octodrine for its performance-enhancing effects, it’s recommended to use 30-45 minutes before working out. This will allow your body to digest this supplement’s active components and use them to optimize the benefits.
DMHA’s chemical characteristics are much similar to well-known stimulants like Ephedrine, DMAA and Amp Citrate. That’s why it’s recommended you don’t take it in the early evening or just before bedtime. Otherwise, you may find it difficult to doze off.
DMHA Side Effects
The lack of human research prevents us from having a full picture of DMHA’s potential side effects. All the studies that have been conducted to verify this substance’s efficacy have been on animals. There’s no way to take the results obtained from those studies and apply them to humans.
Having said that, since its chemical structure is similar to DMAA supplements, we can assume that it will have the same side effects, too. These adverse DMHA effects include:
- Increased Blood Pressure
- Increased Heart Rate
- Nausea and Palpitations
- Shortness of Breath
- Trouble sleeping
Due to its potential side effects, it’s recommended that you start with a conservative amount of DMHA. Make sure to consult your doctor if you’re taking any other medication or supplement. That’s because we don’t know how (or if) DMHA could interfere with any other pharmaceutical drug.
There’s one final thing you’d do well to keep in mind. Avoid taking DMHA supplement late in the afternoon or in the evening. DMHA fuels wakefulness by increasing dopamine levels in your system. If you take it just before bedtime, you may find it hard to fall asleep.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where to buy DMHA supplements?
You can buy high-quality, 100 percent pure DMHA for sale from PureRawz. Apart from being backed by third-party lab reports – which prove that the DMHA powder is safe and effective. DMHA powder of this supplement brand arrives with a 30-day moneyback guarantee and 100% satisfaction guarantee.
Is DMHA legal?
It’s legal to buy and possess DMHA in the United States. However, it’s banned for sporting use. The USADA and the WADA have prohibited athletes from using it. The FDA prohibits manufacturers from calling DMHA a dietary supplement and has sent warning letters to companies that have done so.
How long does it take for DMHA to kick in?
Researchers estimate that it takes 15 to 60 minutes for DMHA effects to kick in after consumption. Users suggest experiencing a reduction in appetite and other beneficial effects mentioned upon the lapsing of this period.
Conclusion
DMHA offers numerous benefits to bodybuilders. Most significant among them is the increase in workout performance. Taking DMHA pre workouts allows users to not only meet but also smash their fitness and health-related goals.
Non-professionals can also benefit a lot by taking this pre workout supplement. The increase in motivation and attention levels that DMHA brings about can help everyone improve their lives. And the fact that it aids in weight loss makes the majority of the population its potential beneficiary.
Sure, this substance has its fair share of side effects. But keep in mind that the reported side effects are yet to be proven by a human trial. That doesn’t mean that DMHA is entirely safe, though.
In fact, if you want to keep the abovementioned side effects at bay, it’s recommended that you start with a small daily dose.
One Response
Hi
Do you ship to Canada. Québec.