Drug & supplement interaction

Coffee + Prednisone

Prednisone brand names: Deltasone, Cortan, Orasone, Prednisone, Prednicen-M, and others.

No Known Interaction
The bottom line No known interaction

We found no known interaction between Coffee and Prednisone in our sources. Absence of a documented interaction is not the same as proven safety, and does not guarantee one does not exist. Do not start, stop, or change a medication or supplement based on this page; confirm with your pharmacist or doctor first. Additionally, although there is no interaction, the label for Prednisone states a food rule worth keeping to, and the two are separately associated with some of the same side effects, which would make a new symptom harder to attribute to one or the other.

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Interaction report

Coffee and Prednisone

We checked these two against our interaction database. Here is what we found.

No Known Interaction Found

We did not find a documented interaction between Prednisone and Coffee in our sources. This does not guarantee that the combination is completely free of risk — there is often limited research on supplements and herbal products, especially around drug interactions.

If you decide to take both, the practical routine is simple: add one new thing at a time and note the date you started it. If the combination is going to disagree with you, it usually shows in the first days to a couple of weeks — and a start date turns “I’ve been feeling off” into something a pharmacist can actually work with. Do not stop a prescribed medicine on your own.

Always talk with your pharmacist or doctor before making changes to your medications or supplements, particularly if you take several medications or have an ongoing health condition.

Coffee safety at a glance

Coffee overall Use caution Moderate intake is generally safe for healthy adults, but high amounts can cause side effects.
Pregnancy Possibly Safe When used orally in moderate amounts. Intake of caffeine from coffee and other sources should be monitored during pregnancy. Caffeine crosses the human placenta... Read the full pregnancy detail
Breastfeeding Possibly Safe When used orally. Drinking one or two caffeine-containing beverages daily during lactation is not associated with unacceptable levels of caffeine in human milk. Read the full breastfeeding detail

Pregnancy & breastfeeding ratings are from Natural Medicines (Therapeutic Research Center) — the full detail is in the Special populations card below. Safety guidance is general; always confirm with your pharmacist or doctor for your situation.

Still wondering about combining Prednisone and Coffee? Ask Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS directly ›
How we checked

Why No Interaction Is Listed for Prednisone

Interactions in our licensed database are recorded against drug classes, not just single drug names. Prednisone is filed under 7 classifications — including corticosteroids, cytochrome p450 2c19 (cyp2c19) inducers, immunosuppressants. Coffee has documented interactions with 33 drug classes — the most serious being ephedrine (major), adenosine (adenocard) (moderate) and alendronate (fosamax) (moderate) — and none of Prednisone’s classifications are among them.

Classification data comes from our licensed Natural Medicines dataset. A medication can belong to classes beyond those recorded there, so this describes how the check was run — it is not a safety guarantee.

Keep it in perspective

Coffee Does Interact With Other Medications

Coffee has 8 major, 467 moderate, 116 minor known drug interactions in our database — Prednisone isn’t one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Coffee

Covers the 2,830 medications we’ve checked against Coffee. Pick one to open its full report.

What to actually watch for

No Interaction Found — But Data Suggests Coffee and Prednisone May Share Several of the Same Side Effects

This is not an interaction. Neither one changes how your body handles the other, and nothing here says they react together. What our sources do show is that each has separately been linked to the effects below — so taking both can make those effects more likely to turn up, and harder to pin on one or the other if they do. 10 of them are worth acting on rather than waiting out — marked below.

  • Bone thinning Worth acting on Additional detail

    Coffee

    “Orally, there is preliminary evidence that use of greater than four cups of coffee daily can increase the risk of rheumatoid factor positive rheumatoid arthritis, but this association has not been confirmed.

    Epidemiological evidence regarding the relationship between caffeine use and the risk for osteoporosis is contradictory. Caffeine can increase urinary excretion of calcium.”

    Coffee · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in bone loss.

