Theacrine
Also called Temurin, Temorine, Tetramethyluric acid, 1,3,7,9-Tetramethyluric acid, TeaCrine
Dosage
Oral bands as drawn from PsychonautWiki's ranges below. The table is the source of truth.
When sources disagree, both rows are shown as published. Nothing is averaged or merged.
Oral
| Source | Threshold | Light | Common | Strong | Heavy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PsychonautWiki | 25 mg PW | 50–100 mg PW | 100–150 mg PW | 150–300 mg PW | 300 mg+ PW |
| TripSit | – | 10–25 mg TS | 25–50 mg TS | 50–100 mg+ TS | – |
Insufflated
TripSit dose text
TripSit's factsheet also states its doses as text.
Oral Light: 10-25mg Common: 25-50mg Strong: 50-100mg+ TS
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Duration
| Route · source | Onset | Come-up | Peak | Offset | Total | After-effects |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oral · PsychonautWiki | 30–60 minutes PW | – | – | – | 6–10 hours PW | – |
| Insufflated · PsychonautWiki | 5–30 minutes PW | – | – | – | 1–3 hours PW | – |
TripSit factsheet
Mixing
For best safety practice, don't mix this drug with other stimulants.
Why: vasoconstriction, heart rate and blood pressure. PsychonautWiki says:
- “... may be dangerous to combine with other stimulants ... as they can increase one's heart rate and blood pressure to dangerous levels.” (PsychonautWiki, dangerous interactions table, "Stimulants" row, revision 148925)
- “Vasoconstriction can be described as a narrowing of the veins and blood vessels which results from a contraction of their muscular wall.” (PsychonautWiki, Vasoconstriction, revision 170337)
- “... it can also occur under the influence of traditional stimulants such as methamphetamine, caffeine, and MDMA.” (PsychonautWiki, Vasoconstriction, revision 170337)
- “Increased blood pressure is most commonly induced under the influence of heavy dosages of vasoconstricting compounds, such as traditional stimulants and stimulating psychedelics.” (PsychonautWiki, Increased blood pressure, revision 152273)
Quotes from PsychonautWiki, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Acute combinations: what happens when these are taken close together. Entries backed by a medical journal or agency are listed first.
Backed by medical journals
Risks and toxicity
Theacrine is not known to cause brain damage, and has an extremely low toxicity relative to dose. There are relatively few physical side effects associated with theacrine exposure. Various studies have shown that in reasonable doses in a careful context, it presents no negative cognitive, psychiatric or toxic physical consequences of any sort. PW⚠ PsychonautWiki itself has flagged this text: citation needed.
It is strongly recommended that one use harm reduction practices when using this drug. PW
Tolerance and addiction potential
As with caffeine, theacrine produces dependence with chronic use and has a low abuse potential. When dependence has developed, cravings and withdrawal effects will occur if one suddenly stops its use. PW
Tolerance to many of the effects of theacrine develops with prolonged and repeated use. This results in users having to administer increasingly large doses to achieve the same effects. After that, it takes about 3 - 7 days for the tolerance to be reduced to half and 1 - 2 weeks to be back at baseline (in the absence of further consumption). It should be noted, however, that tolerance buildup does not occur as rapidly as with that of caffeine. Theacrine presents cross-tolerance with antagonists adenosine receptors, meaning that after the consumption of theacrine certain stimulants such as caffeine and theobromine will have a reduced effect.[2] PW
Testing
Effects
Overview
Theacrine (also known as Teacrine) is a nootropic stimulant and a structural analog of caffeine, appearing to be synthesized from caffeine in some plants. It is a bitter, white crystalline purine alkaloid that increases activity in the brain and induces temporary improvements including enhanced alertness, wakefulness, and stimulation. Relative to caffeine, it displays about 2/3rds the potency in terms of the stimulation it produces. PW⚠ PsychonautWiki itself has flagged this text: citation needed.
Small alkaloid which can be seen as a structurally modified version of caffeine, with similar stimulating effects. It also shares anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects with caffeine. TS
Theacrine, also known as 1,3,7,9-tetramethyluric acid, is a purine alkaloid found in cupuaçu (Theobroma grandiflorum), in a Chinese variety of tea called kucha (Camellia assamica var. kucha), and in stenophylla coffee. It shows anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects and appears to affect adenosine signalling in a manner similar to caffeine. In kucha leaves, theacrine is synthesized from caffeine in what is thought to be a three-step pathway. Theacrine and caffeine are structurally similar.[1–4] WP⚠ Part of this sentence could not be copied from the source. Open the source to read it in full.
History
Legal status
Pharmacology
Pharmacodynamics
The exact mechanism of action of theacrine is uncertain, as no binding affinities have been published. However, animal research involving selective A1 and A2A adenosine agonists found theacrine pretreatment attenuated the expected motor depression induced by adenosine agonism, indicating that theacrine is likely an adenosine antagonist.[2] WP
Administration of selective dopamine D1 and D2 antagonists demonstrate that, similarly to caffeine, the behavioural effects of theacrine are in part mediated by dopamine receptors.[2]
Pharmacokinetics
Chemistry
User reports
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References
- Journal / agency Zheng, XQ; Ye, CX; Kato, M; Crozier, A; Ashihara, H. Theacrine (1,3,7,9-tetramethyluric acid) synthesis in leaves of a Chinese tea, kucha (Camellia assamica var. Kucha). Phytochemistry. 2002. doi:10.1016/s0031-9422(02)00086-9 · PMID 12009315
- Journal / agency Feduccia, Allison A.; Wang, Yuanyuan; Simms, Jeffrey A.; Yi, Henry Y.; Li, Rui; Bjeldanes, Leonard; Ye, Chuangxing; Bartlett, Selena E. Locomotor activation by theacrine, a purine alkaloid structurally similar to caffeine: Involvement of adenosine and dopamine receptors. Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior. 2012. doi:10.1016/j.pbb.2012.04.014 · PMID 22579816
- Journal / agency Jan-Smith, Eliot; Downes, Harley; Davis, Aaron P.; Richard-Bollans, Adam; Haggar, Jeremy; Sarmu, Daniel; Kite, Geoffrey C.; Howes, Melanie-Jayne R. Metabolomic insights into the Arabica-like flavour of stenophylla coffee and the chemistry of quality coffee. npj Science of Food. 2025-03-19. doi:10.1038/s41538-025-00398-8 · PMID 40108189 · PMC11923265
- Journal / agency Wang, Yuanyuan; Yang, Xiaorong; Zheng, Xinqiang; Li, Jing; Ye, Chuangxing; Song, Xiaohong. Theacrine, a purine alkaloid with anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities. Fitoterapia. 2010. doi:10.1016/j.fitote.2010.03.008 · PMID 20227468
- Other Psychoactive Substances Act 2016
- Journal / agency Garrett, B. E.; Holtzman, S. G. D1 and D2 dopamine receptor antagonists block caffeine-induced stimulation of locomotor activity in rats. Pharmacology, Biochemistry, and Behavior. January 1994. doi:10.1016/0091-3057(94)90115-5 · PMID 7906891
- Journal / agency Mondal, Goutam; Wang, Yan-Hong; Butawan, Matthew; Bloomer, Richard J; Yates, Ryan. Caffeine and Methylliberine: A Human Pharmacokinetic Interaction Study. Journal of Exercise and Nutrition. 2022. doi:10.53520/jen2022.103124
Text and values on this page are quoted from PsychonautWiki (CC BY-SA 4.0), Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0), TripSit factsheets, PubChem (public domain). Each value links to the exact revision it came from.