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How Green Tea Interacts With
Medicines
Green tea has been enjoyed by millions of people, over hundreds of
years, in numerous countries with few to no side effects. Although it's
normally safe to drink, it may cause problems for certain
people. For example, the caffeine in green tea may cause irregular
heartbeat in some people, worsen existing anxiety disorders, or increase
the blood pressure in those who already have hypertension.
And like a surprising number of foods, green tea may interact with
modern medicines in unpleasant ways. Look through the list below, which
lists the drugs by generic name followed by a brand name in
parentheses, to find possible interactions.
Possible Interactions
Between Green Tea and Medications
(The information in this
section was taken from The Essential Herb-Drug-Vitamin Interaction
Guide by George Grossberg, M.D. and Barry Fox, Ph.D., Broadway
Books, 2007.
Click here to find this book on
Amazon.com.)
abciximab (ReoPro)
- may "thin" the blood and raise the danger of
bruising or bleeding
acarbose
(Precose) -
may raise or lower
the blood sugar
acetohexamide - may raise or lower
the blood sugar
albuterol
(Proventi) -
may overstimulate the nervous
system
alendronate
(Fosamax) -
may reduce medicine effectiveness
alteplase
(Activase) - may "thin" the blood and raise the danger of
bruising or bleeding
antithrombin III
(Thrombate III)
- may "thin" the blood and raise the
danger of bruising or bleeding
argatroban - may "thin" the blood and raise the danger of bruising or
bleeding
aspirin
(Bufferin) -
may "thin" the blood and raise the danger
of bruising or bleeding
bivalirudin
(Angiomax) -
may "thin" the blood and raise the danger of
bruising or bleeding
chlorpropamide
(Diabinese) - may raise or lower
the blood sugar
choline magnesium trisalicylate
(Trilisate) - may "thin" the blood and
raise the danger of bruising or bleeding
cimetidine
(Tagamet) -
may lead to a build-up of caffeine in the body
and an increased risk of caffeine side effects
cinoxacin
(Cinobac) - may lead to a build-up of caffeine in the body
and an increased risk of caffeine side effects
ciprofloxacin
(Cipro) - may lead to a build-up of caffeine in the
body and an increased risk of caffeine side effects
clobenzorex
(Asenlix) -
may overstimulate the nervous system
clopidogrel
(Plavix) - may "thin" the blood and raise the danger of
bruising or bleeding
clozapine
(Clozaril) - may cause increased psychotic
symptoms
danaparoid
(Orgaran) -
may "thin" the blood and raise the danger of
bruising or bleeding
diethylpropion
(Tenuate) - may overstimulate the nervous system
dipyridamole
(Persantine) -may interfere with the action of the
medicine
disulfiram
(Antabuse) - may lead to a build-up of caffeine in the
body and an increased risk of caffeine side effects
drotrecogin alfa
(Xigris) - may "thin" the blood and raise the danger of
bruising or bleeding
enoxaparin
(Lovenox) - may "thin" the blood and raise the danger of
bruising or bleeding
ephedrine (Pretz-D) -
may lead to a build-up of caffeine in the body
and an increased risk of caffeine side effects, and/or trigger a
hypertensive crisis
epinephrine
(EpiPen) - may overstimulate the nervous
system
ergotamine
(Cafergot) - may increase medicine absorption; lead to a build-up of caffeine in the body and an increased risk
of caffeine side effects
estrogens, conjugated/equine
(Premarin) - may lead to a
build-up of caffeine in the body and an increased risk of caffeine side
effects
estrogens, esterified
(Estratab) - may lead to a build-up of
caffeine in the body and an increased risk of caffeine side effects
estrogens, conjugated A/synthetic
(Cenestin) - may lead to a
build-up of caffeine in the body and an increased risk of caffeine side
effects
estrogens, esterified and methyltestosterone
(Estratest)
- may lead to a build-up of caffeine in the body and an increased
