Medications and green tea

You may have worried on learning from the latest World Tea News (article title: "Certain Medications, Food, Tea Could Worsen Heart Failure") that green tea is on a list published by the American Heart Association entitled “Drugs that may Cause or Exacerbate Heart Failure.”

Here’s why it’s on the list: green tea contains compounds that act like warfarin/coumadin, a “blood thinner.” People who are taking warfarin/coumadin, who then decide to start drinking green tea, may find themselves at risk for excessive bleeding because pill + green tea = too much warfarin/coumadin = inability to clot.

But of you have been drinking green tea all along, it may not be a good idea to stop or to make any sudden changes in your diet. Instead, it is critical to talk with your healthcare provider first, before making any changes, because a change in diet may cause the amount of drug you are taking to be too much or too little.

Your healthcare provider can help you with your diet, and inform you about what you should and shouldn’t eat. Be sure to tell your health care provider about any other foods and medications you take, including herbal and over-the-counter preparations—the American Heart Association Statement includes a lot of these, which have many different consequences. Your healthcare provider can make the best recommendations for your individual situation. 

Please note: as with all information on this website, this information is provided for your information only, without any warranties direct or implied, and may not be construed as medical advice or instruction. No action or inaction should be taken based solely on the contents of this website; instead, you should consult appropriate healthcare providers on any and all matters relating to your health and well-being.

Image from Morguefile.com

* Robert L. Page et al.  American Heart Association Scientific Statement: Drugs That May Cause or Exacerbate Heart Failure. Circulation. July 19, 2016, Volume 134, Issue 3.