Drug & supplement interaction

Theacrine + Aminoglutethimide

Aminoglutethimide brand name: Cytadren.

Moderate Interaction
The bottom line Moderate

Theacrine has a moderate interaction with Aminoglutethimide. Theoretically, theacrine might alter the effects of CNS depressants.

Read the full interaction report
SeverityModerate
LikelihoodPossible
EvidenceD
What do Severity, Likelihood & Evidence mean?
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Interaction report

Theacrine and Aminoglutethimide

Here is the interaction we found between these two, with the evidence behind it.

Moderate

CNS DEPRESSANTS

Why this applies to Aminoglutethimide

Aminoglutethimide falls under CNS DEPRESSANTS — the group Theacrine interacts with.

Theoretically, theacrine might alter the effects of CNS depressants.
Animal research shows that low doses of theacrine have sedating effects, whereas high doses might have stimulant effects. Depending on the dose of theacrine used, it might increase or decrease the effects of CNS depressants. However, these effects have not yet been reported in humans.
Severity Moderate Likelihood Possible Evidence D

Interaction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists.

Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS
Dr. Brian Staiger explains PharmD, Clinical Pharmacist

Here's the honest picture: aminoglutethimide (Cytadren) can make you drowsy and a little dizzy, which is why it's grouped with medicines that calm the brain down. Theacrine is a caffeine-like supplement, and the concern with it is mostly theoretical. In animal studies, low doses seemed to calm things down while higher doses acted more like a stimulant. So depending on the dose, it could in theory either add to the sleepiness from your medicine or work against it.

The key thing to know is that none of this has actually been shown in people, so I wouldn't lose sleep over it. Still, since aminoglutethimide already affects how alert you feel, I'd run any theacrine product past your pharmacist or doctor first, especially if you notice extra grogginess or feel jittery.

References
  1. Xu JK, Kurihara H, Zhao L, Yao XS. Theacrine, a special purine alkaloid with sedative and hypnotic properties from Cammelia assamica var. kucha in mice. J Asian Nat Prod Res 2007;9(6-8):665-72.

What These Ratings Mean

Every interaction above is graded three ways — here’s the key to each label.

Severity how clinically significant the interaction is
Major

Clinically significant. Avoid the combination, or use only under close professional supervision.

Moderate

Usually worth avoiding or managing — may need monitoring, a dose change, or timing apart.

Minor

Generally not serious. Be aware of it and mention it to your pharmacist.

Likelihood how strong the evidence is that the interaction actually happens in people
  • LikelyWell-controlled human studies have demonstrated the likely existence of this interaction.
  • ProbableInteraction has not been documented in well-controlled studies, however, the interaction has been demonstrated in some small human studies or in controlled animal studies in conjunction with multiple case reports.
  • PossibleInteraction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists.
  • UnlikelyInteraction has been demonstrated in animal or in lab research but has been shown not to occur in humans.
Evidence the quality of the studies behind the rating (graded A–D)
  • AHigh-quality meta-analysis (quantitative systematic review).
  • BCase-control study.
  • CConsensus.
  • DAnecdotal evidence.

These ratings are for information only. Never start, stop, or otherwise change your therapy before speaking with your provider.

Keep it in perspective

Theacrine Also Interacts With Other Medications

Theacrine has 247 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Aminoglutethimide one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Theacrine

Covers the 2,830 medications we’ve checked against Theacrine. Pick one to open its full report.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Aminoglutethimide

This page covers Theacrine only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Aminoglutethimide page lists 134 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: 1,4-butanediol (major), Activated Charcoal (major), Beer (major), Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) (major) and Henbane (major).

By severity: 9 major · 108 moderate · 17 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Aminoglutethimide page

“Aminoglutethimide (Cytadren) suppresses adrenal hormone output, and marked drowsiness is one of its hallmark side effects, which is exactly where most of its supplement interactions strike. Of the 134 ingredients on file, 78 add their own sedation, and that group holds most of the 9 major-rated entries; alcohol is the best studied, and…”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Aminoglutethimide interaction page

One more smart check

Taking Theacrine as Part of a Dietary Supplement Product? Check It for Interactions

We hold 501 real supplement products containing Theacrine, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Theacrine. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Aminoglutethimide too, on top of Theacrine — and those would not show on this page. Find your product and we’ll check every ingredient on its label:

How much people look this up

Where Theacrine and Aminoglutethimide Sit Against Everything Else

Out of every supplement and medication people look up on HelloPharmacist, here is where these two land this week — and which way each has been moving.

Supplement Theacrine
Top 25%

#249 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today
Medication Aminoglutethimide
Steady interest

#1,943 of 2,830 medications looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today

Position among everything looked up on this site, not a measure of how commonly either one is used or how important it is. A supplement can climb this list because of a news story. It counts every request to the page, automated ones included, and nothing here identifies anyone.

Supplement

About Theacrine

What is Theacrine?

  • Energy and reduced fatigue
  • Focus and mental alertness
  • Mood support
  • Pre-workout performance
  • Caffeine-like stimulation with possibly less tolerance

Theacrine is a caffeine-like compound found naturally in certain tea plants and is sold in supplements for energy, focus, and mood. Early human studies suggest it may give a stimulant-like boost, but the overall evidence is limited and long-term safety is not well known. Talk with your pharmacist or doctor before using it, especially if you are sensitive to stimulants or have heart problems.

Read the full Theacrine monograph & all interactions
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Theacrine

Browse every other medication we’ve checked against Theacrine — both the ones with a known interaction and the ones without. Select any drug for the full detail.

0Major
247Moderate
0Minor
2,582No known interaction
Moderate

247 interactions

Showing 60 of 247 moderate interactions — see all 247 on the Theacrine page.

No interaction 2,582 drugs checked — show the list
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Interaction details are evidence-graded and sourced from the Natural Medicines database. The medication overview comes from MedlinePlus.

Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists. See our data sources and editorial standards for how this information is built and checked.

Parts of this content are provided by the Therapeutic Research Center, LLC.

DISCLAIMER: Currently this does not check for drug-drug interactions. This is not an all-inclusive comprehensive list of potential interactions and is for informational purposes only. Not all interactions are known or well-reported in the scientific literature, and new interactions are continually being reported. Input is needed from a qualified healthcare provider including a pharmacist before starting any therapy. Application of clinical judgment is necessary.

© 2021 Therapeutic Research Center, LLC

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Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Theacrine and Aminoglutethimide Together: Common Questions

Can you take Theacrine with Aminoglutethimide?
There is a moderate interaction, so it may be acceptable with monitoring or timing changes — but check with your pharmacist first. Read the full details on this page and confirm with your pharmacist before combining them.
How serious is the Theacrine and Aminoglutethimide interaction?
We rate it Moderate. This combination may require monitoring, a dose adjustment, or separating the times you take each one. Consult your pharmacist before using them together.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

Still Have a Question About Aminoglutethimide and Theacrine?

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This information is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always check with your pharmacist or doctor before starting, stopping, or combining supplements and medications.