Comparison
Bromantane vs TUDCA
Side-by-side of Bromantane and TUDCA. 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.
TUDCA
TUDCA is the taurine-conjugated form of ursodeoxycholic acid, a bile-acid molecule with replicated effects on liver function, ER stress, and bile flow.
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
TUDCA
- •Bile-acid molecule (taurine-conjugated UDCA) with chemical chaperone activity at the endoplasmic reticulum
- •Established pharmaceutical use for cholestasis and primary biliary cholangitis at 500-750 mg/day
- •Reduces ER stress and stabilizes misfolded proteins; the mechanistic basis for emerging ALS / retinal applications
- •Modest improvements in NAFLD markers and insulin sensitivity at 500-1,750 mg/day in small trials
- •Mitochondrial protection signal in animal models drives the longevity-supplement positioning
- •Generally well-tolerated; mild GI effects are the main dose-dependent issue
Side-by-side
| Attribute | Bromantane | TUDCA |
|---|---|---|
| Category | nootropic | supplement |
| Also known as | Ladasten, ADK-709, N-(4-bromophenyl)adamantan-2-amine | tauroursodeoxycholic acid, taurine-conjugated UDCA |
| Half-life (hr) ↗ | 11 | 4 |
| Typical dose (mg) ↗ | 75 | 500 |
| Dosing frequency | daily, morning | daily, divided into 2 doses with food |
| Routes | oral | oral |
| Onset (hr) | 3 | 1 |
| Peak (hr) | 168 | 2 |
| Molecular weight | 280.21 | 499.7 |
| Molecular formula | C16H20BrN | C26H45NO6S |
| Mechanism | Indirect dopaminergic and serotonergic actogenic activity via induction of tyrosine hydroxylase and selective increases in serotonin synthesis in hippocampus and hypothalamus. | Bile-acid signaling via FXR/TGR5 receptors; chemical chaperone reducing ER stress and unfolded protein response; mitochondrial protection through reduced outer-membrane permeabilization. |
| Legal status | Approved in Russia (Ladasten); unscheduled and unapproved in US, EU, UK | OTC dietary supplement (US); pharmaceutical in Italy and several Asian countries |
| WADA status | banned | allowed |
| DEA / Rx | Not scheduled in the US | OTC supplement |
| Pregnancy | Not recommended | Insufficient data for supplement use; UDCA used in cholestasis of pregnancy |
| CAS | 87913-26-6 | 14605-22-2 |
| PubChem CID | 9576456 | 9848818 |
| Wikidata | Q4093816 | Q418751 |
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)
TUDCA
Common side effects
- mild GI upset
- diarrhea (dose-dependent)
- constipation (rare)
- nausea
Contraindications
- complete biliary obstruction
- pregnancy / lactation (insufficient supplement-dose data)
- active GI disease without medical supervision
Interactions
- cyclosporine, oral contraceptives, fat-soluble vitamins: modest absorption changes via altered bile-acid pool(minor)
- phenylbutyrate: synergistic for ALS use (Relyvrio combination); consult clinician(moderate)
Which Should You Take?
TUDCA comes out ahead for most readers on the criteria we weight: 3 catalogued goals, OTC dietary supplement, 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 liver function, pick TUDCA.
- → If your priority is healthspan extension, pick TUDCA.
Edge case: If you want to avoid controlled substance, TUDCA is the more accessible choice.
Default choice: TUDCA. Lower friction to source, 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 TUDCA?
Bromantane and TUDCA differ in category (nootropic vs supplement), mechanism, and typical dosing. See the side-by-side table for full details.
Which has a longer half-life, Bromantane or TUDCA?
Bromantane half-life is 11 hours; TUDCA half-life is 4 hours.
Can you stack Bromantane with TUDCA?
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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