BZRK Pre Workout Review

BZRK is a pre workout supplement from Black Magic Supply. This is the reformulated version, as the previous version had DMHA. Powered by 7 g Citrulline Malate, 3.2 g Beta-Alanine (trademarked BetaO), 2.5 g GlycerPump, and a prop blend, this is an excellent product with no illicit or gray-market ingredients. 

I’ve tried it over half a dozen times, and although it may not be as strong as the previous version, it is solid in pumps, focus, and energy.

I could recommend this for beginners who want focus, pumps, and energy as long as they can take 350 mg of caffeine (which luckily it states on the tub).

Read on for additional details of my experience, the best prices for the BZRK pre workout, and a breakdown of its ingredient label. 

Where to Buy BZRK Pre Workout + Discount Codes

You can buy BZRK Pre Workout at the following retailers:

• Nutri Cartel
  • LIFTVAULT = 15% off

My Experience 

I’ve taken BZRK over half a dozen times, and the energy, pumps, and focus were always on point. 

Effects 

The main aspects of this product are the pumps, focus, and sense of urgency. 

Within 10-15 minutes, the beta-alanine tingles begin and last for a good 25-30 minutes. Out of 10, I’d give the intensity an 8.

Twenty minutes after I took it, the energy came on and was pretty intense but eventually smoothed out and lasted a good 4 hours. This, combined with the beta-alanine, helps with a strong sense of urgency while working out.

A few minutes after the energy kicks in, the focus wafts over you and sneaks up on you. The focus is tremendous and lasts throughout the entire workout. 

In terms of mood-elevation, there is very little to it. 

With the Citrulline Malate and GlycerPump, the pumps are incredible.

Luckily there are no adverse side effects. 

Flavor 

I’ve tried two flavors of BZRK, Peach Rings and Haterade. Haterade is a Gatorade-type flavor; it’s very smooth and semi-sweet. Peach Rings is a fantastic flavor and sweet. Both flavors have no bitter or chemical taste to them. Other flavors available are Crystal Blue, Mango Sunrise, Lemonraz Icy, and Cosmic Burst.

Scoop Size

A full serving is 21 grams, which is a seriously heaping scoop.

Ingredients

Below you’ll find the ingredient label for BZRK Pre Workout and a breakdown of each ingredient.

Citrulline Malate (2:1) – 8,000 mg

Citrulline Malate (2:1) is one of the most common pre workout ingredients. It has extensive evidence supporting its effects on increasing nitric oxide production, power output, pumps, blood flow, and endurance. 

Usually, L-Citrulline Malate has a 2:1 Ratio of Citrulline and Malic Acid (hence the Malate). With BZRK, you are getting 4.66 g of pure L-Citrulline, which is roughly 16.5% more than the effective dose of 4 g. 

BetaO (™) (Beta-Alanine, Orotic Acid) – 3,200 mg

BetaO (™) is a trademark version of a combination of Beta-Alanine and Orotic Acid. There is little research on combining the two ingredients on sports performance, though there is some evidence for cardiac protection with this study. 

From Morphogen, the combination of beta-alanine and orotic acid may assist muscular strength and endurance, decrease fatigue, increase performance, increase skeletal muscle hypertrophy, and regulate ATP levels. Morphogen also states that the orotic acid dose should be within 500 and 1,000 mg, so this minor prop blend is probably underdosed.

GlycerPump – 2,500 mg

GlycerPump is a patented form of glycerol powder. Glycerol powder assists with hydration and allows the body to absorb more water than it usually would. This helps stave off dehydration and can have mild improvements on endurance.

But the real reason it is often included in pre workout supplements is that all of this extra water absorption can help your muscles swell up, giving you a “swole” look.

2.5 grams is a solid dosage for GlycerPump. It usually ranges from 2 to 3 grams per serving in good supplements.

One slight side-effect of glycerol is clumping inside of the tub, though I’ve had mine for well over a year or so, and I’ve had very minimal clumping.

Betaine Anhydrous – 2,500 mg

Betaine is included to help increase your power output. However, research is pretty inconsistent around this claim. 2.5 grams is a perfect dose of this ingredient, typically between 1.5 g and upwards of 5 g.

