L-theanine is an amino acid used in dietary supplements for treating various conditions. This eMedTV article explains what L-theanine is used for, explores its effectiveness for these uses, and describes the alleged benefits of this supplement.
L-theanine is often claimed to be beneficial for treating anxiety, hypertension, and Alzheimer's disease. This eMedTV segment describes other possible benefits of L-theanine and explains how this amino acid might work for various conditions.
L-theanine is claimed to be effective for many uses, but does L-theanine work? This eMedTV article lists common L-theanine uses and describes some of the clinical studies that have been conducted on the effectiveness of L-theanine.
There are currently no known L-theanine side effects. As this portion of the eMedTV Web site explains, just because side effects were not seen in clinical studies and case reports does not mean that L-theanine side effects are not possible.
A safe and effective L-theanine dosage has not yet been established for any use. This article from the eMedTV archives offers general L-theanine dosing information and includes tips for finding a trustworthy manufacturer for L-theanine supplements.
Stimulants and blood pressure medications could interact negatively with L-theanine. As this page on the eMedTV site explains, L-theanine drug interactions can increase your risk of developing low blood pressure and make stimulants less effective.
You may not be able to take L-theanine safely if you have any chronic or serious health conditions. This eMedTV segment further explores L-theanine safety and describes some of the complications that may occur with the supplement.
You should not take L-theanine during pregnancy without your doctor's approval and supervision. This eMedTV Web page contains more information about L-theanine and pregnancy, and explains why "natural" products may not be safe for pregnant women.
It is a good idea to avoid L-theanine while breastfeeding until more safety information is available. This eMedTV resource offers a more in-depth look at L-theanine and breastfeeding, and discusses the safety of L-theanine supplements in general.
It is not known what to expect from an L-theanine overdose at this time. As this section of the eMedTV library explains, it is not possible to predict the effects of an L-theanine overdose or if an overdose with the amino acid is even possible.
