Higenamine is classified by WADA as a beta-2 agonist, which means it is prohibited at all times, both in and out-of-competition.
Keep reading to learn more about this prohibited substance that’s becoming more common in dietary supplements.
What is higenamine?
A substance found in a variety of plant sources, higenamine is found in several herbs used for traditional medicine, and now the supplement industry has started using it as a substitute for Dimethylamylamine (DMAA) and ephedrine. Higenamine is called by various names and below are some of the many names that athletes should check supplement labels for:
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- higenamine
- norcoclaurine
- demethylcoclaurine
- Aconite
- Annona squamosal
- Nandina domestica
- Tinospora crispa
It’s also important to remember that because of post-market regulation, some dietary supplement labels do not list all of the ingredients they contain, including prohibited and harmful substances.
Some products that are known to contain higenamine can be found on USADA’s Supplement Connect High Risk List. When it comes to supplements, keep in mind that the only way to have zero risk is to use zero supplements. Athletes who choose to use dietary supplements do so at their own risk.
Why is higenamine prohibited at all times in sport?
Research indicates that higenamine has mixed adrenergic receptor activity, meaning it may act as a general stimulant. It may be found in some pre-workout, energy, or weight-loss products.
In one 2019 study, 24 supplements products, most of which were marketed for weight loss or energy, were analyzed for higenamine. The amount of higenamine in the supplements was anywhere from trace amounts, to over 60mg per serving, enough to case a positive anti-doping test. In many cases, the label did not accurately represent the amount of higenamine in the product, or other ingredients.
Does higenamine have any medical or health purposes?
Various herbs, such as aconite, have traditional uses in Chinese medicine and are known to contain higenamine. In addition, in Japan some Kampo medicines (composed of multiple drugs) can contain higenamine, or a closely related substance called coclaurine which could theoretically be metabolized into higenamine in the body.
However, higenamine currently has no government regulatory approvals for clinical use in the United States.
Are there side effects from higenamine?
In some circumstances, higenamine may increase blood pressure and cause irregular heartbeats. Dietary supplements with higenamine may contain higher levels than have ever been studied, which could increase the likelihood of adverse effects.
Need more information?
For questions about specific products, substances, and methods, contact USADA’s Drug Reference Line at drugreference@usada.org or call (719) 785-2000, option 2.
