Theacrine Dosage Guide: Protocols, Calculator & Safety
Everything you need to know about Theacrine dosing — protocols, safety, and where to buy.
Half-Life
16-20 hours (plasma); Tmax 60-90 minutes
Administration Routes
Dosage Calculator
Calculate exact dosing for Theacrine.
Dosing Protocols
Week 1-2: 100 mg TeaCrine-branded theacrine, taken once in the morning (pre-breakfast or with breakfast) on 3-4 days per week (not daily). Assess subjective energy, focus, and sleep. Note any head pressure, body load, or afternoon carryover. Hold caffeine at your normal baseline — do not change two variables at once.
Week 3-4: if well-tolerated, increase to 100 mg daily, still morning only. Continue caffeine baseline.
Week 5-6: if energy and focus gains are clear and sleep is intact, trial 150 mg morning daily. Consider reducing caffeine by 25-50 mg if cardiovascular sensations (heart rate, pressure) have increased.
Week 7-8: if still well-tolerated, either maintain 150 mg/day or trial 200 mg/day. Above 200 mg moves into the "research dose" range studied in clinical trials — stay there if needed, but most users don't.
Cycling: daily use is supported for at least 8 weeks per Taylor 2016. Most users do not cycle theacrine for tolerance reasons (because it doesn't produce measurable tolerance), but some cycle it 5 days on / 2 days off to preserve novelty and maintain sleep quality on off-days.
Always: morning dosing only (before 12 PM), with or after food (reduces nausea), and abstain on days when uncompromised sleep is non-negotiable.
Morning stack: 150 mg theacrine + 75 mg caffeine + 150 mg L-theanine, taken 45 minutes before demanding cognitive work. This is the most commonly-cited "clean focus" baseline in community usage.
Pre-workout variant: 200 mg theacrine + 150 mg caffeine + 100 mg dynamine + 3 g citrulline malate, taken 30-45 minutes before training. The theacrine extends the caffeine window into the 2-4 hour post-training recovery without the crash.
Cognitive contrast stack: 150 mg theacrine + 300 mg alpha-GPC + 250 mg L-tyrosine + 200 mg L-theanine, for sustained concentration work. Cycle 5 days on / 2 days off to preserve L-tyrosine response.
Dose titration: many users find 150-200 mg the efficacy sweet spot. Pushing to 300 mg can flatten the effect in some individuals — more is not always better on the dopaminergic axis. If 150 mg stops feeling effective, consider a 7-day wash rather than a dose increase.
Monitoring: pulse oximetry or resting heart rate check at weeks 4, 8, and 12 is reasonable due diligence. Track sleep onset and total sleep time — if sleep degrades, shift dosing earlier or reduce.
Performance-targeted protocol: 200 mg theacrine + 100 mg dynamine + 100 mg caffeine + 400 mg rhodiola rosea (3% rosavins) + 500 mg acetyl-L-carnitine, taken 60 minutes before demanding cognitive or training sessions. This layers three complementary stimulation mechanisms (adenosine antagonism, catecholamine modulation, mitochondrial support) and is tolerated only by users already stimulant-habituated.
Extended-duration protocol: 250 mg theacrine taken at 7 AM for 10-12 hour coverage. Suitable for day-long high-stakes work (conference delivery, surgery, regulatory submissions). Avoid above 300 mg single-dose — diminishing returns on focus and rising irritability signal in self-report data.
Periodization: some advanced users cycle theacrine in 4-6 week blocks at 200-300 mg/day, alternating with 2-week washes. Unlike caffeine, the pharmacological rationale for this is weak (tolerance is not demonstrated over 8 weeks), but psychological freshness and re-validation of baseline are legitimate reasons.
Biomarker monitoring: at doses ≥250 mg/day for >8 weeks, a basic CBC + CMP + lipid panel at months 3 and 6 is reasonable. Watch for trends in liver enzymes (ALT/AST) and uric acid — theacrine's terminal metabolites overlap with xanthine catabolism and could theoretically affect gout risk in predisposed individuals. No clinical cases documented, but the theoretical concern is non-zero.
