stimulantEVIDENCEBUSOTC

Theobromine

aka 3,7-dimethylxanthine

Methylxanthine from cocoa. Mild stimulant effect, slower and longer than caffeine. Lower anxiety and cardiovascular load.

Dose range200–600mg

Half-life—h

Onset—min

Safety5/5medium evidence base

Mechanism of action

Adenosine receptor antagonist similar to caffeine but with much lower potency and longer half-life (~7-12 hours). Phosphodiesterase inhibitor. Mild vasodilator. The combination produces sustained alertness with much less acute stimulation than caffeine, making it tolerable for users who find caffeine produces anxiety.

History

Theobromine was isolated from cocoa in 1841. It's the dominant methylxanthine in cocoa (caffeine is minor). The compound is responsible for chocolate's mild stimulant effect. Modern supplement use emerged in the 2010s for caffeine-sensitive users wanting the alertness without the side effects. Unscheduled globally.

Benefits

Sustained mild alertness
EVIDENCEB
Multiple pharmacology studies.
Cardiovascular function (vasodilation)
EVIDENCEB
Multiple trials.
Cough suppression
EVIDENCEB
Usmani 2005.

Side effects

Toxicity to dogs and catscommonsevere
Mild GI upsetuncommonmild

Cited research

Theobromine vs codeine for chronic cough (Usmani)2005
PMID 15673855 ↗
Theobromine pharmacology: review2013
PMID 23644951 ↗
Theobromine effects on mood and cognition (Mitchell)2011
PMID 21595797 ↗

Where to buy

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Vendor	Product	Size	Price	Per unit
Nootropics DepotFeatured 4.8	Theobromine — Nootropics Depot	—	See vendor	—	Shop Ad
Double Wood Supplements 4.4	Theobromine — Double Wood	—	See vendor	—	Shop Ad
Amazon Marketplace 3.5	Theobromine — Amazon	—	See vendor	—	Shop Ad

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