Drug & supplement interaction

Yerba Mate + Ephedrine, Phenobarbital, Theophylline

Ephedrine, Phenobarbital, Theophylline brand name: Tedral.

Major Interaction
Medically reviewed by · Updated September 2026
The bottom line Major

Ephedrine, Phenobarbital, Theophylline falls into 4 drug categories that Yerba Mate can interact with; the most serious is rated major. Theoretically, the caffeine in yerba mate might increase the risk for stimulant adverse effects when used concomitantly with ephedrine.

Read the full interaction report
SeverityMajor
LikelihoodProbable
Interactions4
EvidenceD
What do Severity, Likelihood & Evidence mean?
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Interaction report

Yerba Mate and Ephedrine, Phenobarbital, Theophylline

These two interact in 4 distinct ways. Each one is explained separately below.

Why Are There 4 Interactions?

Yerba Mate interacts with whole categories of medication. Ephedrine, Phenobarbital, Theophylline falls into 4 of those categories, so it can interact with Yerba Mate in 4 different ways. We’ve listed each one below — your overall risk is driven by the most serious of them (Major).

Major

EPHEDRINE

1 of 4
Theoretically, the caffeine in yerba mate might increase the risk for stimulant adverse effects when used concomitantly with ephedrine.
Use of ephedrine with caffeine can increase the risk of stimulatory adverse effects. There is evidence that using ephedrine with caffeine might increase the risk of serious life-threatening or debilitating adverse effects such as hypertension, myocardial infarction, stroke, seizures, and death.
Severity Major Likelihood Probable Evidence D

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 to watch with this combination product (Tedral). It contains ephedrine, a stimulant, and also theophylline, which is chemically related to caffeine. Yerba mate is loaded with caffeine and similar methylxanthines, so you'd essentially be piling one stimulant on top of two. That stacking effect is the real concern here.

Together, you may notice a racing or pounding heartbeat, jitteriness, anxiety, trouble sleeping, and higher blood pressure. With theophylline especially, extra caffeine can push you toward nausea, tremor, and in serious cases irregular heart rhythms or seizures. The evidence is largely anecdotal, but the risk is taken seriously. Please don't change anything on your own. Check with your pharmacist or doctor before pairing mate with this medicine.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. 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.
  2. Haller CA, Benowitz NL. Adverse cardiovascular and central nervous system events associated with dietary supplements containing ephedra alkaloids. N Engl J Med 2000;343:1833-8. PubMed
  3. Kockler DR, McCarthy MW, Lawson CL. Seizure activity and unresponsiveness after hydroxycut ingestion. Pharmacotherapy 2001;21:647-51.. PubMed
Moderate

STIMULANT DRUGS

2 of 4

Why this applies to Ephedrine, Phenobarbital, Theophylline

Ephedrine, Phenobarbital, Theophylline 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 simple version: yerba mate is basically a caffeine drink, and your Tedral combo already contains two stimulants of its own. Ephedrine revs up the nervous system, and theophylline is actually a close chemical cousin of caffeine. Stack mate on top and you're essentially piling caffeine on caffeine, so the stimulant side effects can add up. Think jitteriness, a racing or pounding heart, trouble sleeping, anxiety, tremor, and sometimes a bump in blood pressure.

This is mostly expert reasoning rather than hard study data, and a single cup now and then likely won't cause trouble. But theophylline in particular has a narrow safety window, so I'd loop in your pharmacist or doctor before making mate a daily habit.

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

THEOPHYLLINE

3 of 4

Ephedrine, Phenobarbital, Theophylline also falls under THEOPHYLLINE.

Theoretically, the caffeine in yerba mate might increase the levels and adverse effects of theophylline.
Yerba mate contains caffeine. Caffeine decreases theophylline clearance by 23% to 29%.
Severity Moderate Likelihood Probable Evidence D

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 to know about Tedral: it contains theophylline, and the caffeine in yerba mate is chemically very similar to it. Your body uses the same pathway to clear both. When you add a lot of caffeine from mate, your system clears theophylline a little more slowly (studies suggest somewhere around 23 to 29 percent slower), so theophylline can build up higher than expected.

