Drug & supplement interaction

Yerba Mate + Chlorpheniramine, Phenindamine, Phenylpropanolamine

Chlorpheniramine, Phenindamine, Phenylpropanolamine brand name: Nolamine.

Moderate Interaction
The bottom line Moderate

Chlorpheniramine, Phenindamine, 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 Chlorpheniramine, Phenindamine, 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. Chlorpheniramine, Phenindamine, 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 Chlorpheniramine, Phenindamine, Phenylpropanolamine

Chlorpheniramine, Phenindamine, 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

Here's the thing with this combo product: Nolamine includes phenylpropanolamine, which is a decongestant-type stimulant that can already speed up your heart, raise your blood pressure, and leave you feeling jittery or wired. Yerba mate brings caffeine to the table, and that stacks on top of the same kind of stimulation. So you may notice more of a racing heart, restlessness, trouble sleeping, the shakes, or anxious, on-edge feelings.

This is mostly an add-up effect rather than one changing how the other is broken down, and the rating here is theoretical expert opinion, not hard proof. A casual cup is usually mild, but loading up on mate or supplement-strength caffeine can push it. If you take Nolamine regularly, check with your pharmacist or doctor before drinking a lot of mate.

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

Chlorpheniramine, Phenindamine, 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

The piece of this combo product that matters here is the phenylpropanolamine, an older decongestant that can nudge your blood pressure up on its own. Yerba mate brings its own caffeine to the table, and the two together can stack up. The result can be an additive rise in blood pressure, plus more of the jittery, wired feeling caffeine gives you (racing heart, restlessness, trouble sleeping). On top of that, phenylpropanolamine seems to slow how fast your body clears caffeine, so the caffeine from mate may hang around longer and feel stronger.

This is rated a moderate, mostly theoretical concern, so a small cup now and then is unlikely to cause trouble for most folks. But if you have high blood pressure or notice your heart pounding, ease up on the mate and check with your pharmacist or doctor before mixing them.

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

Chlorpheniramine, Phenindamine, 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 gist for Nolamine, which blends an antihistamine (chlorpheniramine), a second antihistamine (phenindamine), and a decongestant (phenylpropanolamine). Lab studies suggest yerba mate may gently slow the CYP3A4 enzyme that helps your body clear some of these ingredients. In theory, that could let a bit more of the drug linger, which might mean slightly more drowsiness, dry mouth, dizziness, or a jittery, racing-heart feeling from the decongestant side.

The good news: this is only a theoretical, minor concern based on test-tube research, not real patient cases. A regular cup or two of mate is unlikely to cause trouble. Still, if you feel unusually sleepy or wired, or if you take concentrated mate supplements, check in with your pharmacist or doctor.

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, 573 minor known drug interactions in our database — the Chlorpheniramine, Phenindamine, Phenylpropanolamine 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 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 Chlorpheniramine, Phenindamine, Phenylpropanolamine

This page covers Yerba Mate only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Chlorpheniramine, Phenindamine, Phenylpropanolamine page lists 229 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Ephedra (major), Grapefruit (major), Henbane (major) and Lithium (major).

By severity: 10 major · 175 moderate · 44 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Chlorpheniramine, Phenindamine, Phenylpropanolamine page

“Nolamine combines two antihistamines, chlorpheniramine and phenindamine, with phenylpropanolamine, a decongestant with stimulant effects, and its supplement list deserves genuine care, with 229 ingredients on file and ten rated major. The biggest cluster changes how the drug is processed, where grapefruit can raise its levels and St.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Chlorpheniramine, Phenindamine, 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 Chlorpheniramine, Phenindamine, 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 Chlorpheniramine, Phenindamine, 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

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

29 days ago today
Medication Chlorpheniramine, Phenindamine, Phenylpropanolamine
Top 10%

#211 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
573Minor
1,744No known interaction
Major

8 interactions

Moderate

504 interactions

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

Minor

573 interactions

Showing 60 of 573 minor interactions — see all 573 on the Yerba Mate page.

No interaction 1,744 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 Yerba Mate and Chlorpheniramine, Phenindamine, Phenylpropanolamine Together: Common Questions

Can you take Yerba Mate with Chlorpheniramine, Phenindamine, 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 Chlorpheniramine, Phenindamine, Phenylpropanolamine?
Chlorpheniramine, Phenindamine, 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 Chlorpheniramine, Phenindamine, 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.