Does L-Theanine help depression?

We’ve listed L-Theanine in our list of best nootropics. If you’re interested in learning more about this amino acid for cognition, or other natural options for brain power, we suggest checking out that article.

L-Theanine is commonly found in tea leaves, an is highly regarded in the nootropic community.

For example, L-Theanine is listed in our “Do Nootropics Really Work?” page as one of the better natural nootropics.

Or L-Theanine and Adderall.

However, if you’re solely interested in how L-Theanine can help fight depression, anxiety another ailments this is the article you need to read.
In one study, patients with major depressive disorder noticed that the supplement reduced symptoms of anxiety and depression while also improving sleep quality and cognitive function.
Below, we’ll be exploring more of what L-Theanine can do, and if it is the right choice for you.

Contents

1 L-Theanine Anxiety – Does it help?
- 1.1 Does it give you a L-Theanine High?
2 L-Theanine Interactions
3 L-Theanine and Caffeine
4 L-Theanine Dosage for Sleep

L-Theanine Anxiety – Does it help?

There are numerous studies which show that L-Theanine can help reduce the symptoms of anxiety.

It has been seen to help reduce an elevated heartbeat, and produce an overall calming effect.

L-Theanine is thought to work as an anxiolytic which means it can help your brain from making a anxious responses to high-stress environments.

It does this by being able to cross the blood-brain barrier via the leucine-preffering tansport system. After crossing over to your brain, L-Theanine up-regulattes inhibtory neurotransmitters and prevents the binding of L-glutamic acid and glutamate receptors in your brain.

It can even help to modulate feel-good hormones in your brain like dopamine and serotonin, and inhibits cortical neuro excitement to deliver an anti-stress effect.

For anxiety, the suggest L-Theanine dosage is ranged from 50 – 200 mg, with calming effects being noticed within the first 30 – 40 minutes and lasting in some cases as long as 10 hours.

Does it give you a L-Theanine High?

No, you cannot use L-Theanine to get high. It’s not that kind of nootropic.

L-Theanine can help relax you, and put you in a more calmed state of mind. However, there has been no reports of it causing an actual “high”, like you would get with some nootropics.

It’s good for making you calmer, and more focused – under the right circumstances – but there is no “high” associated with using L-Theanine.

L-Theanine Interactions

If you are already on medication before using L-Theanine you may want to consider talking to your doctor before supplementing it.

L-Theanine is known to interact with stimulant drugs that your doctor may have prescribed to you.

Drugs such as diethylpropion (Tenuate), epinephrine, phentermine (Ionamin), pseudoephedrine (Sudafed) are known to have reduced effects when taken with L-Theanine.

However, the list doesn’t end there, if you are using any drugs to treat blood pressure (high or low) or any medication used to treat ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) – L-Theanine may also interact with these drugs as well.

We always advise to speak to your doctor before using L-Theanine if you are already taking prescribed medication.

L-Theanine and Caffeine

Although you should be cautious taking L-Theanine with medication – you can get a lot of benefit from taking it with the stimulant caffeine.

When taking together L-Theanine and Caffeine have a synergy to them.

You get the heightened energy, focus and awareness that you usually get from a high dose of caffeine – but it is combined with the calming, anti-stress properties of the L-Theanine.

Together you get all the benefits of being charged up by a large dose of caffeine, while also having the jittery, over-excitable side effects removed.

You have a lot more control over the energy that the caffeine is supplying you with. You’re more charged up – but you have that additional focus and calmed control.

In terms of dosages, it’s recommended that you take this nootropic stack at a 1:2 ratio. For example, if you are supplementing 100 mg of caffeine you need to be taking that with 200 mg of L-Theanine.

L-Theanine Dosage for Sleep

With it’s ability to help fight anxiety and promote an overall state of calmness, L-Theanine can help to some degree to promote sleep.

There’s a study which shows that L-Theanine has been seen to help imrpove sleep quality for children with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder).

L-Theanine also has a lot of properties which can help promote a good night’s sleep. The amino acid has been seen to help GABA, Serotonin and Dopamine which can all help mood, relaxation, sleep and more.

By putting you in a better mood and mindset, L-Theanine can help place you in a better disposition which can help you get to sleep much easier at night.

L-Theanine Anxiety – Does it help?

Does it give you a L-Theanine High?

L-Theanine Interactions

L-Theanine and Caffeine

L-Theanine Dosage for Sleep

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