Emergency taper: theacrine does not require tapering — abrupt cessation at any studied dose produces no withdrawal signs in controlled trials. Users who want to stop can simply stop.
Commonly Stacked With
Theacrine stacks built from the human and community literature:
Caffeine (pharmacokinetic synergy, best-studied): 100-150 mg caffeine + 125-200 mg theacrine. Caffeine approximately doubles theacrine AUC (He 2017, PMID 28356193) and adds fast-onset alertness; theacrine extends the duration and smooths the curve. This is the backbone stack for most commercial pre-workout products using TeaCrine. Users typically reduce caffeine ~30% from their usual dose when adding theacrine for the first time.
L-theanine (anxiolytic counter): 100-200 mg L-theanine paired with theacrine takes the edge off any residual peripheral stimulation and supports focused attention without sedation. This is the most commonly recommended "smooth" nootropic baseline — particularly helpful for users who find pure caffeine too anxiogenic.
Alpha-GPC or CDP-choline (cognitive contrast): 300 mg alpha-GPC or 250 mg CDP-choline adds a cholinergic layer that many users report improves subjective focus depth and working-memory clarity during theacrine's plateau. Evidence is mostly community-tier, but the mechanistic rationale is clean.
Dynamine (methylliberine, biphasic energy): 100 mg dynamine + 150 mg theacrine produces a fast-on/slow-off energy curve — dynamine peaks in 30-45 minutes and clears quickly; theacrine takes over the 2-4 hour window. Both are purine alkaloids from the same Kucha plant. This stack appears in several commercial pre-workouts and is generally well-tolerated.
Rhodiola rosea (3% rosavins, 200-400 mg): adaptogenic layer that may blunt cortisol response to the stimulation. Evidence is mixed, but users describe the combination as "calm productivity."
Avoid stacking with: other strong stimulants (DMHA, DMAA, ephedrine) — the sympathomimetic load compounds without additive cognitive benefit; yohimbine — unpredictable cardiovascular interactions; SSRIs + MAOIs — unstudied serotonin-dopamine interactions at theacrine's dopaminergic dose range.
Meal timing: theacrine absorption is not appreciably delayed by food, and co-ingestion with a modest meal reduces nausea reports at the higher (250-300 mg) doses without compromising efficacy.
Side Effects & Safety
Contraindications
Absolute contraindications: known theacrine or xanthine hypersensitivity; uncontrolled hypertension (systolic >160 or diastolic >100 mmHg); ventricular arrhythmia or symptomatic atrial fibrillation; MAOI therapy (phenelzine, tranylcypromine, selegiline at psychiatric doses); pregnancy; breastfeeding; age under 18. Relative contraindications requiring clinician review: treated hypertension on beta-blockers, ACE inhibitors, or calcium-channel blockers; history of panic disorder or generalized anxiety disorder (dopaminergic activation can be anxiogenic in vulnerable individuals); bipolar disorder on stimulant-sensitive regimens; chronic kidney disease (eGFR <60) due to altered xanthine clearance; active gout or frequent hyperuricemia; concurrent use of high-dose caffeine (>400 mg/day) without first reducing caffeine intake; fluvoxamine, ciprofloxacin, or other strong CYP1A2 inhibitors. Drug interactions documented or theoretical: MAOIs (theoretical dopaminergic crisis — avoid); oral contraceptives containing ethinyl estradiol (slow CYP1A2, may extend theacrine exposure — monitor); high-dose caffeine (additive sympathomimetic — dose-reduce both); stimulant ADHD medications (amphetamine, methylphenidate) — the dopaminergic overlap is theoretical but concerning enough to warrant prescriber awareness. Pre-surgical: discontinue theacrine at least 48 hours before elective surgery due to the long half-life and theoretical cardiovascular sensitization under anesthesia. Exercise/competitive athletics: theacrine is NOT on the 2024 WADA prohibited list. It is permitted in most sport-governing bodies including NCAA, IOC, and UCI. Competitive athletes should verify with their specific governing body before use.
