What Are The Best Dopamine Supplements?
Discover the top 5 best dopamine supplements on the market today to perform at your peak while feeling your best
Reviewed and fact-checked by certified nutritionists.
In this guide:
- How important is dopamine? The link between dopamine, motivation, and intelligence
- What are the benefits and risks of using dopamine supplements?
- The top 5 best dopamine supplements on the market today, according to nutritionists
Dopamine is one of the most powerful hormones in the body.
Also known as the “feel good hormone”, dopamine is responsible for making us feel sharp, motivated, and in a great mood. The warm sensation in your chest you get after a long walk under the sunset with your friends or loved ones, is because of dopamine.
When you feel hyper-focused during work or studies, as if your brain is “at one with the task” – it’s dopamine. When you feel a sudden rush of motivation to crush your gym goals, you can also thank dopamine for that.
On the contrary, when our dopamine levels are low, we’re feeling down, exhausted, sometimes even sad.
Given the massive impact dopamine can have in our lives, many people are now turning to so-called “dopamine supplements” to boost their dopamine levels, helping them live life to the fullest. But do these supplements have any benefits to them? Do they even work? Are they safe to use? That’s what we’re going to discuss in this article.
This guide has been carefully reviewed by professional nutritionists and dieticians, to ensure high-quality and accurate information.
Dopamine: the key to a happy, productive life?
Dopamine is a potent neurotransmitter produced in the brain that sends “reward” messages to your body (hence the name “feel good hormone”). When you smell freshly baked cookies, you get a dopamine boost. In every situation where you feel good, your dopamine is high. But dopamine doesn’t just impact the way you feel…
This critical hormone also has an influence on memory, focus, learning, and behaviour. As we’ll see later, dopamine has the power to improve cognitive abilities, learning skills, and even confidence.
Low dopamine levels can negatively affect your life, causing you to feel tired, lacking focus or even depressed. This can make it harder to go to work in the morning, hitting the gym when you know you need to, and appreciate the simple pleasures of life.
“The human brain relies on chemical messages sent from tiny but powerful molecules called neurotransmitters to carry out various functions, including learning, emotional regulation, sleep and movement. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter, or “feel-good chemical”, that serves as a messenger between neurons or the cells of the brain”
Ash Nadkarni, M.D., associate psychiatrist and instructor at Harvard Medical School in Boston.
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"Since the brain’s reward system and mood go hand in hand, dopamine has a role in elevating mood or producing the feeling of happiness
says Dr. Nadkarni
The fascinating link between dopamine and intelligence
As surprising as it sounds, recent evidence suggests that high dopamine levels are strongly correlated with intelligence.
According to new research from the Yale School of Medicine, high dopamine levels could be the reason humans have higher intelligence than other animals. In a study, the researchers compared the brains of five macaque monkeys, five chimpanzees and six humans.
After analyzing 247 samples of brain tissues, they found substantial differences in dopamine levels. The researchers showed that humans have abundant dopamine in the brain that serves thinking and cognitive function, which contributes to explaining why humans are smarter than other species.
But that’s not all. According to recent research in neuroscience from Leiden University, there is an optimum amount of dopamine that should be present in the brain. This optimum amount can “help improve cognitive performance on tasks”, researchers report.
In this study, researchers analyzed the relationship between dopamine and the ease with which people carry out what are termed cognitive tasks. In the experiment, the study participants were better at their tasks if the level of dopamine in their brains was increased.
The findings suggest that when we have optimal dopamine levels in our brain, our cognitive functions may be improved.
What are the benefits of dopamine supplements?
Due to the huge impact that dopamine can have on our lives, many people are turning to so-called dopamine supplements.
Dopamine supplements are not made of dopamine. Dopamine itself cannot be taken as a supplement because it doesn’t cross the blood-brain barrier. That said, there are certain substances that stimulate dopamine production in the brain, as we’ll see below.
The question: do these supplements have any tangible benefits? Are they backed by any clinical evidence? That’s what we’re going to see now.
Dopamine supplementation caused a 10% increase in neuronal activity
Increased PFC DA tone (upper line) boosts firing in task-selective neurons in recurrent networks during working memory maintenance (e.g., delayed match-to-sample), relative to a baseline (control) dopaminergic state (lower line). “Dopamine does double duty in motivating cognitive effort”, Andrew Westbrook, M.S., M.A. and Todd S. Braver, Ph.D., Neuron, 2016
Boost learning and memory:
Increasing our dopamine can improve memory and reinforce learning, making us more effective in our work and studies. Research made by Schultz et al. has shown that dopamine neurons fire in response to unpredicted rewards, which can strengthen neural connections and facilitate learning.
