Agmatine is an interesting substance with a variety of potential benefits. Some users take agmatine by itself for its mood-lifting and anxiety-reducing effects. Some take it to increase the effects of other substances. We're going to dive into all the reasons nootropic users have taken an interest in agmatine.

In this post we're going to take an in-depth look at the nootropic benefits of agmatine. We'll review the science that has been done on this substance and see what people around the internet are saying about it. But first, let's see what agmatine is.

What Is Agmatine?

Agmatine is a substance that is naturally created from the amino acid L-arginine. It was first discovered in 1910 by German biochemist Albrecht Kossel.¹ Agmatine is considered to be a neurotransmitter and a neuromodulator.²

While agmatine was discovered over 100 years ago, its therapeutic effects weren't explored until much later. It's only been in the last 20 years or so that scientists have taken a serious interest in studying agmatine's medicinal properties. Research is still ongoing, but preliminary results are very encouraging.

In the nootropics community, agmatine is often used to improve mood and sleep quality, reduce anxiety and stress, to potentiate other substances, and for general neuroprotection. Agmatine is also popular in the fitness community for the reasons above and for its ability to improve blood flow to your muscles during workouts. Many pre-and-post-workout supplements contain agmatine.

Some of the purported benefits of agmatine include:

• Improved mood
• Decreased anxiety (anxiolysis)
• Reduced pain (analgesia)
• Improvement in how other substances work (potentiation)
• Improved blood flow
• Neuroprotection

These are just some of the benefits being reported from agmatine use. Let's take an in-depth look at the science and at what people around the internet are saying about this fascinating substance and its nootropic benefits.

The Nootropic Benefits Of Agmatine

Improved Mood

One of the most-commonly-reported benefits of agmatine use is an improvement in mood. People who take agmatine often claim that it has a mood-boosting effect. But what does the science say about this?

A PubMed search for agmatine turns up 1,754 results and for agmatine mood 107 results.³ While there have been some human studies done on the effect agmatine has on mood, most have been done on animals. Both human and animals studies have shown that agmatine can improve mood.

For example, a 2013 study found that agmatine had an antidepressant effect in people diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD).⁴ The participants in the study reported no side effects from taking agmatine.

Several animal studies have also shown agmatine to improve mood. A 2017 study done on rats showed that agmatine had both antidepressant and anxiolytic (anxiety-reducing) effects.⁵ Another study from 2018 showed that a single dose of agmatine was able to reverse depression in rats caused by chronic corticosterone administration.⁶

These are just two examples, but there have been a number of animal studies showing that agmatine can improve mood. Another commonly reported nootropic benefit of agmatine is that it can also reduce anxiety.

Reduced Anxiety

In addition to its ability to improve mood, agmatine is also said to reduce anxiety. Users often report that they notice a decrease in stress and anxiety when using agmatine. But what does the science have to say about agmatine's anxiolytic effects?

A 2003 study done on rats explored the effect that agmatine had on anxiety.⁷ The researchers found it to have a mild anxiolytic effect. Another study from 2003 looked at the effect agmatine had on both depression and anxiety in rats.⁸ The results showed it to have a modulatory effect on both depression and anxiety. Lastly, a 2006 study used three behavioral models to test the effect agmatine had on anxiety in rats and mice.⁹ They found that “agmatine exerts a significant anxiolytic effect in both rats and mice.”

These are just three of the numerous animal studies that have explored the relationship between agmatine and anxiety. While more human studies are needed, the results of this animal research is very encouraging. Many substances affect rats and mice similarly to how they affect humans, which is why they're often used in research.

The research that has been done on agmatine and anxiety is consistent with anecdotal reports from around the world. Agmatine users often claim that it helps them to relax and to fall asleep. Some users report a significant reduction in anxiety while some only report mild anxiolysis. And others say agmatine has no effect on their anxiety. But the only way to know for sure what effect agmatine will have is to try it yourself.

Neuroprotection

Our brains (and the rest of our nervous systems) are made up of neurons (aka nerve cells). Neuroprotection is the preservation of the structure and function of neurons.¹⁰ A variety of diseases and other conditions can cause neuronal function to break down over time. Another one of agmatine's supposed benefits is that it can offer some level of neuroprotection.

A review published in 2018 concluded that agmatine has a powerful neuroprotective effect in people with a variety of neurological diseases (stroke, traumatic brain injury, etc.) and neurodegenerative diseases (Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, etc.).¹¹ This review looked at a number of previously published studies. It also concluded that agmatine is very safe and has a low incidence of adverse effects.