    6 sources cited
    1. 6482. Heliovaara M, Aho K, Knekt P, et al. Coffee consumption, rheumatoid factor, and the risk of rheumatoid arthritis. Ann Rheum Dis 2000;59:631-5. PubMed
    2. 2669. Rapuri PB, Gallagher JC, Kinyamu HK, Ryschon KL. Caffeine intake increases the rate of bone loss in elderly women and interacts with vitamin D receptor genotypes. Am J Clin Nutr 2001;74:694-700. PubMed
    3. 10202. Massey LK. Is caffeine a risk factor for bone loss in the elderly? Am J Clin Nutr 2001;74:569-70. PubMed
    4. 11317. Massey LK, Whiting SJ. Caffeine, urinary calcium, calcium metabolism and bone. J Nutr 1993;123:1611-4. PubMed
    5. 6025. Lloyd T, Johnson-Rollings N, Eggli DF, et al. Bone status among postmenopausal women with different habitual caffeine intakes: a longitudinal investigation. J Am Coll Nutr 2000;19:256-61. PubMed
    6. 98806. Wikoff D, Welsh BT, Henderson R, et al. Systematic review of the potential adverse effects of caffeine consumption in healthy adults, pregnant women, adolescents, and children. Food Chem Toxicol 2017;109:585-648. PubMed

    Prednisone

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Prednisone. Read the label on DailyMed ›

  • Low potassium / High blood sugar Worth acting on Additional detail

    Coffee

    “Orally, excessive doses of caffeine can cause massive catecholamine release and subsequent metabolic acidosis, hyperglycemia, and ketosis. Other symptoms include hypokalemia and respiratory alkalosis.

    Some evidence shows that caffeine, a constituent of coffee, is associated with fibrocystic breast disease, breast cancer, and endometriosis in females; however, this is controversial since findings are conflicting.”

    Coffee · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in breast cancer.

    6 sources cited
    1. 13734. Benowitz NL, Osterloh J, Goldschlager N, et al. Massive catecholamine release from caffeine poisoning. JAMA 1982;248:1097-8. DOI
    2. 11832. Institute of Medicine. Caffeine for the Sustainment of Mental Task Performance: Formulations for Military Operations. Washington, DC: National Academy Press, 2001. Available at: http://books.nap.edu/books/0309082587/html/index.html. DOI
    3. 11838. Holmgren P, Norden-Pettersson L, Ahlner J. Caffeine fatalities--four case reports. Forensic Sci Int 2004;139:71-3. PubMed
    4. 13735. Leson CL, McGuigan MA, Bryson SM. Caffeine overdose in an adolescent male. J Toxicol Clin Toxicol 1988;26:407-15. PubMed
    5. 8043. Ferrini RL, Barrett-Connor E. Caffeine intake and endogenous sex steroid levels in postmenopausal women. The Rancho Bernardo Study. Am J Epidemiol 1996:144:642-4. PubMed
    6. 8996. Horner NK, Lampe JW. Potential mechanisms of diet therapy for fibrocystic breast conditions show inadequate evidence of effectiveness. J Am Diet Assoc 2000;100:1368-80. PubMed

    Prednisone

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Prednisone. Read the label on DailyMed ›

  • A heart attack / An irregular heartbeat Worth acting on Additional detail

    Coffee

    “Orally, coffee containing caffeine can cause chest pain and premature heartbeat. These effects are more likely with increasing intake of caffeine and in certain populations (e.g., children, elderly). Excessive doses of caffeine can cause massive catecholamine release and subsequent sinus tachycardia.

    Although acute administration of caffeine can cause increased blood pressure, regular consumption does not seem to inc…”

    Coffee · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in arrhythmia.

