Drug & supplement interaction

Yerba Mate + Acetaminophen, Dextromethorphan, Guaifenesin, Phenylpropanolamine

Acetaminophen, Dextromethorphan, Guaifenesin, Phenylpropanolamine brand name: Anatuss.

Moderate Interaction
Medically reviewed by · Updated October 2026
The bottom line Moderate

Acetaminophen, Dextromethorphan, Guaifenesin, Phenylpropanolamine falls into 3 drug categories that Yerba Mate can interact with; the most serious is rated moderate. Theoretically, concomitant use of stimulant drugs and yerba mate might increase stimulant adverse effects.

Read the full interaction report
SeverityModerate
LikelihoodProbable
Interactions3
EvidenceC
What do Severity, Likelihood & Evidence mean?
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Interaction report

Yerba Mate and Acetaminophen, Dextromethorphan, Guaifenesin, Phenylpropanolamine

These two interact in 3 distinct ways. Each one is explained separately below.

Why Are There 3 Interactions?

Yerba Mate interacts with whole categories of medication. Acetaminophen, Dextromethorphan, Guaifenesin, Phenylpropanolamine falls into 3 of those categories, so it can interact with Yerba Mate in 3 different ways. We’ve listed each one below — your overall risk is driven by the most serious of them (Moderate).

Moderate

STIMULANT DRUGS

1 of 3

Why this applies to Acetaminophen, Dextromethorphan, Guaifenesin, Phenylpropanolamine

Acetaminophen, Dextromethorphan, Guaifenesin, Phenylpropanolamine falls under STIMULANT DRUGS — the group Yerba Mate interacts with.

Theoretically, concomitant use of stimulant drugs and yerba mate might increase stimulant adverse effects.
Yerba mate contains caffeine. Due to the CNS stimulant effects of the caffeine, concomitant use 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

This cold and cough combo (Anatuss) includes phenylpropanolamine, a decongestant that works like a stimulant on your body. Yerba mate brings its own kick because it's loaded with caffeine. Stack the two together and you're basically piling one stimulant on top of another.

What might that feel like? Think a racing or pounding heart, jitteriness, trouble sleeping, an uneasy or anxious feeling, and possibly a bump in blood pressure. This concern is based mostly on expert reasoning rather than hard studies, so it isn't a guaranteed problem, but it's a sensible thing to watch. A cup of mate now and then is unlikely to be a big deal, but heavy mate drinking while on this medicine could add up. If you tend to feel wired easily, check in with your pharmacist or doctor.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. 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
Moderate

PHENYLPROPANOLAMINE

2 of 3

Acetaminophen, Dextromethorphan, Guaifenesin, Phenylpropanolamine also falls under PHENYLPROPANOLAMINE.

Theoretically, phenylpropanolamine might increase the risk of hypertension as well as the levels and adverse effects of the caffeine in yerba mate.
Yerba mate contains caffeine. Concomitant use of phenylpropanolamine and caffeine might cause an additive increase in blood pressure. Phenylpropanolamine also seems to increase caffeine serum levels.
Severity Moderate Likelihood Probable Evidence B

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

This cold-and-cough combo (Anatuss) contains phenylpropanolamine, a decongestant that narrows blood vessels and can nudge your blood pressure up. Yerba mate brings its own kick of caffeine. Put the two together and you can get an additive bump in blood pressure, plus the decongestant seems to slow how fast your body clears caffeine, so the caffeine can hang around longer and feel stronger.

In real life, that may mean a racing or pounding heart, jitteriness, headache, restlessness, or trouble sleeping. If you already have high blood pressure or heart concerns, take this pairing seriously. An occasional cup is gentler than several strong servings or concentrated mate supplements. Before combining them, please check with your pharmacist or doctor about timing and how much mate is safe for you.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Brown NJ, Ryder D, Branch RA. A pharmacodynamic interaction between caffeine and phenylpropanolamine. Clin Pharmacol Ther 1991;50:363-71. PubMed
  2. Lake CR, Rosenberg DB, Gallant S, et al. Phenylpropanolamine increases plasma caffeine levels. Clin Pharmacol Ther 1990;47:675-85. PubMed
Minor

CYTOCHROME P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) SUBSTRATES

3 of 3

Acetaminophen, Dextromethorphan, Guaifenesin, Phenylpropanolamine also falls under CYTOCHROME P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) SUBSTRATES.

Theoretically, yerba mate might increase the levels and clinical effects of CYP3A4 substrates.
In vitro research shows that yerba mate extract inhibits CYP3A4 enzymes. Theoretically, taking yerba mate may increase levels and adverse effects of CYP3A4 substrates.
Severity Minor 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

Here's the practical picture with Anatuss, which is a combo cold product (acetaminophen for aches and fever, dextromethorphan to quiet a cough, guaifenesin to loosen mucus, and phenylpropanolamine as a decongestant). The dextromethorphan piece is partly cleared by an enzyme called CYP3A4, and lab studies hint that yerba mate may slow that enzyme down a touch. In theory, that could let a little more dextromethorphan linger, which might mean more drowsiness or dizziness.

