A testing-first nootropics brand with a federal black mark
Investigation finds Nootropics Depot publishes lot-level COAs and runs its own ISO 17025 lab and cGMP manufacturer—yet pled guilty in October 2023 to distributing unapproved drugs and was sentenced in February 2024, a regulatory scar that still shadows the brand.
Our Verdict
The truth about Nootropics Depot is a paradox. On one side: a rare degree of transparency—ISO 17025 lab work, a cGMP plant, and COAs attached to lots. On the other: a serious federal case tied to legacy drug-like products that should never have been sold as supplements. Today's ND appears to be a testing-forward operation that sets a high bar for documentation. But the 2017–2021 conduct matters. If you value rigorous QC and can live with unopened-only returns, ND can be a strong choice for well-supported ingredients like Cognizin and bacopa. If brand governance and past legal risk are dealbreakers, consider alternatives.
How we investigated:We mapped the full picture behind the label: certificates and COAs, facility credentials, ownership records, customer sentiment, and the DOJ case. Then we tested whether ND's transparency and testing culture outweigh the risks implied by its legal history. The result is a nuanced verdict: industry-leading openness and QC for supplements they sell today, but a past decision set that demands consumer caution.
Ideal For
- Buyers who want lot-level COAs and deep testing detail
- DIY nootropics users who value named/branded ingredients
- Customers comfortable with unopened-only returns
Avoid If
- You require money-back on opened products
- You're uneasy with the brand's 2017–2021 regulatory history
- You prefer only multi-ingredient blends with brand-run clinical trials
Best Products
- Cognizin Citicoline Capsules
- Bacognize Bacopa Monnieri (ND)
- PrimaVie Shilajit Capsules
Skip These
- Legacy drug-like nootropics (phenibut/racetams/adrafinil/tianeptine)—no longer appropriate as supplements
What to Watch For
Watch for continued publication of full COAs, any third-party certifications added (e.g., NSF/USP on products), and how the Scientific Advisory Board influences claims. Monitor for exemplary compliance post-probation through Feb 2027.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Nootropics Depot publish Certificates of Analysis (COAs) for each lot?
Yes—many product pages include lot-specific COAs with identity, potency, and heavy-metals data.
Is Nootropics Depot FDA-approved?
No supplement brands are 'FDA-approved'; ND's manufacturer is cGMP-certified for 21 CFR 111 and FDA-registered.
What exactly was the 2023/2024 federal case about?
Centera Bioscience d/b/a Nootropics Depot and its CEO pled guilty to introducing misbranded drugs (e.g., tianeptine, adrafinil, phenibut, racetams) and were sentenced to probation with $2.4M forfeiture.
Are ND's nootropic blends clinically proven?
Trials typically exist on branded ingredients (e.g., Cognizin), not ND's finished products. Evidence strength varies by ingredient.
Where are ND products made and tested?
Manufactured by Supplement Logistics and tested by Omnient Labs in Tempe, AZ; both entities publish certificates (cGMP and ISO 17025).
Alternatives to Consider
Thorne
NSF-certified facility and many Certified for Sport SKUs; broad physician-channel credibility.
Price:Often similar or higher vs ND on like-for-like actives.
Choose when:Athletes needing Certified for Sport or those who prefer physician-channel brands.
Double Wood
Budget pricing; public COAs on many items; broad Amazon availability.
Price:Usually lower than ND.
Choose when:Cost-sensitive buyers comfortable with mixed third-party testing discourse.
LiftMode
Community-favored for single-ingredient actives; simple formulations.
Price:Often competitive with ND.
Choose when:DIY stackers who want single-compound options and don't need complex blends.
What Customers Say
Quality/trust praised; effects vary by person
Trustpilot average 4.7/5 across 1,358 reviews (Aug 2025).
"Great products and service... informative website."
"I got very nauseous from your products."
Expect good QC and fast shipping; start low to assess tolerance and avoid sunk cost if effects are minimal.
Brand reputation strong on Reddit
Frequent recommendations in nootropics communities.
"Nootropics Depot is by far the best."
"Yes, Nootropics Depot is a reputable brand."
Community trust is high, but still evaluate each ingredient's evidence.
Shipping/returns friction at times
Scattered threads mention delays/refund limits.
"Took 8–10 days... tracking was weird."
International orders may lag; opened items aren't refundable—buy small first.
Value Analysis
Pricing Strategy
Generally mid-to-premium vs. Amazon-centric brands; ND justifies pricing with ISO 17025 testing, cGMP manufacturing, and lot-level COAs.
Ingredient Cost Reality
Uses named/branded raw materials (e.g., Cognizin, PrimaVie), typically priced above generic extracts.
Markup Analysis
Compared with budget peers (e.g., Double Wood), ND is often higher but provides deeper documentation (full COAs and facility certificates).
Subscription Warning
No hidden subscriptions surfaced; standard affiliate program disclosed with FTC requirements.
If you prioritize third-party methods, certificates, and traceability, ND offers strong value; if you need a satisfaction guarantee on open bottles, value is less compelling.
Most Surprising Finding
The same brand that now advertises ISO-accredited testing and cGMP excellence admitted in court it sold unapproved drugs for years—an uncommon juxtaposition in supplements.
