Is it possible to take medications with tea?

Black, white, red, green – whatever the tea, it is made from camellia chinensis. The color of the drink depends on the degree of fermentation of the leaves. The most drug-sensitive substances in tea are caffeine, catechin and some minerals.

Caffeine

Two cups of black tea contain as much caffeine as a cup of brewed coffee. In the case of the instant version, the difference in the amount of caffeine is even less – one cup of instant coffee can be replaced with one and a half servings of tea. Green is less invigorating because it contains 28 mg of caffeine (black has 47 mg).

Caffeine stimulates the central nervous system and increases the production of dopamine, helps relieve fatigue, increases attention and concentration – a useful component of the diet in moderation. But excessive caffeine consumption can cause heartburn and indigestion as it triggers the production of acid in the stomach. And those who drink more than six cups of coffee (or 10-12 cups of tea) a day risk insomnia, high blood pressure, heart problems and headaches.

Flavonoids and L‑theanine

Tea is rich in flavonoids. This is one of the types of antioxidants responsible for the aroma of the drink. Thanks to flavonoids, tea may be useful in the prevention of certain types of cancer, cardiovascular diseases and tooth decay. Catechins are the main flavanols in green tea. They are credited with antifungal, anticarcinogenic and antiviral properties.

The nervous system also reacts sensitively to the main tea amino acid – L-theanine. It can increase concentration and, together with caffeine, can enhance brain activity. L-theanine also has calming and anti-stress properties , which are often attributed to tea.

But if you think that the leafy drink itself can serve as a medicine, then you are mistaken. For example, green tea is not approved by the FDA as a drug, although drinking it in most cases is at least harmless.

How tea can affect the effectiveness of medications

Contraindications for most medications do not include tea consumption. In addition, in brewed tea the concentration of active substances is quite low, so a person does not run much risk of harming the effectiveness of the drug. But water still remains the best companion for drugs: its composition is neutral, and the possibility of interaction of ordinary H2O with drugs is less than that of any other liquids.

Separate studies suggest that tea extracts and catechins may improve the properties of certain substances, including the anticancer effects of capsicum vanniloids and the antibacterial properties of gentamicin and chloramphenicol . But still, some drugs with tea, especially in large quantities, may not combine well.

Which pills should you definitely not take with tea?

Potency products

Green tea interacts with yohimbine, a substance for the prevention of male impotence, so preparations with yohimbe tree extract should not be taken with tea. The aphrodisiac increases blood pressure and can cause anxiety and rapid heartbeat – the same side effects can be caused by caffeine.

The question also remains open about the effect of green tea catechins on testosterone , so preparations with this hormone are best taken with water.

Preparations with iron

You should not take iron supplements with tea: caffeine reduces the absorption of the microelement in the body. By the way, orange juice has the opposite effect: some studies have shown that iron is absorbed better with vitamin C.

Antidepressants

Many depression medications and sedatives interact with caffeine, so tea may enhance the effects of such medications. Researchers even call caffeine an assistant in the treatment of mental disorders, but do not forget about the other side – caffeine itself can provoke the development of nervousness.

Therefore, those who like to drink tea and coffee in large quantities should still consult a doctor about combining these drinks with medications. You should be especially careful with the drugs paroxetine, imipramine and milnacipran: combined use with caffeine can increase the concentration of these substances in the blood and enhance their effect.

Medicines for the heart and blood vessels

The popular warfarin requires a special diet – the effectiveness of the drug is reduced by vitamin K, which is contained in green tea. Those prescribed a course of warfarin should take the tablet with water and avoid excessive consumption of green tea. Also, caution should be exercised in combining tea consumption with other drugs for the prevention of thrombosis (cilostazol, clopidogrel, ticlopidine).

In addition, remember that tea’s ability to temporarily increase blood pressure is more pronounced than that of coffee, so people with elevated levels should be careful when choosing drinks and combining them with medications.