L-Theanine
Also known as: Theanine
L-theanine is an amino acid found in tea. People commonly explore it for a sense of calm focus, sometimes paired with caffeine to smooth its effects. Evidence is preliminary but generally favorable for relaxation contexts.
Snapshot
What this page can tell you: Commonly discussed timing, food notes, caution categories, and an honest note on how much source review this entry still needs.
What it cannot: Whether this is appropriate for you personally, or that it treats, prevents, or cures any condition. Informational only — discuss with a clinician or pharmacist.
🕒 Timing
When: Morning, Anytime, Bedtime
Food: With or without food
Flexible; commonly paired with caffeine in the morning or used alone in the evening.
💊 Common use range
100–200 mg
Generally well tolerated; more is not necessarily better.
Ranges are informational, not a recommended dose. Talk to a professional about what is right for you.
⚠️ Commonly noted interactions (supplements)
None listed.
Often about absorption or timing rather than danger — separating doses is common. This list is not exhaustive.
🧭 Caution level
Ask a clinician or pharmacist before use.
- Commonly discussed as relaxing/sedating
- Higher caution if you take blood-pressure medication
- Sedative / CNS-depressant interaction
- Evidence not fully source-reviewed yet
Caution level is an informational summary of commonly discussed caution categories and doses — not a safety rating, approval, or medical advice. Low caution does not mean safe for you.
🩺 Medication caution categories
- Blood pressure medication
- Sedatives / CNS depressants
🏥 Surgery & procedure caution
Not a well-established surgical concern; share your supplement list.
If you have a procedure scheduled, bring your full supplement list to your surgical and anesthesia team. Do not stop prescribed medication unless your clinician tells you to. Do not start or stop supplements based only on this app.
✅ Quality checklist
- Prefer products with third-party testing or a certificate of analysis (COA).
- Check the label for the exact form and the elemental or active amount per serving.
🧩 Commonly paired with
🔁 Alternatives
🗣️ Questions for a professional
- Is L-Theanine appropriate alongside my medications and health history?
- Is there a test or check that would tell us whether I actually need it?
🔬 Evidence snapshot
Overall evidence level here is listed as "Limited evidence". A detailed, source-reviewed evidence summary has not been completed yet.
🧪 Forms & quality
Source type: Amino acid
The 'L-' in L-theanine refers to the molecule's stereochemical configuration — the naturally occurring form of the amino acid found in tea — not 'left' or 'better'.
See the supplement glossary for what form names like "L-", chelated, or standardized extract mean.
📏 Dose & monitoring
Needs evidence review — no source-reviewed information yet. We only show dose and monitoring details after they have been checked against reputable sources.
Evidence vs. burden: Not yet reviewed
😐 Commonly reported side effects
- Uncommon; occasional headache
Non-exhaustive and individual.
🔄 Cycling & breaks
Not typically cycled.
📅 Daily use notes
Often paired 1:2 with caffeine (e.g., 100 mg caffeine + 200 mg theanine) for focus.
📋 Source review status
Needs evidence review
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