DOSE:

10 - 100 mg

insufflated

Theanine

(powder / crystals)

BODY WEIGHT:

180 lb

I have an anxiety disorder and have been investigating OTC anxiolytics for potency. Since some benzodiazepines have stronger effects or come up faster when taken sublingually or intranasally, I investigate different routes of administration with new substances I try. Today's report is a retrospective analysis on L-Theanine, an amino acid available over the counter as a supplement in most places. I'm working with a fine powder packed in 100mg capsules.

My first time taking L-Theanine, I took 8 capsules orally. Within half an hour I noticed a subtle but pleasant calming effect, similar to .5mg of Klonipin but without any drowsiness. I was alert but unusually felt no stress or worry about work or responsibilities.

I later decided to find out what, if anything, happens when L-Theanine is insufflated (snorted). It's wonderful. I opened a gel cap and eyeballed about 30mg of the substance, arranged it in a line, and snorted it through a straw. The texture is pleasant, with almost no stinging sensation. The smell/flavor is unique and lovely. Theanine imparts the umami flavor to green tea, but snorted, the powder reminds me of the scent of a swimming pool on a summer day.

There is almost no come-up time. By the time I let my breath out, the same sense of calm has enveloped me that I felt with 800mg oral. This time, though, it's accompanied by a very slight rushing/sinking sensation. It's like my mind is wearing a soft warm sweater. I'm perfectly content and slightly euphoric. To be sure, it's a subtle effect, nothing like the overwhelming alteration of consciousness that I would get with drugs like alcohol or cannabis, but it's very soothing and positive.

I've snorted theanine many times since, in doses ranging from 10 to 100mg.

The high lasts 15 to 45 minutes before fading. As it fades I feel an urge to redose, especially on stressful days. Repeated intranasal use starts to bring problems - on several occasions I've noticed a paradoxical increase in my social anxiety and irritability during the comedown. Redosing again only seems to heighten this effect.

In addition, my intranasal use of theanine seems to correlate with a strange form of insomnia. Bear with me while I explain: normally if I wake early and cannot fall back asleep, I'll set a time limit - 30 minutes or I'll pop a benzo. More than half the time I'll be fast asleep before the time is up. I do this to keep my benzo use down. With theanine insomnia, I'm fully awake and aware of my surroundings, but unaware of the passage of time. I'll decide to take a benzo if I'm not asleep in 30 minutes, but some time later I check my phone and two hours have passed! This effect appears somewhat consistently when I use theanine nasally several days in a row.

In the end, intranasal theanine is very nice as an occasional treat on a night in. For me it has more recreational than therapeutic value.

Exp Year: 2019	ExpID: 113934
Gender: Male
Age at time of experience: 27
Published: Feb 4, 2020	Views: 7,432
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Theanine (413) : Preparation / Recipes (30), Retrospective / Summary (11), Unknown Context (20)