Theacrine
Theacrine is similar to caffeine but may cause less tolerance buildup. It may contribute to energy and focus, though research is still early.
Clinical dosage
Origin
NaturalTheacrine naturally occurs in kucha tea (Camellia assamica var. kucha), a Chinese tea variety. It's structurally related to caffeine. In supplements often as TeaCrine (patented extract) or synthetic.
Safety
Theacrine does not appear to cause tolerance buildup like caffeine (Taylor et al., 2016). Doses up to 300mg per day are well tolerated. It does not significantly raise heart rate or blood pressure at normal doses.
For comparison
Theacrine works similarly to caffeine but without the habituation. After weeks of caffeine use you need more for the same effect, while theacrine may keep working equally well. It feels like a calmer, longer-lasting boost than coffee.
Dosage by weight and gender
The effective theacrine dose is 100-300mg per day (Kuhman et al., 2015). Body weight plays a limited role. No gender-specific differences are known. 200mg is the most common dose in pre-workouts. It combines well with caffeine for a synergistic effect.
Frequently asked questions
What does theacrine do?▼
Theacrine may improve mental energy and focus, similar to caffeine but without the jittery side effects. It works on adenosine and dopamine receptors. Research by Taylor et al. (2016) suggests it does not cause tolerance buildup.
Is theacrine dangerous?▼
At normal doses (100-300mg) no serious side effects have been reported. Theacrine doesn't significantly raise heart rate or blood pressure, making it a milder option than high-dose caffeine. Research is more limited than for caffeine though.
How much theacrine per day?▼
100-300mg per day, preferably 30 minutes before training. Most pre-workouts contain 50-200mg. Theacrine works well with caffeine, so a lower dose (100mg) in combination can already be effective.
Scientific sources
The clinical dosages on this page are based on peer-reviewed research.
- A two-part approach to examine the effects of theacrine (TeaCrine) on safety and hemodynamic responsesTaylor L et al. — J Caffeine Adenosine Res (2016)
Pre-workouts with Theacrine
No products found with this ingredient