GENERIC NAME: GREEN TEA (Camellia sinensis) - ORAL
Medication Uses | How To Use | Side Effects | Precautions | Drug Interactions | Overdose | Notes | Missed Dose | Storage
USES: Green tea contains caffeine and it has been used to increase alertness. Green tea has also been used for cancer prevention, to lower cholesterol, and to prevent/delay Parkinson's disease.Some herbal/diet supplement products have been found to contain possibly harmful impurities/additives. Check with your pharmacist for more details regarding the particular brand you use.The FDA has not reviewed this product for safety or effectiveness. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more details.
HOW TO USE: Take this product by mouth as directed. Follow all directions on the product package. If you are uncertain about any of the information, consult your doctor or pharmacist.This medication may cause withdrawal reactions, especially if it has been used regularly for a long time or in high doses. In such cases, withdrawal symptoms (such as headache, mental/mood changes such as irritability/nervousness) may occur if you suddenly stop using this medication. To prevent withdrawal reactions, your doctor may reduce your dose gradually. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more details, and report any withdrawal reactions immediately.This product can decrease the amount of iron you get from food/supplements. If you have low iron levels, do not take green tea with meals or iron supplements. Take this product between meals.If your condition persists or worsens, or if you think you may have a serious medical problem, seek immediate medical attention.
SIDE EFFECTS: Nausea, diarrhea, upset stomach, headache, and dizziness may occur. If any of these effects persist or worsen, contact your doctor promptly.Tell your doctor immediately if any of these unlikely but serious side effects occur: fast/irregular heartbeat, mental/mood changes (e.g., nervousness, confusion), trouble sleeping, restlessness, shakiness (tremor), seizures.A very serious allergic reaction to this product is rare. However, seek immediate medical attention if you notice any of the following symptoms of a serious allergic reaction: rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, trouble breathing.This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.In the US -Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.In Canada - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to Health Canada at 1-866-234-2345.
PRECAUTIONS: Before taking green tea, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or if you have any other allergies. This product may contain inactive ingredients, which can cause allergic reactions or other problems. Talk to your pharmacist for more details.If you have any of the following health problems, consult your doctor or pharmacist before using this product: anemia (iron deficiency anemia), bleeding problems, diabetes, a certain eye condition (glaucoma), heart problems (e.g., irregular heartbeat, recent heart attack), stomach/intestinal problems (e.g., ulcers, reflux disease-GERD), liver problems, mental/mood disorder (e.g., anxiety, panic attacks), low levels of calcium in the blood, bone problems such as osteoporosis.Liquid preparations of this product may contain sugar and/or alcohol. Caution is advised if you have diabetes, alcohol dependence, or liver disease. Ask your doctor or pharmacist about using this product safely.Caution is advised when using this drug in children because they may be more sensitive to the effects of caffeine.During pregnancy, consult your doctor before using this product. Green tea contains caffeine. It is recommended that women limit caffeine during pregnancy. This product may also decrease folic acid. Discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor.This product may pass into breast milk and have undesirable effects on a nursing infant. Consult your doctor before breast-feeding.
DRUG INTERACTIONS: Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with your doctor or pharmacist first.Before using this product, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all prescription and nonprescription medications you may use, especially: other products that contain caffeine (e.g., drugs used to treat migraines/headaches or prevent sleepiness), drugs that can harm the liver (e.g., acetaminophen, amiodarone, carbamazepine, isoniazid, methotrexate, methyldopa, "statins" such as atorvastatin and lovastatin), "blood thinners" (e.g., warfarin), drugs affecting liver enzymes that remove caffeine from your body (e.g., cimetidine, fluvoxamine, verapamil, quinolone/macrolide antibiotics such as ciprofloxacin and erythromycin, estrogens including hormonal birth control such as the pill/patch/ring), lithium, stimulants (e.g., amphetamine, ephedra/ma huang, pseudoephedrine), theophylline.Check the labels on all your medicines (e.g., cough-and-cold products, diet aids, headache medicines) because they may contain caffeine or other stimulants (e.g., ephedra/ma huang, phenylpropanolamine) that could increase your heart rate or blood pressure. Ask your pharmacist about using those products safely.While taking this product, avoid drinking large amounts of beverages containing caffeine (e.g., coffee, tea, certain soft drinks) or eating large amounts of chocolate.This product can interfere with certain medical/laboratory tests (e.g., chemical stress tests using adenosine/dipyridamole, urine tests for calcium/catecholamines), possibly causing false test results. Make sure laboratory personnel and all your doctors know you use this product.Stop taking this product 24 hours before a dipyridamole or adenosine stress test and at least 4 hours before lung function tests. Ask your doctor for more details.This document does not contain all possible interactions. Therefore, before using this product, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all the products you use. Keep a list of all your medications with you, and share the list with your doctor and pharmacist.

QUESTION
According to the USDA, there is no difference between a “portion” and a “serving.” See AnswerOVERDOSE: If overdose is suspected, contact a poison control center or emergency room immediately. US residents can call their local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. Canada residents can call a provincial poison control center. Symptoms of overdose may include: seizures, irregular heartbeat.
NOTES: Keep all regular medical and laboratory appointments.
MISSED DOSE: If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is near the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose and resume your usual dosing schedule. Do not double the dose to catch up.
STORAGE: Refer to storage information printed on the package. If you have any questions about storage, ask your pharmacist. Keep all medications and herbal products away from children and pets.Do not flush medications down the toilet or pour them into a drain unless instructed to do so. Properly discard this product when it is expired or no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company for more details about how to safely discard your product.
Information last revised March 2013. Copyright(c) 2013 First Databank, Inc.
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Selected from data included with permission and copyrighted by First Databank, Inc. This copyrighted material has been downloaded from a licensed data provider and is not for distribution, except as may be authorized by the applicable terms of use.
CONDITIONS OF USE: The information in this database is intended to supplement, not substitute for, the expertise and judgment of healthcare professionals. The information is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, drug interactions or adverse effects, nor should it be construed to indicate that use of particular drug is safe, appropriate or effective for you or anyone else. A healthcare professional should be consulted before taking any drug, changing any diet or commencing or discontinuing any course of treatment.