acp44
06-28-2007, 04:42 PM
Having exhausted the gamut of supplements, am trying one last one, the amino acid L-Theanine, which is supposed to act on the brain's effect on BP. I will of course report any success, if there is any.
acp
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acp44
06-28-2007, 06:13 PM
Observation: VERY nice BP reading on first day trying theanine. Took twice today, 150 mg each, first at 1pm then at 3pm.
BP reading at 4:05 pm was 117/78, pulse of 80. Usually anxiety drives pulse past 100+ and BP readings in the 130s/140s.
Have also noticed, looking over 3 months of BP readings, that pulse was over 100 on average in April, and BP readings were in 130s/140s. May was a good month with pulse in 80s-low 90s and BP readings mostly under 120/80. June has been BAD, with pulse typically 110+, and BP readings 140s systolic.
Pulse was 65 today before BP test.
No I do NOT think I have found a magic bullet (theanine) but I have to say, the stuff has made me less anxious even then xanax does!!! I will keep reporting on this amino acid and see if there is a pattern (as opposed to a fluke today).
BP reading at 4:05 pm was 117/78, pulse of 80. Usually anxiety drives pulse past 100+ and BP readings in the 130s/140s.
Have also noticed, looking over 3 months of BP readings, that pulse was over 100 on average in April, and BP readings were in 130s/140s. May was a good month with pulse in 80s-low 90s and BP readings mostly under 120/80. June has been BAD, with pulse typically 110+, and BP readings 140s systolic.
Pulse was 65 today before BP test.
No I do NOT think I have found a magic bullet (theanine) but I have to say, the stuff has made me less anxious even then xanax does!!! I will keep reporting on this amino acid and see if there is a pattern (as opposed to a fluke today).
jpd39
06-29-2007, 05:25 PM
Glad to hear the positive results. I pick some up at Vitamin Shoppe. It was not in the amino acid section but the mood enhancer section.
What do your diastolic #s look like? I take Toprol XL and it has lowered my diastolic but my systolic is always over 130.
What do your diastolic #s look like? I take Toprol XL and it has lowered my diastolic but my systolic is always over 130.
acp44
06-29-2007, 06:20 PM
Glad to hear the positive results. I pick some up at Vitamin Shoppe. It was not in the amino acid section but the mood enhancer section.
What do your diastolic #s look like? I take Toprol XL and it has lowered my diastolic but my systolic is always over 130.
Usually ok...low to mid 70s, occasionally low 80s.
What do your diastolic #s look like? I take Toprol XL and it has lowered my diastolic but my systolic is always over 130.
Usually ok...low to mid 70s, occasionally low 80s.
Lenin
06-30-2007, 09:18 AM
On your recommendation, I'll pick up a bottle.
If the claims for tranquilization are valid, the small price will be worth paying (I saw $11.99 for a bottle of 90 x 100mg.)
If it lowers my BP, so much the better.
If the claims for tranquilization are valid, the small price will be worth paying (I saw $11.99 for a bottle of 90 x 100mg.)
If it lowers my BP, so much the better.
acp44
06-30-2007, 11:45 AM
To date I've only used it once, so hopefully after a week or so I'll have more data. Its entirely possible that when I take it today the reading will be high.
acp44
06-30-2007, 12:35 PM
I did take a dose of theanine before my regular doctor's visit yesterday. This time the nurse's BP check, which always reads 145/85, read at 138/78, which I consider a pretty major change, since that one is always sky high. The doctor's read steady at 130/80, which it always does.
I suspect, although my doctor disagrees due to 30% of my home readings being under 120/80, that I am clinically "prehypertensive."
I suspect, although my doctor disagrees due to 30% of my home readings being under 120/80, that I am clinically "prehypertensive."
acp44
06-30-2007, 06:24 PM
Today, day 2 on theanine: 117/73. Thursday, day 1 was 117/78. Those are the lowest back to back readings I've ever had. However, today's pulse was 107 on the monitor, which means the theanine did not do one thing I thought it would (it was 80 on thursday's reading).
So, cautiously optimistic, but slightly skeptical re the anxiety-reducing effect...today's pulse should have been lower.
acp
So, cautiously optimistic, but slightly skeptical re the anxiety-reducing effect...today's pulse should have been lower.
acp
acp44
07-06-2007, 06:29 PM
An update on my experiment with L-theanine. Here are the results, taking 150 mg three times a day:
Date BP Pulse
6/28 117/78 80
6/30 117/73 107
7/1 125/74 101
7/2 128/68 110
7/3 126/73 118
7/6 125/70 107
Some observations:
1. Day 1 was a false positive, as theanine did NOT blunt the anxiety, evidenced by the pulse readings (normal pulse is 65).
