Drug & supplement interaction

Guarana + Cobicistat

Cobicistat brand name: Tybost.

No Known Interaction

Medically reviewed by Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS · Updated July 2026 · Pair last verified Sep 13, 2026

The bottom line No known interaction

We found no known interaction between Guarana and Cobicistat 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 Cobicistat 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

Guarana and Cobicistat

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 Cobicistat and Guarana 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.

Guarana safety at a glance

Guarana overall Use caution Generally tolerated in small amounts but it is high in caffeine, which can cause problems with overuse.

Pregnancy Possibly Safe When consumed in amounts commonly found in foods. Due to the caffeine content of guarana, intake should be closely monitored during pregnancy to ensure moderate... Read the full pregnancy detail

Breastfeeding Possibly Safe When used orally in amounts commonly found in foods. Due to the caffeine content of guarana, intake should be closely monitored when breast-feeding. Breast 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 Cobicistat and Guarana? Ask Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS directly ›

How we checked

Why No Interaction Is Listed for Cobicistat

Interactions in our licensed database are recorded against drug classes, not just single drug names. Cobicistat is filed under 2 classifications — cytochrome p450 3a4 (cyp3a4) inhibitors, oral drugs. Guarana has documented interactions with 41 drug classes — the most serious being ephedrine (major), adenosine (adenocard) (moderate) and anticoagulant/antiplatelet drugs (moderate) — and none of Cobicistat’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

Guarana Does Interact With Other Medications

Guarana has 8 major, 462 moderate, 185 minor known drug interactions in our database — Cobicistat isn’t one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Major 8 Moderate 462 Minor 185 No known interaction 2,175 (incl. Cobicistat)

Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Guarana

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

What to actually watch for

No Interaction Found — But Data Suggests Guarana and Cobicistat 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. 3 of them are worth acting on rather than waiting out — marked below.

Severe muscle breakdown Worth acting on Additional detail
Guarana
“In a clinical trial of guarana extract, one person abandoned treatment due to symptoms of arthritis with edema. It is not clear if this adverse effect is due to guarana.

Cases of rhabdomyolysis and myoglobinuria have been reported in individuals that have taken products containing guarana in combination with ephedra and other herbal products.”

Guarana · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in bone loss.
6 sources cited

91487. Palma CG, Lera AT, Lerner T, de Oliveira MM, de Borta TM, Barbosa RP, Brito GM, Guazzelli CA, Cruz FJ, del Giglio A. Guarana (Paullinia cupana) Improves Anorexia in Patients with Advanced Cancer. J Diet Suppl. 2016;13(2):221-31.

19154. Mansi IA, Huang J. Rhabdomyolysis in response to weight-loss herbal medicine. Am J Med Sci 2004;327:356-357. PubMed

36466. Wrenn, K. D. and Oschner, I. Rhabdomyolysis induced by a caffeine overdose. Ann.Emerg.Med. 1989;18(1):94-97. PubMed

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

10202. Massey LK. Is caffeine a risk factor for bone loss in the elderly? Am J Clin Nutr 2001;74:569-70. PubMed

11317. Massey LK, Whiting SJ. Caffeine, urinary calcium, calcium metabolism and bone. J Nutr 1993;123:1611-4. PubMed
Cobicistat

Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Cobicistat. Read the label on DailyMed ›
Low mood Worth acting on Additional detail
Guarana
“Guarana contains caffeine. The existence or clinical importance of caffeine withdrawal is controversial. Some researchers think that if it exists, it appears to be of little clinical significance. Other researchers suggest symptoms such as headache; tiredness and fatigue; decreased energy, alertness, and attentiveness; drowsiness; decreased contentedness; depressed mood; difficulty concentrating; irritability;”

Guarana · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in anxiety.
3 sources cited

11839. Dews PB, O'Brien CP, Bergman J. Caffeine: behavioral effects of withdrawal and related issues. Food Chem Toxicol 2002;40:1257-61. PubMed

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

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
“In a clinical trial, depression was reported by one person taking guarana extract.”

Guarana · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in depression.
1 source cited

91483. del Giglio AB, Cubero Dde I, Lerner TG, Guariento RT, de Azevedo RG, Paiva H, Goldman C, Carelli B, Cruz FM, Schindler F, Pianowski L, de Matos LL, del Giglio A. Purified dry extract of Paullinia cupana (guaraná) (PC-18) for chemotherapy-related fatigue i
Cobicistat

Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Cobicistat. Read the label on DailyMed ›
Hives Worth acting on Additional detail
Guarana
“Guarana contains caffeine. There are several case reports of urticaria after caffeine ingestion.”

