Anyone else get wicked anxiety from Green...
tarbtl 16 Nov 2007
Of all the stimulants I've used (I've tried most!) there is absolutely nothing that matches the anxiety and jitteriness that green tea gives me. It is absolutely unbearable.
I can pop 10mg of Adderall and go straight to sleep but green tea just messes me up real bad. I read about the health effects of green tea and hadn't used it in a long time so I bought some high quality AOR EGCG capsules and thought I'd give it a try. I took ONE cap, which supposedly has almost no caffeine and I am experiencing more anxiety than I ever have in weeks!
Another thing is L-Theanine does absolutely NOTHING in terms of relaxation for me. In fact, I've taken upwards of 1g in one go (on an empty stomach) and it caused the same effect as green tea. (anxiety)
What the heck could be causing this paradoxical reaction in me? I keep hearing such positive things from L-Theanine but I absolutely do NOT respond to it in any which way whatsoever...
In fact I'm making this post out of paranoia... I feel so jittery anxious and paranoid right now. I've never felt this terrible... god..
Ghostrider 16 Nov 2007
eldar 16 Nov 2007
Another thing is L-Theanine does absolutely NOTHING in terms of relaxation for me. In fact, I've taken upwards of 1g in one go (on an empty stomach) and it caused the same effect as green tea. (anxiety)
What the heck could be causing this paradoxical reaction in me? I keep hearing such positive things from L-Theanine but I absolutely do NOT respond to it in any which way whatsoever...
In fact I'm making this post out of paranoia... I feel so jittery anxious and paranoid right now. I've never felt this terrible... god..
I haven't noticed any effect from green tea, but L-Theanine capsules cause the exact same thing for me. First time I tried it was with 400mg, which caused substantially elevated level of anxiety. I wasn't 100% certain that this was due to theanine, so I tried it again, this time with 200mg and the effect was the same, although a bit more subtle as would be expected with a lesser dose.
So it does puzzle me too how L-theanine is supposed to be a relaxing supplement [huh]
Another supplement that I have noticed causing somewhat increased anxiety is lecithin. I suppose this is due to phosphatidylcholine, but this is again a reaction not too commonly associated with this supplement(as far as I know). As I have very limited knowledge on brain chemistry, I have no idea if this could be in some way related to the effect experienced from l-theanine.(i.e do they have some common mechanisms/pathways in which they effect the brain.) Just thought I'd throw it out there if you or other people have experienced this as well.
platypus 16 Nov 2007
ikaros 17 Nov 2007
superpooper 17 Nov 2007
salyavin 17 Nov 2007
I drink matcha and gyokuro and it sort of calms me, I've never felt anxiety.
sutur 17 Nov 2007
REGIMEN 17 Nov 2007
In terms of Five Element Theory, green tea is cooling which I find can increase bloodflow to areas of the body that may have excess heat entrenched in them. It also is diuretic which (I'm not studied enough in TCM to explain properly) apart from caffeine can add something to the speed of mental activity (my guess is through more efficient coordination of organ systems that have less internal moisture and mucus to shuffle around...having said that your reaction may just be the Dampness reducing action of green tea may be dredging up old unmetabolized fat soluble chemicals or "toxins" on their way out of your system). A number of months ago I couldn't drink green tea (or any caffeinated drink) as it would induce malaise and sometimes also bring on a low level anxiety. I've been prescribed green tea (and green tea mixed with herbs) for certain segments of my treatment from a TCM practitioner along with other herbs and acupuncture. Works just fine now.
Go see some sort of doctor. If you can "pop Adderall before sleep" as casually as you state then you must have some means to a doctor.
platypus 17 Nov 2007
Matcha calms me too, I love the stuff.I can believe it for matcha as you ingest the leaves, not so sure sencha would be as high.
I drink matcha and gyokuro and it sort of calms me, I've never felt anxiety.
wydell 17 Nov 2007
I think that the effects of caffeine differ from individual to individual. I usually have about two - four cups of a coffee cocoa combination with stevia and xylitol and and one to three cups of Matcha green tea daily. I subjectively feel a little edgy when the consumption of caffeinated drinks goes past a certain level.
graatch 17 Nov 2007
What the heck could be causing this paradoxical reaction in me?
egcg = comt inhibitor = thermogenic, increase in norepinephrine
this is why green tea extract/egcg is sold in weight loss formulations.
