Drug & supplement interaction

Theacrine + Brexanolone

Brexanolone brand name: Zulresso.

Moderate Interaction
Medically reviewed by · Updated September 2026
The bottom line Moderate

Theacrine has a moderate interaction with Brexanolone. 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 Brexanolone

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

Moderate

CNS DEPRESSANTS

Why this applies to Brexanolone

Brexanolone 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 situation with these two together. Brexanolone (Zulresso) is a calming, sedative-type medicine given as an IV drip in a monitored setting for postpartum depression. It already carries a real risk of making you very drowsy, dizzy, or even causing sudden loss of consciousness, which is why you're watched closely during the infusion.

Theacrine is a caffeine cousin. In animal studies it acted sedating at low doses and stimulant-like at higher doses, so in theory it could either add to Brexanolone's drowsiness or work against it. This is only a theoretical concern based on lab and animal data, never confirmed in people. Still, since you're already monitored on Brexanolone, mention any supplements like theacrine to your care team beforehand.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
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 Brexanolone one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Moderate 247 No known interaction 2,583 (incl. Brexanolone)
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 Brexanolone

This page covers Theacrine only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Brexanolone page lists 79 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: 1,4-butanediol (major), Beer (major), Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) (major), Kava (major) and L-tryptophan (major).

By severity: 6 major · 67 moderate · 6 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Brexanolone page

“Brexanolone (Zulresso) is an IV infusion for postpartum depression, and it already carries a boxed warning for excessive sedation and sudden loss of consciousness during treatment. That built-in risk is exactly what most of these 79 supplements press on, so treat this list with genuine care.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Brexanolone 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 Brexanolone 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 Brexanolone 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%

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

29 days ago today
Medication Brexanolone
Steady interest

#1,435 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
Medication

About Brexanolone Injection

What Is Brexanolone Injection Used For?

Brand name: Zulresso

  • Brexanolone injection is used for the treatment of postpartum depression (PPD) in adults. Brexanolone injection is in a class of medications called neurosteroid antidepressants. It works by changing the activity of certain natural substances in the brain.

See full Brexanolone Injection drug information
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
247 Moderate 2,582 No 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

We also checked Theacrine against these medications and found no known interaction in our sources. Open any page to confirm.

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,582 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Theacrine list.

See the full Theacrine interactions page
See every supplement checked against Brexanolone, ranked by severity
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

Keep exploring
Theacrine monograph › Uses, safety, and every drug interaction in one place Brexanolone supplement interactions › Every supplement checked against Brexanolone, ranked by severity Brexanolone Injection drug information › The full plain-English guide to this medication Supplement interaction checker › Check any supplement or product against your medications Browse medications A–Z › Every drug we've checked against herbs & supplements Ask a pharmacist › Free, personal answer from our licensed team
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Theacrine and Brexanolone Together: Common Questions

Can you take Theacrine with Brexanolone?
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 Brexanolone 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 Brexanolone and Theacrine?

Our pharmacists answer your medication & supplement questions — free.

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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.