Comparison
Ashwagandha vs Bromantane
Side-by-side of Ashwagandha and Bromantane. Every row below is pulled from the compound schema and will update as our data grows. For deeper reads, follow through to each compound page.
Ashwagandha
Ashwagandha supplement guide: KSM-66 and Sensoril extracts at 300-600 mg/day cut morning cortisol and stress in RCTs. Dose, side effects, testosterone data.
Bromantane
Bromantane, the Russian nootropic sold as Ladasten (ADK-709), acts on dopamine to cut fatigue and anxiety without classical stimulant rebound.
Effects at a glance
Ashwagandha
- •Reduces morning serum cortisol by ~20 to 30% at 300 to 600 mg/day standardized extract over 8 weeks
- •Lowers subjective stress on DASS-21 and PSS scales versus placebo in chronically stressed adults
- •Modest grip-strength and 1-RM gains of ~5 to 8% in trained men when paired with resistance training
- •Improves self-reported sleep quality and onset latency in adults with insomnia symptoms
- •Small testosterone increases (~10 to 15%) reported in stressed or subfertile men, less clear in healthy populations
- •May raise free T3 and T4; can interact with levothyroxine and unmask subclinical hyperthyroidism
Bromantane
- •Russian RCT base (Voznesenskaya 2010, n=728) supports 50 mg daily for asthenia and fatigue over 4 weeks
- •Atypical actogenic mechanism: induces tyrosine hydroxylase rather than direct monoamine release
- •Subjective profile is anxiolytic plus mildly motivating, distinct from classical stimulants
- •Long half-life of around 11 hours supports once-daily morning dosing
- •WADA-banned since 1996; relevant for tested athletes
- •Western evidence base is thin; most published trials are Russian-language and not independently replicated
Side-by-side
| Attribute | Ashwagandha | Bromantane |
|---|---|---|
| Category | natural | nootropic |
| Also known as | Withania somnifera, KSM-66, Sensoril | Ladasten, ADK-709, N-(4-bromophenyl)adamantan-2-amine |
| Half-life (hr) ↗ | 10 | 11 |
| Typical dose (mg) ↗ | 600 | 75 |
| Dosing frequency | daily | daily, morning |
| Routes | oral | oral |
| Onset (hr) | 2 | 3 |
| Peak (hr) | - | 168 |
| Molecular weight | - | 280.21 |
| Molecular formula | - | C16H20BrN |
| Mechanism | GABAergic modulation and HPA-axis attenuation; withanolides reduce cortisol secretion and inhibit NF-kB signaling. | Indirect dopaminergic and serotonergic actogenic activity via induction of tyrosine hydroxylase and selective increases in serotonin synthesis in hippocampus and hypothalamus. |
| Legal status | Dietary supplement in most jurisdictions; regulated in Denmark | Approved in Russia (Ladasten); unscheduled and unapproved in US, EU, UK |
| WADA status | allowed | banned |
| DEA / Rx | OTC supplement | Not scheduled in the US |
| Pregnancy | Not recommended | Not recommended |
| CAS | - | 87913-26-6 |
| PubChem CID | - | 9576456 |
| Wikidata | Q310109 | Q4093816 |
Safety profile
Ashwagandha
Common side effects
- mild GI upset
- drowsiness
- headache
Contraindications
- pregnancy
- autoimmune disease (theoretical immune stimulation)
- hyperthyroidism
- concurrent sedative use
Interactions
- benzodiazepines: additive CNS depression(moderate)
- thyroid hormone (levothyroxine): may raise T3/T4, altering dose requirements(moderate)
- immunosuppressants: theoretical antagonism via immune stimulation(moderate)
Bromantane
Common side effects
- mild GI upset
- headache
- skin rash
- occasional insomnia at higher doses
Contraindications
- pregnancy
- lactation
- severe hepatic impairment
- severe renal impairment
- pediatric use
Interactions
- MAOIs: theoretical additive dopaminergic and serotonergic activity(major)
- levodopa and dopamine agonists: additive dopaminergic activity(moderate)
- SSRIs and other serotonergic drugs: theoretical serotonergic additivity(moderate)
- classical stimulants: theoretical additive activity, undocumented(moderate)
Which Should You Take?
Ashwagandha comes out ahead for most readers on the criteria we weight: 3 catalogued goals, OTC dietary supplement, oral dosing, with a Tier-B outcome catalogued. Bromantane is the right call when one of the conditionals below applies.
- → If your priority is hormonal optimization, pick Ashwagandha.
- → If your priority is fatigue resistance, pick Bromantane.
- → If your priority is stress and HPA-axis regulation, pick Ashwagandha.
Edge case: If you want to avoid controlled substance, Ashwagandha is the more accessible choice.
Default choice: Ashwagandha. Lower friction to source, and broader goal coverage. Reach for Bromantane only if your priority sits squarely in the goals it owns above.
This verdict is generated from each compound's schema (goals, legal status, evidence outcomes, dosing route). It updates automatically as our compound data evolves; the deeper read sits on each individual compound page.
Common questions
What is the difference between Ashwagandha and Bromantane?
Ashwagandha and Bromantane differ in category (natural vs nootropic), mechanism, and typical dosing. See the side-by-side table for full details.
Which has a longer half-life, Ashwagandha or Bromantane?
Ashwagandha half-life is 10 hours; Bromantane half-life is 11 hours.
Can you stack Ashwagandha with Bromantane?
Stack compatibility depends on mechanism overlap, legal status, and individual response. Check each compound page for specific interactions and contraindications before combining.
Go deeper