risk of caffeine side effects
estrogens, conjugated/equine and medroxyprogesterone
(Prempro) -
may lead to a build-up of caffeine in the body and an
increased risk of caffeine side effects
ethinyl estradiol and etonogestrel
(NuvaRing) - may lead to a
build-up of caffeine in the body and an increased risk of caffeine side
effects
ethinyl estradiol and ethynodiol diacetate
(Demulen) - may lead to a build-up of caffeine in the body and an increased risk of
caffeine side effects
ethinyl estradiol and norgestimate
(Ortho Tri-Cyclen)
- may lead to a build-up of caffeine in the body and an increased risk of
caffeine side effects
ethinyl estradiol and norelgestromin
(Evra) -
may lead to
a build-up of caffeine in the body and an increased risk of caffeine
side effects
ethinyl estradiol and norgestrel
(Cryselle) - may lead to a
build-up of caffeine in the body and an increased risk of caffeine side
effects
ethinyl estradiol and desogestrel
(Cyclessa) - may lead
to a build-up of caffeine in the body and an increased risk of caffeine
side effects
ethinyl estradiol and levonorgestrel
(Alesse) -
may lead
to a build-up of caffeine in the body and an increased risk of caffeine
side effects
ethinyl estradiol and norethindrone
(Brevicon) - may lead to a build-up of caffeine in the body and an increased risk of
caffeine side effects
etodolac
(Lodine) - may "thin" the blood and raise the danger of
bruising or bleeding
fenoprofen
(Nalfon) - may "thin" the blood and raise the danger of
bruising or bleeding
fenoterol
(Berotec) - may overstimulate the nervous system
fluconazole (Diflucan) -
may lead to a build-up of caffeine in the
body and an increased risk of caffeine side effects
flurbiprofen
(Ansaid) - may "thin" the blood and raise the danger
of bruising or bleeding
fluvoxamine
(Luvox) - may lead to a build-up of caffeine in the body
and an increased risk of caffeine side effects
fondaparinux (Arixtra)
- may "thin" the blood and raise the danger of
bruising or bleeding
gatifloxacin (Tequin) -
may lead to a build-up of caffeine in
the body and an increased risk of caffeine side effects
gemifloxacin
(Factive) - may lead to a build-up of caffeine in the
body and an increased risk of caffeine side effects
gliclazide (Diamicron) -
may raise or lower
the blood sugar
glimepiride
(Amaryl) - may raise or lower
the blood sugar
glipizide
(Glucotrol) - may raise or lower
the blood sugar
glipizide and metformin
(Metaglip) - may raise or lower
the blood sugar
gliquidone
(Glurenorm) - may raise or lower your blood sugar
glyburide
(DiaBeta) -
may raise or lower your blood sugar
glyburide and metformin
(Glucovance) - may raise or lower
the blood
sugar
heparin
(Hepalean) -
may "thin" the blood and raise the danger
of bruising or bleeding
hydrocodone and aspirin (Damason-P)
- may "thin" the blood and raise the
danger of bruising or bleeding
hydrocodone and ibuprofen
(Vicoprofen) - may "thin" the blood and raise
the danger of bruising or bleeding
ibritumomab (Zevalin)
- may "thin" the blood and raise the danger of
bruising or bleeding
ibuprofen
(Advil) - may "thin" the blood and raise the danger of
bruising or bleeding
indobufen
(Ibustrin) - may "thin" the blood and raise the danger of
bruising or bleeding
indomethacin
(Indocin) - may "thin" the blood and raise the danger of
bruising or bleeding
insulin
(Humulin) - may raise or lower
the blood sugar
iproniazid
(Marsilid) - may trigger a hypertensive crisis
ketorolac
(Acular) -
may "thin" the blood and raise the danger
of bruising or bleeding
lepirudin
(Refludan) - may "thin" the blood and raise the danger of
bruising or bleeding
levofloxacin
(Levaquin) - may lead to a build-up of caffeine
in the body and an increased risk of caffeine side effects
lithium
(Eskalith) - may cause medicine levels in the body
to rise, heightening "lithium tremor," when high amounts of caffeine are
taken over time and suddenly stopped.