While some nootropic users take agmatine solely for its neuroprotective properties, this is usually just an added bonus. Most people who use agmatine as a nootropic do so for its mood-boosting and anxiety-reducing benefits. Its neuroprotective effects are just icing on the cake. In addition to all the cognition-boosting benefits of agmatine, it's also being used around the world for a number of non-nootropic reasons. Let's explore some of them now.

Other Potential Benefits Of Agmatine

Pain Relief

One additional reason why people use agmatine is for pain relief. While this isn't a nootropic effect, it's one of the reasons this substance is so popular. Some users find that agmatine – especially those with certain chronic conditions – helps to reduce their day-to-day pain levels. And there's some science to back those claims.

A 2010 study looked at the effect agmatine had on patients with lumbar disc-associated radiculpathy.¹² The researchers concluded that agmatine is both a “safe and efficacious treatment for alleviating pain and improving quality of life in lumber disc-associated radiculopathy.”

Several animal studies also support agmatine's ability to reduce pain but we won't go into them here. Though pain relief in and of itself is not technically a nootropic effect, it can certainly increase the productivity of people suffering from chronic pain. Lots of people have reported just that from using agmatine.

Increased Blood Flow

Another reason why people use agmatine – especially bodybuilders and fitness enthusiasts – is because it can be a potent vasodilator. We won't go into much detail here since this isn't technically a nootropic benefit. But it's worth mentioning at least.

Gym goers like agmatine because it makes their muscles look bigger and it makes their veins pop out more while working out. This has to do with the way agmatine interacts with nitric oxide.¹³ Unsurprisingly, users report similar benefits from taking agmatine as they do from using nitric-oxide boosters. Those benefits include having better workouts, getting a better pump (increased blood flow to muscles), and recovering from workouts faster.

Potentiation Of Other Substances

This is one of the biggest reasons why people use agmatine. While there is very little scientific research on the subject, there are tons of anecdotal reports of people using agmatine to potentiate the effects of other substances. People often find that, while using agmatine, the effects of some of the other things they take are stronger.

Potentiation is when taking one substance makes another substance work even better. It's similar to the idea of stacking nootropics. Take the common nootropic stack of caffeine and L-theanine, for example. Nootropic users often stack these two substances together because they potentiate each other. In other words, caffeine and L-theanine increase each others' effectiveness.

Here are just some of the substances that agmatine has been reported to potentiate:

• Adderall
• Kratom
• Baclofen
• Phenylpiracetam
• Vyvanse
• Dexedrine
• And many, many others

Though a lot more is needed, there is a growing body of research to support agmatine's use as a powerful potentiator. A 2001 study looked at the effect agmatine had on rats being treated for pain with morphine.¹⁴ This study found that rats given agmatine and morphine had greater pain relief than those taking morphine alone. Several related studies have shown similar results.

Because agmatine can increase the effectiveness of several substances (aka potentiate them), it's very popular in the nootropics community. In the past, I've personally found agmatine to potentiate a number of substances including kratom, cannabis, amphetamines, and others. While using agmatine, I was able to reduce the dosage of each and have them still be effective. Although I haven't used it in several years, without a doubt agmatine can be a potent potentiator.

Where To Buy Agmatine

Just a few years ago, agmatine was relatively hard to find. But now you have a number of options for buying agmatine. Not only is agmatine offered by most online nootropic vendors, now it's even available at Amazon.

Agmatine can be found in a variety of forms. The most common (and the one used most frequently in scientific studies) is agmatine sulfate. It's offered by several manufacturers and usually comes in either powder or capsule form.

If you're interested in buying agmatine sulfate capsules, Pure Rawz offers 250 milligram (mg) caps. They are a trusted vendor and have an impressive selection of nootropic products as well as products in a number of other categories. If it's agmatine sulfate powder you're after, you can find it at Amazon or from one of the trusted vendors on our Where To Buy Nootropics list.

As always, you should consult a licensed healthcare provider before starting any new drugs, plants, supplements, or other substances. Since most doctors know very little about nootropics, you might have to educate yours a bit. The References section at the bottom might be a good place to start.

Conclusion

Agmatine is something that I experimented with quite a bit a few years ago. There's no question about it: this substance has a lot of potential as a nootropic. It definitely helped me feel more relaxed. And I also found agmatine to potentiate the effects of several other things I was taking at the time. This allowed me to lower the amount needed to get the same results.

But like with all nootropics, everyone's individual results will vary. While many people have reported impressive results from agmatine, others have said that it does nothing for them.

Have you used agmatine? If so, why did you first try it and what (if any) benefits did you notice? Leave your answer in the comments section at the bottom of the page. And if you haven't already, please sign up for the Nootropics Zone newsletter below to learn about dozens of brain-boosting substances.

References