Theacrine

What it is

Theacrine is a purine alkaloid structurally related to caffeine, found naturally in the kucha tea plant and sold commercially as TeaCrine. It is thought to act on adenosine and dopamine signaling to support energy and focus, but unlike caffeine it appears not to raise heart rate or blood pressure at typical doses.

Benefits

At 200 mg, theacrine has been shown to increase subjective energy and focus and reduce fatigue, with little added benefit observed at 300-400 mg. Effects on objective cognitive performance are less consistent.

When to take it

Take roughly 60 minutes before exercise. Because it is long-acting, avoid late-day dosing to protect sleep.

Side effects

Generally well tolerated for up to 8 weeks at doses up to 300 mg/day, with no significant effect on heart rate or blood pressure reported in trials. Long-term safety data remain limited.

Sources

• A Two-Part Approach to Examine the Effects of Theacrine (TeaCrine) Supplementation (Bello et al., 2016)
• Cognitive Performance and Mood Following Ingestion of a Theacrine-Containing Dietary Supplement, Caffeine, or Placebo (PMC4663612)

Products containing Theacrine

No products in our database contain this ingredient yet.