Honestly though, this is a theoretical concern based only on test-tube research, rated as minor, so a cup or two of mate is unlikely to cause trouble. Keep in mind both yerba mate and phenylpropanolamine are stimulants, so together they may leave you jittery or wired. If you're unsure, your pharmacist can help.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Feltrin C, Farias IV, Sandjo LP, Reginatto FH, Simões CMO. Effects of Standardized Medicinal Plant Extracts on Drug Metabolism Mediated by CYP3A4 and CYP2D6 Enzymes. Chem Res Toxicol 2020;33(9):2408-2419. PubMed

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

Yerba Mate Also Interacts With Other Medications

Yerba Mate has 8 major, 504 moderate, 574 minor known drug interactions in our database — the Acetaminophen, Dextromethorphan, Guaifenesin, Phenylpropanolamine one above is among them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Major 8 Moderate 504 Minor 574 No known interaction 1,744 (incl. Acetaminophen, Dextromethorphan, Guaifenesin, Phenylpropanolamine)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Yerba Mate

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

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Acetaminophen, Dextromethorphan, Guaifenesin, Phenylpropanolamine

This page covers Yerba Mate only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Acetaminophen, Dextromethorphan, Guaifenesin, Phenylpropanolamine page lists 261 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 Grapefruit (major).

By severity: 12 major · 206 moderate · 43 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Acetaminophen, Dextromethorphan, Guaifenesin, Phenylpropanolamine page

“Anatuss combines acetaminophen, dextromethorphan, guaifenesin, and phenylpropanolamine, and its supplement list is not one to skim, since 12 of the 261 ingredients on file carry a major rating. Two hazards top the pile.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Acetaminophen, Dextromethorphan, Guaifenesin, Phenylpropanolamine interaction page

One more smart check

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

We hold 68 real supplement products containing Yerba Mate, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Yerba Mate. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Acetaminophen, Dextromethorphan, Guaifenesin, Phenylpropanolamine too, on top of Yerba Mate — 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 Yerba Mate and Acetaminophen, Dextromethorphan, Guaifenesin, Phenylpropanolamine 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 Yerba Mate
Top half

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

29 days ago today
Medication Acetaminophen, Dextromethorphan, Guaifenesin, Phenylpropanolamine
Top 5%

#72 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 Yerba Mate

What is Yerba Mate?

Yerba Mate
  • Energy and alertness
  • Weight loss
  • Mental focus
  • Digestive support
  • Antioxidant support

Yerba mate is a caffeine-containing herbal beverage from South America that is widely enjoyed for its stimulating, coffee-like effects. While it is rich in antioxidants and is being studied for weight, blood sugar, and cholesterol, strong human evidence for most health claims is limited. Drinking very hot mate over many years has been linked to higher risk of certain cancers, so enjoy it warm and in moderation.

Read the full Yerba Mate monograph & all interactions
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Yerba Mate

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

8Major
504Moderate
574Minor
1,743No known interaction
8 Major 504 Moderate 574 Minor 1,743 No interaction
Major

8 interactions

Moderate

504 interactions

Showing 60 of 504 moderate interactions — see all 504 on the Yerba Mate page.

Minor

574 interactions

Showing 60 of 574 minor interactions — see all 574 on the Yerba Mate page.

No interaction 1,743 drugs checked — show the list

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

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 1,743 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Yerba Mate list.

See the full Yerba Mate interactions page
See every supplement checked against Acetaminophen, Dextromethorphan, Guaifenesin, Phenylpropanolamine, ranked by severity
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
Yerba Mate monograph › Uses, safety, and every drug interaction in one place Acetaminophen, Dextromethorphan, Guaifenesin, Phenylpropanolamine supplement interactions › Every supplement checked against Acetaminophen, Dextromethorphan, Guaifenesin, Phenylpropanolamine, 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 Ask a pharmacist › Free, personal answer from our licensed team
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Yerba Mate and Acetaminophen, Dextromethorphan, Guaifenesin, Phenylpropanolamine Together: Common Questions

Can you take Yerba Mate with Acetaminophen, Dextromethorphan, Guaifenesin, Phenylpropanolamine?
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 3 interactions listed for Yerba Mate and Acetaminophen, Dextromethorphan, Guaifenesin, Phenylpropanolamine?
Acetaminophen, Dextromethorphan, Guaifenesin, Phenylpropanolamine belongs to more than one drug category, and Yerba Mate 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 Yerba Mate and Acetaminophen, Dextromethorphan, Guaifenesin, Phenylpropanolamine 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.