PlainPill

Sarcosine

People mainly take Sarcosine for mood, anxiety, focus. Based on 22 first-hand reports and 20 meta-analyses & systematic reviews in the medical literature. Ranked #295 of 1,974 overall.

35
User score
Mostly positive
41% positive5% mixed9% negative45% unclear

Of reports that state an outcome, 75% are positive.

Clinical research
AStrong research base
20
meta-analyses
27
RCTs
2,357
papers

What Sarcosine does, according to users

Of the people who reported each effect, the share who said it got better.

3 more with fewer than 3 reports
betterno changeworse

What the research says

Systematic reviews and meta-analyses from PubMed, with their published conclusions.

AStrong research base

3+ meta-analyses or systematic reviews and 10+ randomized controlled trials in humans. The grade measures how much human research exists — read the conclusions below for what it found.

Cochrane Database Syst Rev · 2012 · Meta-analysis / systematic review
Treatment for mitochondrial disorders

Conclusion: Despite identifying eight new trials there is currently no clear evidence supporting the use of any intervention in mitochondrial disorders. Further research is needed to establish the role of a wide range of therapeutic approaches. We suggest further research should identify novel agents to be tested in homogeneous study populations with clinically relevant primary endpoints.

PubMed 22513923 ↗
Cochrane Database Syst Rev · 2021 · Meta-analysis / systematic review
Ketamine and other glutamate receptor modulators for depression in adults with unipolar major depressive disorder

Conclusion: Our findings show that ketamine and esketamine may be more efficacious than placebo at 24 hours. How these findings translate into clinical practice, however, is not entirely clear. The evidence for use of the remaining glutamate receptor modulators is limited as very few trials were included in the meta-analyses for each comparison and the majority of comparisons included only one study. Long term non-inferiority RCTs comparing repeated ketamine and esketamine, and rigorous real-world monitoring are needed to establish comprehensive data on safety and efficacy.

PubMed 34510411 ↗
Cochrane Database Syst Rev · 2006 · Meta-analysis / systematic review
Treatment for mitochondrial disorders

Conclusion: There is currently no clear evidence supporting the use of any intervention in mitochondrial disorders. Further research is needed to establish the role of a wide range of therapeutic approaches.

PubMed 16437486 ↗
Environ Int · 2019 · Meta-analysis / systematic review
Meta-analysis of glyphosate contamination in surface waters and dissipation by biofilms

Conclusion: The results of the present study show that phosphorus not only is a key driver of river eutrophication but also can reduce complete glyphosate degradation by biofilms and favour the accumulation of AMPA in river water. The predominant role of biofilms and the trophic status of rivers must therefore be considered in order to better assess the fate and persistence of glyphosate.

PubMed 30660841 ↗

Dosage people report

As stated by users — not a recommendation. Follow the label or your doctor.

dailyas reported
500 mg2x daily
1 g3x daily
2 gmorning
1 g2x daily

Reported side effects

How often each side effect came up across all reports.

headache ×1irritability ×1frequent urination ×1

What users say

Verbatim quotes, shortened only — each links to the original discussion.

“Nothings worked except Sarcosine which has helped me very subtly.”
Source discussion ↗
“After six weeks, 14 of 20 patients treated with sarcosine fulfilled the criteria for treatment response, but only 4 out of 20 treated with citalopram. Only one patient who was treated with citalopram achieved a remission”
Source discussion ↗
“I've been meaning to try sarcosine as it is a reuptake inhibitor of glycine”
Source discussion ↗
“Sarcosine acted slightly like the ADHD stims, but less potent”
Source discussion ↗
“sarcosine helps with the negative and cognitive symptoms of schizophrenia”
Source discussion ↗
Top discussions (5)

Other options for mood

User data from public discussions; research from PubMed. Information only, not medical advice — talk to a doctor before starting, stopping or combining anything. Data updated October 2, 2026. How we rate