Synagen IQ Review – Smart Pill or Scam?

By: Rob Miller
12 User Reviews
Fact Checked On: 4-18-2017


Home » Nootropics » Synagen IQ Review – Smart Pill or Scam?



Admit it…If there was an over the counter supplement that would give you mind blowing motivation, confidence, focus / concentration, and an improved mood, you would probably take it, right?Of course you would, and it would be at the top of your “things to buy” list for every college student across the country this coming fall semester.

Recently I wrote about a supplement called Cogniq, which is an all natural cognitive enhancer that is designed to help you focus / concentrate, improve your mood, and help enhance short and long term memory.  One of my readers pointed out the fact that this supplement was being touted in combination with another one called Synagen IQ (not to be confused with Brainplus iq, a completely different product), which is the focus of this review.

What they’re are essentially saying is that by taking this supplement, you will experience laser like focus, enhanced short and long term memory, and help to synergize your brain.  They’re even calling saying it was the inspiration behind the movie “Limitless”, starring bradley cooper.

But does it really work?Let’s find out…

Contents

What is Synagen IQ?
The Fake Marketing Behind This Pill
Where Can I Buy It?
My Personal Results
Recommendation

What is Synagen IQ

On their official website, Synagen IQ starts off by pointing out a disturbing (but not uncommon) fact about cognitive performance.  Starting as early as age 30, most people start to notice loss of “brain power” or “cognitive performance”, and that it gets worse and worse as the years pass by.

Anyone over the age of 30 can probably relate to this, and it can be quite depressing.  Well, Synagen IQ “says” that it has the answer to this with it’s all new revolutionary formula.  Unsurprisingly, they don’t actually disclose what that “revolutionary” formula is, but they do make a few lofty claims as to how it’s supposed to work.

synagen iq reviewBy using their supplement daily, you will experience:

  • Increased energy levels
  • Enhanced cognitive performance
  • Increased motivation / concentration
  • Laser like focus

Indeed, you’ll find that the claims (and even the official websites) are strikingly similar to that of Cogniq, which is a supplement they say you should combine with Synagen IQ.  What’s also interesting is the claim that they have been featured on major media news outlets like USA Today, Fox News, and CNBC.

Well, I searched through each one of those websites and could not find ONE SINGLE MENTION of Synagen IQ.  The same could be said about Cogniq, and some of the COUNTLESS other “smart pills” I’ve written about in the past, including Intellux, Geniux, and Addium.

All of these supplements are basically being promoted as Adderall alternatives, claiming they can help mimic the effects of Adderall while being completely free of side effects and legal for sale over the counter.

So what’s in it that apparently makes it so effective?  Well, just like with Cogniq, Synagen IQ doesn’t seem to want to release their ingredients list on their website.  We can speculate all we want about what might be in it though.  Ginseng / Gingko biloba is very common in nootropic supplements like this one, as well as anxiety relieving extracts like L-Theanine and valerian root.

It’s also common to find vital amino acids and nutrients in nootropic supplements like this, including L-Tyrosine, Vinpocetine, Vitamins B6 and B 12, and probably a few stimulants like caffeine and bitter orange extract.

Luckily for you, I ordered a bottle, and here’s a quick snapshot of the label:

synagen iq label

As you can see, it contains many of the ingredients we thought it would, with the addition of an ingredient called Huperzine A.

Not surprisingly, I’ve been seeing this particular ingredient being added to countless other nootropic supplements the last several months.  Huperzine A has actually been shown to help people suffering from Alzheimers disease, as well as helping to improve memory and learning enhancement.

Are There Any Side Effects?

As with any supplement, side effects are always possible.  The most common may be increased bowel movements, stomach cramps, nausea, dry mouth and fatigue, which would be the result of the Bacopa Monnieri content. (1)

Due to the caffeine content in Synagen IQ, other potential side effects may include insomnia, anxiety, nervousness, stomach irritation, and increased heart rate and respiration. (2)

This of course is not indicative of the supplement in question, but certainly a possibility.