Additional Notes
Clinically studied range: 100-300 mg/day of TeaCrine (≥98% theacrine) in single morning doses.
Community-practical range: 100-200 mg/day is the most commonly-used dose. 150 mg is the modal starting point for daily use. 250-300 mg is typical for pre-workout or acute high-focus sessions.
Upper threshold: above 400 mg/day produces diminishing returns and rising irritability in self-report data; 500 mg represents a practical ceiling with no evidence of benefit above it.
Formulation: TeaCrine-branded theacrine (≥98% pure, manufactured by Compound Solutions) is the form used in the clinical trials and should be preferred for first-time use. Generic bulk theacrine has shown variable purity in independent testing (some underdosed, some caffeine-adulterated). A certificate of analysis from the manufacturer and visible TeaCrine trademark in the ingredient list is the practical quality marker.
Timing: morning dosing only, with or within 2 hours of food. The 16-20 hour half-life means afternoon dosing reliably disrupts sleep onset for most users.
Stacking dose reductions: when co-dosing with caffeine, reduce theacrine by ~25% for first-trial (caffeine doubles theacrine AUC). A common starter combination is 125 mg theacrine + 100 mg caffeine.
CYP1A2-sensitive: slow CYP1A2 metabolizers (diagnosed via 23andMe or GeneCafe panels) should start at half the standard dose and titrate slowly, as clearance times can be substantially extended.
Where to Buy Theacrine
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the recommended Theacrine dosage?
Dosage for Theacrine varies by protocol. Consult a qualified healthcare provider.
How often should I take Theacrine?
Administration frequency depends on the specific protocol. Consult current research literature.
Does Theacrine need to be cycled?
Cycling requirements depend on the protocol. Follow established research guidelines.
What are Theacrine side effects?
At studied doses (100-300 mg/day), theacrine has a favorable side-effect profile in the controlled human trials — clinical chemistry and cardiovascular markers remained unchanged vs placebo across 8 weeks. That said, real-world reports identify several patterns worth knowing. Common (reported by >10% of users in community surveys): mild head pressure or pressure-sinus sensation in the first 60-90 minutes after dosing, typically resolving spontaneously. Some users report a subtle "body load" — a heaviness or slight muscle tension — that is distinctive from caffeine's peripheral jitter and usually mild. Occasional: nausea when taken on empty stomach at 250-300 mg (take with food), sleep disruption if taken after ~2 PM due to the long half-life, dry mouth, transient mild headache in the first 2-3 days of use. Less common but documented: irritability or agitation at doses above 400 mg, usually in stimulant-sensitive individuals or those co-dosing with high caffeine. Paradoxical fatigue has been reported by a small minority of users — plausibly linked to CYP1A2 polymorphism or individual dopaminergic responsiveness. Rare: palpitations (typically in combination with caffeine, not monotherapy). No documented cases of seizure, cardiac arrhythmia, or serious hepatotoxicity at studied doses. Interactions to be aware of: additive with caffeine (often desired, but dose-reduce both if stacking); theoretical MAOI interaction due to dopaminergic activity (avoid); potential increase in effect when stacked with other CYP1A2 substrates (fluvoxamine, ciprofloxacin, oral contraceptives containing ethinyl estradiol — all slow CYP1A2, extending theacrine exposure). Pregnancy and breastfeeding: no human data, avoid. Adolescents (<18): no safety data, avoid. Sleep is the most practical constraint. With a 16-20 hour half-life, a 200 mg morning dose still has roughly 40% of peak plasma at 10 PM. Users who take theacrine after 12-2 PM commonly report fragmented sleep or delayed sleep onset, and the long half-life means this cannot be offset by a post-dose sleep aid. The practical rule: morning dosing only, and skip if you need uncompromised sleep that night.
Where can I buy Theacrine?
Compare 4 listings from 1 vendor on our price comparison page — starting from $39.99.
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