I wanted to share mu experience with L-Theanine, I’m an introvert who struggles with anxiety, overthinking, and stress. I’m often quiet, not very charismatic, and can come across as unfriendly even when I don’t mean to. I can be comfortable around family and coworkers, but socializing doesn’t come naturally to me.

Then I tried L-theanine, and it felt like a miracle pill. I felt calm without being sedated, more talkative, more willing to smile and interact with strangers. I even started enjoying music more and catching myself singing. It felt like the real me was finally coming out.

The crazy part is that one pill seems to last almost two days. The sad part is that the effects eventually wear off.

Back in mid-August last year, I started consistently waking up much earlier than usual. Under normal circumstances, I would wake up around 8 AM. Then, almost out of nowhere, I started waking up around 5 AM, sometimes even earlier, and couldn’t fall back asleep.

As time went by, supplements came and went from my stack, but I couldn’t fix the problem. I was desperate. I got several blood tests, including magnesium, vitamin D, and calcium. My vitamin D level was 84 ng/mL (210 nmol/L). I was also experiencing frequent urination, which eventually became another clue that helped me connect the dots.

I stopped taking all my supplements for a few weeks, but the problem persisted. Eventually, I realized that throughout this entire period, I had been taking vitamin D, magnesium, vitamin C, and B-complex almost consistently. I keep a supplement diary, which helped me identify this pattern.

After another attempt, I went almost two months without taking any of them, and my sleep finally returned to normal. I reintroduced B-complex, vitamin C, and magnesium, and the problem didn’t come back. Then I reintroduced vitamin D, and the sleep problem returned.

I had been taking around 6,000 IU of vitamin D daily for most of that time, although there were periods when I took 2,000 or 4,000 IU instead. I always took it in the morning, so taking it at night wasn’t a factor in my case.

One reason this went unnoticed for so long is that 25-hydroxyvitamin D, the main marker measured in blood tests, has a circulating half-life of approximately 2–3 weeks. This means that if your levels have become elevated, they can take months to return to normal after you stop supplementing.

I only figured this out because I’ve seen several other posts here describing similar experiences. I wanted to add my own account to the discussion, because I don’t think anyone can imagine how hellish this past year has been for me because of this.

Should i add anything ? Or change brands ?
30 yr old male

I know it’s spoken about often here, but l theanine at night, has been a game changer for me! I got the bottle a couple months ago. I would take it during the day as needed for more anxious days as I have bad anxiety and OCD, and I prefer not to be on medicine. I didn’t really think it made too much of a difference during the day, sometimes I did drink it with coffee as well. Lately, I was finding it harder to sleep at night because I would worry about silly things like what if I won’t wake up in the morning etc .

Anyways, I know people take it at night before bed, so I figured why not, the last three days before bed I take 200 mg and my mood throughout the day has been tremendously different in a good way!

Prior to taking it, Off the wake up, I would feel like a zombie until I had coffee. I never thought I slept bad. It was just getting to sleep That was the issue, but I guess I slept worse than I thought. I also do have pcos which plays a role in your hormones and how you sleep, etc.

I have read that it stopped working ultimately for some people, so I am mentally preparing myself for that in time, but as of right now I’ve gone days without having a coffee, which hasn’t happened in years & I feel way less tired throughout the day🥰

Some of yall consume citrate in ample amounts.

Magnesium citrate, calcium citrate, potassium citrate.

100mg of magnesium already provide 5meq citrate, which can produce (theoretically) 15 meq bicarbonate. Roughly the same as 1.5g sodium bicarbonate.

Thing is, citrate metabolizes to bicarbonate.

If your bicarbonate levels rise, and your sodium is Borderline low, your body dumps the bicarbonate with the next best thing:

Potassium

Yes, organic acids like citrate and acetate cause a rather strong kaluretic effect if you ingest very little salt compared to the average Western diet.

If you get These organic acids from a natural diet, the issue is nil, as they provide ample potassium to replace what gets excreted alongside bicarbonate.

But if you get them as isolated Products in your metabolism, without providing adequate potassium, you can cause yourself to Lose more and more potassium over time.

The worst part? The lower your potassium Drops, the more bicarbonate your body produces, further amplifying this issue, if you dont have ample salt in your diet to extrete the bicarbonate with.