The Marketing Behind Synagen IQ

So your probably visiting my review of Synagen IQ after visiting a page on CNN, or at least a page that LOOKS like the CNN website.  In that article there was probably some mention that in an interview of Stephen Hawking conducted by Anderson Cooper or Wolf Blitzer, Hawking revealed that he “secretly” takes Synagen IQ to help him “access 100% of his brain”.

wolf blitzer stephen hawking interview

You’ll read mentions of dozens of other celebrities who are apparently taking this pill, ranging from Denzel Washington, Bill Gates, and even Ashton Kutcher.

bill gates synagen iq

denzel washington synagen iq

ashton kutcher synagen iq

Well, I’m here to tell you that it’s ALL complete B.S.  I wrote about this extensively in another article, but I will touch on a few points here.

For one, this is a VERY clever marketing technique that dozens of other companies have been using to try and promote their pill as being the next “real limitless pill”.

Supplements like Addium, Alpha ZXT, and Intellux hire professional marketers to craft these fake articles, which seemingly look like they are published on reputable sites like CNN, Discover Magazine, MSNBC, and others.

If you click on any of the above reviews, you’ll see that they ALL look very legit.  They ALL call themselves the inspiration behind the movie “Limitless”:

geniux limitless movie

they ALL say they were featured in Forbes as being “Viagra for the brain”:

viagra for the brain

and practically ALL of them say that Stephen Hawking is using it:

alpha zxt stephen hawking

So whats the recurring theme here??

Well, how could they ALL be the next limitless pill?Well, it’s pretty clear that these are ads, and if you look close enough you’ll see just that at the bottom or top of these articles.

I’ve seen so many of these “brain pills” being advertised in this fashion that it’s getting pretty tough to keep up with them.

How much does it cost

A one month supply of Synagen IQ will run you about $50 per bottle.  You can take advantage of discounted pricing by ordering larger quantities, with a “Buy 2 Months and Get 1 Bottle Free” deal which lowers the price per bottle to $37.99.

Alternatively, you can buy  a 3 months supply and they will give you 2 bottles free of charge.  All orders are shipped free of charge by the US postal service.

They do offer a refund for orders placed within 30 days, HOWEVER, you have to call their customer support phone number and request a “return merchandise authorization” (RMA) number from them in order to qualify.

Essentially what this means is you have to send the product back, at your own expense, before they will even consider giving you a refund.

Can I buy it anywhere else?

As far as I can tell, the only place you can buy Synagen IQ is on their official website.  Stores like GNC, Vitamin Shoppe, Walmart, Walgreens / CVS don’t typically carry nootropic supplements like this one, mainly because they are too new to the market to be proven.

My Results With Synagen IQ

So I got a chance to personally buy a bottle of Synagen IQ to test out.  A bottle of the stuff cost about $50, which is about average for most cognitive enhancement supplements like this one.

The first day I took it on an empty stomach and was expected to feel some “mind-blowing” cognitive effects within an hour.  The result?  Nothing…Other than a very brief spurt of energy (which was more likely a placebo effect more than anything) I didn’t feel any difference whatsoever.

I decided to up the ante the next day and take a double dose of Synagen IQ, and the results were the same.  No crazy focus or concentration.  No huge increase in memory function.  And no increase in mood whatsoever.

Pros

  • You can order conveniently online
  • They have a refund policy
  • The more you order the cheaper it gets

Cons

  • No reviews posted
  • No ingredients list given
  • No idea how long it takes to start working
  • Not available in stores
  • False advertising regarding media mentions

Recommendation

Since I posted my initial review, literally DOZENS of websites have popped up overnight talking about the supposed benefits of using this supplement. If you actually start reading through these sites, you’ll clearly see that they didn’t actually try Synagen IQ.

On top of that, the grammar and sentence construction of these sites is downright atrocious, and clearly not written by someone who speaks english as a first language. The SOLE PURPOSE of these websites is to bury websites like SupplementCritique.com WAY down in the rankings in google, so that you don’t reveal the TRUTH about what a garbage supplement it is. The best thing you can do to help me stay towards the top is to Share This Post on Facebook, Tweet It, Post on Google +, or email it to a friend.

