Drug & supplement interaction

Green Tea + Ciprofloxacin, Hydrocortisone

Ciprofloxacin, Hydrocortisone brand name: Cipro HC Otic.

Moderate Interaction
Medically reviewed by · Updated September 2026
The bottom line Moderate

Green Tea has a moderate interaction with Ciprofloxacin, Hydrocortisone. Theoretically, green tea might reduce the absorption of organic anion-transporting polypeptide (OATP) substrates.

Read the full interaction report
SeverityModerate
LikelihoodProbable
EvidenceD
What do Severity, Likelihood & Evidence mean?
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Interaction report

Green Tea and Ciprofloxacin, Hydrocortisone

Here is the interaction we found between these two, with the evidence behind it.

Moderate

ORGANIC ANION-TRANSPORTING POLYPEPTIDE SUBSTRATES (OATP)

Why this applies to Ciprofloxacin, Hydrocortisone

Ciprofloxacin, Hydrocortisone falls under ORGANIC ANION-TRANSPORTING POLYPEPTIDE SUBSTRATES (OATP) — the group Green Tea interacts with.

Theoretically, green tea might reduce the absorption of organic anion-transporting polypeptide (OATP) substrates.
OATPs are expressed in the small intestine and liver and are responsible for the uptake of drugs and other compounds. Research shows that two of the major catechins found in green tea, epicatechin gallate (ECG) and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), inhibit OATPs, specifically OATP1A2, OATP1B1, and OATP2B1. In addition, green tea has been shown to reduce the absorption of some drugs that are OATP substrates, including lisinopril, and celiprolol.
Severity Moderate Likelihood Probable Evidence D

Interaction has not been documented in well-controlled studies, however, the interaction has been demonstrated in some small human studies or in controlled animal studies in conjunction with multiple case reports..

Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS
Dr. Brian Staiger explains PharmD, Clinical Pharmacist

Here's some reassuring news about this one. The Cipro HC Otic product you're asking about is an ear drop, with ciprofloxacin (an antibiotic) and hydrocortisone (a steroid) that you put directly into the ear canal. The interaction on file is about green tea blocking a gut and liver transporter called OATP, which can lower how much of certain swallowed pills get absorbed. Since you're not swallowing these drops, green tea you drink isn't going to meaningfully change what they do in your ear.

On top of that, this interaction is theoretical and based only on lab and animal data, so even for oral medicines it's far from certain. Still, if you ever take ciprofloxacin by mouth, it's worth running it by your pharmacist.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Roth M, Timmermann BN, Hagenbuch B. Interactions of green tea catechins with organic anion-transporting polypeptides. Drug Metab Dispos 2011;39:920-6. PubMed
  2. Abdelkawy KS, Abdelaziz RM, Abdelmageed AM, Donia AM, El-Khodary NM. Effects of green tea extract on atorvastatin pharmacokinetics in healthy volunteers. Eur J Drug Metab Pharmacokinet. 2020;45(3):351-360. PubMed
  3. Kim TE, Ha N, Kim Y, et al. Effect of epigallocatechin-3-gallate, major ingredient of green tea, on the pharmacokinetics of rosuvastatin in healthy volunteers. Drug Des Devel Ther. 2017;11:1409-1416. PubMed

What These Ratings Mean

Every interaction above is graded three ways — here’s the key to each label.

Severity how clinically significant the interaction is
Major

Clinically significant. Avoid the combination, or use only under close professional supervision.

Moderate

Usually worth avoiding or managing — may need monitoring, a dose change, or timing apart.

Minor

Generally not serious. Be aware of it and mention it to your pharmacist.

Likelihood how strong the evidence is that the interaction actually happens in people
  • LikelyWell-controlled human studies have demonstrated the likely existence of this interaction.
  • ProbableInteraction has not been documented in well-controlled studies, however, the interaction has been demonstrated in some small human studies or in controlled animal studies in conjunction with multiple case reports.
  • PossibleInteraction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists.
  • UnlikelyInteraction has been demonstrated in animal or in lab research but has been shown not to occur in humans.
Evidence the quality of the studies behind the rating (graded A–D)
  • AHigh-quality meta-analysis (quantitative systematic review).
  • BCase-control study.
  • CConsensus.
  • DAnecdotal evidence.

These ratings are for information only. Never start, stop, or otherwise change your therapy before speaking with your provider.

