Sharing the nootropic effects of Citrulline Malate (personal experience)

[mmKay]

So I stumbled onto this simple supplement while researching and troubleshooting long COVID symptoms, chronic fatigue, low libido, sexual under-performance.

I've been experimenting with L-Citrulline Malate (2:1) powder for a while now, and I think it deserves way more attention in the Nootropics space.

It's literally a cheap amino acid that bodybuilders dump in their pre-workout shakes so they get more pronounced veins on their pump ( there really is a visible effect!.) Most people completely overlook it for cognitive stuff. I guess it doesn't have much heavy marketing because of how cheap it is.

I'm taking 5-10g per day, either all at once or split into two doses. Just the pure powder form. Effects peak around 1-2 hours and last 3-4 hours.
 

The cognitive stuff has honestly surprised me:
 

Clearer thinking and faster mental processing

Memory retention is noticeably better

Way more eloquent - words just flow easier in conversations and when I'm writing

Social confidence bump - less mental friction when talking to people

Sustained alertness and energy without feeling weird or jittery
 

Physical side (which makes sense since athletes love this stuff):

Endurance is up whether I'm running ( really significant improvement here ), lifting, or just doing normal activities

Better erections (nitric oxide boost doing its thing, similar mechanism to Viagra or Tadalafil but less intense effects)

No tolerance buildup - it keeps working consistently

Zero dependence - I can stop whenever with no withdrawal or anything
 

Basically, citrulline malate boosts nitric oxide production, which improves blood flow everywhere.

Research shows it enhances oxygen delivery to the brain, which helps with stuff like reaction time and decision-making. Studies also show better cerebral blood flow, which directly improves memory and attention.

There's even some preliminary evidence it might be neuroprotective (studies in Alzheimer's models showed improved spatial memory )

For physical performance, the research is even more solid. Studies show it improves sprint performance, and doses of 8-12g have been tested in resistance training with good results.


Negative effect observations so far :

Maybe a little more difficult to fall asleep if taken late at night.

Alcohol buzz is very short-lived, like 1/4th of the normal duration.
 

Random Practical Stuff

Tastes nice and sour (not bad at all, actually)

Super cheap when you buy the bulk powder

No harsh come-up or crash. Maybe a tiny head rush the first time you take it

Probably stacks well with other nootropics since it improves brain blood flow

Stacks up extra well with breathwork, for focus and energy. I have yet to try it with Kriya yoga.

Apparently no need to cycle off.

Bonus : Reddit comments Perplexity TLDR :

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Several people report best results at 6–10 g L‑citrulline or 9–12 g citrulline malate (2:1) taken before training.

One user mentions using 12 g citrulline malate (2:1) in a custom pre‑workout alongside beta‑alanine, caffeine and creatine.

Multiple commenters say they prefer pure L‑citrulline over citrulline malate, recommending buying malic acid separately if you want that component.

A few people stack it with 3 g beta‑alanine, 5 g creatine, 200–300 mg caffeine, sometimes omega‑3 and vitamin D, as a daily or training‑day stack.

One user says their guideline is to aim for 6–10 g L‑citrulline per day, and to check how many capsules that equals if using pills.

Some take it only on training days for performance, others use lower doses daily for general health/blood‑flow benefits; no loading phase is used.

A commenter reports that citrulline malate felt too acidic on their teeth, but switching to pure L‑citrulline removed that issue.

Taste comparisons: people agree arginine tastes worse, while citrulline (especially pure) is more tolerable; any harshness seems mostly from the malic acid.

One person asks about liver damage, but others push back and request evidence; no concrete negative health experiences are shared.

Overall sentiment in the thread is strongly positive: better pumps, more endurance, and several users saying they became “big fans” after trying it.

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Here's the non-affiliate Bulk.com Link (US based,  with EU delivery) -

Anyone else tried this? Curious if others have noticed similar cognitive benefits or if you've found any interesting stacks.

Just my personal experience obviously. Do your own research and talk to a doctor before trying new supplements.

Edited 15 hours ago by mmKay