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Dietary supplement

L-Theanine Ingredients & Drug Interactions

by Whole Foods

L-Theanine label
See full label image
Capsule Category: Non-nutrient/non-botanical
Most serious interaction: Moderate
Clinical methodology reviewed by · Updated Sep 16, 2026 · Label data from the NIH DSLD
What is this page for?

First and foremost: checking L-Theanine against your medications. The heart of this page is the interaction checker and the full interaction report — how this product’s ingredients may interact with prescription and over-the-counter medicines you may be taking.

Around that, we add a pharmacist’s high-level view of the product as a whole — what’s inside, the evidence for its stated use, how transparent the label is, and what safety data exists — so you can see the full picture in one place. It’s educational information from our licensed clinical databases and the clinical staff at HelloPharmacist — not medical advice — and we don’t sell or endorse products. Our editorial policy

The interaction bottom line Most serious interaction: Moderate

L-Theanine is a dietary supplement by Whole Foods with 1 active ingredient. Its ingredients are commonly taken for anxiety and stress, relaxation and calm, sleep support.Based on those ingredients, 565 medications have a known interaction with it, the most serious rated moderate. The ingredients most likely to interact are Suntheanine. Use the checker below to test your specific medication, or read the full HelloPharmacist Interaction Report.

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Check Your Meds Against L-Theanine by Whole Foods

Ask about any prescription or over-the-counter medication and we check it for interactions with L-Theanine by Whole Foods — and tell you which ingredient is responsible.

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HelloPharmacist Scorecard of L-Theanine by Whole Foods

Our pharmacy team’s full take, with four database checks built into the cards below — a summary of what is known, not a grade of the product itself.

From our pharmacy team — supplement deep dive

Generated from HelloPharmacist’s pharmacist-curated databases and editorial rules · Last generated Aug 13, 2026

What’s inside

Full disclosure
Ingredient Transparency · database check
Full

Every active ingredient lists its own amount on the label.

Why this rating?
  • The label discloses an exact amount for 1 of its 1 active ingredient.
  • No proprietary blends here — you can verify the dose of every single component.

This product contains one active ingredient: Suntheanine, a form of L-theanine. L-theanine is an amino acid found naturally in tea that works in your brain to promote calm without drowsiness.

The capsule also contains inactive ingredients — rice flour, cellulose, silicon dioxide, and magnesium stearate — which are fillers and binders that hold the supplement together.

Does it work?

Moderate evidence
Evidence for Intended Use · database check
By FDA rules, dietary supplements can’t claim to treat, cure, or prevent disease — so labels speak in careful marketing language. We discern each product’s intended use from its name, label claims, and label statements, then grade the clinical evidence for that use. How these ratings are computed

This product doesn't appear to be marketed for a specific use, so we graded Theanine's overall clinical evidence instead.

Moderate

Some clinical evidence supports Theanine for:

Why this rating?
  • We looked at the product name, claims, and label statements and couldn't find a stated purpose to grade.
  • Since the label doesn't commit to one use, we graded the ingredient's overall clinical evidence instead.
  • On file: Cognitive function — rated "Possibly Effective" (Natural Medicines).

The evidence for L-theanine is mixed. It's possibly effective for helping with cognitive function — things like focus and mental clarity.

For age-related cognitive decline, Alzheimer's disease, generalized anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and cancer, there isn't enough reliable evidence in our data to rate whether it works. If you're considering it for one of those uses, talk with your doctor about what the current research actually shows.

The evidence, ingredient by ingredient Theanine

How safe is it?

Well-documented data
Safety Information · database check
Well characterized

Adverse-effect, pregnancy, and general safety data are on file for most of these ingredients.

Why this rating?
  • We hold adverse-effect (side-effect) data for 1 of the 1 matched ingredient.
  • Pregnancy & breastfeeding safety ratings cover 1 of 1.
  • General safety write-ups exist for 1 of 1.
  • Remember: this measures how much safety information exists. Thin data is not the same as being safe.