Keep it in perspective

Green Tea Also Interacts With Other Medications

Green Tea has 13 major, 904 moderate, 375 minor known drug interactions in our database — the Ciprofloxacin, Hydrocortisone one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Major 13 Moderate 904 Minor 375 No known interaction 1,538 (incl. Ciprofloxacin, Hydrocortisone)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Green Tea

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

From our Q&A

Questions About Green Tea or Ciprofloxacin, Hydrocortisone

These are real questions from readers, answered by the pharmacists at HelloPharmacist — written by a person, not generated from a database. Each one covers Green Tea or Ciprofloxacin, Hydrocortisone, 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 Ciprofloxacin, Hydrocortisone

This page covers Green Tea only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Ciprofloxacin, Hydrocortisone page lists 20 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Apple (major), Grapefruit (major), Sweet Orange (major), African Wild Potato (moderate) and Banaba (moderate).

By severity: 3 major · 11 moderate · 6 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Ciprofloxacin, Hydrocortisone page

“A glass of juice at breakfast is the last thing most people would question while treating an ear infection, yet all three major-rated interactions for Cipro HC Otic (ciprofloxacin and hydrocortisone) involve exactly that: apple, grapefruit, and sweet orange juice, each shown in human studies to block a gut transporter called OATP and c…”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Ciprofloxacin, Hydrocortisone interaction page

One more smart check

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

We hold 9,084 real supplement products containing Green Tea, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Green Tea. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Ciprofloxacin, Hydrocortisone too, on top of Green Tea — and those would not show on this page. Find your product and we’ll check every ingredient on its label:

How much people look this up

Where Green Tea and Ciprofloxacin, Hydrocortisone 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 Green Tea
Top 5%

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

29 days ago today
Medication Ciprofloxacin, Hydrocortisone
Steady interest

#2,461 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.

Supplement

About Green Tea

What is Green Tea?

Green Tea
  • Antioxidant support
  • Weight loss
  • Heart health
  • Mental alertness
  • Cancer risk reduction

Green tea is a popular beverage rich in antioxidants called catechins, and drinking it in normal amounts is considered safe for most people. Concentrated green tea extracts are a different story—they may help modestly with weight or heart health for some, but high doses have been linked to rare liver problems. Talk to your pharmacist or doctor before taking green tea supplements, especially if you have liver concerns or are pregnant.

Read the full Green Tea monograph & all interactions
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Green Tea

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

13Major
904Moderate
375Minor
1,537No known interaction
13 Major 904 Moderate 375 Minor 1,537 No interaction
Major

13 interactions

Moderate

904 interactions

Showing 60 of 904 moderate interactions — see all 904 on the Green Tea page.

Minor

375 interactions

Showing 60 of 375 minor interactions — see all 375 on the Green Tea page.

No interaction 1,537 drugs checked — show the list

We also checked Green Tea against these medications and found no known interaction in our sources. Open any page to confirm.

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 1,537 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Green Tea list.

See the full Green Tea interactions page
See every supplement checked against Ciprofloxacin, Hydrocortisone, ranked by severity
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Interaction details are evidence-graded and sourced from the Natural Medicines database. The medication overview comes from MedlinePlus.

Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists. See our data sources and editorial standards for how this information is built and checked.

Parts of this content are provided by the Therapeutic Research Center, LLC.

DISCLAIMER: Currently this does not check for drug-drug interactions. This is not an all-inclusive comprehensive list of potential interactions and is for informational purposes only. Not all interactions are known or well-reported in the scientific literature, and new interactions are continually being reported. Input is needed from a qualified healthcare provider including a pharmacist before starting any therapy. Application of clinical judgment is necessary.

© 2021 Therapeutic Research Center, LLC

Keep exploring
Green Tea monograph › Uses, safety, and every drug interaction in one place Ciprofloxacin, Hydrocortisone supplement interactions › Every supplement checked against Ciprofloxacin, Hydrocortisone, ranked by severity Supplement interaction checker › Check any supplement or product against your medications Browse medications A–Z › Every drug we've checked against herbs & supplements Ask a pharmacist › Free, personal answer from our licensed team
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Green Tea and Ciprofloxacin, Hydrocortisone Together: Common Questions

Can you take Green Tea with Ciprofloxacin, Hydrocortisone?
There is a moderate interaction, so it may be acceptable with monitoring or timing changes — but check with your pharmacist first. Read the full details on this page and confirm with your pharmacist before combining them.
How serious is the Green Tea and Ciprofloxacin, Hydrocortisone interaction?
We rate it Moderate. This combination may require monitoring, a dose adjustment, or separating the times you take each one. Consult your pharmacist before using them together.

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

Still Have a Question About Ciprofloxacin, Hydrocortisone and Green Tea?

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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.