Improve motivation:
Studies showed that dopamine increases, notably via supplements, can boost motivation. A 2012 study showed that dopamine levels can make the cost of decisions appear smaller, and the reward bigger. Researchers found that the more dopamine, the more willing individuals are to put in effort. Dopamine supplements can therefore help us stay motivated and focused on achieving our goals, whether it’s work, exams, or workouts.
Boost cognitive function:
Dopamine supplementation has been found to boost cognitive abilities, especially working memory functions. A neuroscientific study published in the journal Cerebral Cortex found that optimal dopamine levels were associated with improved working memory performance.
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Another study found that taking dopamine supplements could boost neuronal activity by 10%. In the study, the group of people who took dopamine boosters had neurons that fired 10% faster on average than the control group, who didn’t take dopamine supplements.
Improve mood
Multiple clinical studies have shown that dopamine supplementation can reduce stress and improve feelings of well-being. Notably, a 1989 study in neuroscience showed that L-Tyrosine supplementation (a well-known dopamine booster) can significantly mitigate stress, improve mood, and facilitate feelings of joy.
What are the risks of taking dopamine supplements? Are they safe to use?
A large body of scientific studies shows that dopamine supplements are safe to use. They typically rely on well-researched and safe active molecules, such as L-Tyrosine, amino acids, and several ginger-derived compounds.
That being said, some of these supplements may come with several side effects that one should be aware of:
- May cause gastrointestinal disturbances: Supplements that boost dopamine may sometimes cause nausea, stomach upset, or diarrhea, especially when taken on an empty stomach.
- May cause headaches: Some people may experience mild headaches after taking dopamine-boosting supplements.
- Insomnia: Elevated dopamine levels, especially if supplements are taken later in the day, might lead to difficulty sleeping or disrupted sleep patterns.
- May cause overstimulation: Some individuals might feel jittery, anxious, or excessively alert after taking supplements that boost dopamine.
Besides these potential side effects, dopamine supplements are typically very well tolerated and safe to use. They can be used as a powerful ally to increase your productivity, focus and motivation, as well as improving your mood.
Who should use dopamine supplements?
High-performance professionals:
This category comprises busy business owners, senior executives, and any other professional under significant time constraints. They might look for dopamine supplements to increase their motivation, drive, and focus to make better decisions and perform at the highest level.
Students:
Especially those in demanding learning contexts, such as medical school, law or other challenging undergraduate programmes. These supplements can be used to enhance learning, academic performance, or concentration.
Sportspeople and fitness addicts:
Dopamine boosters may be useful for people looking to push themselves beyond their limits at the gym, and maximize their fitness gains.
People who are overworked:
Those who work long hours or juggle many jobs may turn to dopamine pills to boost their enthusiasm, stamina, and vitality.
Populations of older people:
Some elderly people may be lured to dopamine supplements in an effort to reduce cognitive impairment brought on by aging or to retain vitality.
What to look for in dopamine supplements?
Choosing the wrong supplements can wreck your sleep and cause unwanted side effects such as headaches, insomnia, and jitters. Choosing the right one should help you fuel your body with clean energy, enabling you to perform at your best whenever you decide. Here, we explain how to find high-quality, effective dopamine supplements by listing a series of key criteria.
- Contains several active ingredients proven to boost dopamine. To feel the positive effects of dopamine at full force, it is recommended to choose supplements that combine several ingredients proven to boost dopamine. For example, a supplement combining L-Tyrosine with ginger extract (two dopamine boosters) can be expected to be more effective than a simple tyrosine supplement. In most cases, more ingredients mean stronger effect, as long as these ingredients are backed by scientific evidence.
- Contain carefully dosed ingredients for the optimal dopamine boost. It’s also important to choose supplements that use appropriate doses of dopamine boosting ingredients. Supplements that contain low-dosage ingredients will have little to no effects, while supplements that contain excessive doses of active ingredients may cause jitters and overstimulation. The best supplements are those that offer a well-balanced stimulation effect, by using the optimal dose of each ingredient.
- Only uses natural ingredients that are well tolerated by the body. Some ingredients can cause adverse reactions in the body, due to limited tolerance. If you want to take dopamine supplements safely, it’s important to select supplements that use rigorously tested ingredients that are very well tolerated by the body. Ingredients such as phenylalanine, L-theanine, or ginger root have been shown to be very safe.
- Free of aspartame and acesulfame potassium. Look for supplements that are free of dangerous additives or sweeteners. Many drinks that intend to boost dopamine and cognitive functions are sweetened with aspartame or ace-k to make the drink taste sweet. These unhealthy artificial sweeteners can damage gut health and cause long-term health issues, so it’s better to stay away from them.
