How Long Does Pre-Workout Last? (tried & tested)

In this article, we’ll explore how long pre-workouts last.

• in your system
• after opening
• once mixed

And many more.

Who would say no to a jolt of energy before hitting the gym? Not a fitness enthusiast, at least.

And since pre-workouts are getting more and more widespread in popularity with every passing day, we often get questions like (especially from newbies);

“Heyy, how long would it last in our bodies? What are the potential side effects? How long does it take to kick in? And most significantly, which pre-workout is the best among the numerous options available?”

Therefore, to address them all, I have compiled this blog post for you which would also help make your training sessions more productive.

So keep reading to find out.

How long does pre-workout last in your system?

Most people want to take pre-workout supplements to enhance their physical and mental vitality during exercise but get confused about how long they will last in their system.

The impacts of a pre-workout supplement might last anywhere between 30 minutes and 2 hours after consumption. This may differ based upon the active ingredients, your age, metabolic rate, and the sort of supplement consumed.

Additionally, how long pre-workout will last also depends on the half-lives of the ingredients.

Most pre-workout ingredients have a half-life of 2-3 hours.

This implies that the pre-workout will stay in your system for approximately three hours, though you may barely feel its effects for 1 to 2 hours.

However, caffeine, which gives you added boost, has a prolonged half-life of approximately 5 hours, the primary ingredient of most pre-workout supplements.

This indicates that if you consumed 200mg of caffeine at noon, 100mg would still be present in your system at approximately 6 pm; this information underscores the importance of avoiding pre-workout supplements close to bedtime.

Without caffeine, the effects of other common ingredients like green tea extract, beta-alanine, Nitric oxide, and creatine will last anywhere between 30 minutes and 2 hours.

While research suggests that the half-lives of the key ingredients differ between people, the onset and longevity of pre-workout effects may fluctuate based on:

• Each ingredient’s quantity per serving.
• The number of servings consumed during a specific timeframe.
• Your body weight.
• Your level of activity.
• Your tolerance of caffeine.

How long does pre-workout last after opening?

Most people just check the expiration date on pre-workout supplements. However, these products can get spoiled for a variety of reasons.

Once the tub or packaging has been opened, supplements often have a shorter shelf life.

In the case of some pre-workout supplements or protein powders, this could mean consuming them within eight weeks, which is a somewhat short time frame.

There are situations in which you should never consume a product over its expiration date.

For example, if you’re experiencing:

• Pungent smell
• Weird clumping
• Lumpy texture on mixing
• Molds

If your pre-workout supplement is significantly past its expiry date, it may cause gastrointestinal distress or other stomach discomforts; thus, it should be avoided.

How long does pre-workout last once mix?

Pre-workout supplements should preferably be mixed right before use; however, it is OK to mix them the night before as well.

It will keep its efficiency and freshness if refrigerated overnight. The one exception is any creatine-containing pre-workout supplement, as creatine is unstable in fluids.

Although creatine is problematic in solution, mixing it overnight is unlikely to damage its integrity.

It takes several days for creatine to break down, and keeping it in a refrigerator decreases the pace of degradation.

However, when creatine is left in a solution for an extended period, it turns into creatinine. It won’t harm you to consume creatinine, but it would not deliver the same benefits as ordinary creatine either.

How long does pre-workout last in breast milk?

If you’re a nursing or lactating mother and wonder if it is safe to take pre-workout supplements? If it is suitable for the baby? And how long after using a pre-workout supplement is it safe to breastfeed? You’re rightly concerned.

Well, taking a pre-workout supplement while breastfeeding is safe, but you should wait at least three to four hours before nursing.

Also, specific ingredients, primary stimulants such as caffeine, can remain in the bloodstream for 6 to 12 hours, but it may vary from person to person.

However, if you drink enough water, the caffeine will quickly dilute and leave your body. After four to five hours, your infant would ideally not perceive the lingering traces.

Many pre-workout supplements will state on the packaging that they should not be consumed while pregnant or nursing or that you should consult your doctor if you are breastfeeding.

Thus, if the brand warns against using it while lactating, you should pay heed to that warning since there must be a reason why the firm included the warning on the label.

How long does pre-workout take to kick in?

It requires between 30-60 minutes for the active chemicals in your pre-workout drink to become efficient and reach a blood peak.

Hence, consuming it while traveling to the gym is advisable to have an effective session.

Caffeine and arginine are two of the most extensively researched active ingredients in pre-workout supplements.

These two components usually take 60–90 minutes to take effect with most pre-workout supplements. The peak effects of caffeine are observed after 60 minutes, and arginine is 90 minutes after ingestion.