I doubt the reaction you get from regular green tea (as opposed to an extract, standardized for egcg) would be as severe.
tarbtl 18 Nov 2007
In fact, the strangest case is Wellbutrin..which has eliminated my depression and anxiety and has given me confidence like nothing else.
Caffeine also is anxyolitic for me.
The only two things that cause anxiety for me are like I said.. green tea and obviously yohimbine... these two just seem "dirty".... I cringe at the thought of consuming them.
I'll try taking a cap of AOR's egcg with a meal a few times a week just for the health benefit and when the increased anxiety wont be an issue I suppose... what a shame... I bet I have one messssed up neurochemistry.
It would be interesting to make a mega-thread on various substances like phenibut, gaba, ecgc, caffeine, l-theanine, etc. etc. and make people rate them on a scale of 1-10 in terms of ephoria, anxiety, energy, motivation etc. etc. and find some common trends in people's neurochemistry. For instance, phenibut, the first time I took it, was the most euphoric high I have ever experienced in my life...
edward 14 Jan 2008
I noticed something when I recently got a little to carried away with my enthusiasm for flavonoids , polyphenols and the like... When I take large amounts or even small amounts but many of these things at one time, things such as: green tea, grape seed, pycnogenol, ginseng, gingko, pomegrante etc etc really any plant based supplement standardized for a high level of bioactive compounds I will get anxiety and in general a "toxic feeling".
Personally I think it has to do with the fact that some people cannot process these chemicals as effectively as others (see the whole under-methylator theory). I have found that spreading out and or lowering the dosages helps alot. Also I have found that taking TMG (tri methyl glycine) as well as B-12, Folic Acid and B-6 a couple times a day, preferably when taking my plant based supplements works wonders, I mean the anxiety/toxic feeling goes away and the full benefits of these supplements are felt.
TianZi 16 Jan 2008
What you are describing sounds like the effect of taking the old Ephedra "stack" pills.
tomseys 02 Jan 2009
wydell 03 Jan 2009
Just want to relate that I also get extreme anxiety from green tea and to a lesser extent from regular tea. I don't think it's the caffeine because I can get this effect from decaffeinated or low caffeine varieties...tea has other stuff happening like theobromine and thephilline and I think it has something to do with these. I generally try to avoid all the caffeine family related products like chocolate, tea, coffee and cola and when I am able to keep it going I feel very mood stable. Chocolate is another that can really screw me up mood wise, especially the next day... I avoid them all, they are completely unnecessary and very addictive.
bigsend 03 Jan 2009
bgwithadd 12 Jan 2009
niner 12 Jan 2009
debu 10 Feb 2009
That's very interesting. Have you tried coca leaf tea? It's legal (In US anyway). I get a lot of calming from it, but also focus, but then theanine calms me quite a bit while green tea seems to do little. I'd be interested to see what taurine does to you, too.
Where are you getting your coca tea now? My old seller (Windsor brand) is out on Amazon. Every regular site I find has a rather suspicious checkout... PM me or respond here anyone with a reputable source. thanks
DREXX 10 Dec 2009
Neuronic 10 Dec 2009
I didn't really connect it because it never had made me sleepy. Could be coincidence of course.
I'm also taking nuvigil which was still working great until then, and last few days it seems like it suddenly had stopped working as much.
I drink very dark green tea, so maybe it's too much. I'm talking dark green here.
I will stop drinking the tea and write back if I feel more energetic.
xzibit 10 Dec 2009
I did take my first phenibut the previous night which completely messed up my sleep. I never tried green tea and have no problem with caffeine. So much for anti-anxiety nootropics.
I guess theanine is not for everyone
Solitude 11 Dec 2009
Black tea is no problem, coffee makes him jittery (from the caffeine), but it's not the same effect that green tea has.
Xeno 12 Dec 2009
Anyway, that's my tea-rant. If anyone's curious, I can put you on to my source for gyokuro.