Ignition Switch is one of the first products Axe & Sledge released in 2018 and it continues to be a top-selling supplement. Furthermore, our flavor collaboration with The Official ICEE® Company has attracted more mainstream consumers to Ignition Switch. And they’re quickly realizing just how effective and consistent it really is.

So that begs the question, what is Ignition Switch and how is it different from other products we offer? Keep reading to find out!

Unlike Hydraulic, our stimulant-free pre-workout, and Seventh Gear, our high-stimulant pre-workout, Ignition Switch is our moderate stimulant pre-workout. Ignition Switch has the perfect combination ingredients to deliver:

• Sustained energy levels
• Sharp mental focus
• Enhanced mind-to-muscle connection
• Bigger pumps
• Better performance

To achieve these effects, Ignition Switch uses effective doses of nine ingredients that synergistically work together to provide you with even greater results. Not to mention, Ignition Switch contains a total of four cutting-edge patented ingredients that are supported by an abundance amount of science research, including:

• TeaCrine® from Compound Solutions
• CarnoSyn Beta-Alanine® from Natural Alternatives International
• AgmaMax™ from VitaJoy USA
• Infinergy™ from Creative Compounds

With approximately 200 milligrams of caffeine per serving, Ignition Switch is a phenomenal pre-workout for the majority of hard-working M’Fers. Ignition Switch will give you just enough energy to crush a workout, without the jitters, anxiety, or dreaded energy crash.

Furthermore, Ignition Switch is formulated with flexible dosing in mind, this means that you can take 1-2 scoops depending on your caffeine tolerance and experience level. Needless to say, if you’re on the hunt for a pre-workout that’s consistent, effective, and tasty, look no further than Ignition Switch!

Now that you have some background information on Ignition Switch, let’s dive deeper into the formula!

Ingredient Breakdown

Keep in mind that the doses listed below are for one scoop (~5 grams), which yields 40 servings. If you’re a more experienced user and prefer 1.5-2 scoops, the doses and amount of servings per container will be slightly different. However, we always recommend starting with one scoop to assess your tolerance, then you can adjust from there.

B Vitamins

Along with 200 milligrams of caffeine, we added efficacious doses of five B vitamins to help naturally raise energy levels.

Each B vitamin has its own unique benefits, but they each play a major role in:

• Converting food into energy (via increasing metabolism)
• Synthesizing new blood cells
• Maintaining various body tissues, such as skin and brain cells

Therefore, if you consume a pre-workout meal, the B vitamins in Ignition Switch will help turn carbohydrates, fats, and proteins into usable energy to fuel your workout.

Now that you know what B vitamins do in general, let’s dive a little deeper into each one that’s included in Ignition Switch.

Vitamin B1 (as Thiamin) - 0.5mg (42% DV)

Vitamin B1, also known as thiamin, is a water soluble vitamin that’s naturally found in meat, fish, and whole grains. Vitamin B1 plays an important role in energy metabolism, along with the growth, development, and function of various cells.[1]

Humans have the ability to store thiamin in the liver. However, with a short half-life, it’s crucial to consume adequate amounts of vitamin B1 on a daily basis. Approximately 80% of thiamin found in the body is in the form of thiamin diphosphate (TDP), which serves as an essential cofactor for several enzymes that contribute to lipid, glucose, and amino acid metabolism.[1]

Vitamin B2 (as Riboflavin) - 1mg (77% DV)

Vitamin B2, also known as riboflavin, is a water soluble vitamin that’s naturally found in eggs, milk, organ meats, and green leafy vegetables. Vitamin B2 is a vital component of two main coenzymes — flavin mononucleotide (FMN) and flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD).[2]

Both FMN and FAD are highly involved in cellular function, growth, and development, energy production, and the metabolism of fats, steroids, and drugs.[2]

Furthermore, the transformation of tryptophan to niacin requires FAD to be present, whereas the conversion of vitamin B6 to pyridoxal 5’-phosphate requires FMN to be present. Lastly, riboflavin helps maintain normal levels of an amino acid in the blood called homocysteine.[2]

Vitamin B3 (as Niacin) - 10mg (63% DV)

Niacin, also known as vitamin B3, is a water-soluble vitamin. Not only is niacin available in supplemental form, but it’s also found in several foods, including beef, poultry, fish, nuts, and legumes. After ingestion, niacin is converted into nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD), which is a coenzyme that’s more metabolically active. NAD is further converted into another active coenzyme called nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP).[3]

