Axe & Sledge | A&S Intake Pre | 40 Servings

Axe & Sledge Intake is a fully disclosed, stim-based all-in-one pre-workout built around three priorities: blood flow, work capacity, and sustained training focus. The formula strategy is smart and straightforward. It anchors the label with the core ergogenics that actually drive gym performance—L-citrulline, beta-alanine, betaine, and caffeine—then layers in trademarked performance ingredients for ATP support and recovery signaling rather than hiding weak doses behind a proprietary blend. That matters, because this category is full of labels designed for marketing first. Intake is built more like a serious training formula.

At the full 2-scoop serving, you get 8,000mg L-citrulline. That is a genuine clinical dose. Citrulline is converted to arginine in the kidneys more effectively than taking arginine itself, which raises nitric oxide production through the endothelial nitric oxide synthase pathway. The result is better vasodilation, better blood flow, and a more pronounced pump during training. Citrulline also participates in the urea cycle, helping clear ammonia that accumulates during hard work. In practice, that means fuller muscles, better nutrient delivery, and less early-session burnout.

Beta-alanine is dosed at 3,200mg per full serving, which is right on the classic research-backed daily target. Beta-alanine increases intramuscular carnosine over time, and carnosine buffers the hydrogen ions that build up during repeated hard sets. That buffering effect is why beta-alanine is so valuable for high-volume training, interval work, and the last difficult reps where the burn forces most people to stop. This is a cumulative ingredient, so the biggest payoff comes after consistent use rather than from a single serving.

Betaine anhydrous is included at 2,500mg, another evidence-based dose. Betaine functions as an osmolyte, helping cells maintain hydration and volume, and it also donates methyl groups involved in performance-related metabolic processes. In sports nutrition, 2.5g is the number most lifters look for because that is the dose repeatedly tied to improvements in power output, training volume, and body composition support.

The stimulant profile is one of the formula’s strongest design choices. You get 250mg caffeine from 125mg caffeine anhydrous plus 25mg zümXR® per scoop, or 300mg total caffeine at 2 scoops. Anhydrous provides the fast onset. zümXR® is extended-release caffeine from Ingenious Ingredients, included to smooth out the energy curve and reduce the hard drop-off common with single-source caffeine formulas. Theobromine at 100mg per full serving adds another methylxanthine layer with milder central stimulation, phosphodiesterase inhibition, and some vasodilatory and bronchodilatory support. Subjectively, this usually feels more stable and less abrupt than caffeine alone.

For focus, Intake uses 2,000mg L-tyrosine and 250mg citicoline sodium at 2 scoops. Tyrosine is the precursor to dopamine, norepinephrine, and epinephrine, making it especially useful when training stress starts draining mental sharpness. Citicoline provides choline support for acetylcholine-related focus and mind-muscle connection. At 250mg, citicoline is useful, though it sits below the more aggressive nootropic doses some standalone focus products use. It still makes sense here because it complements the stimulant profile rather than trying to turn Intake into a dedicated nootropic.

The trademarked support ingredients are not label decoration. elevATP® is included at 150mg per full serving, exactly matching the studied dose. Rather than supplying ATP directly, it appears to stimulate endogenous ATP production through a matrix of ancient peat and apple extract that supports mitochondrial efficiency. Senactiv® is also dosed at the full 50mg clinical target. Its research centers on exercise recovery, senescent cell clearance via macrophage activity, improved citrate synthase activity, and support for muscle regeneration signaling. In plain terms: better repeat performance and recovery support around hard training.

Electrolytes are present in supportive amounts—chloride, sodium, and potassium from sea salt and potassium citrate. These are not high-dose hydration product levels, but they are useful in a pre-workout context because nerve conduction, muscle contraction, and fluid balance all depend on electrolyte status.

The synergy is coherent. Citrulline drives blood flow. Betaine supports cell hydration and power. Beta-alanine improves acid buffering over time. Caffeine, zümXR®, theobromine, tyrosine, and citicoline create layered energy and focus. elevATP® and Senactiv® support ATP economics and recovery. Just as important, the label is fully transparent with no proprietary blends, so you can audit every dose against the literature. Day 1, expect improved energy, pump, and focus, with beta-alanine tingles at a full serving. After 2-4 weeks of consistent use, the formula gets better as carnosine stores build and the performance value of daily beta-alanine and repeated use of the full pre-workout system becomes more obvious.

How to Use Axe & Sledge | Intake | Pre-Workout