Back in 2016, a new pre-workout supplement hit the market that created a really strong buzz around it. In this quick review, I’m going to tell you everything you need to know about that supplement: Dark Energy.
Dark Energy pre-workout was different. It was different because of what was in it, but it was also that difference that put it in the crosshairs of the authorities.
So it built up a fast following and deliver the goods, but its time was always going to be limited because of its lack of legality.
What I’m going to do right now is tell you everything you need to know about Dark Energy. How it works, what the benefits are, and what my experiences using it have been.
Plus, I’ll tell you it is still available, and what’s out there that’s similar, whether you want something prepackaged or to take some of the aspects of Dark Energy to make your own pre-workout supplement.
Why Dark Energy Got Such A Following
Magnitude Life Sciences Dark Energy pre-workout was one hell of a supplement. First sold in early 2016, by the end of that year had built up a strong online following.
It was renowned very quickly for having the following benefits pre-workout:
- Significant uplift in physical energy and power levels
- A strong sense of emotional well-being
- Increased determination and drive
- Sense of happiness and positivity
Put all that together, and you’ve got rocket fuel for your workout. Even if you’re not quite in the mood, it drives you forward and makes you feel great.
Also, within 30 minutes of taking it will start to feel elevated energy levels, which just keep on skyrocketing for a couple of hours. Plenty of time for you to get to the gym and complete a serious workout.
Dark Energy Pre-Workout Ingredients
What are the Dark Energy pre-workout ingredients that made it so potent?
Well, this is the exact ingredients list from the side of the container:
- DMAA 60 mg
- DMHA 200 mg
- GABA 50 mg
- DMAE 750 mg
- caffeine 400 mg
- Beta Alanine 3.2 g
- Taurine 2 g
DMAA and DMHA are both powerful stimulants. DMHA is a synthetic derivative of DMAA, being about 80% the same in chemical structure.
Both of these produce a strong and smooth elevation in physical and mental energy levels. They are both strong stimulants.
However, the problem with DMAA is that it is banned. First synthesized back in the 1940s, and used for decades as a nasal spray, it was banned way back when because it was being abused. DHMA, the synthetic derivative, is also a strong stimulant that is now banned by the FDA in America.
So it’s little wonder the Dark Energy very quickly hit the FDA focus list. It contains a banned stimulant that is very similar in effect to mild amphetamines. When that’s teamed up with a similar derivative, it’s little wonder that people were going to the gym and hitting personal bests like there was no tomorrow.
On top of that, you got 400 mg of caffeine, which is like drinking a couple of very strong double espressos before hitting the gym.
Then you’ve got taurine, well known for its ability to postpone the effects of fatigue in the body.
Plus, you’ve then got Beta-Alanine, another chemical that has strong and proven abilities to lower fatigue and increase endurance during intense activity.
Why Did Dark Energy Make You Feel So Good?
But what else is important and interesting here is that Dark Energy also made you feel calm. There was no rush of energy, not even with that huge caffeine kick.
The reason is that it contains both GABA and DMAE. GABA is the body’s main inhibitory neurotransmitter, so containing chemicals that convert to GABA in the body means that you will feel calm and happy. That’s how the potency of the stimulants in Dark Energy is countered.
Alongside that, you have DMAE, a cognitive enhancing chemical. A minor nootropic, it’s also an excellent source of choline. So it raises your cognitive sharpness but without leaving you lacking choline (which can cause fatigue and bad headaches).
Here’s What Happened When I Used Dark Energy Pre-Workout
Let me be clear here, Dark Energy is not going to fill you with incredible energy and rage. It’s not that sort of supplement. Even though it contains a couple of pretty strong stimulants, you just won’t feel out of control.
For me, that’s because the other ingredients keep you calm, and smooth out the mental and physical energy peaks. Even though it contains a large amount of caffeine, it’s still smooth. You don’t get that jittery over-caffeinated experience.
I was a bit surprised when I took this stuff because of how incredibly smooth it feels. It’s more like a nootropic than a workout supplement.I took a scoop an hour before I went to the gym, and by the time I got there, I was flying. I felt calm, positive, focused, ready for action, and my body wanted to get going. During a workout it was intense. Intense focus, intense muscle energy, and the ability to recover much faster. I just didn’t want to stop. No lazy, wet reps, no thoughts in my head around giving up and heading to the shower.
That’s why Dark Energy was so incredible, the Dark Energy pre-workout caffeine boost doesn’t even come close to describing overall sensational get using this stuff.
I used the supply I had with great purpose. But I was aware it was dwindling, and I was aware that supplies were drying up. That was more stressful than taking it, because when you’re on it, you are calm and focused.
Can You Still Buy Magnitude Life Sciences Dark Energy?
So after building this up, I’m afraid I’ve now got to knock down your hopes.
You cannot buy Magnitude Life Sciences Dark Energy pre-workout powder anymore. It’s not made or not sold any longer.
I said earlier that it contained banned stimulants. Back in March 2021, it’s rumored that the company that manufactured the supplement for Magnitude Life Sciences, along with other supplements that contained DMAA and DHMA for a couple of other companies, was targeted by the FDA.
It makes sense, doesn’t it. Why spend all the time, effort, and money going after the different companies selling the stuff, when you can target the company whose manufacturing facilities make it for those different companies?
Anyway, in March 2021, the factory was shut. A month later, the MLS website went off-line. All stocks are sold, and if you see any for sale, then don’t buy them because they will be fake.
Which is good, or bad, depending on your outlook. For me, it’s good in a way because it is a very strong stimulant workout supplement, and you could suffer side effects that just aren’t foreseen.
But on the other side of the coin, as long as you are sensible, then there was nothing in it that hadn’t been used for years for other purposes. It was used as a nasal stimulant for 50 years for crying out loud.
The bottom line here is that it’s gone. The conclusion of this Dark Energy pre-workout review is that nobody will ever review it again, because you just can’t get your hands on any more.
My advice is to look for other supplements that are similar. You won’t get one with the kick of Dark Energy that also smooths things out in that way, but there are some out there that contain stimulants and mild nootropic chemicals to produce a very similar effect. So all is not quite lost.
Supplements Are Similar To Dark Energy That You Can Use Pre-Workout
It’s really beyond the scope of my review to tell you what all of the alternatives to Dark Energy are. However, I will just mention one that I now use.
It’s called “Wrecked”. It’s from a company called Huge Supplements, which has a good track record in making really great quality natural bodybuilding supplements.
Wrecked contains more than 20 different active ingredients, many with proven attributes for producing high levels of mental and physical stimulation, focus, and enhancing endurance and recovery.
The main active ingredient is 9000 mg of Citrulline Malate. This has been proven in studies to have a stimulant effect. It’s a naturally occurring amino acid, which has the capability to generally improve athletic ability, and mental focus.
So all is not lost. There are definitely natural, safe, and legal pre-workout supplements out there that can fill the void of Dark Energy.
Hell, as a stopgap you could even take 400 mg of caffeine with 400 mg of L-Theanine. Or, to step it up another level, you could get yourself some GABA and use that. You can also still buy DMAE, Taurine, and Beta-Alanine.
Sure, you can’t get the stimulation from the banned substances, but you can otherwise pretty much reconstruct Dark Energy. Add the caffeine, and find something legal and stimulating to fit in with it as well.
However, if you can’t be bothered with all that just yet, then Huge Supplements can sell you Wrecked completely legally, and it’s a brilliant starting point for at least up your mental and physical energy levels you can see if that type of pre-workout supplement will benefit you.
