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My 16-month theanine self-experiment

(dynomight.net)
817 points dynm | 4 comments | 09 Mar 25 03:08 UTC | HN request time: 0s | source
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AequitasOmnibus ◴[09 Mar 25 04:34 UTC] No.43306268[source]▶
From the discussions I've seen about theanine, the real benefit supposedly came when it was taken alongside caffeine. The thinking being that theanine moderated some of the jittery effects of caffeine, allowing the user to take higher doses of caffeine, which itself has some benefit on task concentration and focus.

I wish the author had spent time addressing that theory specifically.

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Kiro ◴[09 Mar 25 10:39 UTC] No.43307867[source]▶
I don't understand what people refer to when they say "jittery effects". I don't feel anything when taking caffeine, no matter the dose. Or I want to think it helps me wake up but the effect is so small that I can't be sure. It's basically just a ritual for me.
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1. tiborsaas ◴[09 Mar 25 15:19 UTC] No.43309804[source]▶
I got my teeth whitened and I was forbidden to drink coffee for a week or so. I thought the same that coffee was just a ritual for me, but apparently I got really weird (moody, annoyed easily) when going cold turkey, so I had to go to the pharmacy and buy caffeine tablets :) That settled it for me, that coffee does have and effect on me despite not feeling these "jittery effects" as well.
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2. dwaltrip ◴[09 Mar 25 18:55 UTC] No.43312398[source]▶
Part of that is probably withdrawal, I would think.
3. drilbo ◴[09 Mar 25 19:20 UTC] No.43312677[source]▶
experiencing withdrawal symptoms seems to me quite different than regular use having a positive benefit
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4. tiborsaas ◴[10 Mar 25 03:04 UTC] No.43316613[source]▶
I would say it's both. "booting up" and starting to be a productive human in the morning happens smoothly as I have my coffee :)