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Theacrine Facts

Stimulant; Purine alkaloid; Adenosine receptor antagonist

Description

Theacrine (1,3,7,9-tetramethyluric acid) is a stimulant of the methylurate purine alkaloid class. It blocks adenosine receptors that promote sleep and boosts dopamine activity, producing wakefulness and mental drive.[1]

Subjective effects include wakefulness, sharper focus, increased motivation, and mild mood elevation. The experience is cleaner and more sustained than Caffeine — a steady mental clarity without the jittery edge, lasting well beyond a typical caffeine window.[2]

Theacrine shows no evidence of physical dependence, and no overdose or serious adverse event has been reported.[3] Blood pressure rises and cortisol elevates at doses above typical supplementation ranges, but unlike most stimulants, effects do not diminish with repeated use — so there is no pressure to escalate the dose.[4][5]

Dose and durationby route · individual sensitivity varies

Oral(mg)
Threshold< 25 mgLight50 – 100 mgCommon100 – 150 mgStrong150 – 300 mgHeavy300+ mg

Starts in 15 – 45 minLasts 6 – 10 hoursAfter-effects 4 – 12 hours

Body and dependence

Acute toxicity
Low
Chronic toxicity
Low
Physical dependence
Negligible
Psychological dependence
Low
Withdrawal
None recorded
Compulsive redosing
Low

Tolerance

Builds
None
Fully resets after
Not recorded
Carries over to
caffeine

Effectslikely at a common dose

Body
Stimulation; Wakefulness; +5 possible, including Insomnia, Heart rate perception changes
Thinking
none likely · 8 possible
Feeling
none likely · 2 possible
Self
none likely · 1 possible

Who shouldn't take it

Absolute
Adenosine-dependent medical procedures
Relative
Uncontrolled hypertension; Panic disorder; HPA axis disorders; Pregnancy and lactation

Combinations61 recorded

Dangerous (18)
Amphetamines; Ephedrine, Pseudoephedrine; CBD; GHB, Baclofen; GHB, GBL; Ibogaine; Local anesthetics; MAOIs; MDMA, Amphetamines; MDMA, MDA; NDRIs (Wellbutrin); NRIs; Opioids; SNRIs; SSRIs; Stimulants; Synthetic cannabinoids; Salvia, Ibogaine
Caution (30)
See full page: psychedex.org/substances/theacrine
Not graded (13)
Not listed never means safe.

Seek help immediately if

No emergency profile is recorded for this substance. Not recorded never means no risk.

988 Suicide & Crisis LifelineFireside Project: 62-FIRESIDE

Version r1 · Not medical advice

References

  1. [1]
    ^Feduccia AA, Wang Y, Simms JA, Yi HY, Li R, Bjeldanes L, Ye C, Bartlett SE (2012) Locomotor activation by theacrine, a purine alkaloid structurally similar to caffeine: involvement of adenosine and dopamine receptors. — Pharmacology, Biochemistry, and Behavior doi:10.1016/j.pbb.2012.04.014
  2. [2]
    ^Wildgrube T, Senekowitsch S, Krüger R, Winter F, Grimm M, Weitschies W, Schick P (2025) A comparison of theacrine and methylliberine with caffeine as salivary markers for determining gastric emptying. — International Journal of Pharmaceutics: X doi:10.1016/j.ijpx.2025.100442
  3. [3]
    ^Taylor L, Mumford P, Roberts M, Hayward S, Mullins J, Urbina S, Wilborn C (2016) Safety of TeaCrine®, a non-habituating, naturally-occurring purine alkaloid over eight weeks of continuous use. — Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition doi:10.1186/s12970-016-0113-3
  4. [4]
    ^Vieira-Cavalcante V, Schamne J, Gonçalves F, Bertuzzi R, Pierucci A, Boari D, Lima-Silva A, Silva RG (2025) Different doses of theacrine do not improve 4 km cycling time trial performance. — Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism doi:10.1139/apnm-2024-0442
  5. [5]
    ^Stoke C, Chandler M, Madzima T (2026) Assessing the impact of high theacrine doses on hemodynamic measures, cognitive performance, and physiological stress. — Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism doi:10.1139/apnm-2025-0380
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