Drug & supplement interaction

Guarana + Terbutaline

Terbutaline brand names: Bricanyl, Brethine, Bricanyl Injection, Bricanyl Turbohaler.

Moderate Interaction
The bottom line Moderate

Guarana has a moderate interaction with Terbutaline. Theoretically, concomitant use might increase the clinical effects of beta-adrenergic agonists.

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

Guarana and Terbutaline

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

Moderate

BETA-ADRENERGIC AGONISTS

Why this applies to Terbutaline

Terbutaline falls under BETA-ADRENERGIC AGONISTS — the group Guarana interacts with.

Theoretically, concomitant use might increase the clinical effects of beta-adrenergic agonists.
Guarana contains caffeine. Theoretically, concomitant use of large amounts of caffeine might increase cardiac inotropic effects of beta-agonists.
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 the simple version: guarana is basically a concentrated source of caffeine, and terbutaline is a beta-agonist that already nudges your heart rate up and can leave you feeling jittery or shaky. Stacking the two can pile those effects on top of each other. You might notice a faster or pounding heartbeat, more tremor in your hands, restlessness, or trouble sleeping. Caffeine may also give terbutaline's pull on the heart muscle a little extra push.

To be fair, this is a theoretical concern based on how both work, not from strong studies, and a normal cup of coffee usually isn't a big deal. It's the larger, concentrated guarana doses (energy products, pills) worth watching. If you use terbutaline regularly, check with your pharmacist or doctor before adding guarana, especially with any heart issues.

References
  1. McEvoy GK, ed. AHFS Drug Information. Bethesda, MD: American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, 1998.

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

Guarana Also Interacts With Other Medications

Guarana has 8 major, 461 moderate, 185 minor known drug interactions in our database — the Terbutaline one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

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.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Terbutaline

This page covers Guarana only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Terbutaline page lists 32 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Black Tea (moderate), Caffeine (moderate), Cocoa (moderate) and Coffee (moderate).

By severity: 1 major · 22 moderate · 9 minor.

Open the Terbutaline 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. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Terbutaline too, on top of Guarana — 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 Guarana and Terbutaline 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%

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

29 days ago today
Medication Terbutaline
Steady interest

#1,513 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 Guarana

What is Guarana?

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.

Read the full Guarana monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Terbutaline

What Is Terbutaline Used For?

Brand names: Bricanyl, Brethine, Bricanyl Injection, Bricanyl Turbohaler

Terbutaline Sulfate — available as both a tablet and a subcutaneous (under-the-skin) injection — is used to prevent and reverse bronchospasm (sudden tightening of the airways) in adults and children 12 years and older. It is indicated for people with asthma and for reversible bronchospasm associated with bronchitis and emphysema.

Both Terbutaline Sulfate Tablets and Terbutaline Sulfate Injection share these approved uses. The injection form acts more quickly and is given by a healthcare provider under the skin, while the tablet form is taken by mouth on a regular schedule during waking hours.

See full Terbutaline 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
461Moderate
185Minor
2,175No known interaction
Major

8 interactions

Moderate

461 interactions

Showing 60 of 461 moderate interactions — see all 461 on the Guarana page.

Minor

185 interactions

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

No interaction 2,175 drugs checked — show the list
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

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Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Guarana and Terbutaline Together: Common Questions

Can you take Guarana with Terbutaline?
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 Guarana and Terbutaline 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

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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.