It’s estimated that nearly 400 enzymes require NAD to be present in order to catalyze their reactions.[3] So it’s crucial that the body has sufficient amounts of NAD to function optimally. NAD is particularly important for catabolic reactions that convert substrates (i.e. fats, carbohydrates, and proteins) into adenosine triphosphate (ATP) — the cell’s main energy source.[3]

Vitamin B6 (as Pyridoxine Hydrochloride) - 2.5mg (147% DV)

Vitamin B6 is another water-soluble vitamin that’s naturally found in several foods, such as beef, fish, organ meats, starchy vegetables, and some fruits. Vitamin B6 is actually the generic name for six different vitamers (compounds) that share similar properties, including, pyridoxine, pyridoxal, pyridoxamine, and their 5’-phosphate esters.[4]

Vitamin B6 is involved in a number of physiological processes and more than 100 enzyme reactions, one of which is protein metabolism. The two metabolically active coenzyme forms of vitamin B6, pyridoxal 5’ Phosphate (PLP) and pyridoxamine 5’ Phosphate (PMP), assist in the metabolism of amino acids, carbohydrates, and lipids.

Vitamin B6 is also heavily involved in immune system function, glycogenolysis (the breakdown of glycogen), and gluconeogenesis (synthesis of glucose).[4] Since glucose is one of the body’s preferred energy sources, having a sufficient amount of glucose is crucial for the production of ATP required for exercise.[4]

Vitamin B12 (as Methylcobalamin) - 15mcg (10417% DV)

The last B vitamin included in Ignition Switch is vitamin B12, as methylcobalamin. Vitamin B12 is a water-soluble vitamin that’s naturally found in eggs, fish, poultry, meat, and dairy products. Since vitamin B12 contains the mineral cobalt, the compounds that express vitamin B12 activity are referred to as cobalamins.[5]

Methylcobalamin, in particular, is one of the only forms of vitamin B12 that are active in human metabolism. Vitamin B12 is essential for various bodily functions, including:

• Neurological function
• Formation of red blood cells
• Synthesis of DNA[5]

Vitamin B12 is also a cofactor for two important enzymes called L-methylmalonyl-CoA mutase and methionine synthase. The former assists in the conversion of homocysteine to methionine, which is required for the synthesis of a universal methyl donor known as S-adenosylmethionine (SAMe).

SAMe serves as a methyl donor for a variety of molecules, including RNA, DNA, protein, lipids, and hormones. Whereas the latter is involved in the conversion of L-methylmalonyl to succinyl-CoA, which is a critical reaction in fat and protein metabolism, as well as hemoglobin production.[5]

L-Citrulline - 2,500mg

L-citrulline is an amino acid that’s readily absorbed by the small intestine and converted into L-arginine in the kidneys. L-arginine is then converted to nitric oxide (NO) by the enzyme nitric oxide synthase.[6] NO is a signaling molecule that tells blood vessels to expand, also known as vasodilation.

This expansion allows blood, which carries nutrients and oxygen, to flow more efficiently throughout the body. During exercise, the increase in the diameter of your blood vessels not only helps you get bigger muscular pumps but also boosts your performance. The more nutrients and oxygen that can be delivered to the working muscles, the better.

We are specifically using L-citrulline as opposed to pure L-arginine because studies show that L-citrulline actually raises plasma levels of L-arginine better than arginine itself.[6] It turns out that a large portion of supplemental L-arginine is metabolized and excreted in the digestive system before it can be absorbed into the bloodstream and used for NO production (also known as the first-pass effect). Fortunately, L-citrulline does not suffer from the first-pass effect, so it’s a much better alternative.[6]

Studies show that supplementing with anywhere from 2.4 to 6 grams of L-citrulline prior to exercise can:

• Improve performance (especially high-intensity strength training and power exercises)
• Promote recovery by reducing muscular soreness
• Decrease ratings of perceived exertion (how difficult an exercise feels)
• Support cardiovascular health[6,7]

Overall, L-citrulline is one of the most researched ingredients in the sports nutrition industry and is proven time and again to be not only effective but also safe.[6,7]

Beta-Alanine (as CarnoSyn®) - 800mg

The first patented ingredient in Ignition Switch is CarnoSyn® beta-alanine, which is an ingredient that you can really feel. If you’ve ever taken a pre-workout in the past and felt a tingling or itching sensation shortly after, more often than not, it contains a fair amount of beta-alanine.

