Performance
Anhydrous Caffeine
Also known as: caffeine anhydrous, caffeine powder, USP caffeine
Anhydrous caffeine is pure, water-free caffeine that provides rapid mental alertness and physical performance enhancement. It is the most common form of caffeine in dietary supplements due to stability and concentrated potency.
Primary uses
- Mental alertness and focus
- Physical performance and endurance
- Fatigue reduction
- Cognitive function enhancement
- Pre-workout supplementation
How it works
- Adenosine receptor antagonism in the CNS
- Increased dopamine and norepinephrine release
- Improved neuromuscular transmission
- Enhanced fat oxidation
Dosage
- Typical range
- 100-400 mg daily, typically 3-6 mg/kg body weight
- Timing
- Morning or early afternoon; peak effects at 30-60 minutes
- With food
- Can be taken with or without food; taking with food may slightly delay absorption
- Duration
- Half-life of 3-5 hours; effects typically last 4-6 hours
- Special populations
- Limit to <400 mg/day; avoid in evening; reduce doses in pregnancy (consult healthcare provider), in sensitive individuals, or with anxiety disorders
Forms
- powder· 70/100
- capsule· 70/100
- tablet· 70/100
Safety
Common side effects
- Jitteriness
- Anxiety
- Sleep disruption
- Increased heart rate
- Tremors
- Headaches with overdose or withdrawal
Contraindications
- Uncontrolled hypertension
- Cardiovascular disease
- Severe anxiety or panic disorders
- Pregnancy (limit to <200 mg/day)
- Lactation (passes into breast milk)
- Insomnia or sleep disorders
Products containing Anhydrous Caffeine
Top-scoring supplements in our catalog that list Anhydrous Caffeine on the label. Each product is graded on Formulate's ingredient-level rubric — dose accuracy, form, transparency, and third-party testing.
See all products →
Evidence notes
Extensive peer-reviewed research confirms efficacy for alertness, focus, and physical performance across hundreds of RCTs. One of the most well-studied dietary supplements.
Grade A: Multiple well-designed human trials support the main claims.
Related in Performance
Check a full stack
Formulate's free interaction checker lets you paste in any combination of supplements and medications at once — every pairing flags severity, timing, and cited evidence.
Open the checkerMedical disclaimer. This page is educational and does not replace advice from a qualified healthcare provider.