Guarana · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in urticaria.
3 sources cited

36546. Caballero, T., Garcia-Ara, C., Pascual, C., Diaz-Pena, J. M., and Ojeda, A. Urticaria induced by caffeine. J.Investig.Allergol.Clin Immunol. 1993;3(3):160-162.

36448. Quirce, G. S., Freire, P., Fernandez, R. M., Davila, I., and Losada, E. Urticaria from caffeine. J.Allergy Clin Immunol. 1991;88(4):680-681. PubMed

36475. Pola, J., Subiza, J., Armentia, A., Zapata, C., Hinojosa, M., Losada, E., and Valdivieso, R. Urticaria caused by caffeine. Ann.Allergy 1988;60(3):207-208.
Cobicistat

Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Cobicistat. Read the label on DailyMed ›
Trouble sleeping Additional detail
Guarana
“Orally, guarana can cause dizziness. The caffeine in guarana can cause insomnia (especially in children), nervousness, restlessness, dizziness, tremors, delirium, and convulsions. Other symptoms include headache, anxiety, and agitation.

Taking guarana with ephedra can cause insomnia, irritability, dizziness, and headache.”

Guarana · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in anxiety.
6 sources cited

91483. del Giglio AB, Cubero Dde I, Lerner TG, Guariento RT, de Azevedo RG, Paiva H, Goldman C, Carelli B, Cruz FM, Schindler F, Pianowski L, de Matos LL, del Giglio A. Purified dry extract of Paullinia cupana (guaraná) (PC-18) for chemotherapy-related fatigue i

10755. Schechter MD, Timmons GD. Objectively measured hyperactivity--II. Caffeine and amphetamine effects. J Clin Pharmacol 1985;25:276-80.. PubMed

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

11838. Holmgren P, Norden-Pettersson L, Ahlner J. Caffeine fatalities--four case reports. Forensic Sci Int 2004;139:71-3. PubMed

13735. Leson CL, McGuigan MA, Bryson SM. Caffeine overdose in an adolescent male. J Toxicol Clin Toxicol 1988;26:407-15. PubMed

108016. de Araujo DP, Pereira PTVT, Fontes AJC, et al. The use of guarana (Paullinia cupana) as a dietary supplement for fatigue in cancer patients: a systematic review with a meta-analysis. Support Care Cancer 2021;29(12):7171-7182. PubMed
Cobicistat

Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Cobicistat. Read the label on DailyMed ›
Tiredness Additional detail

Guarana

Recorded for Guarana in the same Natural Medicines adverse-effect record shown under Low mood above.

Cobicistat

Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Cobicistat. Read the label on DailyMed ›
Vomiting Additional detail
Guarana
“Orally, guarana can cause a sensation of burning in the stomach and vomiting. These effects may be due to caffeine in guarana. Orally, caffeine can cause gastric irritation, nausea, and vomiting. In infants, caffeine may also cause feeding intolerance and gastrointestinal irritation.”

Guarana · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in nausea and vomiting.
6 sources cited

54414. Galduroz, J. C. and Carlini, E. A. The effects of long-term administration of guarana on the cognition of normal, elderly volunteers. Sao Paulo Med.J. 1996;114(1):1073-1078. PubMed

91487. Palma CG, Lera AT, Lerner T, de Oliveira MM, de Borta TM, Barbosa RP, Brito GM, Guazzelli CA, Cruz FJ, del Giglio A. Guarana (Paullinia cupana) Improves Anorexia in Patients with Advanced Cancer. J Diet Suppl. 2016;13(2):221-31.

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

11838. Holmgren P, Norden-Pettersson L, Ahlner J. Caffeine fatalities--four case reports. Forensic Sci Int 2004;139:71-3. PubMed

13735. Leson CL, McGuigan MA, Bryson SM. Caffeine overdose in an adolescent male. J Toxicol Clin Toxicol 1988;26:407-15. PubMed

6023. Tobias JD. Caffeine in the treatment of apnea associated with respiratory syncytial virus infection in neonates and infants. South Med J 2000;93:297-304. DOI
Cobicistat

Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Cobicistat. Read the label on DailyMed ›
Headache Additional detail

Guarana

Recorded for Guarana in the same Natural Medicines adverse-effect record shown under Trouble sleeping above.

