Drug & supplement interaction

Ilex Guayusa + Cidofovir

Cidofovir brand name: Vistide.

No Known Interaction
The bottom line No known interaction

We found no known interaction between Ilex Guayusa and Cidofovir 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 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.

Know someone taking this? Share
Interaction report

Ilex Guayusa and Cidofovir

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 Cidofovir and Ilex Guayusa 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.

Ilex Guayusa safety at a glance

Ilex Guayusa overall Use caution Generally well tolerated in tea amounts, but it contains caffeine that can cause stimulant side effects.
Pregnancy Use caution Limit or avoid because of its caffeine content and a lack of safety studies in pregnancy.
Breastfeeding Use caution Caffeine passes into breast milk, so limit intake or avoid until more is known.

Safety guidance is general; always confirm with your pharmacist or doctor for your situation.

Still wondering about combining Cidofovir and Ilex Guayusa? Ask Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS directly ›
How we checked

Why No Interaction Is Listed for Cidofovir

Interactions in our licensed database are recorded against drug classes, not just single drug names. Cidofovir is filed under 2 classifications — organic anion transporter 1 (oat1) substrates, nephrotoxic drugs. Ilex Guayusa has documented interactions with 37 drug classes — the most serious being ephedrine (major), adenosine (adenocard) (moderate) and anticoagulant/antiplatelet drugs (moderate) — and none of Cidofovir’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

Ilex Guayusa Does Interact With Other Medications

Ilex Guayusa has 8 major, 470 moderate, 127 minor known drug interactions in our database — Cidofovir 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 Ilex Guayusa

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

What to actually watch for

No Interaction Found — But Data Suggests Ilex Guayusa and Cidofovir 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. 5 of them are worth acting on rather than waiting out — marked below.

  • Dependence or withdrawal symptoms / Confusion / Low mood Worth acting on Additional detail

    Ilex Guayusa

    “Chronic use of caffeine, especially in large amounts, may produce tolerance, habituation, and psychological dependence. There is some concern that stopping regular use of caffeine may cause withdrawal symptoms such as headache, tiredness and fatigue, decreased energy, alertness, and attentiveness, drowsiness, decreased contentedness, depressed mood, difficulty concentrating, irritability, and lack of clear-headedness…”

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

    5 sources cited
    1. 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
    2. 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
    3. 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
    4. 11839. Dews PB, O'Brien CP, Bergman J. Caffeine: behavioral effects of withdrawal and related issues. Food Chem Toxicol 2002;40:1257-61. PubMed
    5. 13736. Anderson BJ, Gunn TR, Holford NH, Johnson R. Caffeine overdose in a premature infant: clinical course and pharmacokinetics. Anaesth Intensive Care 1999;27:307-11. PubMed

    Cidofovir

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

  • Bone thinning Worth acting on Additional detail

    Ilex Guayusa

    “Epidemiological evidence regarding the relationship between caffeine, which is found in Ilex guayusa, and the risk of osteoporosis is contradictory. Caffeine can increase urinary excretion of calcium. Females identified with a genetic variant of the vitamin D receptor appear to be at an increased risk of the detrimental effect of caffeine on bone mass.”

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

    4 sources cited
    1. 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
    2. 10202. Massey LK. Is caffeine a risk factor for bone loss in the elderly? Am J Clin Nutr 2001;74:569-70. PubMed
    3. 11317. Massey LK, Whiting SJ. Caffeine, urinary calcium, calcium metabolism and bone. J Nutr 1993;123:1611-4. PubMed
    4. 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

    Cidofovir

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

  • Raised blood pressure Worth acting on Additional detail

    Ilex Guayusa

    “Orally, a single dose of guayasa extract 600 mg or 1200 mg has been reported to increase systolic blood pressure by 4-6 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure by 2-5 mmHg on average in small clinical studies.

    Although acute administration of caffeine, a constituent of Ilex guayusa, can cause increased blood pressure, regular consumption does not seem to increase either blood pressure or pulse, even in mildly hypertensive…”

    Ilex Guayusa · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in hypertension.

