Cyclazodone: Everything You Need To Know [Benefits & Side Effects]

Updated March 11, 2024 by | Reviewed by William Gallagher, MNeuroSci
(Estimated reading time: 7 minutes)
what-is-cyclazodone

Cyclazodone is a CNS stimulant with amphetamine-like and antidepressant effects. Biohackers use it for better focus, energy & increased motivation (Cyclazodone is not meant for human consumption).

So I was doing some light research on a new potential Nootropic for a stack I'm currently trying to make and came across an interesting Smart Drug called; Cyclazodone. 

One of the things that I find interesting about Cyclazodone is that the effects have been compared to those of amphetamine (but without all the negative side effects).

This, obviously, made me want to dive a little bit deeper into it - especially since people are reporting better focus, sociability, and elevated mood when they take this stimulant.

So in this article, I will take a closer look at the following;

  • What is Cyclazodone?
  • What does Cyclazodone do in the body?
  • What are the benefits and side effects?
  • Is Cyclazodone legal in your country?
  • What are people on Reddit saying about it?

.... So without further ado, let's jump straight to it!

What is Cyclazodone?

As I briefly mentioned in the beginning, Cyclazodone is a central nervous system stimulant with amphetamine-like effects with possessed anorexic efficacy.

The chemical name is; 2-(cyclopropylamino)-5-phenyl-1,3-oxazole-4-one. The molecular weight is 216.24 and the formula is C12H12N2O2.

Cyclazodone was first synthesized back in the '60s by an American company called; The American Cyanamid Company.

The idea behind Cyclazodone was to develop a safer CNS-stimulant to Pemoline and other similar derivatives.

Pemoline was used in the treatment of ADHD and narcolepsy but is no longer available in the US.

The FDA withdrew the approval of pemoline due to its negative side effects in children - some leading to liver failure.

Compared to Pemoline, Cyclazodone is a much safer CNS stimulant and closely related. That being said, it is only available for scientific research purposes in the US.

Cyclazodone is proven in clinical trials to be extremely effective as an energy booster in animal models with anorexigenic effects. It has unique features that set it apart from other sympathomimetic drugs with less stimulatory activity and toxicity compared to amphetamines.

What does it do in the body?

Cyclazodone is a 4-oxazolidinone stimulant that produces focus enhancing, wakefulness, and alertness effects.

Structurally it's very similar to 4-methylaminorex.

When it comes to how it affects the body we have very limited data available. However, it has been shown to be extremely effective for cognitive fatigue with its nootropic properties.

That being said, it is speculated that it likely possesses a hepatotoxic, negative impact on blood pressure, and other not-known toxic effects.

We do, however, have some animal models where Cyclazodone has been shown to exhibit powerful CNS and antidepressant effects.

It also possesses anorexic efficacy and potency and the toxicity of cyclazodone is low compared to other amphetamine-like agonists.

Cyclazodone impacts the TAAR1-receptor in the brain. TAAR1 is the main regulator of serotonin, dopamine, and noradrenaline.

This leads to the release of increased concentrations of these 3 neurotransmitters in the brain which in turn enhances cognition through better concentration, mood, and energy levels.

What are the benefits and side effects?

It's worth noting that most of the benefits and side effects experienced on Cyclazodone are anecdotal.

Since the data is limited I found some interesting reports on the Subjective Effect Index (SEI).

The Subjective Effect Index is basically just a huge collection of articles designed to serve as an in-depth reference work for the subjective effects people are experiencing when taking psychoactive substances.

Here's what people are reporting in terms of the Benefits:

  • Stimulating - Weaker than methamphetamine, but stronger than Modafinil and caffeine.
  • Cognitive euphoria
  • Appetite suppression
  • Pain relief
  • Anxiety suppression
  • Empathy, affection, and sociability enhancement

Here's what people are reporting in terms of the Side Effects:

  • Abnormal heartbeat
  • Nausea - only seems to occur when higher dosages are used
  • Teeth grinding- but less intense compared to amphetamines
  • Headaches - usually a sign of dehydration
  • Hypomania-like effects

The benefits it has on cognition is the main reason why people see Cyclazodone as a potent Nootropic with the only downside being the potential side effects.

In addition, when it comes to the toxicity and long-term use of Cyclazodone, we don't have any studies (and only very limited history of human usage) which are why the exact toxic dose is still unknown.

Is it addictive?

Given the similarities that Cyclazodone and amphetamines have, a question that comes to mind is if Cyclazodone has addictive properties or not.

Whenever it comes to amphetamine-like stimulants, addiction is always a serious concern.

Compared to Pemoline, Cyclazodone doesn't seem to show any addictive properties. That being said caution is always advised like it's the case with all monoamine agents.