Moreover, creatine and beta-alanine take 30-45 minutes to kick in and approximately an hour to reach peak levels.

How long does pre-workout last in water?

The ingredients in the pre-workout powders determine their shelf-life after they are mixed in water. However, they may last anywhere around 12 to 24 hours.

For instance, caffeine is a rather stable ingredient, while creatine is an unstable one, and it may lose its effectiveness if left out for too long after mixing.

But still, you may mix and toss your pre-workout in the fridge, and it may taste perfectly fine by the next day at the least.

How long does a pre-workout crash last?

Caffeine is the main ingredient that may cause the pre-workout crash, but its amount in pre-workouts varies greatly.

Nonetheless, the caffeine crash may last for an average of 5 hours.

However, some people might suffer from it for many days.

Because, your sensitivity to caffeine, your genetics that influences the caffeine metabolism in the body, and the concentration of caffeine is the many factors that determine how long your pre-workout crash will last.

Looking for a new Pre-workout?

Hunting a good pre-workout that suits your body and fulfills all your workout requirements is quite a task.

Therefore, I aim to make things pretty easy for you by reviewing the 3 best pre-workouts along with mentioning their benefits, and potential drawbacks to help you choose wisely.

The three top-notch pre-workout supplements are:

1. Crazy Nutrition Intensive Pre-Train
2. Huge Supplements Wrecked Pre-workout
3. Swolverine Beta-Alanine supplement

1. Crazy Nutrition Intensive Pre-Train

Crazy Nutrition is distributed and manufactured by WOLFSON BRANDS (UK) LIMITED, a reputable company that has led the supplement business for over a decade.

The brand provides high-quality supplements created in FDA-approved facilities and contains 100 % effective components.

All ingredients are based on their innovative and well-researched formulation to assist you in accomplishing the best weight loss possible outcomes.

Crazy Nutrition Pre-Train is a pre-workout supplement designed to enhance focus and energy without causing jitters or stomach problems.

While there are several pre-workout ingredients to avoid, the Intensive Pre-Train formula does not include them.

Instead, it combines 19 synergistic elements for providing focus, strength, and endurance for optimal workout performance.

The exact mechanism of Intensive Pre-Train is to increase blood flow to the muscles and eliminate metabolic waste that restricts athletic performance and causes muscular fatigue due to lactic acid accumulation.

The key ingredients include beta-alanine, caffeine anhydrous, Taurine, L-tyrosine, and several vitamins, including iron, Vitamin C, niacin riboflavin biotin riboflavin.

As we all know, caffeine is responsible for an extra energy boost and focus; on the other hand, L-Arginine is a clinically validated amino acid that increases Nitric Oxide levels in the muscles, ultimately enhancing muscular strength and power.

Moreover, L-citrulline is an excellent choice for a pre-workout supplement because it improves vasodilation.

Vasodilation involves the relaxation of blood vessel walls. When muscles relax, the blood vessels enlarge, enhancing circulation so that the muscles and major organs receive ample blood supply.

It is a vegan-friendly pre-workout supplement that enhances muscular strength and keeps you fit in every manner.

Some people might not like the taste of pre-workout supplements. Therefore, crazy Nutrition created Pre-Train with a blue raspberry flavor that lets people forget unpleasant pre-workout drinks.

But the downside is if you don’t like the raspberry flavor, you don’t have any other option to choose from.

Intensive Pre-Train is sold on Crazy Nutrition’s website, offering budget-friendly prices. The website provides one-time purchases or subscribe-and-save alternatives that save up to 50%.

One Tub of Intensive Pre-Train costs $39.99 for a one-time purchase, but you can buy it for $31.99 if you want to subscribe and save.

Each tub contains 20 servings, so one tub should last five weeks if you train four times each week.

The company also offers a 60-day money-back guarantee with free shipping.

Pros

• It contains 19 powerful ingredients.
• No jittery feelings and stomach cramps.
• Sugar-free, soy-free, grain-free and non-GMO ingredients.
• It is vegan-friendly.
• Great value for money.
• Free shipping.

Cons

• Available in only one flavor.
• Only available online.
• Doesn’t ship to some countries.

2. Huge Supplements Wrecked Pre-workout

Huge Supplements, which ships from the United States but is owned by a Dutch company, has been in business for a few years but has quickly established itself as one of the top-rated brands.

The wrecked pre-workout supplement is one of the strongest on the market and contains over 17 clinically dosed components.

According to the company, it is an excellent alternative for people looking for a potent pre-workout supplement that is not highly harsh with unusual stimulants that may create unpleasant side effects.