Cobicistat

Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Cobicistat. Read the label on DailyMed ›
Nausea Additional detail

Guarana

“Orally, guarana is typically well tolerated when used in moderation. Due to its caffeine content, use of large doses may be unsafe.

Most Common Adverse Effects:

Orally: Stomach burning and nausea.”

Guarana · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in nausea and vomiting.

Cobicistat

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

Reported for Guarana but not commonly for Cobicistat: trouble concentrating, fainting, dependence or withdrawal symptoms and a stroke or mini-stroke.

Effects for Cobicistat come from the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of its FDA label; effects for Guarana come from the Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, quoted above. Where a percentage is shown, it is the share of 20,779 voluntary FDA FAERS reports for Cobicistat 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

Guarana in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding

Pregnancy Possibly Safe

When consumed in amounts commonly found in foods. Due to the caffeine content of guarana, intake should be closely monitored during pregnancy to ensure moderate consumption. Although it is not considered a teratogen, caffeine crosses the placenta and causes dose-dependent increases in fetal blood concentrations. The use of caffeine during pregnancy is controversial; however, moderate consumption has not been associated with clinically important adverse fetal effects. In some studies, consuming amounts over 200 mg daily is associated with a significantly increased risk of miscarriage. This increased risk may be most likely to occur in individuals 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, caffeine can be safely consumed in doses up to 300 mg daily without an increased risk of spontaneous abortion, stillbirth, preterm birth, fetal growth retardation, or congenital malformations. 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. Advise individuals to keep caffeine consumption below 300 mg daily during pregnancy.

Pregnancy Possibly Unsafe

When used orally in amounts over 300 mg daily. Although it is not considered a teratogen, caffeine crosses the placenta and causes dose-dependent increases in fetal blood concentrations. Consumption of caffeine in amounts over 300 mg daily is associated with a significantly increased risk of miscarriage in some studies. Advise keeping caffeine consumption from all sources below 300 mg daily. High maternal 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.

Lactation Possibly Safe

When used orally in amounts commonly found in foods. Due to the caffeine content of guarana, intake should be closely monitored when breast-feeding. Breast milk concentrations of caffeine are thought to be approximately 50% of serum concentrations.

Lactation Possibly Unsafe

When used orally in large amounts. Consumption of guarana might cause irritability and increased bowel activity in nursing infants. Large doses or excessive intake of guarana should be avoided when breast-feeding.

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 Cobicistat Products Have a Food Rule — Guarana Should Not Break It

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

2 DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION TYBOST must be coadministered with atazanavir or darunavir at the same time, with food, and in combination with other HIV-1 antiretroviral agents.

From the Dosage and Administration section of the FDA label we read for Cobicistat — 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.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Cobicistat

This page covers Guarana only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Cobicistat page lists 30 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Adrafinil (moderate), Cannabidiol (cbd) (moderate), Cannabinol (cbn) (moderate) and Cannabis (moderate).

By severity: 1 major · 19 moderate · 10 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Cobicistat page

“Activated charcoal is the one entry to understand first if you take cobicistat (Tybost). Charcoal soaks up drugs in the gut, and since cobicistat's entire job is boosting an HIV medicine to protective levels, blunting its absorption can put the whole regimen at risk.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Cobicistat interaction page

One more smart check

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

We hold 1,430 real supplement products containing Guarana, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Guarana. Even though Guarana itself has no known interaction with Cobicistat, 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 Guarana and Cobicistat 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 Guarana

Top 10%

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

29 days ago today

Medication Cobicistat

Steady interest

#1,467 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 Guarana reference on this page ↓
Freshness: we automatically re-check this combination every week — this pair was last verified September 13, 2026. The Guarana and Cobicistat 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 Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS.

Supplement

About Guarana

What is Guarana?

Energy and alertness
Reducing fatigue
Weight loss support
Athletic performance
Mental focus

Guarana is an Amazonian seed that is naturally high in caffeine, which explains most of its stimulant and energy effects. While it may give a short-term boost in alertness and reduce fatigue, strong evidence for weight loss or major performance gains is limited, and it carries the same risks as too much caffeine. Talk to your pharmacist or doctor before using it, especially if you have heart problems, anxiety, or are pregnant.