Key things to avoid in dopamine supplements
- Cause jitters or energy crashes
- Excessive use of synthetic ingredients
- Use ingredients that haven’t been clinically tested
- Contain additives or artificial sweeteners
The Top 5 Best Dopamine Supplements On The Market Today, According To Nutritionists
To help you choose a supplement that helps you perform at your peak while feeling your best, we’ve compiled a list of the top 5 best dopamine supplements on the market. This list was carefully curated in partnership with certified nutritionists, and takes several factors into consideration, including: ingredients quality, health impact, taste, value for money, and verified customer reviews.
#1 / Alpine Bliss Cognitive Energy Booster
Energy & mood boost
Taste
Value for Money
Ingredient Quality
Scientific Evidence
PROS:
- Provides a strong, sustained boost of energy without crashes
- Improves mood and well-being thanks to a natural blend of dopamine boosters
- Contain several ingredients proven to boost dopamine in optimal dose
- Very well tolerated, no reported side effects
- Low on calories and sugar
- No ace-K or aspartame
- Great taste, according to users
- Uses pure Alpine water with high-quality plant-based ingredients
CONS:
- Expensive
- Frequently out of stock due to limited production
THE BOTTOM LINE
Alpine Bliss is a premium, fast-growing Swiss brand of flavored sparkling water offering functional health benefits, using clinically studied ingredients. The Alpine Bliss Cognitive Energy Booster is a fruity herbal energy drink that is specifically designed to boost dopamine and improve cognitive performance.
One of the key benefits of this herbal energy drink is its ability to provide a strong, sustained boost of energy for several hours, without causing unpleasant energy crashes, which tends to be the case for many dopamine supplements.
This is achieved through a unique blend of high-quality plant-based ingredients, including 70 mg of caffeine from natural source, 350 mg of L-tyrosine, panax ginseng, phenylalanine and high-purity ginger root extract. At least three of these ingredients have been clinically proven to stimulate dopamine production (tyrosine, ginger root and phenylalanine).
This proprietary blend of plant-based ingredients, called “DopaBliss™” (a reference to dopamine), is reported to create a distinct feeling of relaxation and well-being a few minutes after consumption. Many users report feeling better in their body within 30 minutes of consumption.
The brand worked with a reputed Austrian formulation laboratory to ensure that each ingredient was contained in the optimal dose to boost dopamine in a healthy way. All ingredients are well tolerated by the body. No case of insomnia or sleep issues were reported.
From a nutrition standpoint, the drink is also scoring pretty well. The formula contains zero added sugar, just 25 calories per can, and only 5 grams of natural sugar from wild berries. It doesn’t contain any harmful artificial sweeteners like aspartame or ace-K. The drink is also a rich source of vitamin B6 and B12 – two vitamins that promote a healthy metabolism.
Beyond its functional health benefits, the Alpine Bliss formula also performs well on taste, according to consumers. Users praise its fruity wild berries flavor and refreshing fine bubbles. It strikes a delicate balance of sweetness and freshness, and delivers an enjoyable drinking experience.
On the minus side, we note that the drink is quite expensive ($3.95 per can) – which can be explained by the “fancy” ingredients that it contains, including extracts of saffron and ginger roots (some of the most expensive spices in the world). We also note that the drink is frequently out of stock, because it’s produced in limited batches as of now.
Taking all of this into consideration puts Alpine Bliss Cognitive Energy booster in our #1 spot in our top 5 dopamine supplements.
#2 / NeuroGuard
Energy & mood boost
Taste
Value for Money
Ingredient Quality
Scientific Evidence
PROS:
- Quality nootropic supplement
- Ingredients proven to stimulate dopamine production
- Rich in vitamins
- Supports memory and focus
CONS:
- Expensive
- Lacks some key nootropics that would make the supplement stronger
- May produce only mild effects for some users
THE BOTTOM LINE
NeuroGuard is a nootropic supplement that is meant to make a lot of different parts of cognitive function better.
Six important ingredients are used in its recipe: L-Tyrosine, Vitamins B6 and B12, L-Theanine, Caffeine Anhydrous, and Citicoline. These all have been shown to be good for brain health.
L-Tyrosine is a key ingredient that is known to help the production of dopamine, which is needed for mental clarity and stable mood. The addition of B vitamins, especially B6 and B12, helps the brain work better and makes you feel less tired.
L-Theanine, which is found in tea leaves, is known for its calming effects, which help balance out the stimulating effects of caffeine. This is especially helpful because caffeine anhydrous gives you a strong energy boost that makes you more alert and focused.
People who took NeuroGuard said they were able to concentrate better, had more mental energy, and felt less stressed and anxious. Because of these benefits, it’s a good choice for people who want to improve their mental performance when they are under a lot of stress at work, school, or in their daily lives.
It may be a bad thing that NeuroGuard costs more and has a stronger caffeine amount. The supplement works, but it lacks some nootropics that other products have, like ginger root or phenylalanine. This is to be expected, given how much it costs. This might make it less appealing to people who want a more complete nootropic profile.