    6 sources cited
    1. 8042. Anon. Filtering the news about coffee. University of California, Berkeley Wellness Letter 2001:17:1-2.
    2. 111045. Marcus GM, Rosenthal DG, Nah G, et al. Acute effects of coffee consumption on health among ambulatory adults. N Engl J Med. 2023;388(12):1092-1100. PubMed
    3. 11832. Institute of Medicine. Caffeine for the Sustainment of Mental Task Performance: Formulations for Military Operations. Washington, DC: National Academy Press, 2001. Available at: http://books.nap.edu/books/0309082587/html/index.html. DOI
    4. 11838. Holmgren P, Norden-Pettersson L, Ahlner J. Caffeine fatalities--four case reports. Forensic Sci Int 2004;139:71-3. PubMed
    5. 13734. Benowitz NL, Osterloh J, Goldschlager N, et al. Massive catecholamine release from caffeine poisoning. JAMA 1982;248:1097-8. DOI
    6. 13735. Leson CL, McGuigan MA, Bryson SM. Caffeine overdose in an adolescent male. J Toxicol Clin Toxicol 1988;26:407-15. PubMed

    Prednisone

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Prednisone. Read the label on DailyMed ›

  • Pancreatitis Worth acting on Additional detail

    Coffee

    “The association between consumption of coffee and pancreatic cancer is controversial. Coffee may increase the incidence of some types of pancreatic cancers, but it may decrease other types. Some studies do not support this association, especially in patients that have never smoked.”

    Coffee · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in bladder cancer.

    6 sources cited
    1. 8535. Jacobsen BK, Heuch I. Coffee, K-ras mutations and pancreatic cancer: a heterogeneous aetiology or an artefact? J Epidemiol Community Health 2000;54:654-5.
    2. 8536. Porta M, Malats N, Alguacil J, et al. Coffee, pancreatic cancer, and K-ras mutations: updating the research agenda. J Epidemiol Community Health 2000;54:656-9.
    3. 8537. Kuper HE, Mucci LA, Trichopoulos D. Coffee, pancreatic cancer, and the question of causation. J Epidemiol Community Health 2000;54:650-1.
    4. 8038. Michaud DS, Giovannucci E, Willett WC, et al. Coffee and alcohol consumption and risk of pancreatic cancer in two prospective United States cohorts. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2001;10:429-37.
    5. 8040. Tavani A, La Vecchia C. Coffee and cancer: a review of epidemiological studies, 1990-1999. Eur J Cancer Prev 2000;9:241-56.
    6. 93878. Turati F, Galeone C, Talamini R, et al. Coffee, decaffeinated coffee, tea, and pancreatic cancer risk: a pooled-analysis of two Italian case-control studies. Eur J Cancer Prev 2011;20(4):287-92. PubMed

    Prednisone

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Prednisone. Read the label on DailyMed ›

  • Fainting / Confusion / Seizures Worth acting on Additional detail

    Coffee

    “Orally, coffee containing caffeine can cause agitation, headache, insomnia, and nervousness, . These effects are more likely with increasing intake of caffeine and in certain populations (e.g., children, elderly).

    Combining ephedra with coffee can increase the risk of adverse effects, due to the caffeine contained in coffee.”

    Coffee · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in cluster headache.

    6 sources cited
    1. 8042. Anon. Filtering the news about coffee. University of California, Berkeley Wellness Letter 2001:17:1-2.
    2. 11832. Institute of Medicine. Caffeine for the Sustainment of Mental Task Performance: Formulations for Military Operations. Washington, DC: National Academy Press, 2001. Available at: http://books.nap.edu/books/0309082587/html/index.html. DOI
    3. 11838. Holmgren P, Norden-Pettersson L, Ahlner J. Caffeine fatalities--four case reports. Forensic Sci Int 2004;139:71-3. PubMed
    4. 13734. Benowitz NL, Osterloh J, Goldschlager N, et al. Massive catecholamine release from caffeine poisoning. JAMA 1982;248:1097-8. DOI
    5. 13735. Leson CL, McGuigan MA, Bryson SM. Caffeine overdose in an adolescent male. J Toxicol Clin Toxicol 1988;26:407-15. PubMed
    6. 2729. FDA. Proposed rule: dietary supplements containing ephedrine alkaloids. Available at: www.verity.fda.gov (Accessed 25 January 2000).