Every little bit helps…

Do I think Synagen IQ works like some magic, miracle cognitive enhancer??  From personal testing, No. The fact that they don’t disclose their ingredients is a HUGE red flag in my opinion, and only reinforces the notion that it’s probably just some fly by night company looking to make a quick buck.

Can it work for you?  Maybe.  But with too many question marks / red flags I would say take a pass on this one.

Have You Used Synagen IQ?  Leave Your Review Below!

Top 3 NootropicsAffiliate Disclosure

Mind Lab Pro

Mind Lab Pro

Mind Lab Pro is a VERY effective nootropic for focus, concentration, short / long term memory, and more.

Click Here To Learn More »

Ultimate Noots Stack

Ultimate Noots Stack

The Ultimate Nootropics Stack by Nootropics.com is one of the most effective stacks I’ve taken.

Click Here To Learn More »

L-Theanine & Caffeine

L-Theanine & Caffeine

The combo of L-Theanine and Caffeine is a well known nootropic stack that really works.

Click Here To Learn More »




Want To See What Supplements
Work Like Adderall? Click Here To Find Out!

Ask A Question

User Questions and Answers



What are the ingredients (active and no active) in Synagen IQ? -Krzysztof Kasinski


According to the label, it contains the following: Vitamin B3 (Niacin) 30 mg, Vitamin B6, Caffeine, GABA, Bacopa Monnieri, Alpha GPC, L-Theanine, Phosphatidylserine, L-Tyrosine, Vinpocetine, and Huperzine A. It should be noted that this EXACT same ingredients list with the exact same ratios can be found in two other competing products called Addium and Adderin.- Rob

Was this question helpful to you?
134 out of 140 people found this question helpful.
ASK A NEW QUESTION



I have tried synagen iq for 5 days. I felt no different. I called for a RMA number. They refused to give it to me, they said because I did not take their special. but just ordered one bottle for $50.00. Do I have any recourse? -Harold


Sorry to hear that. Go back and read the terms and conditions very carefully. If what they're saying is true, there's nothing you can do. If not, keep fighting, and tell them you'll go to the Attorney General if they don't abide by their listed terms.- Rob

Was this question helpful to you?
107 out of 112 people found this question helpful.
ASK A NEW QUESTION



I need the contact information to cancel my order placed today for Synagen IQ. Please send asap. -Carol


Here's the contact info I found on their official website: support@synageniq.com 844-465-0024- Rob

Was this question helpful to you?
79 out of 91 people found this question helpful.
ASK A NEW QUESTION



Why did you only do two days? That is hardly a fair test. -Kim


Given the insincere advertising, the promises of instant results, and the fact that I've tried many of these types of supplements before, the two days was enough to get a good idea of how well it will work. If you take it for longer, send us your review and I'll post it.- Rob

Was this question helpful to you?
49 out of 60 people found this question helpful.
ASK A NEW QUESTION



Why does the internet site says free shipping for today only, then turn around at check out and charge you $4.95 for shipping? -Reginald


SupplementCritique.com is a review website. We don't have any affiliation with Synagen IQ. You'll have to ask them directly about shipping costs and discrepancies in their marketing. If you check out the review above, you'll see we don't have a very high opinion of the stuff.- Rob

Was this question helpful to you?
28 out of 28 people found this question helpful.
ASK A NEW QUESTION

Author: Rob Miller

Supplement Critique

Rob Miller founded SupplementCritique.com over 7 years ago, and has been the chief editor ever since. He has a diploma in Advanced Dietary Supplements Advisor, and worked at GNC for 3 years. He KNOWS supplements, both inside and out. Rob currently resides in Jupiter, FL, with his wife of 4 years.  Learn more about him in his Bio here. Follow him on Twitter , Facebook, LinkedIn, or find him on Google +.

49 comments on “Synagen IQ Review – Smart Pill or Scam?”

Leave A New Comment

  1. Although not directly tied to usage, the company as you relate is a scam. They stole my name Synergen for my private investigation business which I have registered as a matter of business record since 2000.