L-Theanine is generally well tolerated when healthy adults take it short-term, but we don't have good long-term safety data yet. Some people report headaches, drowsiness, longer sleep, or more vivid dreams.

There isn't enough safety data to recommend it during pregnancy or while breastfeeding — talk with your doctor or pharmacist before using it if either applies to you.

Side effects, ingredient by ingredient Theanine

Meds to double-check

Moderate interaction found
Known Interaction Concern · database check
Moderate identified

The most serious documented interaction for these ingredients is Moderate. Check your medications for a personalized result.

Why this rating?
  • 1 of the 1 matched ingredient can interact with medications — Theanine.
  • The most serious interaction on file is rated Moderate.
  • For scale: 565 individual medications appear in the full list. A big number alone doesn't make a product dangerous — what matters is whether YOUR medication is on it, so run yours through the interaction checker on this page.

Double-check this with your doctor or pharmacist if you take blood pressure medication — theanine could lower your pressure further. Also let them know if you're on any central nervous system depressants (sedatives, sleep aids, some pain relievers) or serotonergic drugs (certain antidepressants).

Use the medication checker on this page to verify your specific drugs before starting.

Check your own medication Run your meds through the checker above

The bottom line

Scorecard at a glanceFully disclosed formula with some supporting evidence behind its ingredients' uses. Moderate medication interactions have been identified, and safety information is well characterized.

L-Theanine might help with focus and mental clarity, but if you take blood pressure medication, sleep aids, sedatives, or antidepressants, you'll want to check with your doctor or pharmacist first. It's not studied long-term, so it's meant for short-term use in healthy adults.

Your own healthcare provider can tell you whether it's right for you and your medications.

Educational only — not medical advice; always confirm with your pharmacist. Our editorial policy · How we use AI

Assessment coverage: 1 of 1 active ingredient matched to our full ingredient reviews (monographs). Based on the product label dated Oct 25, 2013.

This Scorecard evaluates available label information, ingredient evidence, and known medication-safety considerations. It does not independently verify product identity, purity, potency, contamination, or manufacturing quality. How these ratings are computed

At a glance

General information

Key facts about L-Theanine, straight from the product label.

Brand Whole Foods
Barcode (UPC) 099482285234
Net contents 50 Vegetarian Capsule(s)
Market status On market
Date entered into DSLD Oct 25, 2013
DSLD ID 26547
Product type Non-nutrient/non-botanical
Supplement form Capsule
Dietary claims / uses All Other, Structure/Function
Intended target group(s) Adult (18 - 50 Years)
From the label
Everything in this section is reproduced from the manufacturer’s own product label — it’s the label speaking, not HelloPharmacist. We show it so you can see exactly what the maker states; we don’t verify or endorse those statements.

Supplement Facts

The label details for L-Theanine by Whole Foods, sourced from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database.

Supplement Facts

Daily Value (DV) Target Group(s):
Adults and children 4 or more years of age
Minimum serving Sizes:
1 Capsule(s)
Maximum serving Sizes:
1 Capsule(s)
UPC/BARCODE
099482285234
IngredientAmount% DV
Suntheanine100 mg--

Other ingredients: RICE FLOUR, Cellulose, Silicon Dioxide, MAGNESIUM STEARATE

Tap any ingredient to jump to its full detail below.

Label statements
These statements are the manufacturer’s wording, reproduced from the product label — the label is saying it, not HelloPharmacist. We don’t verify or endorse them.
Seals/Symbols

Suntheanine(R)

{recycle} 1 PETE

100% PCR Post Consumer Recycled Bottle

(Q) WHOLE FOODS MARKET QUALITY STANDARDS

Precautions

NOTE: IF YOU ARE PREGNANT, NURSING, HAVE ANY HEALTH CONDITION OR ARE TAKING ANY MEDICATIONS CONSULT YOUR HEALTH CARE PRACTITIONER BEFORE USING THIS PRODUCT.

