L-theanine for Dietary Supplementation User Reviews (Page 2)

• Sha...
• February 21, 2017

"I started taking this about two weeks ago for insomnia. It was combined with lavender oil as a natural sleep aid. It works for helping me to shut my brain off at night and fall asleep, but it caused severe dizzy spells and bad headaches. I also had some stomach upset. I hear that's a rare reaction, but just wanted users to be aware of the possibility. Today I had a dizzy spell so bad in the kitchen that I fell and hurt my hip. I am a 37-year-old woman."

• Ste...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 7, 2014

"I take L-Theanine Stress Formula with Calming Blend by Sundown. It greatly helps me relax at night time. It is not like taking a benzodiazepine, but definitely helps take the edge off. I am prescribed Adderall for trouble concentrating. I sometimes use it with Adderall to decrease jitteriness. I also often mix L-Theanine with Valerian (whole root, not extract) to help me sleep."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 8, 2021

"I took l-theanine combined with melatonin to help me fall asleep, and my experience was awful. It made me almost jittery, and although I was very tired, I couldn’t go to sleep because of the restlessness it caused. Once I did fall asleep, I woke up frequently feeling really anxious."

• Shu...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 29, 2016

"I have trouble turning off my brain as soon as the lights go off at bedtime. I sometimes get only 4 hours of sleep. This melatonin plus 200mg L-theanine is helping me go to sleep and stay asleep. I am type 2 Diabetic and I have also noticed my blood sugar levels are much better."

• Joe...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 1, 2019

"I take 100 mg before bed to help stay asleep through the night. My doc recommended taking it throughout the day as well to increase sleep. It does, but I have had heart palpitations since increasing, especially if I take more than 100 mg in a single dose. So interesting how this supplement interacts with each individual. My body is quite sensitive to anything I take, which accounts for the pounding heart."

• Cor...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 11, 2020

"I have Cushing's disease and experience most days some anxiety, some days extreme anxiety, and rarely no anxiety. I call the no anxiety days the 'old me.' While I have been using a combination of homeopathic, allopathic, and herbal to control my anxiety, finding l-theanine felt heaven-sent. I wasn't just anxiety-free, I felt calm, in control, and even when I had an adrenal/Cushing cycle, the cycle was easily handled and recovery was quick. I was me again. Then my blood pressure started to experience unusual rapid drops, from 140/80 to 78/52. I am not sure if it is the l-theanine. I was taking 225 mg a day. So I have decided not to take it for a week. See what happens."

• Nes...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 2, 2020

"I started taking l-theanine a month ago. At first, it caused me to have horrible nightmares. I've never had heartburn before, but now I do. I've been in a super weird mood too. Not feeling like myself. I've also noticed random heart palpitations."

• DeR...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 8, 2020

"I can truly appreciate this supplement, not prescription, to clarify. I’ve been taking this supplement for about a month. I refused to get hooked on benzos, anti-anxiety meds, so I researched and found that this was a much better fit. I had no side effects, just relaxation at bedtime, which is when I take it, 100 mg along with 400 mg of magnesium only at bedtime because you will be ready to sleep after taking it. I was experiencing anxiety, and this helped me a great deal. I have even recommended it to others, of course, if their physician gives the green light, as mine did. It crosses the blood-brain barrier, and that’s what I needed."

• mes...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 20, 2017

"This works on my dog's anxiety, my anxiety, and my college son's anxiety. We all get relief within 15 minutes of taking this. I actually found it originally from my vet (expensive anti-anxiety dog pill ingredients: L-theanine and meat flavoring). I keep buying tablets in the large foil bag on eBay (the ones for humans, not dogs!). It is better than an anti-anxiety pill as there is no exhaustion or other side effects, just a calming feeling that allows you to relax a bit and think. I buy a huge bag and that makes it cheap. The capsule form is more expensive."