Key Findings
Lot-level COAs are posted widely across product pages, including identity (HPTLC/UPLC), heavy metals (ICP-MS), and physicals—an uncommon level of openness in the category.
ND vertically integrated QC: an ISO 17025 lab (Omnient Labs) and a cGMP manufacturing company (Supplement Logistics) with current certificates shown publicly.
Regulatory scar: federal guilty plea (Oct 2023) and sentencing (Feb 2024) for selling unapproved drugs (2017–2021), including CEO's Reddit involvement noted in DOJ release.
Customer sentiment skews positive (Trustpilot ~4.7/5; 1,358 reviews, 2025) but includes efficacy variability and adverse-effect reports—consistent with many botanicals.
Strict returns: unopened-only within 30 days; no refund on opened product—great for quality control, frustrating for try-and-see shoppers.
Best Products We Found
Cognizin Citicoline Capsules
Nootropic choline donor • Mid-premium among direct brands (COA-backed, branded ingredient)
Strength:Branded, clinically researched citicoline; ND provides multiple COAs per lot.
Weakness:Not ND-specific clinical trials; effects can be subtle/variable.
One of ND's safer, evidence-aligned bets for focus/memory support.
Bacognize Bacopa Monnieri (ND)
Herbal nootropic • Moderate
Strength:Uses standardized, named extract; ND posts COAs.
Weakness:Benefits accrue slowly; GI upset possible in some users; trials are on the ingredient, not ND's finished product.
Solid, conservative pick for long-term memory support if you tolerate bacopa.
PrimaVie Shilajit Capsules (ND)
Adaptogen/energy • Moderate
Strength:Uses a well-known branded raw material; ND COAs for heavy metals are standard.
Weakness:User variability; some adverse reports (e.g., rash/nausea) occur with shilajit across brands.
Potentially useful with QC safeguards, but monitor tolerance carefully.
Products to Approach Cautiously
Kanna Tablets (various)
Mood/relaxation nootropic • Moderate-premium
Issue:Meaningful subset of user reports describe no effect; strict no-open return policy limits recourse.
Quality likely fine; benefit perception varies—try smallest size first.
Pregnenolone 5 mg
Hormone support • Low-moderate
Issue:BBB complaint highlights mismatch with lab values and refund friction; hormone labs are complex and dose-dependent.
Use only with medical guidance; set expectations on returns.
Historical: Phenibut/Racetams/Adrafinil/Tianeptine (discontinued)
Legacy nootropics (drug-like) • Varied
Issue:Sold as unapproved drugs; basis of DOJ case and forfeiture; no longer appropriate as supplements.
Past conduct is a serious mark against risk governance.
Red Flags
Federal guilty plea and sentencing (misbranded drugs 2017–2021)
DOJ/FDA press releases; probation terms; $2.4M forfeiture.
Frequency:Single case, multi-year conduct window; sentencing Feb 5, 2024.
Company Response:ND now emphasizes cGMP/ISO controls and transparency; ceased those legacy SKUs.
Strict unopened-only refund policy
Support policy; multiple consumer complaints about inability to return opened items.
Frequency:Policy is standing; complaints appear episodic.
Company Response:Policy reiterated in T&Cs; occasional goodwill gestures noted in BBB responses.
Allegation of doxxing behavior on Reddit (privacy/ethics concern)
BBB complaint text alleging CEO misconduct online (allegation).
Frequency:Isolated complaint; not adjudicated.
Company Response:No verified public response beyond BBB case listing.
Expert Perspectives
ND's Scientific Advisory Board (launched 2025) formalizes claim vetting and research summaries—useful for translating evidence into consumer language.
Transparency Issues
Beyond the DOJ case, complaints include frustration with unopened-only returns and an allegation of online doxxing by leadership posted to BBB.
Company Background
Ownership:Nootropics Depot LLC (foreign LLC in AZ) lists Centera Bioscience Inc. as member/agent; business address 8380 S. Kyrene Rd., Tempe, AZ. CEO referenced in DOJ filings is Paul Eftang; Strategic Director Paul Sheard is named in sentencing release.
Founded:Brand first use 2013; trademark registered 2017.
Headquarters:Tempe, Arizona; ND cites ~80,000 sq ft operations and ~90 employees across its entities.
Market Position:Direct-to-consumer nootropics specialist with unusually detailed test disclosure per product lot, and active content/education push (Scientific Advisory Board and Research Snapshot pages, 2025).
Regulatory Record:Centera Bioscience d/b/a Nootropics Depot and its CEO pled guilty Oct 30, 2023 to introducing misbranded drugs (tianeptine, adrafinil, phenibut, racetams). On Feb 5, 2024, the company was sentenced to three years probation, the CEO to one year probation, with $2.4M forfeiture.
Certifications & Memberships
- Omnient Labs ISO/IEC 17025:2017 (PJLA)
- Supplement Logistics cGMP certificate (21 CFR 111) via PJRFSI
- FDA registration certificate (Registrar Corp)
Investigation Methodology
Analysis of federal press releases and court records, state business filings, lab and cGMP certificates, company disclosures and support docs, product COAs, third-party review platforms, and forum sentiment (Reddit/BBB/Trustpilot).
Sources & References
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- 27.Healthline – Double Wood Supplements Review (third-party testing; GMP) (2025)[Editorial review] [link]