Insane Labz Psychotic Pre-Workout Review (Updated 2023)

Insane Labz Psychotic Pre-Workout Pros & Cons

Insane Labz Psychotic Pre-Workout Review

I can confidently say that Insane Labz Psychotic pre-workout is one of the worst products I have ever used, tested, and reviewed. Not because it doesn’t work but because it is the epitome of laziness and everything that is wrong with the supplement industry.

Pre-workout manufacturers have long figured out that the average gym goer sadly doesn’t know enough to make an educated decision when shopping, so they simply jack up the caffeine in their products, name it something scary and eye-catching, and call it a day.

And that is exactly what the Psychotic pre-workout supplement is - a powdered supplement with nothing but a spooky name and a high caffeine dose!

Now, if you’d let me, I’d love to tell you why you should absolutely skip Psychotic pre-workout and go with something that’s objectively far, far better.

My Ratings Explained

When it comes to evaluating supplements, I prioritize transparency, efficacy, and value for money. 

Firstly, this is a proprietary blend, which obscures the exact amounts of each ingredient. While the ingredient selection is relatively fine, if you know the minimum efficacious doses for all the listed ingredients, you also know 4.46 grams in total is nowhere near enough, hence the low score.

As for effectiveness - it’s good, but not good enough. Psychotic does provide a noticeable caffeine kick, but its overall performance enhancement is questionable, especially if we talk about minimizing side effects, improving endurance, and maximizing your pumps.

Lastly, while its cost might be attractive compared to other pre-workouts, you must understand that a lower price doesn't necessarily equate to better value.

Objectively speaking, this is simply a pixie-dusted caffeine powder. In other words, you can get the same effects from caffeine pills, only 15 to 30 times cheaper, depending on where you’re shopping for Psychotic.

Key Details

Will My Performance Increase?

From my personal experience, your performance will increase if you use Insane Labz Psychotic pre-workout. It would be impossible not to see any effects after taking 400 mg of caffeine.

But all in all, I can’t say I’m blown away. After taking Psychotic pre-workout for two weeks, the only significant difference was in energy, strength, and mental focus. 

That said, my energy levels were through the roof every single time. In fact, I’m pretty sure most would find it overwhelming when the jitters kick in.

I also noticed an uptick in strength, which is also expected at this caffeine dose.

The real standout for me was the focus. I'd start all scatterbrained and "hopped up," but once the caffeine effects settled - I would be golden.

My focus would be as tight as ever, my thoughts wouldn't drift away, and the only time I thought about something other than weights was when I’d start planning the rest of my day.

However, despite the energy boost I’d get every single time, I didn't see any noticeable difference in my endurance while I was doing my Psychotic pre-workout review. Well, muscular endurance, to be precise. 

Now, we can talk about individual responses and slow and fast-twitch fibers, but the truth is, a hefty dose of citrulline usually postpones the fatigue for me, and that just wasn’t the case with Psychotic.

So, those of you hoping for longer, more sustained workouts might be left wanting. 

Similarly, if you're chasing insane pumps so you can take saucy IG pics after the gym, you’ll be disappointed. Psychotic pre-workout didn't deliver any discernible change in volume for me. 

How Will I Feel Post-Workout?

Immediately after wrapping up my sessions with Psychotic pre-workout, I felt good. 

There was this lingering sense of accomplishment, as well as a ton of residual energy, that made me do all sorts of stuff afterward. Well, stuff that didn’t require any additional physical strain, as I was really tired. I was still perky and up for it, but my body was fatigued. 

But here's the catch - even that was fleeting. I’ll discuss this at a later point in this Psychotic pre-workout review, but just a heads up - the crash hit me like a ton of bricks. 

What Are The Possible Side Effects

Using Psychotic pre-workout can lead to several side effects, such as:

As for me, I definitely felt the beta-alanine tingles, which made me realize that there are probably more than 2 grams of beta-alanine in this pre-workout formula.

The jitters were also there, but just like tingles, they were short-lived and expected. Thankfully, they didn’t interfere with my workouts.

What bothered me a bit more was my stomach. If I didn’t have a really nice, well-balanced meal before taking Psychotic pre-workout, I’d get this heaviness in my stomach for a few hours, like there’s something lodged in there. 

Learn More - What Causes Pre-Workout Jitters?

What Flavors Are Available And How Do They Taste?

The 14 flavors of Psychotic pre-workout available on the Insane Labz website are:

One thing to note is that at the point of doing a Psychotic pre-workout review, only ten of these were/are available on Amazon. However, Amazon does give you the ability to get a “Variety pack,” which is Blue Raspberry, Grape, and Fruit Punch, so you can mix it up a little.

I don’t recommend you do this since it’s more expensive, but I got the Variety pack because I wanted to test the flavors, and I have to say I’m not surprised these tasted quite good.

As for the taste, there’s a chemical hint to it, but that’s what you get with these products, and over time, I learned not to care about it. That said, Blue Raspberry was my favorite, as that one has that tart, tangy, and sour aroma I like, but if you enjoy super sweet stuff, Fruit Punch might work for you.

