Nexus Pre-Workout Review

Nexus is a pre-workout supplement from Muscle Code Supps. Charged by 4 g L-Citrulline, 3.2 g Beta-Alanine, 1 g HydroPrime, 1 g L-Tyrosine, 300 mg Caffeine, 200 mg DMHA, 150 mg Eria Jarensis, 50 mg Synephrine, and 30 mg Noopept, Nexus is a wonderful pre-workout that provides the energy, focus, and pumps.

Having just tried Nexus once, I experienced phenomenal pumps, energy, focus, and a post-workout “head-buzz.”  

Due to the stimulants (DMHA and Eria Jarensis), I only recommend Nexus for advanced users of pre-workouts.

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

Where to buy it

You can buy Nexus by Muscle Code Supps at the following retailers:

• Supp Kingz
  • LIFTVAULT15 = 15% off 

My Experience

I took Nexus just once, and it felt incredible. The closest pre-workout I would compare it to is Pre Stack Extreme (which is one of my favorite pre-workouts). The only differences would be that Nexus created more pumps and far less thermogenic effects than Pre Stack Extreme.

Effects

The main benefits of this pre-workout are energy, focus, and pumps.

The beta-alanine kicked in within 7 minutes but didn’t come in strong. I felt a low intensity tingling, a 5 out of 10.

Within 10 minutes, a smooth wave of energy came over me, lasted well over 5 hours, and was never overpowering.

The focus began at the same time that the energy came in. A tunnel-vision, dialed-in type of focus lasted throughout the workout and became a pleasant, mood-elevated “head-buzz.”

The pumps were incredible, giving me a swollen feel during the workout. 

Nexus pre-workout is not a sweaty type of pre-workout (meaning minimal thermogenic effect other than actually working out). 

There were no noted adverse effects; the entire experience was delightful.

Flavor

The flavor I tried was “Pink Starblast.” It tasted very similar to a liquefied pink starburst. That said, it wasn’t very sweet or overpowering, and I’d give it a 7.5 or 8 out of 10.

Scoop Size

A whole serving is two scoops of 8.3-grams, which comes out to a heaping scoop. For context, a flat scoop is only 6.1-grams which is 73.5% of a scoop.

Ingredients

Niacin – 40 mg

Niacin, also known as vitamin B-3, has a wide array of benefits ranging from increased HDL cholesterol (the “good” cholesterol) concentrations, reduced LDL cholesterol concentrations, and reduced concentration of triglycerides.

Neat! So, why is it in a pre-workout? I can’t say for sure, but it’s probably because some research shows that niacin can increase blood flow through various mechanisms. It’s worth noting that the research surrounding this claim is limited and conflicted, which is probably why niacin is rarely included in pre-workouts.

Niacin also helps your body produce optimal amounts of ATP, which is the energy source for muscle contraction. Thus, making sure you have enough Niacin seems like a worthwhile endeavor for a pre-workout supplement.

40 mg of niacin is a high dose. It is twice the recommended daily dosage for men (16 mg per day) and nearly three times the recommended daily amount for women (14 mg per day), but you should be able to get the rest from a healthy diet. Good sources of niacin include fish, beef, chicken, turkey, mushrooms, and brown rice.

Vitamin B12 (Methylcobalamin) – 250 mcg

The production of red blood cells is assisted by vitamin B12. It helps deliver oxygen and nutrients to the muscle, boosting energy levels and muscle growth.

L-Citrulline – 4,000 mg

L-Citrulline is one of the most common pre-workout ingredients. Extensive evidence supports its ability to increase nitric oxide production, power output, and endurance, making it an essential pump pre-workout ingredient. The effective dose is between 4 and 10 grams, putting Nexus in the acceptable range.

Beta-Alanine – 3,200 mg

Beta-alanine has been shown to support muscular endurance and can act as a lactic acid buffer. 

However, beta-alanine requires regular intake to be effective, akin to creatine. Daily supplementation of beta-alanine is recommended, with a loading period of three to five weeks needed to be effective.

