Drug & supplement interaction

Theanine + Valsartan

Valsartan brand names: Diovan, Prexxartan.

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

Theanine has a moderate interaction with Valsartan. Theanine might lower blood pressure, potentiating the effects of antihypertensive drugs.

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

Theanine and Valsartan

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

Moderate

ANTIHYPERTENSIVE DRUGS

Why this applies to Valsartan

Valsartan falls under ANTIHYPERTENSIVE DRUGS — the group Theanine interacts with.

Theanine might lower blood pressure, potentiating the effects of antihypertensive drugs.
Animal research shows that theanine can lower blood pressure in spontaneously hypertensive animals. Theoretically, concomitant use of theanine and antihypertensive drugs might potentiate the antihypertensive activity.
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 simple version: valsartan (Diovan) already works to bring your blood pressure down, and theanine may gently nudge it down a little more. Stacking the two could, in theory, lower your numbers more than expected. If that happens, you might feel lightheaded, dizzy, or tired, especially when you stand up quickly.

I want to be honest about how strong this concern is, though. The evidence here comes from animal studies, not solid human research, so it's mostly theoretical and on the mild side. Most people tolerate theanine fine. Still, since blood pressure is involved, it's worth a quick chat with your pharmacist or doctor before adding it, and keep an eye on your readings at home.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Yokogoshi H, Kobayashi M. Hypotensive effect of gamma-glutamylethylamide in spontaneously hypertensive rats. Life Sci 1998;62:1065-8.
  2. Yokogoshi, H., Kato, Y., Sagesaka, Y. M., Takihara-Matsuura, T., Kakuda, T., and Takeuchi, N. Reduction effect of theanine on blood pressure and brain 5-hydroxyindoles in spontaneously hypertensive rats. Biosci.Biotechnol.Biochem. 1995;59(4):615-618. PubMed

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

Theanine Also Interacts With Other Medications

Theanine has 171 moderate, 393 minor known drug interactions in our database — the Valsartan one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Moderate 171 Minor 393 No known interaction 2,266 (incl. Valsartan)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Theanine

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

From our Q&A

Questions About Theanine or Valsartan

These are real questions from readers, answered by the pharmacists at HelloPharmacist — written by a person, not generated from a database. Each one covers Theanine or Valsartan, not necessarily both, but if one is close to what you were about to ask it will usually go further than a database entry can:

Not quite your question? Ask our pharmacists directly — it is free, there is no account required, and answers usually come back within 24 hours.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Valsartan

This page covers Theanine only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Valsartan page lists 182 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), American Hellebore (major), American Mistletoe (major), Tyramine (major) and Adrafinil (moderate).

By severity: 4 major · 145 moderate · 33 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Valsartan page

“Of the 182 supplements and herbs on file for valsartan (Diovan), a medication for high blood pressure and heart failure, most either deepen its blood-pressure-lowering effect or work against it, and the four rated major deserve genuine respect before the rest of the page. Activated charcoal can cut the absorption of oral doses, and the…”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Valsartan interaction page

One more smart check

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

We hold 3,298 real supplement products containing Theanine, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Theanine. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Valsartan too, on top of Theanine — 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 Theanine and Valsartan 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 Theanine
Top 5%

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

29 days ago today
Medication Valsartan
Top 5%

#109 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 Theanine

What is Theanine?

Theanine
  • Anxiety and stress
  • Relaxation and calm
  • Sleep support
  • Focus and cognitive function

Theanine (usually L-theanine) is an amino acid found naturally in tea leaves that many people take to feel calmer and less stressed without strong drowsiness. Early research suggests it may help with relaxation and stress, but evidence for most uses is still limited. It appears generally well tolerated for short-term use, but check with your pharmacist or doctor before starting it.

Read the full Theanine monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Valsartan

What Is Valsartan Used For?

Brand names: Diovan, Prexxartan

Valsartan is used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension) in adults and children, heart failure in adults, and to lower the risk of cardiovascular death in adults who have had a heart attack and have reduced heart function. Lowering blood pressure reduces the risk of stroke and heart attack.

Diovan (valsartan) tablets are approved to treat high blood pressure in children as young as 1 year old. Valsartan tablets (generic) are approved for children 6 years and older. Valsartan oral solution is specifically indicated for patients with heart failure or post-heart attack left ventricular dysfunction who are unable to swallow tablets.

See full Valsartan drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Theanine

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

0Major
171Moderate
393Minor
2,265No known interaction
171 Moderate 393 Minor 2,265 No interaction
Moderate

171 interactions

Showing 60 of 171 moderate interactions — see all 171 on the Theanine page.

Minor

393 interactions

Showing 60 of 393 minor interactions — see all 393 on the Theanine page.

No interaction 2,265 drugs checked — show the list

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

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,265 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Theanine list.

See the full Theanine interactions page
See every supplement checked against Valsartan, 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
Theanine monograph › Uses, safety, and every drug interaction in one place Valsartan supplement interactions › Every supplement checked against Valsartan, ranked by severity Valsartan 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 Theanine and Valsartan Together: Common Questions

Can you take Theanine with Valsartan?
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 Theanine and Valsartan 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 Valsartan and Theanine?

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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.