Optimum Nutrition Gold Pre-Workout

Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Pre-Workout — 175mg Caffeine, 3g Creatine, Fully Disclosed

Gold Standard Pre-Workout is the sensible pre-workout. 175mg of naturally sourced caffeine, 3g of creatine monohydrate, 1.5g of CarnoSyn® beta-alanine and 1.5g of citrulline malate, plus acetyl-L-carnitine, N-acetyl-L-tyrosine and a B-vitamin and vitamin D complex. Every dose is on the label — no proprietary blends. 11g serve, 30 serves. In stock at TopDog Nutrition.

Fully Disclosed Doses — Why It Matters

A lot of pre-workouts hide behind proprietary blends: an impressive list of ingredients under one combined weight, so you have no idea whether the beta-alanine is at a working dose or a pinch. It's a way of making a cheap formula look expensive.

Gold Standard lists every ingredient at its actual dose. You can check the numbers against the research yourself, which is exactly how it should work.

What's In Every 11g Serve

• Creatine Monohydrate — 3g — supports ATP regeneration for strength and power in short, repeated bursts of high-intensity effort. 3g is a full daily maintenance dose, which means this pre-workout also covers your creatine on training days.
• CarnoSyn® Beta-Alanine — 1.5g — raises intramuscular carnosine, buffering the hydrogen ions that cause the burn and force you to rack the bar. CarnoSyn® is the patented, research-backed form. The tingle you'll feel is paraesthesia — harmless, temporary, and a sign it's dosed to do something.
• L-Citrulline Malate — 1.5g — a nitric oxide precursor. Citrulline converts to arginine, raising nitric oxide and widening blood vessels for better blood flow, oxygen delivery and waste clearance. This is the pump ingredient.
• Natural Caffeine — 175mg — roughly two coffees. Enough for a genuine lift, moderate enough to use several times a week without escalating.
• Acetyl-L-Carnitine HCl — 375mg — the acetylated form of carnitine, involved in fatty acid transport for energy and studied for cognitive support.
• N-Acetyl-L-Tyrosine — 250mg — a precursor to dopamine and noradrenaline. Most useful under stress and fatigue, which is exactly when training focus slips.
• Vitamin D plus B1, B3, B5, B6 and B12 — the B vitamins are cofactors in energy-yielding metabolism; vitamin D supports muscle function and immunity.

Where 175mg of Caffeine Sits

Pre-workouts run anywhere from 150mg to over 400mg. At 175mg, Gold Standard sits deliberately in the moderate band.

That's the right dose for regular use. High-stim formulas feel impressive for a fortnight and then stop working, because caffeine tolerance climbs fast and you end up chasing bigger doses for the same effect. 175mg is a dose you can run several times a week for months.

It's also the more sensible option if you train after work. Caffeine's half-life is roughly 5–6 hours, so 175mg at 5pm leaves under 90mg by 11pm. A 400mg formula at the same hour will cost you sleep, and sleep is where the training adaptation actually happens.

If you want the harder-hitting option, Amped Pre-Workout is the high-stim formula in the range with 6g citrulline and 3.5g beta-alanine.

The Creatine Bonus

Worth noting: 3g of creatine per serve is a full daily maintenance dose. On training days, Gold Standard Pre-Workout covers your creatine entirely.

If you're also taking micronised creatine separately, factor this in — you may only need it on rest days. Creatine works on daily saturation, so consistency across the week matters more than the exact source.

Directions

Mix one 11g serve with cold water 20–30 minutes before training.

New to pre-workout or caffeine-sensitive? Start with half a serve. Don't take it within 6 hours of bed, and count your total daily caffeine across coffee and any other supplements.

Allergens

May contain milk, gluten, egg, soy, nuts and peanuts. Contains sucralose and acesulfame-K.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do I tingle?

Beta-alanine. It's paraesthesia — a harmless nerve response that shows up in the face, neck and hands about 15 minutes in and fades within half an hour. It also lessens with regular use. It isn't an allergic reaction.

Do I still need separate creatine?

On training days, no — 3g is a full maintenance dose. On rest days you'd want it from another source, since creatine depends on daily consistency.

Can I take it on rest days?

You can, but there's limited point. The citrulline and beta-alanine work on training performance, and you'd be taking 175mg of caffeine for no reason.

Is 175mg enough?

For most people, yes. If you drink several coffees a day your tolerance may already be high — but the answer to that is a caffeine break, not a bigger dose.

How many serves per tub?

30 serves at 11g.