Pharmacology L-theanine (Effective as nootropic)

[Leprechaun]

A very interesting study which shows significant benefits of chronic L-theanine administration : https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6836118/

Given the above study was funded by a business that would benefit form it, giving more sales to L-Theanine containing product. I decided to do some more digging.

In this systematic review/meta analysis it does indeed have benefits for sleep : https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1087079225000292


There also seems to be a low availability of it in nature, with the exception of tea and certain mushrooms.

Given this study, I think I'll dose up with L-Theanine, as it does seem to improve sleep quality also.

Quite surprised as to how effective L-Theanine is, given so many other nootropics and other medicines being promoted.

 

[helpingout]

Forgive me, but l-theanine has an effect on me. Profound. Why is l-theanine not considered a drug? Is it an amino acid? Is it also racemic? I’ve never passed a chem class due to lack of effort but is the l the part which indicates it as racemic?

 

[helpingout]

There is an absolute vacuum of information on the right isomer of l-theanine. Dextro-theanine is completely unstudied. Anyone could make a name for themselves easily.

 

[Leprechaun]

l-theanine means, Laevo-theanine. Which is an optical isomer also known as enantiomer.

The d, dextro (right handed) version is also around, but not in nature.

 

[Leprechaun]

There is an absolute vacuum of information on the right isomer of l-theanine. Dextro-theanine is completely unstudied. Anyone could make a name for themselves easily.

Surprising! A good path to furthering our knowledge.

 

[Deleted member 578389]

l theanine is one of my favorite supps to quell anxiety, up there with passionflower, damiana and valerian

 

[Allylbenzene]

l theanine is one of my favorite supps to quell anxiety, up there with passionflower, damiana and valerian

Theanine is a potent anti-stress option, and stress (cortisol) works via adrenaline (fight-or-flight). Both cortisol & adrenaline are reduced by GABA-type substances (eg valerian, chamomile, linalool, apigenin, magnolia bark, alcohol), but some reduce adrenaline directly (eg agmatine, CBG, clonidine, myrcene).

Myrcene is the classic cannabis terpene that people associate with couchlock. When myrcene reduces adrenaline to "near zero" (paraphrasing) then movement becomes difficult or impossible, especially if there are other GABAergic terpenes involved.

There's one underrated anti-anxiety supplement called niacinamide. Low dose niacinamide (50mg with carbs) is very effective. It also has long-term anti-anxiety benefits thanks to it's pro-metabolic influence. Taurine is similar (100-300mg with carbs).

 

[Allylbenzene]

There is an absolute vacuum of information on the right isomer of l-theanine. Dextro-theanine is completely unstudied. Anyone could make a name for themselves easily.

In some cases the body prefers one form over another. For example phenylalanine is sold as both L- and DL- forms, but afaik the body can only properly use the L- form as a precursor for dopamine. Who knows how D-theanine interacts with the body!

l-theanine means, Laevo-theanine. Which is an optical isomer also known as enantiomer.

The d, dextro (right handed) version is also around, but not in nature.

This is reminiscent of another common item: limonene. It makes up 95% of orange oil and ~70% of lemon oil as D-limonene. It's sold nearly everywhere. The other L-limonene form is not as common and only sold by specialised vendors.

D-Limonene: citrus peels, lemon, lime, orange​

L-Limonene: pine trees, mint & bergamot​

 

[KurtAurelius]

A very interesting study which shows significant benefits of chronic L-theanine administration : https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6836118/

Given the above study was funded by a business that would benefit form it, giving more sales to L-Theanine containing product. I decided to do some more digging.

In this systematic review/meta analysis it does indeed have benefits for sleep : https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1087079225000292


There also seems to be a low availability of it in nature, with the exception of tea and certain mushrooms.

Given this study, I think I'll dose up with L-Theanine, as it does seem to improve sleep quality also.

Quite surprised as to how effective L-Theanine is, given so many other nootropics and other medicines being promoted.

I’ve been chronically dosing 400-800mg L Theanine a day for a month or so, and it is anecdotal but I’ve found it to work consistently for its purposes and for giving consistent and replicable high quality sleep.

I take the odd day off just to take stock and it brings me quite back to baseline without any issues.

 

[Sixx_Psychonaut]

I’m dosing 200mg of L-Theanibe at the moment morning, lunch and at night.
I have ADHD and take vyvanse and dexamphetamine, I’m also on long acting injectable buprenorphine and suffer from hyperhydrosis which flairs up with stress and anxiety and I’m finding L-Theanine amazing in helping treat my hyperhydrosis lowering stress, anxiety and stopping the negative side effects of my adhd meds especially if I have them with coffee making the effects much smoother helping me to be focused, elevate my mood and also feel relaxed.

 

[KurtAurelius]

I’ve been chronically dosing 400-800mg L Theanine a day for a month or so, and it is anecdotal but I’ve found it to work consistently for its purposes and for giving consistent and replicable high quality sleep.

I take the odd day off just to take stock and it brings me quite back to baseline without any issues.

Just to update

I’ve had a few breaks, no issues.

I am having decaf tea during the day with speculative levels of Theanine, but I notice a reduction in Stimulant side effects.

I then take 400mg 99.6% purity capsule in the late evening for my evening chill time.

Generally, my evenings which have always been the worst time of day by far are much cosier and more relaxed, and any methylphenidate crash is almost entirely mitigated bar the headache I get 50% of the time.

I take 4 grams of Taurine, and 2000mg Magnesium Threonate in combo and it’s a very pleasant effect.

I’ve found a combination product of 50mg Apigenin, 200mg Theanine and 1000mg Magnesium Threonate, which I will be doubling up. Will report back to it’s affinity once in possession

 

[Allylbenzene]

Given the above study was funded by a business that would benefit form it, giving more sales to L-Theanine containing product. I decided to do some more digging.

Fwiw, theanine is potent and effective at what it does. GABA, anti-glutamate, anti-histamine, neuroprotective, neuroregeneration via BDNF and GDNF (regenerates dopamine system) and it blocks the stress response (cortisol, ACTH).

...theanine administration elicits selective changes in alpha brain wave activity with concomitant increases in selective attention during the execution of mental tasks. (source)

Pairs very well with caffeine and most stimulants. This thread goes into more detail, I participated.

"If about eight times as much theanine than caffeine is given (on a per milligram basis), the effect of caffeine is completely blunted"

That is pretty awesome that Theanine upregulates BDNF. I also found a paper saying that it also upregulates GDNF (glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor). GDNF supports the survival of dopaminergic and motorneurons - which is almost definitely a good thing.

I use it for sleeping (250mg) at the start [of the next day] you wake up a new man but for a long time it upregulate GABA so you become sleepy brain, more inactive mentally, passive state. I use it sometime in the day you can become rather sleepy if 250mg or 500mg is used, 1g is good for if you dont have anymore weed... other wise 1g of theanine will put you to sleep without a strong coffee.

I’ve found a combination product of 50mg Apigenin

Apigenin is underrated/overlooked imo. It's got a good range of beneficial therapeutic (psychoactive) effects.
Quote on some of it's anti-inflammatory +other effects:

Substances that inhibit inflammation are likely to also inhibit excessive collagen synthesis, serotonin secretion, and the formation of estrogen. Besides aspirin, some effective substances are apigenin and naringenin, found in oranges and guavas. These flavonoids also inhibit the formation of nitric oxide and prostaglandins, which are important for inflammation and carcinogenesis (Liang, et al., 1999).