Paullinia cupana · Sapindaceae · Seeds · Capsules, tablets, powders, energy drinks, liquid extracts

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

Guarana: dosing

There is no official standardized dose for guarana. The caffeine content varies widely between products, so the strength of one supplement may be very different from another.The safest approach is to follow the directions on the product label and to count guarana toward your total daily caffeine intake from all sources. Avoid combining several caffeine-containing products at once.

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

Read the full Guarana monograph & all interactions

Medication

About Cobicistat

What Is Cobicistat Used For?

Brand name: Tybost

Tybost (cobicistat) is not itself an HIV treatment — it works by slowing the breakdown of certain HIV medicines so they stay active in your body long enough to work. Specifically, Tybost is used to boost the HIV medicines atazanavir or darunavir (once-daily dosing) as part of a complete HIV-1 treatment regimen in adults and in children weighing at least 14 kg (about 31 lbs).

Tybost is not interchangeable with ritonavir (another booster) for all HIV medicines. It is not recommended with darunavir twice-daily, fosamprenavir, saquinavir, or tipranavir.

Most-Reported Side Effects for Cobicistat

From FAERS, the FDA’s public side-effect reporting system (20,779 reports, all brands). Reports are voluntary and are not proof the drug caused the effect.

Bone density decreased 8,112 reports

Chronic kidney disease 4,754 reports

Renal injury 4,577 reports

Tooth loss 4,186 reports

Bone loss 4,107 reports

See full Cobicistat drug information

Keep checking

Other Drugs & Guarana

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

8Major

462Moderate

185Minor

2,174No known interaction

8 Major 462 Moderate 185 Minor 2,174 No interaction

Major

8 interactions

Moderate

462 interactions

Showing 60 of 462 moderate interactions — see all 462 on the Guarana page.

Minor

185 interactions

Showing 60 of 185 minor interactions — see all 185 on the Guarana page.

No interaction 2,174 drugs checked — show the list

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

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,174 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Guarana list.

See the full Guarana interactions page

See every supplement checked against Cobicistat, ranked by severity

Evidence & sources

Guarana References

The 114 references that drive our Guarana 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.

