EVIDENCE LIBRARY · 5 MIN

Pre-Workout Red Flags

The things that should make you put the tub back on the shelf.

Undisclosed caffeine dose

If caffeine is buried in a proprietary blend, you don't know if you're getting 100 mg or 400 mg. That's a cardiovascular gamble.

Yohimbine + high caffeine

Both are potent stimulants that act on different receptors. Stacked in one scoop, they've caused ER visits. Avoid.

'DMHA', 'DMBA', '1,3-DMAA'

Amphetamine-like stimulants that have been banned repeatedly and keep getting relabeled. Any product with these is a hard skip.

'Nootropic' blends at trace doses

L-tyrosine, alpha-GPC, huperzine — all real ingredients, all typically underdosed to the point of doing nothing.

Reviewed 11/1/2025 · Brawn Supplement Reviewer. Educational content, not medical advice.