Wrecked Pre-Workout serves its purpose by putting together amino acids, medicinal mushrooms, proteins, vasodilators, antioxidants, and a massive amount of caffeine.

Citrulline malate is the primary component of Wrecked pre-workout. This is the most common component found in many pre-workout supplements.

Citrulline malate is used to enhance blood flow and provide additional energy. Wrecked includes a staggering 9 grams of citrulline.

The subsequent ingredient is beta-alanine. Similar to citrulline malate, this is a typical pre-workout component. The dose of 3.2 grams per serving in Wrecked is sufficient to get the intended effect.

Of course, a stimulant is required in every mass-market pre-workout supplement. Wrecked includes two types of caffeine.

The first is standard caffeine. It contains 250 mg, the usual dosage used in pre-workout supplements. This amount of caffeine will have a profound stimulant effect on the consumer.

Another type of caffeine is free of caffeine’s adverse side effects. This increases caffeine to 350 mg, above average for pre-workout supplements.

Wrecked comes in three different flavors at $44.95 for a month’s supply; Wrecked Pre-Workout comes into the category of premium-priced supplements, even though you receive tremendous value for your money.

You can buy Wrecked from their official website as well as from other online retailers.

Pros

• Provides added energy and focus.
• Clinically dosed ingredients to deliver stamina and pumps.
• No visible side effects.
• It can be used regularly.

Cons

• A little expensive.
• Contains a massive dose of caffeine.
• Very large scoop.

3. Swolverine Beta-Alanine Supplement

Swolverine is a US-based brand that started its business in 2018. They exclusively create products to promote athletic performance and boost strength, endurance, and muscle recovery.

The brand is committed to maintaining transparency regarding the components in each supplement.

They remove unnecessary fillers and additives (i.e., no GMOs) and deliver a clinical dose to ensure increased reps, pace, and endurance.

Their beta-alanine supplement is an all-natural supplement that packs a single unflavored scoop of CarnoSyn beta-alanine (5 grams).

Taken an hour before lifting, this supplement can reduce mid-workout weariness by limiting lactic acid buildup, intensifying your workouts, and Carnosyn boosts lactic acid resistance.

CarnoSyn is patented and the only Beta-Alanine supplement granted FDA New Dietary Ingredient (NDI) classification.

Swolverine’s CarnoSyn powder can boost a protein-rich diet and hypertrophy regime.

Moreover, standard pre-workout supplements may provide comparable benefits to Swolverine’s Beta-Alanine, but only if dozens of useless components like flavors and sweeteners are included.

Its formulation is as pure as it gets, 100% beta-alanine and nothing more. You do not have to worry about what you are ingesting or its long-term consequences.

You can purchase beta-alanine from their official website and also from online retailers at the cost of $54.99 for 60 servings.

The company ships around the globe, but it doesn’t offer free shipping.

Pros

• All-natural ingredients with no fillers and additives.
• It is vegan friendly, Non-GMO, and gluten-free.
• No proprietary blends.
• Transparent labeling.
• 100% safe with no banned ingredients.
• Clinically dosed formula to ensure strength and endurance.
• It’s flavor-less.

Cons

• A little pricey.
• Beta-alanine can cause tingling sensations.

FAQs

How long does C4 pre-workout last?

The C4 pre-workout may last for around one to two hours.

How long does total war pre-workout last?

The total war pre-workout may last up to two hours.

How long does Alani nu pre-workout last?

The Alani nu pre-workout may last for around two to three hours.

How long does ghost pre-workout last?

The ghost pre-workout may last for up to three hours.

How long does lit pre-workout last?

The lit pre-workout may last for 1.5 to 2 hours.

How long does woke af pre-workout last?

The woke af pre-workout has a high caffeine content of about 333 mg and other stimulants as well. Thus, it may last for many hours. You may feel its effects for at least two hours or up to three hours.

Conclusion

No doubt, using a high-quality pre-workout supplement can improve your gym performance, but you may experience some confusion and doubt while taking it.

Most pre-workout ingredients leave your body in 2-3 hours, except caffeine which takes longer.

Therefore, if you’re a nursing mother or allergic to stimulants, try to take the supplement without caffeine.

Moreover, things have become pretty simple as I’ve reviewed the three best supplements so that you can easily choose your desired pre-workout.

To conclude, I would like to add that since the FDA does not monitor supplements, pre-workouts may not contain what the label claims, and they may be infected with prohibited or otherwise harmful ingredients. Therefore, always consider purchasing a pre-workout supplement that has been quality-tested by a third party.