black tea

Complementary/Alternative Medicine: This monograph describes a natural or herbal product that is not subject to FDA guidelines for medicines. Patients and clinicians are advised to read package labels carefully to ensure safe and efficacious use.

REMS

Mental alertness
Headache
Weight loss
Myocardial infarction and atherosclerosis prevention

Contraind./Precautions ⬆ ⬇

Contraindicated in:

Allergy or hypersensitivity to caffeine or tannin;
OB: Pregnancy and lactation (in high doses due to caffeine content).

Use Cautiously in:

Cardiac arrhythmias;
Diabetes;
Peptic ulcer disease;
Osteoporosis (caffeine increases urinary calcium excretion);
Iron deficiency anemia (may worsen);
Pedi: Safety and efficacy has not been established in children.

Adv. Reactions/Side Effects ⬆ ⬇

CV: arrhythmia, hypertension, tachycardia

Derm: hives, rash

Endo: hyperglycemia

F and E: hypokalemia, hyponatremia

GI: constipation, increased stomach acid

GU: diuresis , increased urine sodium, potassium, and calcium levels

Hemat: iron deficiency, microcytic anemia

MS: rhabdomyolysis (high doses)

Neuro: insomnia, tremor

Interactions ⬆ ⬇

Natural-Drug Products:

Cimetidine, disulfiram, fluvoxamine, fluoroquinolones, and estrogens can ↓ caffeine clearance and ↑ adverse effects.
Caffeine can inhibit dipyridamole-induced vasodilation.
Abrupt withdrawal of caffeine can ↑ lithium levels.
Additive stimulatory effects with CNS stimulants.
Caffeine can ↑ theophylline levels.

Natural-Natural Products:

May ↑ heart rate and BP when used with bitter orange.
May ↑ stimulatory effects when taken with green tea.

Availability ⬆ ⬇

Tea leaves: ^OTC

Route/Dosage ⬆ ⬇

PO (Adults ): Heart disease prevention: 1–4 cups daily; Headache/mental performance: 1–5 cups daily. One cup of black tea contains approximately 50 mg caffeine. A maximum of 8 cups/day has been suggested.

US Brand Names ⬆ ⬇

Camellia sinensis, English tea, Theaflavin

Action ⬆ ⬇

Black tea contains caffeine (2–4%) a methylxanthine that stimulates the CNS through adenosine receptor blockade and phosphodiesterase inhibition, relaxes smooth muscle in the airways, stimulates the heart and has diuretic effects. Theaflavins and tannins present in black tea are responsible for antioxidant properties.

Therapeutic effects:

CNS stimulation.
Diuresis.
Elevated heart rate and BP.

Classifications ⬆ ⬇

Therapeutic Classification: central nervous system stimulants

Pharmacokinetics ⬆ ⬇

Absorption: Unknown.

Distribution: Unknown.

Metabolism/Excretion: Unknown.

Half-Life: Unknown.

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Indications ⬇