3 to 4 grams is the recommended daily dosage for beta-alanine, placing Nexus within the range.

Betaine Anhydrous – 2,500 mg

Betaine is included to help increase your power output. However, research is inconsistent around this claim. Since the typical range for Betaine is between 1.5 g and 5 g, the 2.5-gram dose found in Nexus is a perfect amount.

HydroPrime (™) Glycerol Powder (65%) – 1,000 mg

HydroPrime is a patented form of Glycerol powder found in pre-workout products. Glycerol powder assists with hydration and allows the body to absorb more water than it usually would. This helps stave off dehydration and boasts mild improvements in endurance.

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

One gram is on the lower end for glycerol doses. It usually ranges from 2 to 3 grams per serving in good supplements.

One side-effect of glycerol is clumping inside of the tub, as it’s hygroscopic and will pull water in, hence why it will give you a swole look. Clumping is to be expected and, while a little annoying, doesn’t negatively impact the supplement’s efficacy.

Astragin – 50 mg

AstraGin is a patented ingredient that aids the absorption of pre-workout ingredients. It is like a patented version of black pepper without the peppery taste or smell.

Serving sizes usually range from 25 to 50 mg.

L-Tyrosine – 1,000 mg

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

According to Examine, it preserves working memory during acute stressors. Acute stressors include temperature changes and psychological and sleep deprivation. 

Additionally, L-Tyrosine preserves attention while under stress.

One gram is a proper dosage, and lands within the range recommended for use in an exercise application.

Dimethylethanol – 750 mg

Dimethylethanol, aka DMAE, is a choline molecule used to treat cognitive decline in elderly patients. It is included in pre-workouts to promote focus and feelings of well-being.

Dosing guidance for performance enhancement is not exceptionally well understood, but 750 mg is a standard dose compared to other pre-workouts that contain DMAE.

Chemix pre-workout contains 400 mg of DMAE (per scoop), while Dark Energy and Zeus contain 750 mg (400-800mg)

Caffeine Anhydrous – 300 mg

Caffeine needs no introduction, but it’s one of the most researched sports supplements. Most pre-workouts will range between 175 mg (as with the great M2) and 600 mg (with the smoothest Hooligan).

Typically, pre-workouts range from 250 to 450 mg, putting Nexus on the lower end of the range.

2-aminoisoheptane – 200 mg

2-Aminoisoheptane, DMHA, Kigelia Africana, Juglans Regia (J. Regia), Octodrine, and Dimethylhexylamine. DMHA is a stimulant, similar to DMAA, that boosts energy, focus, and mood. 

200 mg is a standard dose; however, it doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll “feel” it because it says something on the label. I definitely felt it here. Typical DMHA doses are between 100-300mg.

Eria Jarensis – 150 mg

Eria Jarensis, aka N-Phenethyl Dimethylamine Citrate, is a stimulant commonly seen alongside DMHA in high stim pre-workouts.

150 mg is on the lower side for the dose. Usual amounts range from 150 mg to 500 mg, as found in Flame Pre Workout (which is terrific).

Higenamine – 75 mg

Thought to have similar outcomes to ephedrine, Higemanine is used as a fat burner, though research is quite limited.

Sources say it is typically taken in 20 mg to 30 mg two to three times daily, and given the 75 mg in Nexus, it is within the 40-90mg range.

Synephrine – 50 mg

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 such as an increase in heart rate or blood pressure or alter electrocardiographic data, serum chemistry, blood cell counts, or urinalysis. p-Synephrine alone and 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

50 mg of synephrine found in Nexus is a proper dosage for fat-burning effects. 

Noopept – 30 mg

Noopept, known as N-Phenylacetyl-L-prolyglycine ethyl ester, is a synthetic nootropic ingredient with cognitive boosting and psychostimulatory effects. It’s in the racetam family of nootropics. In terms of focus ingredients, this is the star of this formula.

30 mg is a substantial dose of noopept and a typical amount for pre-workouts.

There is some evidence for neuroprotective health (Alzheimer’s Discovery Organization).