It's worth noting that tolerance to the effects of it only seems to develop with prolonged use. Hence, why people need larger dosages in order to feel the effects.

If you stop taking Cyclazodone, it usually takes anywhere from 4 to 7 days for the tolerance to be reduced to half.

Cognitive and physical stimulation

Cyclazodone enhances cognitive performance and is used as a study aid.

One of the possible reasons why that might be is because of how it elevates arousal, energy, pleasure, and other positive stimulatory effects through TAAR1-receptors.

In addition to increasing focus, prolonging attention span, and improving memory recall, the positively stimulating effects from Cyclazodone can also be beneficial for those that suffer from fatigue, chronic exhaustion, and other forms of mental and physical lethargy caused by certain medical conditions.

Central Nervous System Stimulants

A central nervous system stimulant like Cyclazodone is often used to treat ADHD, narcolepsy, and other sleep disorders.

It's also used as an adjunct therapy for the treatment of obesity and smoking cessation.

Cyclazodone is a potent monoamine agonist that acts as a serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine releasing agent.

It has been shown to be anorexic, euphoric, and cognitively stimulating.

Cyclazodone is one of the most popular central nervous system stimulants on the market.

It's worth noting that the majority of studies done on Cyclazodone were in rats and mice, not humans.

In addition, due to the lack of safety data, it should be used with caution and only by those who are experienced with similar stimulants.

Dopaminergic Stimulant

A stimulant drug that increases the activity of dopamine in the brain is considered a dopaminergic stimulant.

The typical dopaminergic central nervous system is responsible for regulating movement, motivation, pleasure, and reward.

D Amphetamine, methamphetamine, cocaine, and methylphenidate are all examples of dopaminergic stimulants.

Cyclazodone is one of the more typical dopaminergic stimulants on the market.

It's worth noting that Cyclazodone, as well as amphetamines, have a high potential for abuse and should be used with caution.

Minimal Sympathomimetic Side Effects

When we're talking about the side effects of stimulants, one thing that comes to mind is how they affect your heart.

Since Cyclazodone acts as a mild sympathomimetic, it has the potential to elevate blood pressure and heart rate by increasing norepinephrine release.

Norepinephrine is the neurotransmitter responsible for regulating both energy levels and heart rate.

Because of this, it's always important to be aware of your individual tolerance and to monitor your vitals if you are taking Cyclazodone.

In general, Cyclazodone has a lower potential for abuse and causes significantly fewer adverse effects than other stimulants like amphetamines.

That being said, it does still retain some degree of risk, and caution is advised when using it.

Due to the lack of long-term safety data on Cyclazodone, it should never be used unless you have experience with similar agents.

Antidepressant efficacy

As briefly mentioned in the beginning, Cyclazodone is also an antidepressant.

While the mechanism of action is not fully understood, it's believed that Cyclazodone increases the availability of serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine in the brain by blocking their reuptake.

This can lead to a variety of therapeutic benefits such as increased energy, improved mood, and decreased anxiety.

Cyclazodone is a fast-acting antidepressant that can provide relief within hours of taking it.

It's also been shown to be effective for the long-term treatment of depression.

Again, it should be noted that Cyclazodone has not been studied in humans as extensively as other antidepressants like Fluoxetine (Prozac).

Is it legal in your country?

As is the case with most Smart Drugs, Cyclazodone is in a gray area when it comes to its legality.

This means that within certain parts of the world, its regulation is in a legal gray area, and in some areas, it is a banned stimulant (we don't know if it's illegal to possess or not).

That's why some people can be charged for their possession while others won´t.

What we do know, however, is that in 2006 the World Anti-Doping Agency banned its use and put it on The Prohibited List.

From what I could find, Cyclazodone is not a controlled substance in;

  • Germany
  • Switzerland

This means that it may in some instances be considered legal. In the US it's considered a Schedule IV controlled substance.

Read Also: My Favourite Nootropics

What people on Reddit are saying about Cyclazodone

cyclazodone-reddit

I thought it would be interesting to find 1 or 2 threads on Reddit to see what people that are actually taking Cyclazodone have to say.

I have linked to each thread so you can go over and read it for yourself.

The first thread I found is by a user called; u/-redan.

Redan starts off by saying that Cyclazodone is pretty amazing. He recently tried it and was impressed by the focus enhancement.

That being said, he did notice an anxiogenic effect.

He then goes on to say the following;

"There's a noticeable mood lift, anti-anxiety effects, combined with strong focusing enhancement effects..."

He then finishes off by saying that tolerance buildup doesn't seem to be a problem with N-Methyl-Cyclazodone and the other related compounds.

Another user called; u/Engenderling is talking about the negative side effects of N-Methyl-Cyclazodone.

The thread is a pretty detailed explanation of his Cyclazodone use.