Drug & supplement interaction

Green Tea + Naproxen, Pseudoephedrine

Naproxen, Pseudoephedrine brand name: Aleve Cold and Sinus.

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

Naproxen, Pseudoephedrine falls into 2 drug categories that Green Tea can interact with; the most serious is rated moderate. Theoretically, green tea may increase the risk of bleeding if used with anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs.

Read the full interaction report
SeverityModerate
LikelihoodUnlikely
Interactions2
EvidenceD
What do Severity, Likelihood & Evidence mean?
Know someone taking this? Share
Facebook Post Reddit Email
On this page
Interaction report

Green Tea and Naproxen, Pseudoephedrine

These two interact in 2 distinct ways. Each one is explained separately below.

Why Are There 2 Interactions?

Green Tea interacts with whole categories of medication. Naproxen, Pseudoephedrine falls into 2 of those categories, so it can interact with Green Tea in 2 different ways. We’ve listed each one below — your overall risk is driven by the most serious of them (Moderate).

Moderate

ANTICOAGULANT/ANTIPLATELET DRUGS

1 of 2

Why this applies to Naproxen, Pseudoephedrine

Naproxen, Pseudoephedrine falls under ANTICOAGULANT/ANTIPLATELET DRUGS — the group Green Tea interacts with.

Theoretically, green tea may increase the risk of bleeding if used with anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs.
Conflicting reports exist regarding the effect of green tea on bleeding risk when used with anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs; however, most evidence suggests that drinking green tea in moderate amounts is unlikely to cause a significant interaction. Green tea contains small amounts of vitamin K, approximately 7 mcg per cup. Some case reports have associated the antagonism of warfarin with the vitamin K content of green tea. However, these reports are rare, and very large doses of green tea (about 8-16 cups daily) appear to be needed to cause these effects. Furthermore, the catechins and caffeine in green tea are reported to have antiplatelet activity.
Severity Moderate Likelihood Unlikely Evidence D

Interaction has been demonstrated in animal or in lab research but has been shown not to occur in humans..

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

Here's the deal with Aleve Cold and Sinus, which pairs naproxen (an anti-inflammatory pain reliever) with pseudoephedrine (a decongestant). The interaction we're talking about involves the naproxen half. Naproxen already nudges up bleeding risk on its own because it affects how platelets clump together. Green tea contains catechins and caffeine that may have a mild blood-thinning effect too, so in theory stacking the two could add a little to that bleeding tendency.

That said, this is mostly lab-based thinking, and for most folks a few cups of green tea a day won't be a problem. I'd be more cautious with concentrated green tea extract pills or heavy daily intake, and if you notice easy bruising, nosebleeds, or stomach upset, loop in your pharmacist or doctor.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Mitscher LA, Mitscher LA, Jung M, Shankel D, et al. Chemoprotection: a review of the potential therapeutic antioxidant properties of green tea (Camellia sinensis) and certain of its constituents. Med Res Rev 1997;17:327-65.
  2. Booth SL, Madabushi HT, Davidson KW, et al. Tea and coffee brews are not dietary sources of vitamin K-1 (phylloquinone). J Am Diet Assoc 1995;95:82-3. PubMed
  3. Lou FQ, Zhang MF, Zhang XG, et al. A study on tea-pigment in prevention of atherosclerosis. Chin Med J (Engl) 1989;102:579-83.
  4. Graham HN. Green tea composition, consumption, and polyphenol chemistry. Prev Med 1992;21:334-50. PubMed
  5. Taylor JR, Wilt VM. Probable antagonism of warfarin by green tea. Ann Pharmacother 1999;33:426-8. PubMed
  6. Heck AM, DeWitt BA, Lukes AL. Potential interactions between alternative therapies and warfarin. Am J Health Syst Pharm 2000;57:1221-7. DOI
  7. Ali M, Afzal M. A potent inhibitor of thrombin stimulated platelet thromboxane formation from unprocessed tea. Prostaglandins Leukot Med 1987;27:9-13. PubMed
  8. Ardlie NG, Glew G, Schultz BG, Schwartz CJ. Inhibition and reversal of platelet aggregation by methyl xanthines. Thromb Diath Haemorrh 1967;18:670-3. DOI
  9. Son DJ, Cho MR, Jin YR, et al. Antiplatelet effect of green tea catechins: a possible mechanism through arachidonic acid pathway. Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids 2004;71:25-31. PubMed
  10. Chan, H. T., So, L. T., Li, S. W., Siu, C. W., Lau, C. P., and Tse, H. F. Effect of herbal consumption on time in therapeutic range of warfarin therapy in patients with atrial fibrillation. J.Cardiovasc.Pharmacol. 2011;58(1):87-90. PubMed
  11. Nutescu EA, Shapiro NL, Ibrahim S, et al. Warfarin and its interactions with foods, herbs and other dietary supplements. Expert Opin Drug Saf. 2006;5(3):433-51. PubMed
Moderate