TAMPER EVIDENT, USE ONLY IF SEAL IS INTACT

ALLERGEN INFORMATION: PROCESSED IN A FACILITY THAT ALSO PROCESSES TREE NUTS, MILK, EGGS, SHELLFISH, FISH, WHEAT AND SOY.

KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN.

Brand IP Statement(s)

Suntheanine(R) IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF TAIYO INTERNATIONAL, INC.

(C) 2009 WHOLE FOODS MARKET IP, LP

General Statements

PLEASE RECYCLE THIS BOTTLE

PRODUCT OF USA

Supports Non-Drowsy Mental and Physical Relaxation

100 mg

L-THEANINE IS AN AMINO ACID FOUND IN GREEN TEA THAT PROMOTES NON-DROWSY RELAXATION.

FDA Statement of Identity

DIETARY SUPPLEMENT

Suggested/Recommended/Usage/Directions

DIRECTIONS: TAKE 1 CAPSULE, UP TO TWO TIMES PER DAY WITH WATER OR JUICE ON AN EMPTY STOMACH.

Formula

ALLERGEN INFORMATION: CONTAINS SHELLFISH (SHRIMP, CRAB) INGREDIENTS. GOOD MANUFACTURING PRACTICES USED TO SEGREGATE INGREDIENTS IN A FACILITY THAT ALSO PROCESSES TREE NUTS, MILK, EGG, FISH, WHEAT AND SOY INGREDIENTS.

Storage

STORE IN A COOL, DRY PLACE.

FDA Disclaimer Statement

This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

Formulation

CONTAINS NO ARTIFICIAL COLORS, FLAVORS OR PRESERVATIVES.

Is this label outdated? Report a formula or label change and our pharmacy team will review it.

See for yourself

L-Theanine by Whole Foods label

The label scan from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database. Tap to enlarge.

L-Theanine label

Label images are published by the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database for the version of this product on file. Always read your actual product label.

View the full label (PDF)
What’s inside

The Ingredients in L-Theanine by Whole Foods

This is the 1 active ingredient this product is made of. Select it to open its full monograph.

Serving size1 Capsule(s) Dosage formCapsule Amounts shown are per serving.

Suntheanine

Interacts with
565 drugs
100 mg per serving

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 dro...

Suntheanine monograph & interactions

Other (inactive) ingredients: RICE FLOUR, Cellulose, Silicon Dioxide, MAGNESIUM STEARATE. These complete the product’s ingredient list but are not active constituents.

Interaction report

L-Theanine by Whole Foods Drug Interactions

Want to check YOUR meds against L-Theanine?

Ask about interactions with your drugs in plain English — “Can I take it with lisinopril?” — and we find you the answer in seconds, ingredient by ingredient.

 Go to the checker
565Drugs
172 Moderate 393 Minor

Ingredients driving the most interactions

Suntheanine 565

Individual Drug Interactions

The ingredients in L-Theanine interact with 565 drugs. Click any drug to see the details.

1 of the 1 ingredient in L-Theanine interact with drugs. Each result below shows which ingredient is responsible. Suntheanine

Each ingredient & the kinds of drugs it affects

For each ingredient in L-Theanine with known interactions, here are the types of medications it can affect. Open any type for the detail — or search your exact drug in the checker above.

Suntheanine3 drug types · 565 drugs

Antihypertensive Drugs

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.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Cns Depressants

Theoretically, theanine might have additive sedative effects when used in conjunction with CNS depressants. However, it is unclear if this concern is clinically relevant.
Theoretically, theanine may compete with glutamate and/or increase plasma gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) levels, which could cause CNS depression. In one clinical study, some subjects taking oral theanine reported drowsiness.

Likelihood Unlikely Evidence D
Serotonergic Drugs

Clinical studies regarding the effects of L-theanine on serotonin levels are conflicting. Some studies suggest it can increase serotonin levels in the brain while others report that it may decrease them. Nevertheless, there have been no reports of l-theanine being a causative agent in serotonergic-related side effects or serotonin syndrome.