For the prop blend, it’s a 1,675 mg blend of Tyrosine, Caffeine Anhydrous (350 mg), N-Isopropylsynephrine, Kola Nut Extract 4:1, N-Methyl Tyramine, Higenamine HCl, Neurofactor (™) (Coffee Arabica [fruit] Extract), and Huperzine A (1%). 

Suppose I had to try and figure out the doses. In that case, I’d say 1 g Tyrosine, 350 mg Caffeine Anhydrous, 75 mg N-Isopropylsynephrine, 75 mg Kola Nut Extract 4:1, 50 mg N-Methyl Tyramine, 50 mg Higenamine HCl, 50 mg Neurofactor (™) (Coffee Arabica [fruit] Extract), and 25 mg (250 mcg yield) Huperzine A (1%).

Tyrosine

Tyrosine helps “smooth out” some of the harsher effects of stimulants and increases focus. Some limited research also shows it can act as a cognitive booster in stressful environments.

If I am correct in my estimation, 1 gram is a great dosage and lands within the range recommended for use in an exercise setting (source). 

Caffeine – 350 mg (total) per serving

Luckily, on the tub, it states that the total caffeine content is 350 mg per serving.

One of the most popular drugs globally, if not the most popular, acute caffeine effects include energy, focus, enhanced sports performance. 

The 350 mg included is right about the middle range that you’ll see in other pre workout supplements; 250 mg and 450 mg is the usual dose found in other pre workouts.

Isopropylnorshynephrine

Isopropylnorsynephrine is a lipolytic agent, meaning it helps break down fat into glycerol (energy). It is a “fat burner.” It may also possess energizing effects and is considered stronger than synephrine (bitter orange extract).

There is not a lot of research around dosage, but 30 mg should be enough to get you going.

Synephrine is a well-researched ingredient that has been shown to aid in weight loss. 

“In general, bitter orange extract alone (p-synephrine) or in combination with other herbal ingredients did not produce significant adverse events as an increase in heart rate or blood pressure or alter electrocardiographic data, serum chemistry, blood cell counts, or urinalysis. p-Synephrine alone as well as in combination products were shown to increase resting metabolic rate and energy expenditure, and modest increases in weight loss were observed with bitter orange extract/p-synephrine-containing products when given for six to 12 weeks.” 

• Synephrine Meta-Analysis 

Kola Nut Extract 4:1

From Medical News Today, Kola Nut Extract comes from the evergreen kola tree, which is found in the rainforests of Africa. Inside the tree’s star-shaped fruits are white shells, which contain seeds or kola nuts. Kola Nut is roughly 2-3% caffeine and 1-2% Theobromine. The supposed benefits of kola nut extract are a metabolism boost, increased circulation, increased digestive enzyme effectiveness, boost to energy levels (as it is a stimulant), and help stop the growth of harmful bacteria.

N-Methyl-Tyramine

NMT is a stimulant, typically included at a dosage of around 200 mg in supplements.

Higenamine

Thought to have similar mechanisms to ephedrine, Higemanine has seen its use as a fat burner, though this research is quite limited.

Examine says it is typically taken in 20 mg to 30 mg two to three times daily, but in BZRK, we do not know how much there is.

Neurofactor Whole Coffee Fruit Extract 

NeuroFactor Whole Coffee Fruit Concentrate is a patented product from the whole fruit of the coffee plant, Coffea arabica. One dose of 100 mg of WCFC increased serum BDNF by 54% and exosomal BDNF by 206%. BDNF, Brain-Derived Nootropic Factor, is essential for learning, memory, alertness, mood, controlling body weight, and controlling energy metabolism (Scientific Research Open Access). 

Huperzine-A (1%)

Like CDP Choline, Huperzine A is cholinergic that acts as a cognitive enhancer. The occasional dose in other pre workouts tends to be 50 mcg to 200 mcg. As an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, It helps lengthen the half-life of cholinergic sources (such as Alpha GPC, Citicoline, CDP Choline) (Examine) and will keep your focus longer.