• kar...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 24, 2019

"I told my psych that the clonazepam isn't working as well as it used to (and I'm going to be slowly tapering off the drug so I can be free of that prison!), and he recommended I use theanine (200 mg, 2 times per day, as needed). The first time I used it, within 30 minutes I was so relaxed - peaceful, calm, and it was easier to read an article because I wasn't always getting distracted. Taking 200 mg in the morning and then again at night was great, and now that I've started tapering off my clonazepam, I am using theanine to help with slight withdrawal symptoms. I'm praying this is what will finally get me off the benzo! This stuff is fantastic...for me. Just be sure to talk with your doc on how to taper off any benzos before you do it yourself. Going cold turkey can be deadly. The only issue is that it seems to make me a little foggy for a short period of time during the morning. But my work product is much better - especially when taking before drinking coffee."

• smi...
• March 28, 2016

"I didn't know until I started reading the reviews how good this product really is. I have ADHD and I can tell you that it takes away the blues. More specifically, it gives you the power to finish your work."

• Ang...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 24, 2020

"I tried just one pill last night and shortly after felt really relaxed, like that feeling when you’re about to fall asleep. Then my heart was beating closer to 125 bpm for at least an hour or more. I felt dizzy and also nauseous. I won’t be taking this again."

• Ton...
• October 27, 2019

"Took 200 mg a day in the morning. Had a couple of stressful weeks and wanted to try theanine after some research on the web. Tried it for 2 days, then 2 days off. Then for 5 days straight, then quit. First 2 days were okay, it reduced stress a lot. It did not increase that real focus, but it did reduce distraction and other stimuli. The effect was pretty admirable for just an off-the-shelf supplement. Also, deep sleep and pretty damn deep dreaming. During the 5-day period, I pretty much got used to and adjusted to the positive effects. Started to get bad headaches from it, my neck and jaw muscles got stiff as hell. Everything started to feel distant and off. It is way too easy to sort of 'zone out' on this stuff. Would not recommend it. Non-polarized reviews and mentions of side effects require some online digging to find."

• Jjr...
• August 15, 2020

"My doctor suggested 100 mg 2x daily for general anxiety. I was reluctant in taking my other prescribed anxiety meds (i.e., Xanax), so I figured I’d give this natural alternative a try. I took the Integrative Therapeutics brand because I’d had good experiences with their lavender oil pills (which do work for me, by the way). I took my first pill of 100 mg about 15 minutes after breakfast. By the 45-minute mark, I was beginning to have the worst heart palpitations of my entire life. I thought I was going into convulsions. I tried to eat some bread to absorb the pill, but it began to feel as though my mouth wouldn’t function. I felt like I was losing control of my body. I was beyond irritated and incoherent. Mind you, I’ve suffered from anxiety attacks for the past five years, but nothing like this before. I’m also a 23-year-old, healthy woman. I’m not on any other medications. The extremely high heart rate lasted for close to two hours. This may work for some, but not for me."

• GBa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 11, 2021

"Tried to take for general anxiety and for calmness. Just 100 mg, 3 days in a row, caused the opposite: insomnia, anxiety, and also a strange capability to bring up bad memories. Moved me more towards a depressive state of mind."

• gol...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 28, 2021

"I am a 21-year-old female with medicated ADHD, but no other health problems. Everything I've read has said that L-theanine helps with ADHD stimulant medication jitters, without any side effects. I took 200 mg yesterday afternoon. What followed was what I felt was the worst human experience imaginable. Within 40 minutes, and for 5 hours afterward, I was dissociating for the first time in my life (everything felt distant and like I wasn't in my own body), every muscle was twitching, I was easily startled, tachycardia, I could not stop crying, and every time I closed my eyes, all I could see were rapid flashes of light, as if I was seeing my own neurons firing off. This supplement took me to depths of sadness that I did not know were possible for anyone to feel. Even now, well over 24 hours later, whatever trace amount of L-theanine is still in my system has rendered my ADHD medication useless, and I am still unwell. I hope it clears within the next few days-I just want my life back."

• Bun...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 18, 2019

"After years of stress and trauma, became depressed and anxious with binge eating. Started Wellbutrin last April, and changed my job to better circumstances, stopped with further stress. Started having panic attacks, previous symptoms, additionally: fatigue, irritability, perimenopausal and low thyroid symptoms, rapid weight gain. Naturopath diagnosed adrenal fatigue, went off Wellbutrin (no issues), started L-theanine, 100 mg 2x a day, and a third before bed if I feel I need it, as well as Ashwagandha 2x a day. When stressed by events, I take 200 mg instead of 100 mg, am overcome with a sense of calm and well-being, like the first time I took it. Daily for over 2 weeks now, much better baseline anxiety level, wiped out my irritability, panic. That plus the Ashwagandha has given me my energy back and my sense of humor, ability to enjoy life, motivation. Binge eating is still a problem. Testing thyroid, hormone levels for further treatment."