McEvoy GK, ed. AHFS Drug Information. Bethesda, MD: American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, 1998.
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
Carbo M, Segura J, De la Torre R, et al. Effect of quinolones on caffeine disposition. Clin Pharmacol Ther 1989;45:234-40. PubMed
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
Mester R, Toren P, Mizrachi I, et al. Caffeine withdrawal increases lithium blood levels. Biol Psychiatry 1995;37:348-50. PubMed
Jefferson JW. Lithium tremor and caffeine intake: two cases of drinking less and shaking more. J Clin Psychiatry 1988;49:72-3.
Joeres R, Klinker H, Heusler H, et al. Influence of mexiletine on caffeine elimination. Pharmacol Ther 1987;33:163-9. PubMed
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.
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
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
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
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.
Klebanoff MA, Levine RJ, DerSimonian R, et al. Maternal serum paraxanthine, a caffeine metabolite, and the risk of spontaneous abortion. N Engl J Med 1999;341:1639-44. PubMed
Eskenazi B. Caffeine—filtering the facts. N Engl J Med 1999;341:1688-9. PubMed
Fernandes O, Sabharwal M, Smiley T, et al. Moderate to heavy caffeine consumption during pregnancy and relationship to spontaneous abortion and abnormal fetal growth: a meta-analysis. Reprod Toxicol 1998;12:435-44. PubMed
Pollock BG, Wylie M, Stack JA, et al. Inhibition of caffeine metabolism by estrogen replacement therapy in postmenopausal women. J Clin Pharmacol 1999;39:936-40. PubMed
Nurminen ML, Niittynen L, Korpela R, Vapaatalo H. Coffee, caffeine and blood pressure: a critical review. Eur J Clin Nutr 1999;53:831-9. PubMed
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
FDA. Proposed rule: dietary supplements containing ephedrine alkaloids. Available at: www.verity.fda.gov (Accessed 25 January 2000).
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
Briggs GB, Freeman RK, Yaffe SJ. Drugs in Pregnancy and Lactation. 5th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 1998.
Hagg S, Spigset O, Mjorndal T, Dahlqvist R. Effect of caffeine on clozapine pharmacokinetics in healthy volunteers. Br J Clin Pharmacol 2000;49:59-63. PubMed
Tobias JD. Caffeine in the treatment of apnea associated with respiratory syncytial virus infection in neonates and infants. South Med J 2000;93:297-304. DOI
Watson JM, Jenkins EJ, Hamilton P, et al. Influence of caffeine on the frequency and perception of hypoglycemia in free-living patients with type 1 diabetes. Diabetes Care 2000;23:455-9. PubMed
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
American Academy of Pediatrics. The transfer of drugs and other chemicals into human milk. Pediatrics 2001;108:776-89. PubMed
Sinclair CJ, Geiger JD. Caffeine use in sports. A pharmacological review. J Sports Med Phys Fitness 2000;40:71-9.
Haller CA, Benowitz NL. Adverse cardiovascular and central nervous system events associated with dietary supplements containing ephedra alkaloids. N Engl J Med 2000;343:1833-8. PubMed
Ali M, Afzal M. A potent inhibitor of thrombin stimulated platelet thromboxane formation from unprocessed tea. Prostaglandins Leukot Med 1987;27:9-13. PubMed
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
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
Haller CA, Jacob P 3rd, Benowitz NL. Pharmacology of ephedra alkaloids and caffeine after single-dose dietary supplement use. Clin Pharmacol Ther 2002;71:421-32. PubMed
Bell DG, Jacobs I, Ellerington K. Effect of caffeine and ephedrine ingestion on anaerobic exercise performance. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2001;33:1399-403. PubMed
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
Bracken MB, Triche EW, Belanger K, et al. Association of maternal caffeine consumption with decrements in fetal growth. Am J Epidemiol 2003;157:456-66.. PubMed
McGowan JD, Altman RE, Kanto WP Jr. Neonatal withdrawal symptoms after chronic maternal ingestion of caffeine. South Med J 1988;81:1092-4.. PubMed
Nehlig A, Debry G. Consequences on the newborn of chronic maternal consumption of coffee during gestation and lactation: a review. J Am Coll Nutr 1994;13:6-21.. PubMed
Massey LK. Is caffeine a risk factor for bone loss in the elderly? Am J Clin Nutr 2001;74:569-70. PubMed
Kockler DR, McCarthy MW, Lawson CL. Seizure activity and unresponsiveness after hydroxycut ingestion. Pharmacotherapy 2001;21:647-51.. PubMed
Schechter MD, Timmons GD. Objectively measured hyperactivity--II. Caffeine and amphetamine effects. J Clin Pharmacol 1985;25:276-80.. PubMed
Nix D, Zelenitsky S, Symonds W, et al. The effect of fluconazole on the pharmacokinetics of caffeine in young and elderly subjects. Clin Pharmacol Ther 1992;51:183. DOI
Infante S, Baeza ML, Calvo M, et al. Anaphylaxis due to caffeine. Allergy 2003;58:681-2. PubMed
Massey LK, Whiting SJ. Caffeine, urinary calcium, calcium metabolism and bone. J Nutr 1993;123:1611-4. PubMed
Nawrot P, Jordan S, Eastwood J, et al. Effects of caffeine on human health. Food Addit Contam 2003;20:1-30. PubMed
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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 Guarana and Cobicistat Together: Common Questions

Is it safe to take Guarana with Cobicistat?

We do not list a known interaction between Guarana and Cobicistat. 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 Guarana and Cobicistat have any of the same side effects?

Yes — our sources link each of them separately to 8 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 Guarana and Cobicistat at the same time of day?

At least one FDA label for a product containing Cobicistat says to take it with food. If you take Guarana on an empty stomach out of habit, keep them separate and take Cobicistat with a meal where the label says to. Food instructions belong to the product rather than the ingredient — two Cobicistat products can differ — so check the directions on your own box. This is about absorption, not an interaction.

How was the Guarana and Cobicistat combination checked?

Interactions in our licensed database are recorded against drug classes. Cobicistat is filed under 2 classifications, and Guarana has documented interactions with 41 drug classes — none of Cobicistat'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 Guarana interact with any other medications?

Yes. Guarana has 655 documented drug interactions in our database — Cobicistat 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 Cobicistat interact with any supplements?

Yes. Cobicistat has documented interactions with 30 supplements in our database — Guarana is not one of them. The Cobicistat interaction page linked on this page lists every one, ranked by severity.

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

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Guarana monograph Uses, safety profile, and every drug interaction in one place Cobicistat drug information The full plain-English guide to this medication Cobicistat supplement interactions Every supplement checked against Cobicistat, 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 References The 114 citations behind this page Ask a pharmacist Free, personal answer from our licensed team

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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.