STIMULANT DRUGS

2 of 2

Naproxen, Pseudoephedrine also falls under STIMULANT DRUGS.

Theoretically, concomitant use might increase stimulant adverse effects.
Green tea contains caffeine. Due to the central nervous system (CNS) stimulant effects of caffeine, concomitant use with stimulant drugs can increase the risk of adverse effects.
Severity Moderate Likelihood Probable Evidence C

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

The piece of Aleve Cold and Sinus that matters here is the pseudoephedrine, the decongestant. It's a mild stimulant that can already speed up your heart a little, raise blood pressure, and make some folks feel jittery or wired. Green tea naturally contains caffeine, which is also a stimulant, so pairing the two can stack those effects on top of each other.

In practice that might mean a faster heartbeat, feeling restless or shaky, trouble sleeping, or a bit of a blood pressure bump. This is mostly theoretical and based on expert opinion, not strong studies, and a normal cup or two of green tea usually isn't a big deal. Concentrated green tea extract pills are where it adds up faster. If you have high blood pressure or heart concerns, check with your pharmacist or doctor first.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. 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

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 Naproxen, Pseudoephedrine one above is among 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. Naproxen, Pseudoephedrine)
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 Naproxen, Pseudoephedrine

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 Naproxen, Pseudoephedrine, 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 Naproxen, Pseudoephedrine

This page covers Green Tea only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Naproxen, Pseudoephedrine page lists 334 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Asarabacca (major), Beer (major), Danshen (major) and Ephedra (major).

By severity: 11 major · 279 moderate · 44 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Naproxen, Pseudoephedrine page

“Aleve Cold and Sinus pairs naproxen, an anti-inflammatory painkiller, with pseudoephedrine, a decongestant that acts as a mild stimulant, and that combination is why its supplement list runs to 334 entries and deserves real vigilance. The two biggest themes mirror the two drugs.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Naproxen, Pseudoephedrine 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 Naproxen, Pseudoephedrine 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 Naproxen, Pseudoephedrine 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 Naproxen, Pseudoephedrine
Steady interest

#2,105 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 Naproxen, Pseudoephedrine, 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 Naproxen, Pseudoephedrine supplement interactions › Every supplement checked against Naproxen, Pseudoephedrine, 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 Naproxen, Pseudoephedrine Together: Common Questions

Can you take Green Tea with Naproxen, Pseudoephedrine?
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.
Why are there 2 interactions listed for Green Tea and Naproxen, Pseudoephedrine?
Naproxen, Pseudoephedrine belongs to more than one drug category, and Green Tea interacts with each of those categories a little differently. We list every one so nothing is missed — your overall risk is driven by the most serious of them.
How serious is the Green Tea and Naproxen, Pseudoephedrine 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 Naproxen, Pseudoephedrine and Green Tea?

Our pharmacists answer your medication & supplement questions — free.

Ask a pharmacist

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.