    Prednisone

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Prednisone. Read the label on DailyMed ›

  • Low mood Worth acting on Additional detail

    Coffee

    “Orally, coffee containing caffeine can cause anxiety. This is more likely with increasing intake of caffeine and in certain populations (e.g., children, elderly). With chronic use, especially in large amounts, habituation, tolerance, and psychological dependence can occur. Other researchers suggest symptoms such as depressed mood are typical of caffeine withdrawal.”

    Coffee · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in anxiety.

    6 sources cited
    1. 8042. Anon. Filtering the news about coffee. University of California, Berkeley Wellness Letter 2001:17:1-2.
    2. 13734. Benowitz NL, Osterloh J, Goldschlager N, et al. Massive catecholamine release from caffeine poisoning. JAMA 1982;248:1097-8. DOI
    3. 3719. Boozer CN, Nasser JA, Heymsfield SB, et al. An herbal supplement containing Ma Huang-Guarana for weight loss: a randomized, double-blind trial. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord 2001;25:316-24. PubMed
    4. 13738. Juliano LM, Griffiths RR. A critical review of caffeine withdrawal: empirical validation of symptoms and signs, incidence, severity, and associated features. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2004;176:1-29. PubMed
    5. 2723. Dews PB, Curtis GL, Hanford KJ, O'Brien CP. The frequency of caffeine withdrawal in a population-based survey and in a controlled, blinded pilot experiment. J Clin Pharmacol 1999;39:1221-32. PubMed
    6. 11839. Dews PB, O'Brien CP, Bergman J. Caffeine: behavioral effects of withdrawal and related issues. Food Chem Toxicol 2002;40:1257-61. PubMed

    Prednisone

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Prednisone. Read the label on DailyMed ›

Showing the 10 most notable of 22 shared effects — ranked by how unusual each one is, not just whether both lists mention it.

Reported for Coffee but not commonly for Prednisone: trouble concentrating, dependence or withdrawal symptoms, ringing in the ears and a stroke or mini-stroke.

Effects for Prednisone come from the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of its FDA label; effects for Coffee come from the Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, quoted above. Where a percentage is shown, it is the share of 491,135 voluntary FDA FAERS reports for Prednisone that mention that effect — a reporting proportion, not an incidence rate and not evidence the drug caused it. Wording is matched across sources by our own clinical vocabulary, so treat this as a prompt to pay attention, not a diagnosis.

Special populations

Coffee in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding

Pregnancy Possibly Safe

When used orally in moderate amounts. Intake of caffeine from coffee and other sources should be monitored during pregnancy. Caffeine crosses the human placenta, but is not considered a teratogen. Fetal blood and tissue levels are similar to maternal concentrations. The use of caffeine during pregnancy is controversial; however, moderate consumption has not been associated with clinically important adverse fetal effects. However, some research has also found that intrauterine exposure to even modest amounts of caffeine, based on maternal blood levels during the first trimester, is associated with a shorter stature in children ages 4-8 years. In some studies, consuming amounts over 200 mg daily has been associated with a significantly increased risk of miscarriage. This increased risk may be most likely to occur in people with genotypes that confer a slow rate of caffeine metabolism. According to a review by Health Canada, and a subsequent large meta-analysis conducted in the US, most healthy pregnant patients can safely consume caffeine in doses up to 300 mg daily without an increased risk of spontaneous abortion, stillbirth, preterm birth, fetal growth retardation, or congenital malformations. Advise patients to keep caffeine consumption below 300 mg daily during pregnancy. This is similar to the amount of caffeine in about 3 cups of coffee. Keep in mind that only the amount of ADDED caffeine must be stated on product labels. The amount of caffeine found in ingredients such as coffee, which naturally contains caffeine, does not need to be provided. This can make it difficult to determine the total amount of caffeine in a given product.