All of these mixed and dissolved pretty great, as expected from a 4.5-gram dose. The texture was smooth, it wasn’t chalky, and it didn’t leave any residue at the bottom of my glass or shaker.

One thing I don’t understand is why they would include artificial food coloring like FD&C Red #40 and FD&C Blue #1 because there’s literally no one out there who cares what color their pre-workout drink is. [2]

Learn More - Can You Make Your Pre-Workout Taste Better?

Is It A Fair Price?

I wouldn’t call Insane Labz Psychotic pre-workout a fairly priced product. It is even worse if you're shopping directly from Insane Labs' website.

As I said previously in my Insane Labz Psychotic review, on the surface, the pricing of Psychotic pre-workout might seem attractive. Still, as you delve deeper into the value it offers, the picture becomes less rosy, and you quickly realize you’re overpaying even at this price point. 

Sure, you might save a few bucks upfront, but are you genuinely getting your money's worth? I don’t think so. 

While the initial cost might be appealing, its shortcomings make it much less of a bargain and much more of a money down the drain.

Who Is It Best For?

Given the myriad of issues I mentioned, I find it really hard to pinpoint a specific group that would genuinely benefit from using Insane Labz Psychotic pre-workout. 

While I get the appeal of the apparent cost-savings, flashy name, and high dose of caffeine, the inevitable crash and lack of comprehensive performance improvements make it an outright lousy choice for most, as far as I’m concerned. 

Whether you're a seasoned athlete or a newbie gym-goer, the product's drawbacks overshadow its benefits by a mile.

Who Is It Not Good For?

Psychotic pre-workout isn't suitable for a lot of folks, but more specifically:

And to double down - even the healthy folks should stay away.

With so many well-formulated, transparent, and effective pre-workouts available, just look for a more reliable and beneficial alternative.

Learn More - Coffee Vs Pre-Workout (Which Is Better?)

Other Online Reviews

Tips For Increasing Performance Using Insane Labz Pre-Workout

To get the most out of Insane Labz Psychotic pre-workout, a couple of tweaks can make a world difference. 

Firstly, consider stacking it with a citrulline supplement. 

Given that Psychotic doesn't quite deliver on the pump and endurance front, adding citrulline can help enhance blood flow to the muscles, giving you that sought-after pump and potentially delaying fatigue.

Secondly, try pairing Psychotic with a nootropic like L-Theanine, or try using half a scoop if you're finding the caffeine hit a bit too intense. [3]

Theanine is known for promoting calm alertness, which helps balance out the jitters and overstimulation from caffeine, and since everything else in this formula apart from caffeine is already rather ineffective, you may as well take half a serving dose.

Ingredients - Effectiveness & Amount

As you can see, the Insane Labz Psychotic pre-workout contains only one of the four main pre-workout ingredients - caffeine.

Caffeine

Caffeine anhydrous is a dehydrated form of caffeine, a central nervous system stimulant most commonly found in coffee and tea. 

In the context of pre-workouts, caffeine is used to boost both mental and physical performance significantly. 

In this case, we have a substantial dose of 400 mg, which is also the maximum RDA for a healthy adult. 

That said, what you can expect from this hefty dose of caffeine is:

Learn More - How Much Caffeine In Pre-Workout?

Stimulants

In the context of stimulants, Insane Labz Psychotic pre-workout contains two: DMAE and AMPiberry (Juniper Berry Extract).

DMAE, or Dimethylaminoethanol, is a compound often praised for its cognitive-enhancing properties, as well as mild stimulatory ones. 

It's believed to increase the production of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter that plays a role in mental performance, concentration, and muscle contractions. [6]

However, it's worth noting that the research on DMAE's benefits, especially in workout performance, is still in its infancy, so take it with a grain of salt. 

Also, while I can’t know the exact dosage, I’d say DMAE is likely well-dosed based on its position in the blend, so I don’t mind it.

On the other hand, we have AMPiberry, which is derived from Juniper Berry and is said to extend the life of stimulants, ensuring a sustained energy boost without a rapid crash, and is believed to provide a smoother, less jittery energy curve when paired with ingredients like caffeine.

However, the research on AMPiberry, especially in the context of exercise performance, is basically non-existent.

The only viable use case for Juniper berry extract is as an antioxidant, but I don’t see how that would significantly help you in a pre-workout setting. [7]

Boosters

Considering we don’t know the exact dosages of the remaining ingredients in the Psychotic blend, I'll just briefly go over their effects and uses:

Beta-alanine is an amino acid that can enhance muscular endurance, but it’s most well-known for the tingles it causes. However, it requires daily supplementation to work as advertised.

Then, we have creatine monohydrate, a well-researched compound known to increase muscle power, strength, and size with consistent use. Keyword: consistent use, not sporadic, like with a pre-workout.

Up next, we have OxyGold (trademarked fulvic acid), which is a natural compound believed to enhance nutrient absorption and replenish ATP reserves. However, the research surrounding this is quite scarce.

Then we have alpha-yohimbine, a stimulant that can increase energy and thermogenesis, which could lead to better workout performance and potentially speed up weight loss.

