Drug & supplement interaction

Oolong Tea + Acetaminophen, Pamabrom, Pyrilamine

Acetaminophen, Pamabrom, Pyrilamine brand names: Midol Max Strength PMS, Pamprin, Pamprin ES.

Moderate Interaction
The bottom line Moderate

Acetaminophen, Pamabrom, Pyrilamine falls into 2 drug categories that Oolong Tea can interact with; the most serious is rated moderate. Theoretically, using oolong tea with diuretic drugs might increase the risk of hypokalemia.

Read the full interaction report
SeverityModerate
LikelihoodPossible
Interactions2
EvidenceD
What do Severity, Likelihood & Evidence mean?
Know someone taking this? Share
Interaction report

Oolong Tea and Acetaminophen, Pamabrom, Pyrilamine

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

Why Are There 2 Interactions?

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

Moderate

DIURETIC DRUGS

1 of 2

Why this applies to Acetaminophen, Pamabrom, Pyrilamine

Acetaminophen, Pamabrom, Pyrilamine falls under DIURETIC DRUGS — the group Oolong Tea interacts with.

Theoretically, using oolong tea with diuretic drugs might increase the risk of hypokalemia.
Oolong tea contains caffeine. In excessive amounts, caffeine can reduce potassium levels due to stimulation of the sodium-potassium pump. Diuretics can also cause lower potassium levels.
Severity Moderate Likelihood Possible Evidence D

Interaction 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.

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

The product you're asking about, like Midol or Pamprin, blends a pain reliever (acetaminophen), an antihistamine (pyrilamine), and a mild water pill called pamabrom. That pamabrom piece is why this combo lands in the diuretic group. Water pills can nudge your potassium a little lower, and the caffeine in oolong tea, in large amounts, may do the same thing.

Honestly, this is a theoretical concern based on how these things work, not something proven to cause trouble. A cup or two of tea alongside occasional period-relief use is very unlikely to matter. If you're drinking lots of strong tea daily, or you feel unusually tired, crampy, or notice an off heartbeat, check in with your pharmacist or doctor.

References
  1. Norager, C. B., Jensen, M. B., Weimann, A., and Madsen, M. R. Metabolic effects of caffeine ingestion and physical work in 75-year old citizens. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over study. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf) 2006;65(2):223-228. PubMed
  2. Simmonds, M. J., Minahan, C. L., and Sabapathy, S. Caffeine improves supramaximal cycling but not the rate of anaerobic energy release. Eur.J Appl Physiol 2010;109(2):287-295. PubMed
  3. Rigato, I., Blarasin, L., and Kette, F. Severe hypokalemia in 2 young bicycle riders due to massive caffeine intake. Clin J Sport Med. 2010;20(2):128-130. PubMed
  4. Ernest, D., Chia, M., and Corallo, C. E. Profound hypokalaemia due to Nurofen Plus and Red Bull misuse. Crit Care Resusc. 2010;12(2):109-110. DOI
  5. Clausen, T. Hormonal and pharmacological modification of plasma potassium homeostasis. Fundam.Clin Pharmacol 2010;24(5):595-605. PubMed
Moderate

STIMULANT DRUGS

2 of 2

Acetaminophen, Pamabrom, Pyrilamine also falls under STIMULANT DRUGS.

Theoretically, concomitant use might increase stimulant adverse effects.
Oolong tea contains caffeine. Due to the CNS stimulant effects of the caffeine constituent of oolong tea, 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

Here's the thing about products like Midol or Pamprin: that combo of acetaminophen, pamabrom, and pyrilamine already contains a small amount of caffeine. Pamabrom is a mild diuretic that's paired with caffeine, so when you sip oolong tea on top of it, you're simply adding more caffeine to the mix. None of these are prodrugs, so this isn't about your liver activating anything. It's really just a stacking of stimulant effects.

For most people the practical worry is feeling jittery, a racing or pounding heart, trouble sleeping, or a touch of stomach upset. This is rated as theoretical and based on expert opinion, so it's more of a comfort issue than a danger for healthy folks. If you're caffeine-sensitive or have heart or blood pressure concerns, check with your pharmacist before combining them.

References
  1. DiPiro JT, Talbert RL, Yee GC, et al; eds. Pharmacotherapy: A pathophysiologic approach. 4th ed. Stamford, CT: Appleton & Lange, 1999.
  2. 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

Oolong Tea Also Interacts With Other Medications

Oolong Tea has 8 major, 517 moderate, 126 minor known drug interactions in our database — the Acetaminophen, Pamabrom, Pyrilamine one above is among them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Oolong Tea

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

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Acetaminophen, Pamabrom, Pyrilamine

This page covers Oolong Tea only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Acetaminophen, Pamabrom, Pyrilamine page lists 274 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), Ephedra (major) and Henbane (major).

By severity: 14 major · 218 moderate · 42 minor.

Open the Acetaminophen, Pamabrom, Pyrilamine interaction page

One more smart check

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

We hold 75 real supplement products containing Oolong Tea, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Oolong Tea. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Acetaminophen, Pamabrom, Pyrilamine too, on top of Oolong 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 Oolong Tea and Acetaminophen, Pamabrom, Pyrilamine 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 Oolong Tea
Steady interest

#1,135 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today
Medication Acetaminophen, Pamabrom, Pyrilamine
Top 25%

#323 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 Oolong Tea

What is Oolong Tea?

  • Weight management
  • Mental alertness and energy
  • Heart health
  • Blood sugar support
  • Antioxidant support

Oolong tea is a traditional partially oxidized tea made from the same plant as green and black tea, and it provides caffeine and plant antioxidants. As a beverage it is generally considered safe for most healthy adults in moderate amounts, but evidence for specific health benefits like weight loss or blood sugar control is limited. If you have heart, blood pressure, or caffeine-sensitivity concerns, talk with your pharmacist or doctor.

Read the full Oolong Tea monograph & all interactions
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Oolong Tea

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

8Major
517Moderate
126Minor
2,178No known interaction
Major

8 interactions

Moderate

517 interactions

Showing 60 of 517 moderate interactions — see all 517 on the Oolong Tea page.

Minor

126 interactions

Showing 60 of 126 minor interactions — see all 126 on the Oolong Tea page.

No interaction 2,178 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

Keep exploring
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Oolong Tea and Acetaminophen, Pamabrom, Pyrilamine Together: Common Questions

Can you take Oolong Tea with Acetaminophen, Pamabrom, Pyrilamine?
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 Oolong Tea and Acetaminophen, Pamabrom, Pyrilamine?
Acetaminophen, Pamabrom, Pyrilamine belongs to more than one drug category, and Oolong 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 Oolong Tea and Acetaminophen, Pamabrom, Pyrilamine 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 Acetaminophen, Pamabrom, Pyrilamine and Oolong 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.