lomefloxacin
(Maxaquin) -
may lead to a build-up of caffeine in the
body and an increased risk of caffeine side effects
mestranol and norethindrone (Necon 1/50) -
may lead
to a build-up of caffeine in the body and an increased risk of caffeine
side effects
metformin
(Glucophage)
- may raise or lower
the blood sugar
mexiletine
(Mextil) - may lead to a build-up of caffeine in the body
and an increased risk of caffeine side effects
miglitol
(Glyset) -
may raise or lower
the blood sugar
moclobemide - may trigger a hypertensive crisis
modafinil
(Provigil) -
may overstimulate the nervous system
moxifloxacin
(Avelox) -
may lead to a build-up of caffeine
in the body and an increased risk of caffeine side effects
nabumetone
(Relefan) - may "thin" the blood and raise the danger of
bruising or bleeding
nadroparin
(Fraxiparine) - may "thin" the blood and raise the danger of
bruising or bleeding
nalidixic acid
(NegGram) -
may lead to a build-up of caffeine in the
body and an increased risk of caffeine side effects
naproxen
(Aleve) - may "thin" the blood and raise the danger of
bruising or bleeding
nateglinide
(Starlix) - may raise or lower
the blood sugar
norfloxacin
(Noroxin) - may lead to a build-up of caffeine in the
body and an increased risk of caffeine side effects
ofloxacin
(Floxin) - may lead to a build-up of caffeine in
the body and an increased risk of caffeine side effects
oxaprozin
(Daypro) - may "thin" the blood and raise the danger of
bruising or bleeding
pefloxacin
(Peflacine)
- may lead to a build-up of caffeine
in the body and an increased risk of caffeine side effects
phenelzine
(Nardil) - may trigger a hypertensive crisis
phentermine
(Ionamin) - may overstimulate the nervous
system
pioglitazone
(Actos) -
may raise or lower
the blood sugar
piroxicam
(Feldene) - may "thin" the blood and raise the danger of
bruising or bleeding
pseudoephedrine
(Sudafed) - may overstimulate the nervous system
repaglinide
(GlucoNorm)
- may raise or lower
the blood sugar
riluzole
(Rilutek) - may lead to a build-up of caffeine in the body
and an increased risk of caffeine side effects; increase risk of medicine side effects
rosiglitazone
(Avandia) - may raise or lower
the blood sugar
rosiglitazone and metformin
(Avandamet) - may raise or lower
the blood
sugar
salsalate
(Amgesic) -
may "thin" the blood and raise the danger
of bruising or bleeding
selegiline
(Eldepryl) -
may trigger a hypertensive crisis and/or increase risk of irregular heartbeat
sparfloxacin
(Zagam) -
may lead to a build-up of caffeine in the body
and an increased risk of caffeine side effects
streptokinase
(Streptase) - may "thin" the blood and raise the danger of
bruising or bleeding
sulindac
(Clinoril) - may "thin" the blood and raise the danger of
bruising or bleeding
terbinafine
(Lamisil) -
may lead to a build-up of caffeine in the
body and an increased risk of caffeine side effects
theophylline salts
(Elixophyllin)
- may increase toxic
effects of the medicine and/or overstimulate the nervous system
tiaprofenic acid
(Surgam) -
may "thin" the blood and
raise the danger of bruising or bleeding
ticlopidine
(Ticlid) -
may "thin" the blood and raise
the danger of bruising or bleeding
tolazamide
(Tolinase) -
may raise or lower
the blood sugar
tolbutamide
(Tol-Tab) -
may raise or lower
the blood sugar
tolmetin
(Tolectin) - may "thin" the blood and raise the danger of
bruising or bleeding
tranylcypromine (Parnate)
- may trigger a hypertensive crisis
trovafloxacin - may lead to a build-up of caffeine in
the body and an increased risk of caffeine side effects
valdecoxib
(Bextra) -
may "thin" the blood and raise the danger of
bruising or bleeding
verapamil
(Calan) -
may lead to a build-up of caffeine in
the body and an increased risk of caffeine side effects
warfarin
(Coumadin) -
may "thin" the blood and raise the danger
of bruising or bleeding
If you're taking any kind of medicine (prescription or
over-the-counter), supplements or herbs, or you're scheduled for any laboratory tests, be sure to
ask your physician about possible interactions with green tea.
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Nadine Taylor, M.S., R.D. presents
GreenTeaLibrary.com, the most comprehensive collection of scientific
information describing the many health benefits and properties of green tea.
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