Why that matters: theophylline already has a narrow safe range. Higher levels can mean a racing or pounding heart, jitteriness, trouble sleeping, nausea, and feeling shaky or anxious. The ephedrine in Tedral is also a stimulant, so piling caffeine on top can add to that wired feeling. This is based mostly on pharmacology rather than hard trials, but it's worth a quick chat with your pharmacist or doctor before mixing them regularly.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Carrillo JA, Benitez J. Clinically significant pharmacokinetic interactions between dietary caffeine and medications. Clin Pharmacokinet 2000;39:127-53. PubMed
Moderate

PHENOBARBITAL (Luminal)

4 of 4
Theoretically, the caffeine in yerba mate might reduce the effects of phenobarbital and increase the risk for convulsions.
Yerba mate contains caffeine. Animal research suggests that caffeine can decrease the anticonvulsant activity of phenobarbital. However, the exact mechanism of this interaction is unclear.
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

This combination product already contains theophylline and ephedrine, both stimulants, alongside phenobarbital, which is a seizure-calming barbiturate. Yerba mate adds even more caffeine on top of that. The concern on file is mostly about the caffeine working against the phenobarbital. In animal studies, caffeine seemed to chip away at phenobarbital's ability to control seizures, so in theory enough caffeine could make it less protective.

I want to be honest that this is based on lab and animal data, not strong human studies, so it's a gentle caution rather than an alarm. Still, the extra caffeine stacked with the theophylline and ephedrine could leave you feeling jittery, anxious, with a racing heart or trouble sleeping. If you're taking this medication, please check with your pharmacist or doctor before adding regular yerba mate.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Gasior, M., Borowicz, K., Buszewicz, G., Kleinrok, Z., and Czuczwar, S. J. Anticonvulsant activity of phenobarbital and valproate against maximal electroshock in mice during chronic treatment with caffeine and caffeine discontinuation. Epilepsia 1996;37(3 PubMed
  2. Chroscinska-Krawczyk, M., Jargiello-Baszak, M., Walek, M., Tylus, B., and Czuczwar, S. J. Caffeine and the anticonvulsant potency of antiepileptic drugs: experimental and clinical data. Pharmacol.Rep. 2011;63(1):12-18. 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 7 major, 505 moderate, 573 minor known drug interactions in our database — the Ephedrine, Phenobarbital, Theophylline one above is among them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Major 7 Moderate 505 Minor 573 No known interaction 1,745 (incl. Ephedrine, Phenobarbital, Theophylline)
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 Ephedrine, Phenobarbital, Theophylline

This page covers Yerba Mate only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Ephedrine, Phenobarbital, Theophylline page lists 184 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: 1,4-butanediol (major), Activated Charcoal (major), Beer (major), Black Tea (major) and Caffeine (major).

By severity: 22 major · 140 moderate · 22 minor.

Open the Ephedrine, Phenobarbital, Theophylline 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 Ephedrine, Phenobarbital, Theophylline 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 Ephedrine, Phenobarbital, Theophylline 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

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

29 days ago today
Medication Ephedrine, Phenobarbital, Theophylline
Top 5%

#85 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.

7Major
505Moderate
573Minor
1,744No known interaction
7 Major 505 Moderate 573 Minor 1,744 No interaction
Major

7 interactions

Moderate

505 interactions

Showing 60 of 505 moderate interactions — see all 505 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

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 1,744 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Yerba Mate list.

See the full Yerba Mate interactions page
See every supplement checked against Ephedrine, Phenobarbital, Theophylline, 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 Ephedrine, Phenobarbital, Theophylline supplement interactions › Every supplement checked against Ephedrine, Phenobarbital, Theophylline, 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 Ephedrine, Phenobarbital, Theophylline Together: Common Questions

Can you take Yerba Mate with Ephedrine, Phenobarbital, Theophylline?
This is rated a major interaction, so the combination is best avoided unless your doctor or pharmacist has specifically told you otherwise. Read the full details on this page and confirm with your pharmacist before combining them.
Why are there 4 interactions listed for Yerba Mate and Ephedrine, Phenobarbital, Theophylline?
Ephedrine, Phenobarbital, Theophylline 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 Ephedrine, Phenobarbital, Theophylline interaction?
We rate it Major. This is a clinically significant combination that is generally best avoided, or used only under the direct supervision of your physician or pharmacist.

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.