2. Overall readings are on average roughly 5-7 points lower than prior 3 weeks.
3. Diastolic appears to have decreased more than systolic; these are the lowest diastolic readings I have ever had.
Re BP, not sure what to conclude. IF these are anxiety readings then I guess they are good. But the high pulse suggests theanine does not blunt cuff anxiety.
Non BP observation: theanine DOES blunt the effects of caffeine, which I have read. I have been drinking regular coffee again with no "jitters" since taking it.
I will keep trying this stuff, maybe increase the dosage and report later.
acp
Date BP Pulse
6/28 117/78 80
6/30 117/73 107
7/1 125/74 101
7/2 128/68 110
7/3 126/73 118
7/6 125/70 107
Some observations:
1. Day 1 was a false positive, as theanine did NOT blunt the anxiety, evidenced by the pulse readings (normal pulse is 65).
2. Overall readings are on average roughly 5-7 points lower than prior 3 weeks.
3. Diastolic appears to have decreased more than systolic; these are the lowest diastolic readings I have ever had.
Re BP, not sure what to conclude. IF these are anxiety readings then I guess they are good. But the high pulse suggests theanine does not blunt cuff anxiety.
Non BP observation: theanine DOES blunt the effects of caffeine, which I have read. I have been drinking regular coffee again with no "jitters" since taking it.
I will keep trying this stuff, maybe increase the dosage and report later.
acp
acp44
07-18-2007, 09:30 PM
An update on my experiments with theanine. There is a definite effect, largely confined to diastolic BP. Some numbers:
Date BP theanine dosage
6/30 117/73 450 mg
7/1 125/74 450 mg
7/2 128/68 450 mg
7/3 126/73 450 mg
7/6 125/70 600 mg
7/8 117/73 600 mg
7/10 119/67 600 mg
7/12 109/61 600 mg
7/13 118/72 450 mg
7/15 125/70 450 mg
7/16 125/64 600 mg
7/18 128/60 600 mg
Normal systolic range is 120-138, normal diastolic is 75-82. Again, this is a small sample, but it appears that increased dosages do effect diastolic numbers. Someone else may wish to try this to bring their bottom numbers down.
In the meantime, I'll still look for a magic bullet for the systolic :)
acp
Date BP theanine dosage
6/30 117/73 450 mg
7/1 125/74 450 mg
7/2 128/68 450 mg
7/3 126/73 450 mg
7/6 125/70 600 mg
7/8 117/73 600 mg
7/10 119/67 600 mg
7/12 109/61 600 mg
7/13 118/72 450 mg
7/15 125/70 450 mg
7/16 125/64 600 mg
7/18 128/60 600 mg
Normal systolic range is 120-138, normal diastolic is 75-82. Again, this is a small sample, but it appears that increased dosages do effect diastolic numbers. Someone else may wish to try this to bring their bottom numbers down.
In the meantime, I'll still look for a magic bullet for the systolic :)
acp
flowergirl2day
07-18-2007, 10:56 PM
Acp,
have you considered taking LESS than the 450mg a day? Your normal diastolic does not seem too bad and you are still within normal levels. You don't need too much help there. :D Don't let it get much below 70. (the 600mg seems way too much!). It definitely seems to be working for you!
Flowergirl
have you considered taking LESS than the 450mg a day? Your normal diastolic does not seem too bad and you are still within normal levels. You don't need too much help there. :D Don't let it get much below 70. (the 600mg seems way too much!). It definitely seems to be working for you!
Flowergirl
acp44
07-18-2007, 10:58 PM
I did, with little effect. I am quite happy about the diastolic...its the systolic I want to get a bit lower and that has always been much harder for me, and I really don't know why.
Acp,
have you considered taking LESS than the 450mg a day? Your normal diastolic does not seem too bad and you are still within normal levels. You don't need too much help there. :D Don't let it get much below 70. (the 600mg seems way too much!). It definitely seems to be working for you!
Flowergirl
Acp,
have you considered taking LESS than the 450mg a day? Your normal diastolic does not seem too bad and you are still within normal levels. You don't need too much help there. :D Don't let it get much below 70. (the 600mg seems way too much!). It definitely seems to be working for you!
Flowergirl