#3 / Zevia Energy Drink
Energy & mood boost
Taste
Value for Money
Ingredient Quality
Scientific Evidence
PROS:
- Strong energy boost
- Healthier option than mainstream energy drinks
- No sugar, carbs, or fat
- Sweetened with stevia leaf extract
CONS:
- Caffeine content may be slightly too high for some people (120 mg). May cause jitters
- Mixed reviews on the taste. Some find it overly sweet and chemical-tasting
THE BOTTOM LINE
Zevia Zero Calorie Energy Drink, with flavours including Raspberry Lime and Pineapple Coconut, is a good option for people looking for a healthier energy boost.
The drink contains no sugar, no carbs, no sodium, no fat, and it is suitable for a variety of diets including vegan, kosher, Paleo, and Keto. Sweetened with stevia leaf extract, this makes it an appropriate option for those who are on a diet but who still want to drink energy beverages for the energy kick they provide.
The primary source of energy is 120 milligrammes of caffeine per can, which comes from green tea leaves.
While this provides a large energy boost, moderation is essential due to the potential negative consequences of excessive caffeine consumption. We note that this dose of caffeine is slightly more than what is needed to provide a sustainable energy boost without side effects.
Such doses of caffeine may cause jitters and crashes for certain people who are sensitive to caffeine.
While most users appear to be satisfied with this drink, the taste of Zevia is not for everyone. The drink obtained mixed reviews on its taste, with some consumers finding it overly sweet and a bit too chemical in taste.
It does remain a strong option in the field of healthier, better-for-you energy drinks.
#4 / Omnit Alpha Brain Focus Shot
Energy & mood boost
Taste
Value for Money
Ingredient Quality
Scientific Evidence
PROS:
- Compact and easy to drink
- May improve cognitive function such as memory and focus
- Contains several ingredients proven to boost dopamine
- Reputable brand
- Quality ingredients
CONS:
- Lack of ingredient transparency
- Dosage may be inappropriate
- Mixed reviews, results may vary
- Expensive compared to other more effective, better-rated supplements
THE BOTTOM LINE
The Onnit Alpha Brain Focus Shot is a compact, on-the-go beverage designed to improve cognitive functions, including memory, mental speed, and focus. It’s a popular product from Onnit, a Texas-based supplement manufacturer known for its commitment to providing high-quality health and fitness products.
The Focus Shot is available in two flavors: Tropical and Peach, both of which have been praised for their refreshing and pleasant taste.
One of the key advantages of the Alpha Brain Focus Shot is its unique blend of ingredients. It contains high-quality components such as lion’s mane, n-acetyl-l-tyrosine, theanine, KSM-66 ashwagandha, Cognizin citicoline, and InnovaTea natural caffeine. Some of these ingredients are known to support cognitive functions and boost dopamine levels, including tyrosine and caffeine. By boosting dopamine levels, the Alpha Brain Focus Shot can enhance mood and increase motivation.
That said, this supplement also comes with a few flaws. First, the product lacks transparency about the specific doses of each ingredient. This could be a concern for individuals who want to know exactly what they’re consuming.
Further, several customer reviews say that the product didn’t work for them, which may be due to inappropriate ingredient dosage. Compared to other dopamine supplements, this one has slightly less favorable reviews, although reviews are still positive overall.
Additionally, while it’s slightly cheaper than the capsule version of Alpha Brain, it’s still somewhat expensive compared to other similar products on the market.
#5 / Mind Lab Pro
Cognitive boost
Taste
Value for Money
Ingredient Quality
Scientific Evidence
PROS:
- May improve brain health and mental function by boosting dopamine
- Designed for busy professionals, students and athletes
- Rich blend of quality brain-boosting ingredients
- Well tolerated formula
CONS:
- Very expensive
- Mixed reviews
- Limited efficacy
THE BOTTOM LINE
Mind Lab Pro is a dietary supplement made to improve brain health and mental function. It is aimed at athletes, students, and busy workers who want to improve their mental skills, by boosting their dopamine.
Mind Lab Pro is a mix of 11 different ingredients that are good for the brain and can help improve brain function and overall health. The product doesn’t contain any drugs and uses more than one method to improve brain function. It is made by a company in the United Kingdom called Opti-Nutra Advanced Nutraceuticals, which was founded in 2015.
Mind Lab Pro costs $69 for one bottle with 60 pills. If you take the usual dose of two capsules per day, one bottle will last one month.
On the plus side, we note that the formulation is very clean and uses well tolerated ingredients.
On the other hand, the price of $69 per bottle may be a bit high for some people. Further, we note that many users reported feeling minor to no improvement at all in clarity and focus, and reviews are mixed, despite the quality of formulation. This may be due to a limited concentration of dopamine-boosting active ingredients.
Like any supplement, results may change from person to person, and it might not work for everyone.