Frequently Asked Questions

A Smart Strips oral dissolvable strip dissolves on the tongue in 7 to 30 seconds, with no water. For comparison, the US FDA recommends that orally disintegrating tablets disintegrate in approximately 30 seconds or less (FDA, 2008), and in a published laboratory test, pullulan-based oral films disintegrated in under 25 seconds (Gupta et al., 2023). There is no single official disintegration limit for oral films, so test conditions are always part of the figure.

The strip itself is gone in 7 to 30 seconds, and absorption through the lining of the mouth can begin while it dissolves. How quickly an ingredient then reaches the blood depends on the ingredient. For some molecules the mouth is a faster route: a 1 mg sublingual melatonin spray reached peak blood levels at 23.3 minutes on average, against 64.2 minutes for a 1.9 mg prolonged-release tablet (Ait Abdellah et al., 2023). For others it makes little difference: a sublingual caffeine spray did not raise blood caffeine faster than coffee or an energy drink (McCarthy et al., 2025). In everyday use, FCKN FIT, FOCUS, Z-z-Zen and AFTR PARTY are the formulas people usually notice within about an hour. IMMUNE and NMN are daily habits, so there is nothing to feel on the day itself.

They work differently, and the difference starts with the routine: no water, no tablet to swallow, and a light, compact sachet that goes anywhere with you. A thin film is not a weaker form either. In clinical studies of several medicines, an oral film delivered the same amount of active ingredient as the matching tablet (Radicioni et al., 2017; Park et al., 2018). The route then adds something a pill does not have. The thinnest lining in the mouth is only 100 to 200 µm thick (Hua, 2019), and the lining of the mouth has been described as “4-4000 times more permeable than that of skin” (Patel et al., 2011). Part of each dose is absorbed there, and for that part first-pass metabolism in the liver is significantly reduced; the rest is swallowed with saliva and absorbed the usual way. Together, up to 95% of the dose is absorbed, the bioavailability Smart Strips gives for the strip format. Smart Strips sums up the strip format against a swallowed tablet in three figures: up to 95% bioavailability, up to 4x faster absorption and up to 30% higher effectiveness. How large the difference is depends on the ingredient, which is why every formula is dosed for the strip. More on oral strips vs pills, capsules and gummies.

Bioavailability is the share of an ingredient that reaches the general circulation, where the body can use it. It varies widely between ingredients and forms. For melatonin swallowed as a tablet, one pharmacokinetic study measured an absolute bioavailability of approximately 15% (DeMuro et al., 2000), and a systematic review reports a range of 9 to 33% (Harpsøe et al., 2015). Bioavailability is measured in a clinical study with blood samples.

A strip is small and light: reviews describe oral films of up to 500 mg in total weight (Ferlak et al., 2023), so each strip carries milligrams, set for one strip at a time. Some of our amounts match published research directly. 1 mg of melatonin is the amount in the EU authorised claim (Regulation (EU) No 432/2012), and 14 mg of saffron extract is a dose studied in adults (Lopresti et al., 2021). Others are lower than the amounts used in published studies. We list the exact amount of every ingredient so you can see what each strip contains.

Besides the active ingredients, every strip contains pullulan, HPMC, vegetable glycerin, xanthan gum, gum arabic, sunflower lecithin, citric acid, stevia, natural flavour and filtered water. Pullulan forms the film. It is an authorised EU food additive, E 1204, produced by fermentation of food-grade hydrolysed starch with Aureobasidium pullulans (EU specification for E 1204), and pullulan films are colourless, odourless and tasteless (Chlebowska-Śmigiel and Gniewosz, 2009).

QuickRelease™ is our technology (patent-pending) for strips that dissolve on the tongue in 7 to 30 seconds.

The strip dissolves on the tongue in 7 to 30 seconds and its ingredients are absorbed through the lining of the mouth, while the rest is swallowed with saliva and absorbed the usual way. Together, up to 95% of the dose is absorbed. In clinical studies of several medicines, an oral film delivered the same amount of active ingredient as the matching tablet. One customer put it simply: "I really slept better. For the first time in a very, very long time."

Each strip is dosed for the strip, not copied from a capsule. Some amounts match published research directly, such as 1 mg of melatonin in Z-z-Zen, the amount in the EU authorised claim, and every ingredient is listed with its exact amount on the box and the product page. More in the answer to “Why such small doses?” above.

