Drug & supplement interaction

Theacrine + Nelarabine

Nelarabine brand name: Atriance.

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

Theacrine has a moderate interaction with Nelarabine. 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 Nelarabine

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

Moderate

CNS DEPRESSANTS

Why this applies to Nelarabine

Nelarabine 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: this interaction is grouped under medicines that can affect the central nervous system, and nelarabine is worth a special note here. Nelarabine itself can cause neurological side effects, like drowsiness, confusion, dizziness, numbness or tingling, and in some cases more serious problems with balance or muscle weakness. Theacrine is a caffeine-like stimulant, and the concern is purely theoretical, drawn from animal studies where low doses seemed calming and higher doses seemed energizing.

Because we don't have human data, nobody can say for sure which way things would tip. My bigger worry is that a stimulant could mask early nerve-related warning signs from nelarabine, or simply muddy the waters. Since you're being treated for leukemia or lymphoma, please run any supplement past your oncology team or pharmacist first.

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 Nelarabine 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. Nelarabine)
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 Nelarabine

This page covers Theacrine only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Nelarabine page lists 130 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 · 118 moderate · 6 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Nelarabine page

“Nelarabine (Atriance) is chemotherapy for a rare T-cell leukemia and lymphoma, and its most feared side effect is damage to the nervous system, from heavy drowsiness up to seizures. Most of the 130 supplement and herbal ingredients on this list press on exactly that weak point.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Nelarabine 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 Nelarabine 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 Nelarabine 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%

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

29 days ago today
Medication Nelarabine
Top half

#843 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 Nelarabine Injection

What Is Nelarabine Injection Used For?

Brand name: Atriance

Nelarabine injection (brand name Arranon) is used to treat two aggressive blood cancers: T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) and T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma (T-LBL). It is approved for adult and pediatric patients age 1 year and older whose disease has not responded to — or has come back after — at least two prior chemotherapy regimens.

Nelarabine injection may also be given in combination with multi-agent chemotherapy as part of treatment for newly diagnosed T-ALL and T-LBL in certain settings, as studied in clinical trials.

See full Nelarabine 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 Nelarabine, 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 Nelarabine supplement interactions › Every supplement checked against Nelarabine, ranked by severity Nelarabine 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 Nelarabine Together: Common Questions

Can you take Theacrine with Nelarabine?
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 Nelarabine 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 Nelarabine 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.