    I wonder if you could help me in some sort of litigation
    1. Hey James,

      I call them out in my reviews, but I don’t have any involvement in legal actions against them.
    1. Hey Emma,

      SupplementCritique.com is a review website. We have no affiliation with Synagen IQ. You’ll need to contact them directly.

      Their phone number is 844-465-0024.
  2. I have yet to fall victim to these scams because I always Google first! I was interested in Synagen IQ so I typed the words “Synagen IQ Scam” into Google!

    Once you add the word scam next to your item of interest, you’ll find victims. Listen to them!!!

  3. The U.S. Attorney General has these guys on it’s SCAM radar.

    They are crooks and they have a highly deceptive fine print contract which traps the buyer into a “subscription” that you have to pay to get out of. There is no free trial, really.

    They are guilty of False Advertising and Deceptive Contractual text, thus breaking the Consumer Protection Act 2007. All credit card cos. knows all about these guys and they are working 24-7 with the Attorney General’s office.

  4. Synagen IQ is a rip-off. Main ingredient CAFFEINE with some other vitamins.

    Nothing you can’t get with a cup of coffee and a B vitamin complex. The “brain enhancement” is when you discover your trial bottle is nothing more than a “book of the month club” membership that charges $84.71 to your bank card and realize you’ve been duped. Woke up my brain alright – just in time to realize its a scam.

  5. This is a complete scam. They draw you in by offering a trial bottle, just pay $4.95 shipping.

    They sign you up to have a recurring bottle sent every month or so. They bill you for $59LEANdot95. when you try and cancel they tell you that you have to pay for it as it’s already been shipped. They want you to send it back at your expense and they still charge you for the$59.95, not the $4.95 you agreed too.

    Beware do not order this.
  6. This product is a fraud; The advertisement of free with a $4.95 shipping cost is not true; If you take the bait then cancel they want to charge a $38.00 along with the $4.95 shipping cost which they already have your account info. Luckily my bank’s fraud dept. called me regarding this which I found out it was being paid to someone in “Bulgaria” they stopped the charge and protected my account from being ripped off.

  7. It does nothing. The big danger is giving them a credit card number.

    The only way to stop them from continually charging you is to cancel the credit card. Calling them is useless.

    You will be put on an endless hold and then disconnected.
  8. Thankfully my credit card company would not let me order this product. Looks like they’ve been through this SCAM before!

  9. At first I was to use this as an avenue to respond to “so far no scam” written by “Craig”. Then it was to point out what I observed both in their marketing and in what I read in fine print.

    So if allowed, I’ll do both:
    Craig, In what way could the lack of an ability to change your star rating put you in role of victim? You’ve suggested that this unconfirmed fact has somehow denied you and the reader of said review, your true opinion.

    I thought, maybe this guy has been collared, effecting a limited version of the veritable cornucopia of knowledge that most likely spews life changing information on an hourly basis. Then I came to my senses.

    Furthermore even if said “host” did in fact dictate such vital aspects of a review, which I’m 100% sure he is/was not, what’s the gain for him there when, to combat this now exposed shady tactic you could just, as you masterfully did, say what you wanted to anyway? As far as “reputable news site”, that is comically relative to the point of oxymoronic, barely worthy of mark let alone remark, obviously a matter of opinion (similar to the aforementioned banter and the complimentary dialogue that soon follows) and shouldn’t be implied or estimated by any that the product is, or is not, as.
    My gut tells me that this point should have been made first but I did not do well in my English courses and it is as follows: The topic of review is labeled “Have you used Synagen IQ?” You clearly stated that you in fact have not used Synagen IQ…so like me, you do not even belong in this grouping of submitted reviews.

    Moving on to the marketing and fine print. (5$ I was offered 2.95 but not at checkout.
  10. I would like to comment on the deceptive advertising. I went on their website where I was offered a trial bottle for $1.00 plus shipping and handling.

    I put my card information on the site. Before I received the supplements the company used my credit card information and charged on my card $84.71. It caused my account to be overdrawn, I was furious. That was underhanded,I never gave permission to be charged that amount.

