Does Green Tea interact with any drugs?

Drug interactions with green tea can include certain blood pressure medicines, statin cholesterol-lowering treatments, and warfarin, an anticoagulant (blood thinner) used to help prevent blood clots and medicines used to treat hot flashes and night sweats in women due to menopause.

Key Points

Green tea is a popular drink that originated in China and has been promoted for stomach disorders, to lower cholesterol, as an antioxidant, as a stimulant, and to lessen belly fat, among other uses. In the U.S., it has gained recent popularity due to claims it can boost metabolism and aid in weight loss.

Examples

To date, about 14 drug interactions have been reported with green tea. Examples include:

1. Lisinopril: Patients should be advised to limit their consumption of green tea and green tea extracts during treatment with lisinopril. These products have been reported to lower blood levels of the ACE inhibitor lisinopril (Prinivil, Qbrelis, Zestril) which could lead to an increase in blood pressure
2. Vitamin K: Dried green tea leaves contain vitamin K, which can increase blood clotting. Large amounts of vitamin K may interfere with the activity of some blood thinners. A substantial decrease in the INR (a measure of blood clotting) has been reported in a patient treated with warfarin after he began consuming large quantities (1/2 to 1 gallon daily) of green tea. Patients treated with warfarin should probably avoid large amounts of green tea as it can interfere with the blood-thinning capabilities of this drug.
3. Statins: Statins like atorvastatin (Lipitor), rosuvastatin (Crestor) or simvastatin (Zocor) are used to lower cholesterol. These statins may have an interaction with green tea that may lead to increased blood levels of the cholesterol medicine. This could cause serious side effects like severe muscle tissue breakdown (rhabdomyolysis) or liver toxicity. It may be advisable to avoid excessive consumption of green tea and green tea products during treatment with certain statins.
4. Veozah: Using Veozah (fezolinetant) and green tea is not recommended. Using these drugs together can increase the levels of fezolinetant in the blood. Green tea is a inhibitor of CYP450 1A2 enzyme needed for Veozah metabolism in the body. It is important to tell your doctor about all other medications you use, including vitamins and herbs. Do not stop using any medications without first talking to your doctor.

This is not complete list of all possible drug interactions with Green Tea, and some interactions may not have been reported. For more information, see:

• Related: Drug Interactions with Green Tea (in more detail)

This is not all the information you need to know about Green Tea for safe and effective use and does not take the place of your doctor’s directions. Review the full product information and discuss this information and any questions you have with your doctor or other health care provider.

Related questions

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