Likelihood Unlikely Evidence C
Suntheanine full monograph & interactions
The maker

Brand information

Manufacturer and brand details for L-Theanine, from the product label.

Whole Foods

See all Whole Foods products
Name
Whole Foods Market
Street Address
550 Bowie Street
City
Austin
State
Texas
ZipCode
78703
Web Address
www.wholefoodsmarket.com
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

L-Theanine by Whole Foods: Common Questions

Does L-Theanine by Whole Foods interact with any medications?
Yes. Based on its ingredients, L-Theanine has a known interaction with 565 medications. Use the checker to see how it interacts with a specific drug.
How can one product interact with so many drugs?
L-Theanine contains a single active ingredient, and that one ingredient can interact with many different medications on its own. We check it against each medication and show the mechanism responsible.
Where does this information come from?
The product label data comes from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database (DSLD); the interaction data is built on the Natural Medicines database and reviewed by HelloPharmacist pharmacists.
Can I take L-Theanine if I'm pregnant or breastfeeding?
There isn't enough safety data to recommend L-theanine during pregnancy or breastfeeding. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist before using it if you're pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or nursing.
What are the side effects of L-Theanine?
Some people report headaches, drowsiness, longer sleep, or more vivid dreams. These aren't common, but they're the ones we know about. If you notice any of these or feel off after starting it, stop and talk with your pharmacist.
Does L-Theanine actually help with focus and concentration?
It's possibly effective for cognitive function — that's the strongest evidence we have for it. For other uses like anxiety or age-related memory loss, there isn't enough reliable evidence yet to say whether it works.
Is L-Theanine safe to use long-term?
It's generally well tolerated for short-term use in healthy adults, but long-term safety hasn't been well studied. This product is meant for shorter-term use, not as a daily medication for months or years.
What is Suntheanine?
Suntheanine is a branded form of L-theanine, the active ingredient in this product. It's the same amino acid that occurs naturally in tea.

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

Not sure if L-Theanine is safe with your meds?

Our pharmacists answer your medication & supplement questions — free.

Ask a pharmacist

Label information is sourced from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database and reflects the product version on file; always read your actual product label. This page is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Confirm with your pharmacist or doctor before combining supplements and medications.

L-Theanine label
Go deeper

The Full Monographs Behind L-Theanine’s Ingredients

Every ingredient we hold a full HelloPharmacist monograph for — uses, evidence, safety, and the complete interaction list.

Herb & supplement monograph

Theanine

Interacts with 565 drugs

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...

Read the full Theanine monograph →
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

L-Theanine's label data comes from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database; the ingredient interaction data is from the Natural Medicines database, reviewed by our pharmacists.

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

The 6 references behind this product’s interaction data

Every citation that drives the interaction findings for this product’s ingredients, from the evidence-graded Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) database. Open an ingredient to browse its citations — links open the study on PubMed or the publisher’s site.

Theanine 6 references
  1. Yokogoshi H, Kobayashi M. Hypotensive effect of gamma-glutamylethylamide in spontaneously hypertensive rats. Life Sci 1998;62:1065-8.
  2. Haskell, C. F., Kennedy, D. O., Milne, A. L., Wesnes, K. A., and Scholey, A. B. The effects of L-theanine, caffeine and their combination on cognition and mood. Biol.Psychol. 2008;77(2):113-122. PubMed
  3. 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
  4. Lyon MR, Kapoor MP, Juneja LR. The effects of L-theanine (Suntheanine®) on objective sleep quality in boys with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Altern Med Rev. 2011;16(4):348-
  5. Hidese S, Ota M, Wakabayashi C, et al. Effects of chronic l-theanine administration in patients with major depressive disorder: an open-label study. Acta Neuropsychiatr 2017;29(2):72-9.
  6. Tsuchiya T, Honda H, Oikawa M, et al. Oral administration of the amino acids cystine and theanine attenuates the adverse events of S-1 adjuvant chemotherapy in gastrointestinal cancer patients. Int J Clin Oncol 2016;21(6):1085-90. PubMed

See these in context on the Theanine monograph →

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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