What is it?
DMAA is a critical-risk stimulant, not a routine supplement
1Methylhexanamine is commonly known as DMAA or 1,3-dimethylamylamine. It is a synthetic sympathomimetic stimulant and belongs in a high-risk research-compound context, not an amino acid, nutrient, or routine nootropic category.
Names, aliases and forms
Potential effects and evidence map
DMAA has stimulant pharmacology and a supplement-market history, but no human evidence base for healthy-user cognition or productivity. The cited study used one 25 mg oral dose to characterize pharmacokinetics and resting physiology, not cognitive efficacy. U.S. FDA dietary-supplement action, adverse-event case reports, and WADA anti-doping restrictions dominate the risk-benefit assessment.
DMAA is a stimulant, but its pharmacology should not be framed as safe mental energy or nootropic wakefulness.
The cited 25 mg human study did not measure focus, memory, learning, or productivity, so it does not establish DMAA as a cognitive enhancer.
Pre-workout marketing does not establish safety or a favorable performance-risk tradeoff.
Dose/listing context
This value is the single oral dose in the small pharmacokinetic study, not a recommended dose or a safe-use protocol. It does not override the U.S. FDA dietary-supplement warning, WADA restriction, or cardiovascular concerns.
Timing & effect horizon
In the small human PK study, the mean The time for blood levels to fall by half during the final elimination phase.Source was 8.45 hours and peak concentrations occurred about 3-5 hours after the 25 mg dose. These measurements are not a cognitive-effect schedule or a dosing recommendation.
Safety, side effects and risk profile
A published case report describes cardiac arrest after a DMAA-containing workout supplement; it also notes reports of hemorrhagic stroke and death involving DMAA products.
FDA says DMAA can raise blood pressure and may lead to shortness of breath, arrhythmias, chest tightening, heart attack, seizures, and neurological or psychological conditions.
FDA identifies caffeine-containing stimulant combinations as a key health-risk context for DMAA products.
In the United States, FDA says DMAA is not a dietary ingredient and advises consumers not to buy or use dietary-supplement products that contain it because of health risks.
Human evidence is too thin for cognitive benefit claims and too concerning on safety/regulatory grounds for casual experimentation.
A published case report describes cardiac arrest after a DMAA-containing workout supplement and notes prior reports of hemorrhagic stroke and death. Case reports cannot estimate frequency or prove DMAA was the sole cause in multi-ingredient product exposures, but the severity supports critical-risk framing.
Interactions and cautions
FDA warns that DMAA, especially when combined with other stimulants such as caffeine, can pose a health risk. Multi-ingredient stimulant products can also make the amounts and sources of exposure less transparent.
Legal and regulatory status
In the United States, FDA says DMAA is not a dietary ingredient and considers dietary-supplement products containing DMAA illegal. FDA advises consumers not to buy or use them because of health risks. This is a U.S. dietary-supplement position, not a statement of every jurisdiction or product category.
WADA's 2026 Prohibited List includes methylhexaneamine (DMAA) in S6.B specified stimulants, prohibited in competition. Athletes in WADA-governed sport should regard DMAA-labelled products as an in-competition anti-doping risk and use their governing body's current process for questions.
Practical buying and quality notes
- FDA lists DMAA, 1,3-DMAA, 1,3-dimethylamylamine, 1,3-dimethylpentylamine, dimethylamylamine, geranamine, methylhexanamine, and methylhexanenamine among the names that may appear on a product label. A different label name does not change FDA's U.S. dietary-supplement position.2
FAQ
Is methylhexanamine a nootropic?
4The available cited human study is a 25 mg pharmacokinetic and resting-physiology study, not a focus, memory, or productivity trial. It does not establish DMAA as a nootropic.
Is DMAA allowed in sport?
3WADA lists methylhexaneamine/DMAA as a prohibited stimulant. Athletes should regard any DMAA alias or stimulant blend as a serious anti-doping risk and verify current rules before competition.
What is the key safety action?
2FDA advises consumers not to buy or use dietary-supplement products containing DMAA because of health risks. Anyone who believes they have been harmed after using one should contact a healthcare practitioner and can report the event through the FDA Safety Reporting Portal.
References
- PubChem. 4-Methylhexan-2-amine, CID 7753. Accessed 2026-06-30.
- FDA. DMAA in Products Marketed as Dietary Supplements. Accessed 2026-06-30.
- World Anti-Doping Agency. The 2026 Prohibited List. Accessed 2026-06-30.
- Schilling BK, Hammond KG, Bloomer RJ, Presley CS, Yates CR. Physiological and pharmacokinetic effects of oral 1,3-dimethylamylamine administration in men. BMC Pharmacology and Toxicology. 2013;14:52.
- Karnatovskaia LV, Leoni JC, Freeman ML. Cardiac arrest in a 21-year-old man after ingestion of 1,3-DMAA-containing workout supplement. Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine. 2015;25(1):e23-e25.
- Eliason MJ, Eichner A, Cancio A, Bestervelt L, Adams BD, Deuster PA. Case reports: Death of active duty soldiers following ingestion of dietary supplements containing 1,3-dimethylamylamine (DMAA). Military Medicine. 2012;177(12):1455-1459.