It depends on the formula. FCKN Fit, Focus, Z-z-Zen and Aftr Party are the ones people usually notice within about an hour. Immune, NMN and Beauté are daily habits: you take them every day for weeks, the way you would any vitamin, and there is nothing to feel on the day itself.

That follows the ingredient, not the format. Caffeine in FCKN Fit and Focus, melatonin in Z-z-Zen and tyrosine in Aftr Party each work on their own timetable. The strip changes how the dose reaches you, not how long the ingredient itself lasts.

Strips carry no sugar: every Smart Strips formula is sugar-free and sweetened with stevia, while gummies often carry around 2 g of sugar each. A strip is also flat, light and sealed, so it doesn't melt in a bag. More in oral strips vs pills, capsules and gummies.

A Smart Strips NMN strip carries 80 mg of NMN in a film that dissolves on the tongue, with no capsule to swallow. It's a daily habit: one strip a day. More in NMN strips vs NMN capsules.

One Beauté strip contains 20 mg of hydrolyzed marine collagen, with 10 mg of hyaluronic acid, vitamin E, vitamin A and biotin. Beauté is a daily habit, one strip a day. More in collagen strips vs collagen powder.

Each formula has its own natural flavor, sweetened with stevia: mint in Z-z-Zen, mixed berries and vanilla in FCKN Fit, mango and pineapple in Beauté. The film itself, pullulan, has no taste of its own.

The formulas are designed for daily use as directed on each box, and the amounts per strip are moderate. Caffeine is one example: FOCUS and FCKN FIT contain 20 mg each, and EFSA sees no safety concern for healthy adults at intakes of up to 400 mg a day from all sources (EFSA, 2015). Vitamin D is another: one IMMUNE strip provides 35 µg, and the EFSA upper limit for adults is 100 µg a day (EFSA, 2023). Every strip is made in the USA, in an FDA registered, cGMP certified facility. Do not exceed the recommended amount on each box, and consult your doctor if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication or have a medical condition.

One strip of Z-z-Zen contains 1 mg melatonin, together with 14 mg saffron extract, 12 mg L-glycine and 12 mg L-theanine. Melatonin contributes to the reduction of time taken to fall asleep. The beneficial effect is obtained by consuming 1 mg of melatonin close to bedtime (Regulation (EU) No 432/2012). The saffron amount matches the lower dose in a randomised study of an evening saffron extract and sleep quality in adults with poor sleep (Lopresti et al., 2021); L-theanine and L-glycine have been studied around sleep at much higher doses (Hidese et al., 2019; Yamadera et al., 2007). Together they make a formula for people who wake at 4 am with a busy mind.

Consult your doctor before taking any Smart Strips formula if you are pregnant or nursing. Some formulas contain caffeine, melatonin, herbal extracts or vitamin A. The safety of melatonin in pregnancy has not been well studied (MotherToBaby), and for preformed vitamin A, which BEAUTÉ contains, EFSA identifies effects on the unborn child as the critical concern (EFSA, 2024). Your doctor can tell you which formulas, if any, fit your situation.

Smart Strips are made for adults. Keep them out of reach of children. One IMMUNE strip, for example, provides 35 µg of vitamin D, which is 70% of the EFSA upper limit of 50 µg a day for children aged 1 to 10 (EFSA, 2023).

Nine of the ten formulas are vegan. BEAUTÉ is the exception: it contains hydrolyzed marine collagen, which comes from fish, so it is not suitable for vegans. The strip base is pullulan, made by fermentation.

Yes. All ten formulas are sugar-free and gluten-free, and the taste comes from natural flavors sweetened with stevia.

Smart Strips are made in the USA, in an FDA registered, cGMP certified facility. The brand belongs to ETRIA Ltd in Sofia, Bulgaria, and the strips use QuickRelease™ technology (patent-pending). Read more on manufacturing.

Smart Strips are made in an FDA registered, cGMP certified facility, and seven formulas have passed Intertek's independent manufacturing verification. In the EU, Smart Strips are notified as food supplements with the Bulgarian Food Safety Agency (BFSA).