If you’re one of those people that experience paresthesia (a pins-and-needles sensation that normally occurs in the hands, feet, and/or face) from beta-alanine, don’t be alarmed. It’s harmless and usually subsides within 30 to 45 minutes. Furthermore, the longer you use beta-alanine the less likely you will experience paraesthesia.

Beyond paresthesia, beta-alanine is widely considered to be a safe and effective ergogenic aid.[8,9] Beta-alanine is a precursor to carnosine, a dipeptide molecule that’s highly concentrated in skeletal muscle. Since beta-alanine can effectively increase carnosine levels, it significantly boosts muscular endurance, strength, and power.[8,9]

Carnosine carries out its performance-enhancing effects by buffering metabolites, such as lactic acid, which are produced during exercise.[8,9] An accumulation of lactic acid results in a decrease in pH levels, causing the environment in the skeletal muscle to be more acidic. This reduction in pH negatively affects several enzymes involved in energy production. Therefore, the longer the body can keep lactic acid levels at bay, the longer it can perform at a high level.

Other than boosting muscular endurance, some studies show that beta-alanine can:

• Increase lean body mass
• Enhance mental performance
• Improve recovery[8-10]

Instead of using a generic form of beta-alanine, we specifically use CarnoSyn® for Ignition Switch. CarnoSyn® is the only patented form of beta-alanine on the market that’s achieved new dietary ingredient status (NDI), self-affirmed GRAS (generally regarded as safe) status, and backed by years of research.[10]

Beet Juice Powder - 500mg

Beet juice powder contains a high concentration of inorganic nitrates (NO3-), a compound that’s naturally found in vegetables. Upon ingestion, nitrates are readily converted into nitrites (NO2-) by nitrate reductase enzymes. Once the nitrites enter the stomach, they are further converted into nitric oxide (NO).[11]

As we mentioned in the L-citrulline section, NO causes vasodilation (expansion) of the blood vessels, allowing blood, nutrients, and oxygen to flow more efficiently throughout the body. NO also improves glucose uptake by the skeletal muscles, muscle contraction & relaxation, and mitochondrial function.[11]

Overall, nitrates found in beet juice powder enhance skeletal muscle function and cardiorespiratory performance. Studies show that supplementing with beet juice powder may improve endurance.[11]

Agmatine Sulfate (as AgmaMax™) - 250mg

The second patented ingredient in Ignition Switch is AgmaMax™ (also known as agmatine sulfate). As the name suggests, AgmaMax™ is designed to maximize your pumps by preventing the breakdown of arginine. Research shows that AgmaMax™ helps sustains arginine levels by inhibiting arginase, which is the enzyme that’s responsible for metabolizing arginine.[12]

Since L-citrulline will be actively elevating arginine levels, it’s important to have a compound that protects their positive effects. When the body senses elevated levels of arginine, it wants to lower them back to homeostasis by ramping up the activity of arginase. So AgmaMax™ is here to ensure that the extra arginine isn’t being destroyed.

Moreover, agmatine is capable of activating nitric oxide synthase, which is the enzyme that produces nitric oxide. As you know by now, more nitric oxide means more vasodilation, pumps, and performance![13] Overall, the combination of AgmaMax™ and L-citrulline will ensure that your pumps last the entire workout.

In addition to promoting your pumps, AgmaMax™ also acts as a neurotransmitter and neuromodulator, so it may have cognitive boosting effects as well.[14] In summary, AgmaMax™ will maximize your pumps, focus, and performance by working synergistically with the other ingredients in Ignition Switch.