    6 sources cited
    1. 113625. La Monica MB, Raub B, Ziegenfuss EJ, et al. Acute effects of naturally occurring guayusa tea and Nordic lion's mane extracts on cognitive performance. Nutrients 2023;15(24):5018. PubMed
    2. 115148. Helwig NJ, Schwager LE, Berry AC, et al. Acute, dose-response effects of guayusa leaf extract on mood, cognitive and motor-cognitive performance, and blood pressure, heart rate, and ventricular repolarization. J Int Soc Sports Nutr 2024;21(1):2379424. PubMed
    3. 1451. 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
    4. 1452. 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
    5. 2722. 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
    6. 13739. Winkelmayer WC, Stampfer MJ, Willett WC, Curhan GC. Habitual caffeine intake and the risk of hypertension in women. JAMA 2005;294:2330-5. PubMed

    Cidofovir

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

  • Dry mouth Additional detail

    Ilex Guayusa

    “Orally, dry mouth was reported by one study participant taking a single dose of guayusa extract.”

    Ilex Guayusa · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in dry mouth.

    1 source cited
    1. 113625. La Monica MB, Raub B, Ziegenfuss EJ, et al. Acute effects of naturally occurring guayusa tea and Nordic lion's mane extracts on cognitive performance. Nutrients 2023;15(24):5018. PubMed

    Cidofovir

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

  • Drowsiness / Tiredness Additional detail

    Ilex Guayusa

    Recorded for Ilex Guayusa in the same Natural Medicines adverse-effect record shown under Dependence or withdrawal symptoms / Confusion / Low mood above.

    Cidofovir

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

  • Anxiety or restlessness Additional detail

    Ilex Guayusa

    “Orally, jitteriness increased in females, but not males, taking a single dose of guayusa extract in a clinical trial. The level of jitteriness reported was greater in those taking 1200 mg than those taking 600 mg. In one clinical trial, a study participant reported tremors after taking a single 650 mg dose of guayusa extract.”

    Ilex Guayusa · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in myasthenia gravis.

    2 sources cited
    1. 115148. Helwig NJ, Schwager LE, Berry AC, et al. Acute, dose-response effects of guayusa leaf extract on mood, cognitive and motor-cognitive performance, and blood pressure, heart rate, and ventricular repolarization. J Int Soc Sports Nutr 2024;21(1):2379424. PubMed
    2. 113625. La Monica MB, Raub B, Ziegenfuss EJ, et al. Acute effects of naturally occurring guayusa tea and Nordic lion's mane extracts on cognitive performance. Nutrients 2023;15(24):5018. PubMed

    Cidofovir

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

  • Swelling Additional detail

    Ilex Guayusa

    “Some evidence shows that caffeine, a constituent of Ilex guayusa, is associated with fibrocystic breast disease, breast cancer, and endometriosis in females; however, this is controversial since findings are conflicting. Restricting caffeine in females with fibrocystic breast conditions doesn't seem to affect breast nodularity, swelling, or pain.”

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

    5 sources cited
    1. 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
    2. 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
    3. 108806. Zheng KH, Zhu K, Wactawski-Wende J, et al. Caffeine intake from coffee and tea and invasive breast cancer incidence among postmenopausal women in the Women's Health Initiative. Int J Cancer 2021;149(12):2032-2044. PubMed
    4. 108807. Wang S, Li X, Yang Y, et al. Does coffee, tea and caffeine consumption reduce the risk of incident breast cancer? A systematic review and network meta-analysis. Public Health Nutr 2021;24(18):6377-6389. PubMed
    5. 91023. Beaudoin MS, Allen B, Mazzetti G, Sullivan PJ, Graham TE. Caffeine ingestion impairs insulin sensitivity in a dose-dependent manner in both men and women. Appl Physiol Nutr Metab. 2013;38(2):140-7. doi: 10.1139/apnm-2012-0201. Epub 2012 9. PubMed

    Cidofovir

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

Showing the 10 most notable of 11 shared effects — ranked by how unusual each one is, not just whether both lists mention it.

Reported for Ilex Guayusa but not commonly for Cidofovir: trouble concentrating and mood changes or irritability.

Effects for Cidofovir come from the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of its FDA label; effects for Ilex Guayusa come from the Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, quoted above. Wording is matched across sources by our own clinical vocabulary, so treat this as a prompt to pay attention, not a diagnosis.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Cidofovir

This page covers Ilex Guayusa only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Cidofovir page lists 10 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Asarabacca (major), Siberian Cocklebur (major), African Wild Potato (moderate), Aristolochia (moderate) and Banderol (moderate).

By severity: 2 major · 7 moderate · 1 minor.

Open the Cidofovir interaction page

How much people look this up

Where Ilex Guayusa and Cidofovir 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 Ilex Guayusa
Steady interest

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

29 days ago today
Medication Cidofovir
Top 25%

#439 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 Ilex Guayusa reference on this page ↓
  • Freshness: we automatically re-check this combination every week — this pair was last verified September 13, 2026. The Ilex Guayusa and Cidofovir records this page draws on were last updated July 10, 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 Ilex Guayusa

What is Ilex Guayusa?

  • Energy and alertness
  • Mental focus
  • Antioxidant support
  • Appetite control
  • Athletic and physical performance

Ilex guayusa is a caffeine-containing holly leaf from the Amazon, traditionally brewed as a tea for energy and alertness, much like yerba mate or green tea. There is limited human research confirming specific health benefits, and its main reliable effect comes from its caffeine content. Because it is a stimulant, use it cautiously and check with your pharmacist or doctor if you have heart concerns or are pregnant.

Ilex guayusa · Aquifoliaceae · Leaves · Tea, brewed infusion, capsules, powdered extract, energy drinks

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

Ilex Guayusa: dosing

There is no official standardized dose for guayusa. It is most commonly taken as a brewed tea, and the amount of caffeine you get can vary widely depending on how much leaf you use and how long you steep it.If you use a packaged product, follow the directions on the label and do not exceed the recommended serving. Keep your total daily caffeine from all sources in mind.

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

Read the full Ilex Guayusa monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Cidofovir Injection

What Is Cidofovir Injection Used For?

Brand name: Vistide

Cidofovir injection is approved specifically for treating CMV retinitis — a sight-threatening eye infection caused by cytomegalovirus (CMV) — in adults with AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome).

It is not approved for other CMV infections such as CMV pneumonia or gastrointestinal disease, for CMV disease in newborns, or for CMV in people who do not have HIV.

Most-Reported Side Effects for Cidofovir

From FAERS, the FDA’s public side-effect reporting system (0 reports, all brands). Reports are voluntary and are not proof the drug caused the effect.

Drug resistance 150 reports
Acute kidney injury 140 reports
Adenovirus infection 136 reports
Bk virus infection 120 reports
Renal impairment 95 reports
See full Cidofovir Injection drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Ilex Guayusa

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

8Major
470Moderate
127Minor
2,224No known interaction
Major

8 interactions

Moderate

470 interactions

Showing 60 of 470 moderate interactions — see all 470 on the Ilex Guayusa page.

Minor

127 interactions

Showing 60 of 127 minor interactions — see all 127 on the Ilex Guayusa page.

No interaction 2,224 drugs checked — show the list
Evidence & sources

Ilex Guayusa References

The 90 references that drive our Ilex Guayusa 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. Joeres R, Klinker H, Heusler H, et al. Influence of mexiletine on caffeine elimination. Pharmacol Ther 1987;33:163-9. PubMed
  8. 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.
  9. 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
  10. 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
  11. 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
  12. 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
  13. 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
  14. 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
  15. 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

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 Ilex Guayusa and Cidofovir Together: Common Questions

Is it safe to take Ilex Guayusa with Cidofovir?
We do not list a known interaction between Ilex Guayusa and Cidofovir. 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 Ilex Guayusa and Cidofovir 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.
How was the Ilex Guayusa and Cidofovir combination checked?
Interactions in our licensed database are recorded against drug classes. Cidofovir is filed under 2 classifications, and Ilex Guayusa has documented interactions with 37 drug classes — none of Cidofovir'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 Ilex Guayusa interact with any other medications?
Yes. Ilex Guayusa has 605 documented drug interactions in our database — Cidofovir 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 Cidofovir interact with any supplements?
Yes. Cidofovir has documented interactions with 10 supplements in our database — Ilex Guayusa is not one of them. The Cidofovir 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 Cidofovir and Ilex Guayusa?

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.