Finally, we have Huperzine Serata Standardized Extract or Huperzine A, which is a cognitive enhancer that boosts focus and mental clarity during workouts and is also thought to aid with muscle contractions. [8]

Despite not knowing the exact dosages, it’s easy to see that beta-alanine, creatine, and fulvic acid aren’t adequately dosed. 

Alpha-yohimbine and Huperzine A are likely decently dosed, but those are hardly what I’d call “essential pre-workout ingredients,” so it doesn’t really matter, does it?

Learn More - Creatine Vs Pre-Workout (How Are They Different?)

How I Felt When I Took Insane labz Psychotic Pre-Workout

Here’s the usual timeline from when I performed tests for the Insane Labz Psychotic review.

Within 15 Minutes

Approximately 15 to 20 minutes in, a rush of energy coursed through me. 

It was genuinely like a switch had been flipped, shooting me from a state of calm to some sense of hyper-alertness to a point where I couldn't really focus early on.

Of course, it was at this time that my skin began to tingle, but this may not happen to you, depending on how well you tolerate beta-alanine. 

On the other hand, my heart rate picked up, and while I won’t sit here and lie to you that I felt this undeniable urge to start my workout, I did get that “waiting to be unleashed” feeling. Maybe I looked too much into it, as it was coupled with some jitters, but it felt a bit overwhelming on a few occasions.

And honestly, I really don’t see a scenario in which you don’t feel similar unless you have an extremely high tolerance to caffeine.

Within 60 Minutes

An hour into my session, the intensity of the pre-workout was palpable. 

The initial energy boost had matured into a sustained drive and motivation, so I genuinely felt like I was flying from exercise to the next. 

Every move I made felt purposeful, every rep was impeccable, and even when I was getting tired near the end, I mustered the will to push through. 

Also, there was this deep connection between my mind and muscle, and while there really isn’t a lot of scientific data proving the importance of mind-muscle connection on actual muscle growth, we all know that this is one of the best feelings in the gym. 

After 6+ Hours

I crashed every single time after using Psychotic pre-workout, and that crash would usually come 5-6 hours in, as I briefly mentioned when I discussed post-workout feelings.

The best I could describe this transition is non-existent. It literally took minutes for my previously vibrant and jolly mood to turn sluggish and cranky, so much so that my girlfriend asked me whether we were okay. 

Of course, the mental fog also crept in, I was as irritable as ever, and it was genuinely hard to keep my focus, talk, or do anything other than “nothing”. 

So, it was a complete contrast to the initial post-workout high. 

One thing I wanted to test while taking Psychotic is whether I would feel the same if I switched up my diet or pre-workout timing. 

And while I must say that eight sessions aren’t enough to present my case as ironclad as I’d want to, the results were always the same - crash. The worst ones were the two when I took Psychotic right after I woke up, so maybe don’t do that, but either way, crashing seems inevitable to me.

How Does It Compare To Other Pre-Workouts?

Let me show you how Psychotic compares to other similarly popular products.

Insane Labz Psychotic Vs I AM GOD Pre-Workout

Insane Labz makes both I AM GOD and Psychotic, and as I expected, picking between the two is hard. It’s a “pick the least worst product” kind of thing, which in this case is the I AM GOD pre-workout.

The differences between these two appear major, as I AM GOD’s proprietary blend is twice as "potent" as the one from Psychotic. However, most of this goes to creatine and beta-alanine, neither of which are overly effective in a pre-workout setting.

You do get some tyrosine with I AM GOD, which is a good addition, but without knowing the actual dose, I can't quite say whether that's genuinely worth it or not.

So, once again, you’d be wasting your money on a poorly dosed pre-workout with a ton of caffeine to mask the remaining formula's ineffectiveness.

It's a hard pass for both, as far as I’m concerned, but I AM GOD is a tiny bit better.

Related Article - Insane Labz I AM GOD Pre-Workout Review

Insane Labz Psychotic Vs Ghost Legend Pre-Workout

Unlike Psychotic, Ghost Legend formulas are not proprietary blends, and are actually pretty good for you.

With Ghost pre-workout, you actually get citrulline and Nitrosigine, so your pumps will be noticeably bigger, and so will your endurance. The caffeine dose is lower, but 250 mg of caffeine is more than enough for 90% of the gym-goers.

Taste-wise, I’d also give the edge to Ghost, although this one’s basically a preference.

Overall, Ghost is a much, much better option than Psychotic.

Related Article - Ghost Legend Pre-Workout Review 

Frequently Asked Insane Labz Psychotic Questions

Conclusion

To wrap up this Psychotic pre-workout review, I'll just say this.

While Insane Labz Psychotic pre-workout does offer some benefits due to its massive caffeine dose, its shortcomings are hard for me to overlook, therefore, I would not recommend it.

That said, if you're anything like me, that means you’re in search of a pre-workout that delivers consistent results across the board. And if that’s the case, I’d much rather you try C4 Ultimate. 

C4 Ultimate is a well-formulated product that stands out from the rest of the C4 lineup, and as someone who has used it for quite some time, I believe you’ll have a great time with it.

References: 

1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3491570/
2. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23026007/
3. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18681988/
4. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20421833/
5. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2333832/
6. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22300295/
7. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6726717/
8. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7664913/