    When I called to complain I found out the company charged my account for a supplement called Brainacute, not Synagen IQ, so I could not find it on my account. Once I called my bank, they told me the phone number to call.

    I am sending the bottle back. I do not like the way the company does business.

  11. I stupidly fell into the trap of paying for some “Max Synapse”, linked to from the Stephen Hawking “Forbes” article..last night. The clever thing was the ‘countdown clock’ for the ‘last 8 units, on this, the final day of the ‘pre-release period’ They claimed that this was a pre-release test period so they could gather customer feedback, published as an updating scroll on the site.I had less than two minutes to hit the button….not long enough to do a proper Google search.


    I’m in France, so post was added, but after reading your site I realise I can claim a refund, though I’ll be losing about 30 dollars in post.

    I should have realised this is a scam, as they list all the bank cards, but NOT paypal!

    I’ve been scammed twice and paid by Paypal, both times after I’d explained to their helpful staff, I was immediately reimbursed, so the fact of their service not being offered as an option should have been a red flag….in fact it WAS, but like an idiot, I still hit the button.

    As I paid by VISA, can I get a refund through them, and why are Hawking and Gates not suing the ass off these scammers?

    Thanks for your excellent site!

      1. Hi Rob, I managed to pull the plug on the order so lost nothing apart from my Visa card. I’m almost certain the payment page is NOT secure though, so it would be doubly foolish to order anything from these lying, theiving scum.


        I’d have thought Bill Gates could ask some of his legal representatives to look into this and attack any ‘company’ using his name illegally to con buyers….this sort of advertising is completely illegal in Europe.
  12. I received one month supply that I ordered, but do not want monthly order to be sent to me automatically
    Please do not send a 2nd month supply or any more products
    I will order if I like it,
    Please confirm that the 1month supply is all what is ordered and delivered as I did not order more and do not want more for now,
    Thanks,
    Marcella Salib
    Thanks again,
    M Salib
    1. Hey Marcella,
           SupplementCritique.com is a review website. We don’t have any affiliation with this product, so you’ll have to contact the company you made your purchase from to cancel your order or billing.

      Rob
      SupplementCritique.com

    1. Hey Ken Gulledge,
           SupplementCritique.com is a review website. We don’t have any affiliation with this product, so you’ll have to contact the company you made your purchase from to cancel your order or billing.

      Rob
      SupplementCritique.com

  13. I ordered the Synagen IQ to become the lead In a class action lawsuit against this particular marketing firm. All victims in California that would like to recover part of their money may e-mail me at: m.hillman2@aol.com. I already have assets, bank accounts, and those involved in this particular scam. The Attorney General of Ca. Will be advised after 30 days.
  14. This is a scam. They offer a shipping-only ‘free sample,’ and then charge a recurring $84.71!!! Do NOT buy from these guys!

  15. Good article – thanks for the info.

    A supplement I believe to be good for overall brain health (and take) is DMAE – also good for skin/connective tissue – which is why I started taking, then noticed the other issue – and researched/found the connection to thought process increase. (I write.)

    No superman promises – but like with other natural supplements that are “gentle,” [if] you stop taking it for awhile is when you notice the difference.

    You seem very educated about these issues; any thoughts? Thx.

    1. Hey Katherine,

      I haven’t delved too deeply into the benefits of DMAE other than to note that it’s useful for memory, mood, and athletic performance. But you make a good point, and I’ll be looking into it more closely.


      Rob
      SupplementCritique.com
  16. Hi Rob,

    What is your take on BrainPlus IQ pill that is going around at this stage; also a big hype about it and I wonder if you maybe have tried that before as well?

    Regards,
  17. Why would you even consider putting GABA in any nootropic product? It doesn’t cross the BBB but does increase GH.