Im not advocating to increase your sodium intake, that would be stupid considering the health risks.

But do keep in mind that isolated supplementing of things can cause unexpected downstream effects if they arent balanced well.

Also, if you do have a potassium deficiency...instead of ingesting huge amounts of potassium citrate, try small amounts of potassium chloride daily and get the rest from your diet.

I have found conflicting studies showing that NAC decreases autophagy OR increases it.

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7324858/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41242433/

and some that say Glycine and NAC (GlyNAC) can increase autophagy.

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9879756/

Can anyone help with understanding NACs role on autophagy?

As a side project I designed a double-sided anodized aluminum supplement scoop. Born out of frustration with those flimsy plastic scoops that come with every tub.

Different size every time, always buried in the powder, hands covered in whey. My solution: 40ml on one side for proteins and 10ml on the other for creatines (equals 5 grams) and pre-workouts etc., long handle to keep your hands clean. Photos in the post.

Four quick questions:

1. Would you buy a scoop like this?
2. If you would buy it, how much would you pay for it?
3. Would you gift this to someone who's into fitness?
4. Does the gift box (photo 3) add value, or would you skip it?

All honest feedback welcome! This is a side project next to my day job, so I can take it.

And in case you are wondering where VACKK comes from: its derived from "vacker," which means "beautiful" in Swedish. Figured if I'm going to replace those ugly plastic scoops, the name should reflect that ;)

Hi, Just a question. Can it be that this supplement is worsening insomnia? I've read that it's supposed to make me more calm and improve sleep but yet it feels like it does the complete opposite now and I become restless and anxious within hours and can't fall asleep like I used to.

I previously took the same supplement for around 60 days from one brand (worked great, made me sleepy, my heart palpitations went away completely) and now switched brands. Started feeling like this almost immediately after switching the brands but when I look at the two bottles they contain the same amount and both are 'vegetal capsules'. No specific ingredients I can look at.

I noticed that I fall asleep faster and don't get the same restless feeling if I don't take it.

Anyone found a high quality Glutathione, lipsomal or otherwise, that is not sulfur/rotten eggs in disguise. Rho was recommended and I still taste it and burp it. Ive tried sandwiching it with something else and a huge mistake was putting it into my smoothie bc that was all I tasted. I may just be too sensitive but if you have any other options?

Hey, friend introduced me to GABA pills to help when you are drinking. I haven't had a hangover for like 3 years now because I take them before sleep when drinking.

But when I looked around the internet I can't really find anything that would suggest it really helps with hangovers. I really don't think placebo could help me to this degree. Only thing that I could think of is that because I add GABA to my system, I sleep better couse I don't run out of it. But does just sleeping better really help with a hangover this much?

Anyone else taking GABA like this? Just curious why it helps. I recommended it to several people and it helped them also so I don't think it's just a me thing.

Hi, girlies! I need your thoughts because I think I might have been taking vitamins based on a Thread post without doing enough research first. HAHAHA.

I used to take StressTabs, pero parang hindi ko na feel na effective siya for me, so I switched to Conzace. Surprisingly, ever since I started taking Conzace, ang sarap ng tulog ko. As in, kahit nakapasok na ako sa office, antok na antok pa rin ako.

I also take Myra E together with Conzace because I saw a thread where people were taking them together, and I thought maybe it would help with my skin.

Now I'm wondering if safe ba talaga silang pagsabayin, especially since I didn't consult a doctor or pharmacist before taking them. I just read about it online and went with it. HAHAHA.

For context, I'm also taking glutathione gummies because I'm trying to achieve clearer skin.

Please share your experiences and advice. I know I should've researched more before taking supplements, but I'm hoping to learn from people who have experience with these vitamins.

I usually tolerate fish oil supplements well. I think they improve my sleep a bit. There was one fish oil, I think the brand was Nature Made, that would give me freakish, mind bending nightmares that would leave me really sketched out the next morning. Took me a while to correlate those fish oil pills with the nightmares. Never had any other supplements do that to me.

I (19 f) have been struggling with hair loss for a few months. After my last round of bloodwork (months ago) i was told i was low on b12 and iron deficient, so i thought now is a good time to taking some supplements. I noticed an improvement when i raided my moms vitamin cabinet and started taking Iron, D3, fish oil, turmeric and another one (the name is escaping me, but it wasn't something i'd heard lots about). I don't like taking so much from her supply however I want to keep up the regiment and I can't afford to buy them all myself. I can probably keep taking a few of hers like the fish oil but I'd love recs for a good iron included (maybe high in biotin?) multivitamin !