• Wen...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 1, 2020

"Initially, I really benefited from the calm feelings when I took 200 mg at bedtime. Fell asleep more easily and had relief from falling asleep anxiety. After a few weeks, however, I started getting debilitating headaches, fogginess, dizziness, and fatigue. It confined me to home. I am very disappointed."

• Car...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 29, 2020

"I started theanine last week. It seemed great the first few days. Then, these past 2 days, it has triggered some really nasty anxiety attacks. I was up until 3 a.m. afraid to go to sleep for 2 nights in a row. It causes extreme thirst and hard and heavy heartbeats. I believe this drops my blood pressure too low in conjunction with propranolol. Will not take again. Be careful with this stuff."

• Myl...
• February 18, 2019

"Honestly, this really isn’t as great as it seems. Yeah, it will do its job and relax you, but to the point you start forgetting stuff. Being in weird moods. Your appetite will be different. Also, my stomach has just been feeling full, and heartburn happens easier than it did before. If I drink a beer or two, it just feels like I’m so full and get a weird feeling. Also, makes you have even worse anxiety after you take it. As if it makes you feel okay, but when it wears off or you don’t take it, you feel crazy. At least I did. I will no longer take this. I don’t recommend it unless you want to feel not like yourself. Don’t let it make you feel this is a thing that doesn’t have side effects because it does."

• Lil...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 30, 2020

"I've been using 200 mg of l-theanine combined with caffeine on and off for about 4 months now. At first, it was okay, but I would have this weird dizziness that would fade away after some time. I loved the way it kind of made me 'wake up' for hours so I could work and study with full focus. However, this month and last month have been horrible for me with regards to taking these pills. I've started to feel tingly and numb in the hands and feet, and I have this awful dizziness accompanied by horrible heartburn. I feel like I am living in another dimension right now as everything around me is spinning. I took the pills last night for me to finally realize that this isn't for me. I did not sleep all night long! I still feel restless 10 hours later, and the numbness, dizziness, and heartburn are still there. I am a perfectly healthy woman, and trust me, this supplement isn't for everyone, so be careful."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 17, 2020

"I only took two pills (200 mg each pill) over two days. The first day I seemed more focused, noticed I was reading through articles faster and seemed more alert, but not 'wired.' The second day, I felt really dizzy and brain foggy, anxiety spiked to where I felt like I couldn't even go outside, let alone go somewhere specifically, rapid heartbeat, and frequent trips to the bathroom. Threw the bottle in the trash and hopefully things will level back out in the next couple of days."

• PEP...
• December 30, 2016

"I had great results. It enhanced my cognitive thinking and lessened my memory loss. The only problem was it gave me an unbelievable body odor. I could smell it, but not sure if anyone else could. No one mentioned me smelling bad. I had to stop taking them because I couldn't stand the odor. My girlfriend takes it to help her blood pressure, which the doctors couldn't seem to regulate."

• BAM...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 11, 2019

"This really does help you be calm and focus, however, it gives me severe insomnia. Even if I take it in the morning, I can't fall asleep that night. It's like my brain is completely wired on it, and what little sleep I got was very restless. If you have insomnia, I would recommend testing this out on a day where you don't need to be up for anything the next morning."

• Gen...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 11, 2019

"48-year-old male. Took it for general anxiety disorder, tried every med out there, almost everyone, some worked for a couple of years then stopped working so I go to another, on these meds for 19 years, very medication sensitive, got off all meds a year ago, still had a little anxiety so took l-theanine for about a week, worked really well for 7 days then suddenly developed a massive headache with extreme neck pain and dizziness. I stopped taking l-theanine 250 mgs. It's been 2 days since I stopped and the headache and neck pain are almost gone. Definitely not for me, allergic to pain lol!"