Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhere to Find L-TyrosineWhat Chemical Are You Lacking If You Have ADHDHow Does L-Tyrosine Work?L-Tyrosine vs. AdderallBenefitsHow to Take L-TyrosineHow Long Does It Take For L-Tyrosine To WorkPossible Side EffectsWho Should Not Take L-Tyrosine?

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Where to Find L-Tyrosine

What Chemical Are You Lacking If You Have ADHD

How Does L-Tyrosine Work?

L-Tyrosine vs. Adderall

Benefits

How to Take L-Tyrosine

How Long Does It Take For L-Tyrosine To Work

Possible Side Effects

Who Should Not Take L-Tyrosine?

Close

L-tyrosine is an amino acid that is a precursor (which means it’s necessary for production) todopamineandnorepinephrine, two neurotransmitters that are important for focus and concentration.

According to some research, L-tyrosine has been shown to help improve cognitive performance during times of short-term stressand also improve working memory.

Because of this, the question of whether L-tyrosine may help with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms has been raised. However, there is limited research on the effectiveness of L-tyrosine for ADHD, and more studies are needed to confirm its efficacy. If you’re considering using L-tyrosine for ADHD, talk to your doctor first to see if it’s right for you.

L-tyrosine is foundnaturallyin many foods, including the following:

L-tyrosine is also available in supplement form. It’s sometimes combined with other ingredients, such as:

Best Vitamins for Stress and Anxiety Relief

There is no one “chemical” that people with ADHD are lacking. However, some research suggests that ADHD may be associated with a decreased functioning in the neurotransmitters dopamine and norepinephrine (the target of ADHD medications) in certain parts of the brain.

Dopamine and norepinephrine are important neurotransmitters that play a role in focus and concentration. They’re also involved in the “reward center” of the brain, which helps regulatemotivationandpleasure.

By providing more of the building blocks for dopamine and norepinephrine, L-tyrosine is thought to potentially improve symptoms of ADHD and executive function overall.

Is L-Tyrosine the Same as Adderall?

L-tyrosine is sometime thought of as “over-the-counter Adderall”, a stimulant medication approved to treat ADHD. Both L-tyrosine andAdderallcan potentially increase dopamine in different ways, however only Adderall has a clearly proven efficacy in the treatment of ADHD.

Adderall vs. L-tyrosine

What Are the Benefits of L-Tyrosine?

As a dietary supplement, L-tyrosine has been purported to be of use for the following:

Cognitive flexibility

L-tyrosine is thought to improve cognitive flexibility. In one study, healthy adults were given either L-tyrosine or a placebo before completing a test that required switching from one task to another.

Those who took L-tyrosine demonstrated more cognitive flexibility than those who took the placebo.

Working memory

Studies have looked at the impact of tyrosine on working memory.

Reducing Stress

Stressful conditions are known to negatively affect cognitive and physical performance. A systematic review of 15 studies showed that a single dose of L-tyrosine mitigated the impact of stress on cognitive tasks.For example, healthy adults who received a dose of tyrosine before being exposed to cold temperatures (a known stressor that can impede performance), did better on cognitive tasks than controls who did not take the tyrosine.

Another study described that L-tyrosine prevents some of the cognitive decline in response to physical stress.

You can find L-tyrosine supplements at most health food stores. The usual dose is 500 to 2000mg per day. If you choose to try L-tyrosine, it’s generally thought best to start with a lower dose and increase it gradually.

You should also talk to your doctor before taking L-tyrosine or any other supplement, especially if you have a health condition or are taking other medications.

The effects of L-tyrosine may not be immediate and it may take several weeks for you to notice any changes. If you don’t notice any improvement after a few weeks, you may want to try a higher dose or talk to your doctor about other treatment options.

L-tyrosine is generally considered safe when taken in recommended doses. However, it can cause some side effects, such as the following:

If you have ADHD, you may be more sensitive to the side effects of L-tyrosine. Therefore, it’s important to start with a lower dose and increase gradually as needed. If you experience any side effects, stop taking the supplement and talk to your doctor.

L-tyrosine is generally considered safe when taken at recommended doses. However, it can cause side effects and can also interact with some medications. If you have an underlying health condition or are taking medications, it is especially important to speak to your doctor before taking L-tyrosine or any other supplement.

Takeaways

Although there is some evidence that L-tyrosine may help with certain aspects of cognitive performance, there is limited evidence to support it as an effective treatment for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms.

However, more research is needed. If you’re considering taking L-tyrosine for ADHD, talk to your doctor first. They can help you weigh the potential risks and benefits and determine if L-tyrosine is right for you.

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13 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

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Kühn S, Düzel S, Colzato L, et al.Food for thought: Association between dietary tyrosine and cognitive performance in younger and older adults.Psychological Research. 2019;83(6):1097-1106. doi:10.1007%2Fs00426-017-0957-4

Guilarte TR.Effect of vitamin B-6 nutrition on the levels of dopamine, dopamine metabolites, dopa decarboxylase activity, tyrosine, and GABA in the developing rat corpus striatum.Neurochem Res. 1989;14(6):571-578. doi:10.1007/BF00964920

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Alabsi A, Khoudary AC, Abdelwahed W.The antidepressant effect of L-tyrosine-loaded nanoparticles: Behavioral aspects.Ann Neurosci. 2018;25(3):141-151. doi:10.1159%2F000487909

Steenbergen L, Sellaro R, Hommel B, Colzato LS.Tyrosine promotes cognitive flexibility: Evidence from proactive vs. reactive control during task switching performance.Neuropsychologia. 2015;69:50-55. doi:10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2015.01.022

Hase A, Jung SE, aan het Rot M.Behavioral and cognitive effects of tyrosine intake in healthy human adults.Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior. 2015;133:1-6. doi:10.1016/j.pbb.2015.03.008

Shurtleff D, Thomas JR, Schrot J, Kowalski K, Harford R.Tyrosine reverses a cold-induced working memory deficit in humans.Pharmacol Biochem Behav. 1994;47(4):935-941. doi:10.1016/0091-3057(94)90299-2

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PubChem.Tyrosine.

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