Hi! My psychiatrist recently asked me to get a blood test to check if any vitamins may be contributing to my anxiety and low mood. I was shocked that my B12 had gone from 306 pmol/L to 220 pmol/L in a few months, especially as I had been taking a dose of 1000 three times a week. When I take the supplements more often than that, it gives me a stomach ache and makes me feel dizzy. I've tried liquid and tablets. I have MTHFR reduced activity so I assume that's in play as well.

I heard that there are B12 shots for people who have trouble with absorption. Has anyone tried the shots when oral supplements didn't work? Are they safe/ do they have any side effects? Do they increase your levels quickly?

Neurologist and psychiatrist suggested the optimal B12 levels are around 500-600 pmol/L, is that true? I have like all the B12 deficiency symptoms showing up on google but my levels aren't actually that low.

This is much worse than an infection. I just recovered from an infection before this took over.

Inflammation feels crazy. Heart rate can easily jump to 120 when trying to sleep - partially driven by the fact that I have to face pain to sleep.
Increased vascularity/new varicose veins just appearing. But burning pain in legs, arms and especially feet are overwhelming.

Slight stabbing pain in stomach when anxiety is high (K2 sensitivity can cause hpylori overgrowth). Wrists and feet seize up.

Whether I’m going through arthritis is another issue; this feels rough.

3 days post-Vit D and K2. Had been taking them for 2 months.

Good day, y'all,

Considering how harmful across the board alcohol is, and how legally dubious is THC, what are some of the supplements that people take, that is safe and has positive effects on the mood.

I enjoy a glass of wine, and there was a time I was quite into THC via edible and inhilation routes. I am now searching for something that can mimic cannabis potentially. I have tried Kava Kava extract from NOW foods, however, I did not feel any noticeable effects, and sometimes I took 5-6 times over the recommended dose in order to feel an insignificant effect.

My current stack is: creatine, omega-3, magnesium l-threonate, zma (magnesium citrate), l-theanine, glycine, boron, cordyceps militaris, NAC and 5-HTP. I will be adding Kanna, and would like to know more about it's effects.

Is it safe to consume green tea on the same day as taking L-Theanine supplementation? A popular UK supplement brand has an L-Theanine description on their website that says:

"This product contains EGCGs (Epigallocatechin Gallate), do not consume other Green Tea containing products on same day".

I mean, does that include green tea itself? Or just green tea containing products?

My feeling is that you should be able to have both green tea and a green tea supplement on the same day.

Are there folks out there that have experience using Magnesium Glycinate? Whether positive or negative. There’s a new supplement stack I’m interested in trying that contains 40mg of Magnesium Glycinate which is fairly low. But before purchasing i wanted to ask people about their experiences, since i’ve heard some discouraging things regarding it. Some users have mentioned things associated with MG such as Lowered Libido, Insomnia, and even worsened anxiety. This might be due to the Glycine, maybe some folks are sensitive to it? No clue seems benign to me. And then there are people reporting the opposite, better overall mental and physical health. So if you would please share your experience with Magnesium Glycinate, it would be much appreciated. Thanks!

Long story short, our wedding date is coming up in 6 weeks and when we originally picked the date I was supposed to be one week past my period.

Fast forward one year and now I’m due to be on my period MY ENTIRE WEDDING WEEK 😭😭 we’re getting married in Puerto Vallarta and staying for a week.

I came across wisp delay your period pills. Has anyone had any experience with them? I was going through reviews and it seems as if there are a lot of negative reviews in regard to their other products but not a lot on period delay pills.

Any info would be much appreciated! Thank you all!

Hey, so I’m 29, male in good shape. I started working out seriously, about two years ago. I started taking vitamins packs to fill nutritional gaps i had in my diet.

Iv been taking ether the sports vita pack or full body vita pack by gnc.
Well 90% is fluff theres one item in it that makes me caution. Theres 50mg and i know the state cut of is 100mg per-day, but you look at other places and they have the cut off at like 20-35mg

The reason i caution here is that B6 can apparently cause nerve damage from long term use.