Pregnancy Possibly Unsafe

When caffeinated coffee providing more than 300 mg of caffeine daily is consumed orally. Caffeine from coffee crosses the placenta, producing fetal blood concentrations similar to maternal levels. Consumption of caffeine in amounts over 300 mg daily is associated with a significantly increased risk of miscarriage in some studies. Advise patients to keep caffeine consumption from all sources below 300 mg daily during pregnancy. This is similar to the amount of caffeine in about 3 cups of coffee. High doses of caffeine throughout pregnancy have resulted in symptoms of caffeine withdrawal in newborn infants. High doses of caffeine have also been associated with spontaneous abortion, premature delivery, and low birth weight. Drinking more than 6 cups of coffee daily increases the risk of spontaneous abortion. Drinking 8 or more cups of coffee daily doubles the risk of stillbirth when compared with those who do not drink coffee during pregnancy.

Lactation Possibly Safe

When used orally. Drinking one or two caffeine-containing beverages daily during lactation is not associated with unacceptable levels of caffeine in human milk.

Lactation Possibly Unsafe

When used orally in large amounts. Caffeine from coffee can cause wakefulness or irritability in breast-fed infants. Caffeine can also cause feeding intolerance and gastrointestinal irritation in infants.

DISCLAIMER: This tool is intended for informational purposes only, and should not be interpreted as specific medical advice. Patients should consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making decisions about therapies and/or health conditions.© 2026 Therapeutic Research Center

How to take them

Some Prednisone Products Have a Food Rule — Coffee Should Not Break It

At least one FDA label for a product containing Prednisone says to take it with food. If you take Coffee on an empty stomach out of habit, keep them separate — and take Prednisone with a meal where the label says to.

This may not be true of your version. Food instructions belong to the product, not the ingredient: two Prednisone products can carry different directions, and extended-release forms often differ from immediate-release ones. The label we read is quoted below — check the directions on your own box or bottle, or ask your pharmacist, for how to take the exact product you were given.

DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION Gastric irritation may be reduced if taken before, during, or immediately after meals or with food or milk.

From the Dosage and Administration section of the FDA label we read for Prednisone — where that label names a specific product, the instruction is that product's. Read the label on DailyMed ›

A food rule is not an interaction — it is about how much of the medicine you absorb. The directions that came with your own product, and your pharmacist, outrank anything on this page.

From our Q&A

Questions About Coffee or Prednisone

These are real questions from readers, answered by the pharmacists at HelloPharmacist — written by a person, not generated from a database. Each one covers Coffee or Prednisone, not necessarily both, but if one is close to what you were about to ask it will usually go further than a database entry can:

Not quite your question? Ask our pharmacists directly — it is free, there is no account required, and answers usually come back within 24 hours.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Prednisone

This page covers Coffee only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Prednisone page lists 208 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Grapefruit (major), Lily-of-the-valley (major), St. John's Wort (major) and Acacia Rigidula (moderate).

By severity: 4 major · 168 moderate · 36 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Prednisone page

“Prednisone (Deltasone) suppresses the immune system to control inflammation, and that mechanism shapes most of what can go wrong on this 208-ingredient list, which I read as one to approach carefully rather than casually. Four entries rate major.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Prednisone interaction page

One more smart check

Taking Coffee as Part of a Dietary Supplement Product? Check It for Interactions

We hold 716 real supplement products containing Coffee, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Coffee. Even though Coffee itself has no known interaction with Prednisone, another ingredient on your label might. Find your product and we’ll check every ingredient on its label:

How much people look this up

Where Coffee and Prednisone Sit Against Everything Else

Out of every supplement and medication people look up on HelloPharmacist, here is where these two land this week — and which way each has been moving.

Supplement Coffee
Top 5%

#70 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today
Medication Prednisone
Top 1%

#22 of 2,830 medications looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today

Position among everything looked up on this site, not a measure of how commonly either one is used or how important it is. A supplement can climb this list because of a news story. It counts every request to the page, automated ones included, and nothing here identifies anyone.