Caffeine Anhydrous - 150mg

Caffeine anhydrous is a dehydrated form of caffeine that provides you with fast-acting energy. It’s also one of the most researched ingredients in sports nutrition and has been proven to be a safe and effective ergogenic aid.[15] Caffeine anhydrous primarily raises energy levels by inhibiting adenosine, a nucleoside in the brain that causes decreased neuronal activity.[15]

Caffeine also prevents the breakdown of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP), a secondary messenger involved in the metabolism of carbohydrates and fats.[15] Therefore, caffeine may also help facilitate weight loss. Furthermore, caffeine has been shown to reduce pain perception and perceived effort.[15] Due to its wide range of physiological effects, caffeine significantly enhances both physical and mental performance.[15]

Choline Bitartrate - 75mg

To boost mental focus and mind-to-muscle connection, Ignition Switch uses choline bitartrate. Choline is an essential nutrient that’s naturally found in some foods, such as egg yolks, sunflower seeds, fish, dairy, and meat.[16] Choline is required for the body to synthesize two phospholipids that are crucial for maintaining the structural integrity of cell membranes.[16]

Choline is also used for the production of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter that’s important for movement, memory, learning, mood, and other bodily functions.[16] So supplementing with choline can be very beneficial for maximizing sports performance, especially since intense exercise can significantly deplete acetylcholine levels.

There are several forms of supplemental choline, so why did we choose choline bitartrate? As the name suggests, choline bitartrate consists of choline bound to two tartaric acids. Tartaric acid is a salt that improves the absorption and effectiveness of choline. So choline bitartrate may be more beneficial than other forms.

Dicaffeine Malate (as Infinergy™) - 50mg

Instead of using just one type of caffeine, Ignition Switch uses caffeine anhydrous and dicaffeine malate (as Infinergy™) for sustained-energy levels. Infinergy™ is the third patented ingredient in Ignition Switch and was developed by Creative Compounds.[17]

Unlike caffeine anhydrous, which is fast-acting, Infinergy™ takes longer for the body to break down due to its chemical structure. Infinergy™ is made up of two caffeine molecules bound to malic acid. Therefore, the body must break the bond before being able to utilize the caffeine.

This combination is one of the reasons why Ignition Switch is stronger than it looks. Similar to traditional caffeine, Infinergy™ raises energy levels, boosts mental focus, and stimulates thermogenesis.[17]

Theacrine (as TeaCrine® 40% yielding 20mg) - 25mg

The fourth and final patented ingredient in Ignition Switch is TeaCrine®, a trademarked form of theacrine developed by Compound Solutions. TeaCrine® has the unique ability to increase energy levels, mental clarity, focus, motivation, and mood, without affecting the cardiovascular system. In other words, TeaCrine® provides you with similar benefits as caffeine, but none of the potential negative effects, such as increased heart rate, blood pressure, anxiety, jitters, or a crash.[18]

TeaCrine® expresses its positive effects by interacting with two different neural pathways, dopaminergic and adenosinergic. By activating dopamine receptors, TeaCrine® increases the production of dopamine, a neurotransmitter that’s responsible for mood, motivation, and well-being. On the other hand, by inhibiting adenosine receptors, TeaCrine® raises energy levels, mental clarity, and focus.[18]

Studies have shown that supplementing with TeaCrine® results in:

• Increased mental and physical energy without jitters, irritability, or habituation
• Increased motivation
• Decreased fatigue[18]

Toothed Clubmoss (1% Huperzine A) (Huperzia Serrata) (aerial parts) - 25mcg

Toothed clubmoss, more commonly known as Huperzia Serrata, is a plant that’s rich in huperzine A, a natural inhibitor of acetylcholinesterase.[19] Huperzine A is capable of sustaining acetylcholine levels by reducing the breakdown of acetylcholine.[19]

So huperzine A works synergistically with choline bitrate to not only raise acetylcholine levels but keep them elevated throughout the entire workout.[19] Supplementing with huperzine A further increases focus, mind-to-muscle connection, and performance.

Suggested Use

For optimal results, combine one scoop of Ignition Switch with 8 to 10 ounces of cold water and consume 15 to 30 minutes prior to training. Since Ignition Switch contains 150 milligrams of caffeine, avoid use 4 to 5 hours prior to sleep. If you train at night and still want an efficacious pre-workout that won’t disrupt your sleep, we highly recommend using our stimulant-free pre-workout, Hydraulic.

