L-Theanine

Category: amino-acid

Aliases: γ-Glutamylethylamide, N⁵-Ethyl-L-glutamine, Suntheanine, l-theanine, theanine

Pharmacological Mechanism

Glutamate analog — crosses the BBB via LAT1. Increases α-wave EEG power (wakeful-relaxed state) and modulates gaba a receptor signaling and glycine release. Partial glutamate receptor pharmacology / ampa kainate glutamate extension receptor activity. Does not share glutamate's excitotoxic profile — dampens caffeine's sympathetic overshoot without blunting its alertness effect.

Half-Life (t½)

PO: 1.2h

Dosing Guidelines

• PO: Typical 200 mg (Range: 100–400 mg)

Target Organ Systems

• nervous

Interactions

• Caffeine (synergistic): Alpha-wave modulation + adenosine block — additive focus without sympathetic overshoot.

Pathways It Modulates

• Glutamate / glutamine cycle (inhibitor) — glutamate receptor partial antagonist + GABA elevation

Chemical Identifiers

• PubChem CID: 439378
• Formula: C7H14N2O3
• Molecular weight: 174.2 g/mol
• InChIKey: DATAGRPVKZEWHA-YFKPBYRVSA-N
• SMILES: CCNC(=O)CC[C@@H](C(=O)O)N

References

• PMID 23096008
• PMID 18006208