Where does our data come from?
  • Source: the Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) clinical database — the evidence-graded professional reference for herb & supplement interactions.
  • Citation library: 103,510 references behind our interaction content, 65,311 of them resolved to verified PubMed/DOI sources. See every Coffee reference on this page ↓
  • Freshness: we automatically re-check this combination every week — this pair was last verified September 13, 2026. The Coffee and Prednisone records this page draws on were last updated July 11, 2026.
  • What “no known interaction” means: no documented interaction in the sources above — not a guarantee of safety. Supplements are studied far less than prescription drugs, so we say exactly what the evidence supports, and nothing more.
Data structure & sourcing designed and verified by .
Supplement

About Coffee

What is Coffee?

  • Alertness and reducing fatigue
  • Mental focus and concentration
  • Athletic performance
  • Headache relief
  • Weight management

Coffee is a widely consumed beverage made from roasted coffee beans, valued mainly for its caffeine, which boosts alertness and energy. For most healthy adults, moderate coffee intake is generally safe and may have some health benefits, but too much can cause jitteriness, poor sleep, and a faster heartbeat. People who are pregnant, breastfeeding, or sensitive to caffeine should limit their intake and check with a doctor or pharmacist.

Coffea arabica · Rubiaceae · Roasted seeds (beans) of the coffee fruit · Brewed coffee, instant coffee, espresso, capsules, green coffee bean extract, decaffeinated coffee

An interaction check asks whether these two react with each other — it does not ask whether Coffee is a good idea for someone in your situation. Here is what our Coffee record says about it on its own.

Coffee: dosing

There is no single official dose for coffee as a supplement. Many health authorities suggest that up to about 400 milligrams of caffeine per day is moderate for most healthy adults, which is roughly a few cups of brewed coffee, but individual tolerance varies a lot.If you use coffee capsules or extracts, follow the directions on the product label, since caffeine content can differ widely between products.

From our Coffee monograph — the full record covers uses, side effects and every documented interaction.

Read the full Coffee monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Prednisone

What Is Prednisone Used For?

Brand names: Deltasone, Cortan, Orasone, Prednisone, Prednicen-M, Meticorten, Sterapred, Rayos

Prednisone treats a broad range of conditions where the body's immune system is overactive or inflammation needs to be controlled. It works across many organ systems, from the lungs and skin to the joints and blood.

Doctors prescribe it for conditions like asthma, severe allergies, Crohn's disease, multiple sclerosis flares, certain cancers, and to prevent organ rejection after transplant, among many others.

Most-Reported Side Effects for Prednisone

From FAERS, the FDA’s public side-effect reporting system (499,938 reports, all brands). Reports are voluntary and are not proof the drug caused the effect.

Fatigue 40,822 reports
Dyspnea 34,944 reports
Arthralgia 33,224 reports
Nausea 28,568 reports
Diarrhea 28,439 reports
See full Prednisone drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Coffee

Browse every other medication we’ve checked against Coffee — both the ones with a known interaction and the ones without. Select any drug for the full detail.

8Major
467Moderate
116Minor
2,238No known interaction
Major

8 interactions

Moderate

467 interactions

Showing 60 of 467 moderate interactions — see all 467 on the Coffee page.

Minor

116 interactions

Showing 60 of 116 minor interactions — see all 116 on the Coffee page.

No interaction 2,238 drugs checked — show the list
Evidence & sources

Coffee References

The 175 references that drive our Coffee monograph and interaction data, from the evidence-graded Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) database. Citations with a link open the study on PubMed or the publisher’s site.

