Comparison
Bromantane vs Low-Dose Naltrexone
Side-by-side of Bromantane and Low-Dose Naltrexone. 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.
Bromantane
Bromantane, the Russian nootropic sold as Ladasten (ADK-709), acts on dopamine to cut fatigue and anxiety without classical stimulant rebound.
Low-Dose Naltrexone
Low dose naltrexone at 1.5 to 4.5 mg, one-tenth the 50 mg addiction dose. Compounded Rx. Small trials in fibromyalgia, Crohn's, Hashimoto's.
Effects at a glance
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
Low-Dose Naltrexone
- •Off-label use at 1.5 to 4.5 mg, roughly one-tenth the FDA-approved 50 mg addiction-treatment dose
- •Proposed mechanisms include brief opioid receptor blockade triggering rebound endogenous opioid release, plus TLR4 antagonism
- •Compounded prescription only; insurance rarely covers; cash prices 20 to 80 USD per month
- •Younger 2013 reported ~30% pain reduction in fibromyalgia at 4.5 mg in a small crossover trial
- •Smith 2011 reported endoscopic improvement in active Crohn's disease (n=40 placebo-controlled)
- •Vivid dreams affect 20 to 40% in first 2 weeks; manageable by switching to morning dosing
Side-by-side
| Attribute | Bromantane | Low-Dose Naltrexone |
|---|---|---|
| Category | nootropic | pharmaceutical |
| Also known as | Ladasten, ADK-709, N-(4-bromophenyl)adamantan-2-amine | LDN, naltrexone (low dose) |
| Half-life (hr) ↗ | 11 | 4 |
| Typical dose (mg) ↗ | 75 | 4.5 |
| Dosing frequency | daily, morning | once daily, typically at bedtime |
| Routes | oral | oral |
| Onset (hr) | 3 | 1 |
| Peak (hr) | 168 | 1.5 |
| Molecular weight | 280.21 | 341.4 |
| Molecular formula | C16H20BrN | C20H23NO4 |
| Mechanism | Indirect dopaminergic and serotonergic actogenic activity via induction of tyrosine hydroxylase and selective increases in serotonin synthesis in hippocampus and hypothalamus. | Brief mu-opioid receptor antagonism proposed to trigger compensatory upregulation of endogenous opioids; secondary TLR4 antagonism on microglia and immune cells contributes to anti-inflammatory effect. |
| Legal status | Approved in Russia (Ladasten); unscheduled and unapproved in US, EU, UK | Off-label compounded prescription (naltrexone is FDA approved for opioid and alcohol use disorder at 50 mg) |
| WADA status | banned | allowed |
| DEA / Rx | Not scheduled in the US | Rx only (not a controlled substance) |
| Pregnancy | Not recommended | Insufficient data; not routinely recommended |
| CAS | 87913-26-6 | 16590-41-3 |
| PubChem CID | 9576456 | 5360515 |
| Wikidata | Q4093816 | Q426444 |
Safety profile
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)
Low-Dose Naltrexone
Common side effects
- vivid dreams
- sleep disruption
- headache
- mild GI upset
- fatigue (early)
Contraindications
- concurrent opioid use
- acute hepatitis or liver failure
- opioid dependence
- pregnancy (insufficient data)
Interactions
- opioid analgesics (oxycodone, morphine, codeine): blocks analgesic effect; precipitates withdrawal in dependent users(major)
- tramadol: blocks opioid component of analgesia(major)
- thyroid hormone replacement: may alter dose requirements after immune modulation; monitor TSH(minor)
Which Should You Take?
Low-Dose Naltrexone comes out ahead for most readers on the criteria we weight: 2 catalogued goals, prescription-only, oral dosing, with a Tier-A outcome catalogued. Bromantane is the right call when one of the conditionals below applies.
- → If your priority is focus or working memory, pick Bromantane.
- → If your priority is fatigue resistance, pick Bromantane.
- → If your priority is immune support, pick Low-Dose Naltrexone.
- → If your priority is pain modulation, pick Low-Dose Naltrexone.
Default choice: Low-Dose Naltrexone. Wider use case, a Tier-A evidence outcome catalogued, 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 Bromantane and Low-Dose Naltrexone?
Bromantane and Low-Dose Naltrexone differ in category (nootropic vs pharmaceutical), mechanism, and typical dosing. See the side-by-side table for full details.
Which has a longer half-life, Bromantane or Low-Dose Naltrexone?
Bromantane half-life is 11 hours; Low-Dose Naltrexone half-life is 4 hours.
Can you stack Bromantane with Low-Dose Naltrexone?
Stack compatibility depends on mechanism overlap, legal status, and individual response. Check each compound page for specific interactions and contraindications before combining.
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