    There’s an answer to know when to steer away from any product produced by amateurs.
  18. Don’t fall for the fake ads on facebook Bill Gates nor Stephen Hawkins have never used this product the company know’s it’s happens all the time and just play dumb and ignore it.so the best advise is not to use this product. It does not work and there full of it when they say supply’s wont last all bull. so if you do try it do the trial and after its sent call and cxl there going to tell you to return it or you will be charge nope they can’t charge you to keep the trial if you cxl your acct with in the trial. if you get charged from them for the trial after 15 days call customer service and tell them your file a charge back with your bank and they will transfer you to a sup and that sup will argue with you but in the end they will refund your full amount because this company has so many charge backs that they are running out of process servers for billing..if anyone from the FTC wants to contact me re guarding this company please do they should be shut down.

  19. Just an update from my Aug. 28th post. As I was on the phone getting my RMA # the agent also told me they would refund half my purchase immediately and the rest when my package arrived.

    An email confirmed the credit but I was still skeptical, but sure enough it was back into my account before they even received my package. So even though I wasn’t happy with the product, I can’t complain about the customer service and the ease of getting a refund.

    1. Hey Landon,
      They exist, but they don’t work as effectively as prescription meds, at least none that I’ve tested so far. The most powerful combo of herbal supplements I’ve used so far would be a supplement called Optimind with Phenibut. The Optimind works great to give you the focus, motivation, and concentration, and the phenibut works great for keeping you calm, focused, and relieve anxiety.

      Check out my post on it here: https://www.supplementcritique.com/closest-thing-to-adderall-over-the-counter-otc/

      Rob
      SupplementCritique.com
  20. They used celebrities such as Anderson Cooper, Gates, Woods, Hawkin, etc…

    What happen to lawsuit? These celeb. willing to let their reputation slander like that?

    1. Hey Scott,
      Personally speaking, I don’t think they have any idea that their likeness is being used in these fake advertisements. I tweeted several of these to the celebs in question, and not surprisingly, didn’t get a response.


      Rob
      SupplementCritique.com
  21. Above in your review you said “My Results With Synagen IQ” that you had already tried it with no real results. and then at the end you say “I’ve already placed an order for this and should be testing it out within another week or two”. So which is it? You have tried it or you have not tried it.

    Hard to believe your story when it is says two different things.
    1. Hey Kathy,
      Good catch. I have tried it and updated my results (as you’ve read), but I haven’t had a chance to update the recommendation portion and other pieces of this review.

      I plan on doing so very shortly, complete with pics of the bottle and label.
      Rob
      SupplementCritique.com

  22. I just got the phone number from my cc statement. Called and got a return number by email while I was on the phone.

  23. Shamefully, I am one of the stupid people that fell for the CNN article on SYNAGENIQ ..I believed it to be a true CNN article so I ordered the product…I trusted the product because on it having the CNN logo plus it offered a money back guarantee …However when I received the item the receipt had no Company logo, no returned address, and no phone number…Right then and there I knew I had just been scammed !!! For that alone , I will not be using this product..Because the WHOLE Deal has been nothing but one big SCAM !!!

    I am sure that I will never get my money back but I am just posting this so that Hopefully people will keep their money and not make the same foolish mistake that I did !!!
    1. Hello Ashamed!
      Please don’t feel bad.

      You did good deed.
      Just saved me a couple of hundred bucks.


      Although I am old enough to know better, some of this stuff is just advertised so well, anyone can fall for it.
      Not me, thanks to you!


      Have a good day,
      Bobby
    2. I fell for the scsm also but after i tried to cancel they said i hax to pay 38 dollars so i cancled my card right then
    1. You’ve seen them on those websites, or you’ve seen the logo’s of those sites in the ad you were looking at?
      Rob
      SupplementCritique.com

      1. A huge clue is your address bar. I was just on a site that LOOKED like Forbes, but didn’t even have the name “forbes” in the address!

        The “home” link, took me to the main synagen iq website. And, yes, very poor English.

        I first thought it was kids making these ads!
  24. Our system is full of “scams” from nutrition (Synagen) to Wisdom. my library an kindle are full o “the wise” yet when shall I read them much less be influenced… and yet I keep looking.
  25. The latest as has testimonials from Bill Gates, Stephen Hawking, and Andersen Cooper. Hey, they got the heavy hitters, although a company registered in Las Vegas gives me pause to think ;’)

Leave A Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *