Drug & supplement interaction

Ilex Guayusa + Olanzapine

Olanzapine brand name: Zyprexa.

No Known Interaction
The bottom line No known interaction

We found no known interaction between Ilex Guayusa and Olanzapine 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.

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Interaction report

Ilex Guayusa and Olanzapine

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 Olanzapine 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 Olanzapine and Ilex Guayusa? Ask Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS directly ›
How we checked

Why No Interaction Is Listed for Olanzapine

Interactions in our licensed database are recorded against drug classes, not just single drug names. Olanzapine is filed under 9 classifications — including antipsychotic drugs, serotonergic drugs, serotonergic 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 Olanzapine’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 — Olanzapine 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 Olanzapine 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.

  • 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

    Olanzapine

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Olanzapine. 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

    Olanzapine

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

  • Drowsiness / Tiredness / Headache reported in 3.8% of FDA reports for Olanzapine Additional detail

    Ilex Guayusa

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

    Olanzapine

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Olanzapine, and in voluntary FDA adverse-event reports. 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

    Olanzapine

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Olanzapine. 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

    Olanzapine

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Olanzapine. 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

    Olanzapine

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

Reported for Ilex Guayusa but not commonly for Olanzapine: trouble concentrating, dependence or withdrawal symptoms, mood changes or irritability and bone thinning.

Effects for Olanzapine come from the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of its FDA label; effects for Ilex Guayusa come from the Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, quoted above. Where a percentage is shown, it is the share of 109,181 voluntary FDA FAERS reports for Olanzapine 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.

From our Q&A

Questions About Ilex Guayusa or Olanzapine

These are real questions from readers, answered by the pharmacists at HelloPharmacist — written by a person, not generated from a database. Each one covers Ilex Guayusa or Olanzapine, 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 Olanzapine

This page covers Ilex Guayusa only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Olanzapine page lists 160 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Indian Snakeroot (major), Lithium (major), Rauvolfia Vomitoria (major) and 1,3-dmaa (moderate).

By severity: 4 major · 118 moderate · 38 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Olanzapine page

“Olanzapine (Zyprexa) is an antipsychotic prescribed for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, and adding supplements to it warrants genuine care. Four of the 160 ingredients on file rate major, and those four deserve your attention before anything else: lithium supplements raise the risk of serotonin syndrome, activated charcoal can trap…”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Olanzapine interaction page

How much people look this up

Where Ilex Guayusa and Olanzapine 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

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

29 days ago today
Medication Olanzapine
Top 25%

#291 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 Olanzapine 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 Olanzapine

What Is Olanzapine Used For?

Brand name: Zyprexa

Olanzapine treats schizophrenia and the manic or mixed episodes of bipolar I disorder in both adults and adolescents (ages 13–17). It can also be used alongside valproate or lithium to treat manic or mixed episodes in adults. When combined with fluoxetine, olanzapine tablets and orally disintegrating tablets are used to treat depressive episodes associated with bipolar I disorder and treatment-resistant depression in adults.

Olanzapine intramuscular injection (short-acting) is used by healthcare providers to quickly calm acute agitation in adults with schizophrenia or bipolar I mania. Zyprexa Relprevv — a separate, long-acting intramuscular formulation available only through a restricted program — is indicated specifically for the treatment of schizophrenia in adults.

Most-Reported Side Effects for Olanzapine

From FAERS, the FDA’s public side-effect reporting system (109,181 reports, all brands). Reports are voluntary and are not proof the drug caused the effect.

Weight increased 6,931 reports
Diabetes mellitus 5,413 reports
Toxicity to various agents 4,207 reports
Nausea 4,139 reports
Somnolence 4,133 reports
See full Olanzapine 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 Olanzapine Together: Common Questions

Is it safe to take Ilex Guayusa with Olanzapine?
We do not list a known interaction between Ilex Guayusa and Olanzapine. 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 Olanzapine have any of the same side effects?
Yes — our sources link each of them separately to 9 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 Olanzapine combination checked?
Interactions in our licensed database are recorded against drug classes. Olanzapine is filed under 9 classifications, and Ilex Guayusa has documented interactions with 37 drug classes — none of Olanzapine'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 — Olanzapine 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 Olanzapine interact with any supplements?
Yes. Olanzapine has documented interactions with 160 supplements in our database — Ilex Guayusa is not one of them. The Olanzapine 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 Olanzapine and Ilex Guayusa?

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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.