Is L-Theanine a Nootropic?

October 22, 2023

Nootropic supplements are becoming increasingly popular in the United States. They’re available in many forms and they may help with a wide variety of issues. If you’re looking for nootropics that help with anxiety, you’ll have quite a few to choose from. You’ll also find some for memory, sleep, and concentration.

Some people have turned to L-theanine as a supplement, but is it a nootropic? We’ll explore that today, as well as other aspects of this supplement to help you decide whether it’s right for you.

What Are Nootropics?

Nootropics, also known as ‘smart drugs,’ are supplements that individuals can take to help with their mental health and cognitive function (1). You can find them as prescriptions, synthetic compounds, and dietary supplements. Most nootropics are available without a prescription, but you should always consult with a healthcare professional regarding usage and dosage before taking any supplements or nootropics.

Given this description, you may be asking yourself, is creatine a nootropic? While it’s not popular as one, users are beginning to take creatine for its nootropic qualities. 

What about NAC–is NAC a nootropic? It can be an effective nootropic, but experts need to do more research before determining whether it can help improve cognitive functions for patients with brain disease. This is partially because you need to take so much of it for the substance to reach high concentrations in your blood and neurological system (2). 

Whenever you’re considering nootropics, it’s always a good idea to weigh the benefits and risks to decide if they could be a good fit for you.

What Is L-Theanine?

L-theanine is an amino acid commonly found in teas; you can also find it in the form of pills or tablets. People take L-theanine to help with insomnia and anxiety (3). 

Studies have also shown it may help those with schizoaffective disorders (4). According to another study (5), when taken with caffeine, L-theanine may be able to increase your focus and attention. As you can see, this substance may have a positive impact on your mental health.

One benefit of taking L-theanine is that there are no known side effects (6). However, this supplement is not regulated by the FDA. Always talk to your doctor before starting supplements to see if they’re right for you.

So, Is L-Theanine a Nootropic?

At this point, you may be wondering whether L-theanine is considered a nootropic, especially because it may help with mental health-related issues. It is in fact considered a nootropic, working by increasing GABA, serotonin, and dopamine levels in the brain. It can lower anxiety by decreasing your levels of corticosterone and increase alpha waves, contributing to increased focus (7). All in all, experts say this nootropic is effective and safe, unless you have individual intolerance to the components, are pregnant or breastfeeding.

The Bottom Line

L-theanine is an easily accessible, safe nootropic that is said to help alleviate a variety of mental health issues. Unlike other nootropics, it has no known side effects and can be found in store shelves nationwide. 

You can purchase L-theanine from CosmicNootropic, an online nootropic store that accepts debit cards, credit cards, and cryptocurrency as payment. Browse our selection today to see what nootropics like L-theanine can do for you!

Legal Disclaimer

This product has not been approved by the US FDA. All statements on this page are for informational purposes only and have not been evaluated by the US FDA.

This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. See more

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Sources:

1. https://melmagazine.com/en-us/story/nac-supplement-banned
2. https://www.webmd.com/vitamins-and-supplements/features/nootropics-smart-drugs-overview
3. https://www.healthline.com/health/l-theanine#_noHeaderPrefixedContent
4. https://www.psychiatrist.com/jcp/schizophrenia/l-theanine-relieves-positive-activation-anxiety-symptoms/
5. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21040626/
6. https://www.healthline.com/health/l-theanine#risks-and-side-effects
7. https://trysourse.com/blogs/news/nootropic-you-should-know-l-theanine#:~:text=L%2Dtheanine—a%20natural%20component,also%20available%20in%20supplement%20form