Yes. Every formula is tested by independent ISO 17025 accredited laboratories for identity, purity and content, and every batch has a certificate of analysis. The facility also holds NSF/ANSI 455-2 certification.

Follow the suggested use on each box and don't exceed it. Different formulas can be combined in one day, for example Focus in the afternoon and Z-z-Zen at night. More in the answer to “Can I take more than one strip a day?” below.

If you take any medication, ask your doctor or pharmacist before starting any supplement, strips included. Bring the box or the product page with you: every ingredient and amount is listed.

No aspartame. Every Smart Strips formula is sweetened with stevia only.

No. Place the strip on your tongue, press it lightly to the roof of your mouth and let it dissolve in 7 to 30 seconds. There is nothing to drink, chew or swallow whole.

Let the strip dissolve fully on the tongue without chewing, then swallow normally. Wait a few minutes before eating or drinking. Labels of medicines taken through the lining of the mouth give similar advice: for one medicine film placed against the cheek, drinking liquids during use reduced the amount absorbed by 23 to 27% (BELBUCA prescribing information).

Yes, different formulas can be combined in one day, for example ANXIETY during a demanding afternoon and Z-z-Zen before bed. Follow the suggested use on each box and do not exceed it. FCKN FIT and FOCUS each contain 20 mg caffeine, so one of each gives 40 mg. EFSA considers single doses of up to 200 mg of caffeine from all sources safe for healthy adults (EFSA, 2015). Count coffee, tea and energy drinks too, avoid caffeine close to bedtime, and check with your doctor first if you take medication.

Keep the box in a cool, dry place. Each strip stays sealed in its own sachet until you use it, and a few sachets slip easily into a pocket or bag for the day. Shelf life is 24 months from production, and the date is printed on the box.

Yes, but count it. FCKN Fit and Focus each contain 20 mg of caffeine. EFSA considers up to 400 mg a day from all sources safe for healthy adults, so add coffee, tea and energy drinks to the total and avoid caffeine close to bedtime.

A cup of coffee is caffeine alone. FCKN Fit pairs 20 mg of caffeine with L-carnitine and niacin, and Focus pairs it with Alpha-GPC, citicoline and L-theanine. And there's nothing to brew or carry: the strip goes on your tongue wherever you are.

Yes. The range is built around the day: FCKN Fit before training, Refuel after it, Focus for the afternoon, Z-z-Zen at night. Follow each box, and remember that FCKN Fit and Focus both contain caffeine.

Each strip weighs a few hundred milligrams and contains no sugar. Whether that counts as breaking a fast depends on how strict your fast is.

Before bed after a night out, or the next morning. Many people take one at each point.

Z-z-Zen is made to be taken before bed, and it's built for people who wake at 4 a.m.: melatonin and saffron to fall asleep, L-theanine and L-glycine to stay asleep. Take one strip before bed and don't exceed the suggested use on the box.

Yes. Strips are solid, flat and sealed in sachets the size of a business card, so liquid rules don't apply to them, and a week of formulas fits in a cardholder.

Shelf life is 24 months from production, and the date is printed on the box. Each strip stays sealed in its own sachet until you open it.

Each box holds 30 individually wrapped strips. One strip is one serving, so at one strip a day a box lasts a month.

United States (smartstrips.us): orders ship from a US warehouse for a flat $9.99 (free on orders over $100) and arrive in 1 to 5 business days, tracked. Unopened items in their original sealed packaging can be returned within 30 days of delivery, after authorization by email at sales@smartstrips.bg; return shipping is paid by the customer.

Europe and worldwide (smartstrips.bg): orders placed before 3:00 pm Sofia time on a business day leave Sofia the same day, with Speedy, Econt, Box Now or Sameday within Bulgaria (up to 3 business days) and DHL for other countries; the shipping cost is calculated at checkout, and delivery within Bulgaria is free on orders over €100. Unopened products with an intact seal can be returned if you notify us within 14 days of receiving the order, and the refund follows within 14 days after the return is received and checked.

Full terms: Delivery and Return Policy.

Smart Strips are sold through a wide retail network: the largest fitness clubs, longevity centers, biohacking hubs and pharmacies. Online, order on smartstrips.us in the US and on smartstrips.bg in Europe.

Yes, Smart Strips is on Amazon US. In Europe, order on smartstrips.bg.