FDA issues urgent recall of energy supplement after testing revealed it contains illegal drugs
Supplement company Modern Warrior has recalled its Ready supplements marketed for boosting mental clarity and energy, over undeclared illegal drug ingredients.
It is not clear which entity, the FDA or the manufacturer, conducted the testing, but it revealed that the supplements previously available for purchase from the company’s online store contained tianeptine, 1,4-DMAA, and aniracetam.
Tianeptine is a synthetic antidepressant used in some countries. It acts on opioid receptors, carries high risks of addiction and overdose and is illegal to sell as a prescription drug in the US.
1,4-DMAA is a banned synthetic stimulant, once a nasal decongestant, that became popular in supplements for its potent energy and focus-boosting effects. Its ability to constrict blood vessels can also enhance perceived exertion.
The FDA has banned it as an unsafe dietary supplement ingredient due to serious cardiovascular risks like hypertension, heart attack, and stroke. It is also prohibited by most major sports organizations.
Aniracetam belongs to a class of synthetic nootropic compounds believed to influence neurotransmitters linked to learning, memory and making connections between neurons. While there is promising research in animal and in vitro studies, large-scale, robust clinical trials in healthy humans are severely lacking.
Unlike prescription drugs, the product from Modern Warrior is sold as a dietary supplement and is not subject to FDA pre-market approval. Its claims of efficacy and long-term safety have not been established by the large-scale clinical trials required for pharmaceuticals.
According to the FDA, Modern Warrior’s Ready supplements, part of a set that retails for about $170, were distributed to customers nationwide between April 2022 and December 2025. The recall could affect hundreds of thousands of people, though the FDA did not provide an estimate of how many people are affected.
This product is an unapproved dietary supplement, not a regulated drug. Therefore, it has not undergone the rigorous clinical testing required to prove its effectiveness or long-term safety (stock)
Sold under the Modern Warrior brand, the recalled ‘Body Repair Plan: Mental Clarity’ supplement comes in 60-count black bottles with gold and black shrink wrap.
The label displays the gold MW logo and product name, along with a small sunrise icon next to the word ‘READY.’
According to the health agency, Tianeptine poses significant dangers, particularly for individuals aged 25 and younger, who may experience life-threatening effects like suicidal thoughts or actions.
The FDA said: ‘Consumers who have purchased Modern Warrior Ready should stop using the product.’
Overdose risks, which are heightened by alcohol, include confusion, seizures and respiratory distress. Combining tianeptine with MAOI antidepressants can cause fatal complications such as stroke.
And 1,4-DMAA use can trigger dangerous cardiovascular events like a heart attack and high blood pressure.
Aniracetam is not an FDA-approved drug but is marketed and sold as an unregulated dietary supplement to enhance cognition.
Reported side effects are generally mild but common. They include tension-type headaches, nausea, irritability, dizziness, anxiety and insomnia.
Modern Warrior’s “Ready” supplements, part of a $170 bundle, were sold nationwide for over three years. The recall could affect hundreds of thousands
Modern Warrior has ceased all sales of its products, and the supplement set is no longer available for purchase on the company’s website.
The Scottsdale, Arizona-based company has physically moved the recalled supplements to a separate, controlled area in its warehouse and locked down all remaining inventory of the recalled product to prevent it from being accidentally sold, shipped or used.
Modern Warrior has not made a public statement nor has the company issued an advisory on its social media pages. It is not clear how these drugs got into the pills or whether they were incorporated on purpose.
Dietary supplements are not subject to pre-market approval by the FDA. Unlike pharmaceuticals, they can be sold without first proving their safety or efficacy.
The agency primarily intervenes after a product is on the market, such as when undeclared or harmful ingredients are discovered.
Some of the listed ingredients in the recalled supplement include commonly-used nootropics, commonly known as ‘smart drugs,’ including vitamin B12, vitamin B6 and ashwaganda. Some nootropics on the market make grand claims to turbocharge cognition and focus.
Several well-researched nootropics, such as caffeine and L-theanine have excellent safety profiles but this is not universal.
The ‘smart drugs’ category also includes dubious substances with substantial risks, including prescription drugs used off-label, unregulated chemicals and unapproved stimulants.
Some of these nootropics carry risks of addiction and dependence, severe side effects or cardiovascular strain.
Even for the safer options, it is important to take claims of their efficacy with a grain of salt. The documented benefits in human studies are often small and show only a slight edge on focus or memory tests, rather than groundbreaking improvements.
