Bromantane is a stimulant sold online as a nootropic. In Russia it is a prescription drug called Ladasten. Outside Russia, no regulator approves it, and nobody checks what is in the products you can buy.
This page covers what the studies show, what they leave out, and how to read a lab report if you still plan to source it.
What is bromantane?
Bromantane is a synthetic compound. Russia sells it as Ladasten for asthenia, a condition marked by persistent fatigue (Russian prescribing information). Health Canada says it is not authorized there for any use.
What do the human studies show?
The evidence is small and mostly Russian. Here is what the abstracts say, and what they leave out.
- A 2010 multicenter study analysed 728 people with asthenic disorders across 28 centres. They took 50 to 100 mg a day for 28 days. 76.0% were responders on the CGI-S scale. 3% reported side effects, 0.8% stopped, and none were serious. The abstract does not describe the study design.
- A 2012 trial (Neznamov) compared ladasten with placebo in neurasthenia. The abstract gives no numbers.
- A 2011 study (Reutova) gave a single 15 mg dose or placebo. Tolerability was comparable to placebo.
- A 2011 Parkinson’s study (Sarycheva) looked at non-motor symptoms. It has no abstract.
Health Canada says bromantane has been tested in only a few clinical trials and that its long-term effects are unknown.
How does bromantane work?
Rat studies point to dopamine. In 2010, Zimin and colleagues gave rats 50 mg/kg and found more dopamine synthesis and release in the striatum. The drug did not act directly on dopamine D1, D2 or D3 receptors. A 2006 rat study looked at demethylation in the promoter of the tyrosine hydroxylase gene, which makes a dopamine enzyme. Rats are not people, and those doses are not human doses.
Is bromantane safe?
Nobody can answer that for healthy people using gray-market products. Here is what is on record.
- Clinical data: 3% of people in the 2010 study reported side effects, and none were serious.
- Animal data: Health Canada says high doses caused vomiting, regurgitation, diarrhea and more urination.
- After stopping: Health Canada says no addiction or withdrawal has been reported. Some people reported fatigue, depression and confusion after they stopped.
Take a prescription medicine, or have a heart, mental health or seizure condition? Talk to a doctor first. If something feels wrong after you take it, stop and get medical help. Bring the container with you.
Is bromantane banned in sports?
Yes. The WADA 2026 Prohibited List names bromantan under S6 stimulants, which are prohibited in competition. If you are tested, do not take it.
Can you trust bromantane sold online?
Not on looks. A polished site and a 99% purity claim prove nothing. A 2025 study of 159 nootropic samples from Europe and Australia found 69% came from the illegal market. That figure covers all nootropics. The abstract does not mention bromantane.
In July 2024, Health Canada added bromantane to an alert about unauthorized drugs sold illegally on websites.
What should a bromantane lab report show?
Check each item.
- Identity: LC-MS or NMR against a bromantane reference standard.
- Purity: a percentage, and the method used.
- Impurities: leftover solvents, heavy metals and by-products.
- Batch number: the same one printed on your container.
- Date: recent, for your specific batch.
- Lab details: a lab you can call to confirm it issued the report.
Is powder, capsules or drops riskier?
- Powder: is the identity confirmed? White powder looks like any other white powder.
- Capsules: does every capsule hold the labeled amount?
- Liquid drops: what is it dissolved in, and how strong is it?
No format is safe by default. The lab report decides.
Is “Ladasten” for sale the real drug?
Ask who made it. Ask for a batch number and proof of source. No proof, no order.
What should you do before you buy?
No outside regulator watches the products sold online. Ask for a batch COA. Then call the lab and confirm it is real. If you want a vetted shortlist, start with the best peptide vendors.
Is bromantane legal?
It is a prescription drug in Russia. Health Canada says it is not authorized in Canada for any use, and WADA bans it in competition. Check your local rules before you order.
What is Ladasten?
Ladasten is the Russian brand name for bromantane, prescribed for asthenia.
Does bromantane cause withdrawal?
Health Canada says no addiction or withdrawal has been reported. Some people reported fatigue, depression and confusion after they stopped.
Are there placebo-controlled trials of bromantane?
Yes, small ones. A 2012 trial compared ladasten with placebo in neurasthenia, and a 2011 study compared a single 15 mg dose with placebo. The abstract of the 2010 multicenter study does not state its design.
References
- Health Canada. Unauthorized drug products sold illegally on Quadragen and Advanced Research websites may pose serious health risks. Updated July 19, 2024.
- Vanhee C, et al. The Occurrence of Illicit Smart Drugs or Nootropics in Europe and Australia. J Xenobiot 2025;15(3):88.
- Multicenter study of ladasten in asthenic disorders. PMID 20559263.
- Neznamov GG, et al. Ladasten vs placebo in neurasthenia. PMID 22834121.
- Reutova TV, et al. Single-dose ladasten vs placebo. PMID 22288153.
- Sarycheva TG, et al. Ladasten and non-motor symptoms in Parkinson’s disease. PMID 21434470.
- Zimin IA, et al. Role of the brain dopaminergic and serotoninergic systems in the effects of ladasten and sydnocarb. Eksp Klin Farmakol 2010;73(2):2-5.
- Vakhitova IuV, et al. Cytosine demethylation in the tyrosine hydroxylase gene promoter under the action of Ladasten. Genetika 2006;42(7):968-75.
- WADA. 2026 Prohibited List, S6 Stimulants.
- RLS drug encyclopedia. Ladasten (Russian prescribing information).