Compound or practice · Supplement
Theacrine (TeaCrine)
A caffeine-like purine that gives clean energy and focus with slower tolerance build-up — real but lightly studied.
- Overall grade
- Grade C
- Last revised
- 1
- graded outcome
- 0
- references listed
A structured monograph in Prometheus's bundled library. Its grades are the monograph's own reading of the evidence, not a peer-reviewed review.
1 at grade C — 1 graded row
What is known
Each outcome with its grade (how strong the evidence is, A to D), the size of the effect where the entry records one, and how often studies agree.
- Energy / focusEvidence grade C
Small trials
Smallmixed
What is uncertain
Read off the same rows as above. Nothing here is added that the entry does not itself record.
- Thin evidence: Energy / focus (grade C).
Interactions
Documented pairings with supplements and medicines. A medicine on this list is a conversation for whoever prescribes it.
CaffeineWorks together
Theacrine and caffeine appear to potentiate each other.
The evidence in words
What it is
Theacrine is a purine alkaloid related to caffeine, found in kucha tea and sold (as TeaCrine) for energy and focus.
How it works
Like caffeine it antagonizes adenosine receptors and modulates dopamine, but users report less tolerance and jitter — possibly due to different receptor kinetics.
What the evidence shows
Small trials show theacrine improves energy, focus and mood without raising heart rate or blood pressure much, and — unlike caffeine — with little tolerance over a week or two. It appears synergistic with caffeine. Evidence base is small.
Safety & interactions
Well tolerated in short trials; long-term data limited. Still a stimulant — mind total stimulant load and late-day dosing. Caffeine — Theacrine and caffeine appear to potentiate each other.
Bottom line
A promising, smoother caffeine cousin with slower tolerance; the evidence is early but positive. Often stacked with caffeine.
Goes with
- CaffeineTheacrine and caffeine appear to potentiate each other.Evidence grade A
Related reading
Entries that share this one's tags or conditions.
- Caffeine for Alertness / reaction timeEvidence grade A — Acute, tolerance-limitedEvidence grade A
- Caffeine for Endurance performanceEvidence grade A — Well establishedEvidence grade A
- Caffeine for Sleep (afternoon dosing)Evidence grade A — Degrades sleep — the key costEvidence grade A
- Caffeine for Strength / powerEvidence grade B — Smaller effectEvidence grade B
Sources
This entry lists no references of its own.
Last revised . A grade is this entry's reading of the evidence, not medical advice.