  1. McEvoy GK, ed. AHFS Drug Information. Bethesda, MD: American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, 1998.
  2. Harder S, Fuhr U, Staib AH, Wolff T. Ciprofloxacin-caffeine: a drug interaction established using in vivo and in vitro investigations. Am J Med 1989;87:89S-91S. PubMed
  3. Carbo M, Segura J, De la Torre R, et al. Effect of quinolones on caffeine disposition. Clin Pharmacol Ther 1989;45:234-40. PubMed
  4. Healy DP, Polk RE, Kanawati L, et al. Interaction between oral ciprofloxacin and caffeine in normal volunteers. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 1989;33:474-8. PubMed
  5. Mester R, Toren P, Mizrachi I, et al. Caffeine withdrawal increases lithium blood levels. Biol Psychiatry 1995;37:348-50. PubMed
  6. Jefferson JW. Lithium tremor and caffeine intake: two cases of drinking less and shaking more. J Clin Psychiatry 1988;49:72-3.
  7. Lasswell WL Jr, Weber SS, Wilkins JM. In vitro interaction of neuroleptics and tricylic antidepressants with coffee, tea, and gallotannic acid. J Pharm Sci 1984;73:1056-8. PubMed
  8. Kulhanek F, Linde OK, Meisenberg G. Precipitation of antipsychotic drugs in interaction with coffee or tea. Lancet 1979;2:1130.
  9. Joeres R, Klinker H, Heusler H, et al. Influence of mexiletine on caffeine elimination. Pharmacol Ther 1987;33:163-9. PubMed
  10. Vahedi K, Domingo V, Amarenco P, Bousser MG. Ischemic stroke in a sportsman who consumed MaHuang extract and creatine monohydrate for bodybuilding. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatr 2000;68:112-3.
  11. Grubben MJ, Boers GH, Blom HJ, et al. Unfiltered coffee increases plasma homocysteine concentrations in healthy volunteers: a randomized trial. Am J Clin Nutr 2000;71:480-4. PubMed
  12. Wakabayashi K, Kono S, Shinchi K, et al. Habitual coffee consumption and blood pressure: A study of self-defense officials in Japan. Eur J Epidemiol 1998;14:669-73. PubMed
  13. Hodgson JM, Puddey IB, Burke V, et al. Effects on blood pressure of drinking green and black tea. J Hypertens 1999;17:457-63. PubMed
  14. Rapuri PB, Gallagher JC, Kinyamu HK, Ryschon KL. Caffeine intake increases the rate of bone loss in elderly women and interacts with vitamin D receptor genotypes. Am J Clin Nutr 2001;74:694-700. PubMed
  15. The National Toxicology Program (NTP). Caffeine. Center for the Evaluation of Risks to Human Reproduction (CERHR). Available at: http://cerhr.niehs.nih.gov/common/caffeine.html.

Medication overviews come from MedlinePlus (NIH); supplement label data from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database. Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists — see our data sources and editorial standards.

Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Coffee and Prednisone Together: Common Questions

Is it safe to take Coffee with Prednisone?
We do not list a known interaction between Coffee and Prednisone. That does not guarantee the combination is risk-free, so confirm with your pharmacist or doctor — especially if you take other medications or have a health condition.
Do Coffee and Prednisone have any of the same side effects?
Yes — our sources link each of them separately to 10 of the same effects. That is not an interaction: neither changes how your body handles the other. It does mean that if one of those effects turns up, it can be harder to tell which one is behind it. They are listed on this page with the source behind each.
Should I take Coffee and Prednisone at the same time of day?
At least one FDA label for a product containing Prednisone says to take it with food. If you take Coffee on an empty stomach out of habit, keep them separate and take Prednisone with a meal where the label says to. Food instructions belong to the product rather than the ingredient — two Prednisone products can differ — so check the directions on your own box. This is about absorption, not an interaction.
How was the Coffee and Prednisone combination checked?
Interactions in our licensed database are recorded against drug classes. Prednisone is filed under 7 classifications, and Coffee has documented interactions with 33 drug classes — none of Prednisone's classifications are among them. A medication can belong to classes beyond those recorded in our dataset, so this describes how the check was run rather than guaranteeing safety.
Does Coffee interact with any other medications?
Yes. Coffee has 591 documented drug interactions in our database — Prednisone is simply not one of them. If you take anything else, it is worth checking each one; they are all listed on this page.
Does Prednisone interact with any supplements?
Yes. Prednisone has documented interactions with 208 supplements in our database — Coffee is not one of them. The Prednisone interaction page linked on this page lists every one, ranked by severity.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

Still Have a Question About Prednisone and Coffee?

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This information is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always check with your pharmacist or doctor before starting, stopping, or combining supplements and medications.