Stacking Options

Ignition Switch stacks well with:

Hydraulic

• Mix 1 scoop of Ignition Switch with 1-2 scoops of Hydraulic in 8 to 10 ounces of cold water
• Consume 15-30 minutes prior to training

Demo Day

• Mix 1 scoop of Ignition Switch with 1 scoop of Demo Day in 8 to 10 ounces of cold water
• Consume 15-30 minutes prior to training

Seth’s 1-1-1 Stack

• Mix 1 scoop each of Ignition Switch, Hydraulic, and Demo Day with 10 to 12 ounces of cold water
• Consume 20-30 minutes prior to training

Flavor Profiles

Ignition Switch comes in several delicious flavors, including:

• ICEE® Cherry
• ICEE® Blue Raspberry
• Scorpion Venom (Mixed Berry)
• Shark Bite (Orange Mango)
• Watermelon Lemonade
• Unicorn Blood (Rainbow Sherbet)

All of Ignition Switch’s flavors are designed to stack well with any of our other pre-workout and intra-workout supplements, such as Demo Day, The Grind, and Hydraulic. So you don’t have to worry about any unpleasant flavor combinations!

References

1. National Institutes of Health. Accessed Apr. 2021. “Thiamin: Health Professional Fact Sheet.” Office of Dietary Supplements.https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Thiamin-HealthProfessional
2. National Institutes of Health. Accessed Apr. 2021. “Riboflavin: Health Professional Fact Sheet.” Office of Dietary Supplements.https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Riboflavin-HealthProfessional
3. National Institutes of Health. Accessed Apr. 2021. “Niacin: Health Professional Fact Sheet.” Office of Dietary Supplements.https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Niacin-HealthProfessional/
4. National Institutes of Health. Accessed Apr. 2021. “Vitamin B6: Health Professional Fact Sheet.” Office of Dietary Supplements.https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminB6-HealthProfessional/
5. National Institutes of Health. Accessed Fed. 2021. “Vitamin B12: Health Professional Fact Sheet. “Office of Dietary Supplements.https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminB12-HealthProfessional/
6. Bailey, S. et al. Aug. 2015. “L-Citrulline Supplementation Improves O2 Uptake Kinetics and High-Intensity Exercise Performance in Humans.” Journal of Applied Physiology, vol. 119, 4.https://journals.physiology.org/doi/full/10.1152/japplphysiol.00192.2014
7. Rhim, H. et al. Dec. 2020. “Effect of Citrulline on Post-Exercise Ration of Perceived Exertion, Muscle Soreness, and Blood Lactate Levels: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.” Journal of Sport and Health Science, vol. 9, 6.https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2095254620300168
8. Hobson, RM. et al. Jan. 2012. “Effects of β-alanine Supplementation on Exercise Performance: A Meta-Analysis.” Amino Acids vol. 43,1: 25-37.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3374095/
9. Trexler, E. et al. July 2015. “International Society of Sports Nutrition: Beta-Alanine.” Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, vol. 12, 30.https://jissn.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12970-015-0090-y
10. Natural Alternatives International Inc. Accessed Feb. 2021. “CarnoSyn®: Patented Beta-Alanine.”https://www.carnosyn.com
11. Dominguez, R. et al. Jan. 2017. “Effects of Beetroot Juice Supplementation on Cardiorespiratory Endurance in Athletes.” Nutrients, vol. 9,1:43.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5295087/
12. Legaz, M. et al. Feb. 1983. “Endogenous Inactivators of Arginase, L-Arginine Decarboxylase, and Agmatine Aminohydrolase in Evernia Prunastri Thallus.” Plant Physiology, vol. 71,2.https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16662821/
13. Morrissey, J. et al. Jan. 1997. “Agmatine Activation of Nitric Oxide Synthase in Endothelial Cells.” Proceedings of the American Physicians, vol. 109,1.https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9010916/
14. Li, Y. et al. May 2003. “Antidepressant-like Effect of Agmatine and Its Possible Mechanism.” European Journal of Pharmacology, vol. 469, 1-3.https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12782188/
15. Trexler E. et al. Sept. 2016. “Effects of Coffee and Caffeine Anhydrous on Strength and Sprint Performance.” European Journal of Sports Science, vol. 16,6: 702-10.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4803635/
16. National Institutes of Health. Accessed Apr. 2021. “Choline: Health Professional Fact Sheet.” Office of Dietary Supplements.https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Choline-HealthProfessional/
17. Creative Compounds. Accessed Apr. 2021. “Infinergy™.”http://www.creativecompounds.com/exclusive.php
18. Compound Solutions. Accessed Apr. 2021. “TeaCrine®.”https://compoundsolutions.com/ingredients/teacrine/
19. Qian, M. et al. Aug. 2014. “Huperzine A: Is It an Effective Disease-Modifying Drug for Alzheimer’s Disease?” Frontiers In Aging Neuroscience, vol. 6. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4137276/