Guarana
Guarana is used to help with weight loss. It is thought to work mainly due to its caffeine content and in turn thought to speed up the body’s metabolism.
Guarana Overview
Guarana extract is made from the powdered seed of the Paullinia cupana plant.
Guarana is most often used for weight loss, fatigue, and improving physical performance and cognitive function.
Guarana is thought to work mainly due to its caffeine content, which may improve cognitive and physical function, promote weight loss, and speed up the body’s metabolism. Guarana may help prevent some heart disease by slowing the oxidation of LDL cholesterol in the body, a process which contributes to hardening of the arteries.
Some studies suggest that non-caffeine components of guarana, such as catechins and xanthines, may contribute to its medicinal properties. Guarana is also thought to have antioxidant properties.
Common side effects of guarana include increased urination, anxiety, and restlessness.
Guarana Cautionary Labels
Uses
Guarana is used for weight loss, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, infections, clotting disorders, allergies, cancer prevention, fatigue, depression, anxiety, and for improving memory, cognitive function, physical performance, and sex drive.
Guarana has not been proven effective for all of the uses listed above. Guarana may be used for other conditions. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.
Side Effects of Guarana
Common side effects of guarana include:
- Increased urination
- Nervousness
- Anxiety
- Restlessness
- Feeling stressed
- Fatigue
This is not a complete list of guarana side effects. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.
Tell your doctor if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.
Guarana Interactions
Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Especially tell your doctor if you take:
- Stimulant medications such as methylphenidate or dextroamphetamine
- Anticoagulant drugs such as warfarin, aspirin, or clopidogrel
- Products containing estrogen such as hormone replacement therapy or birth control medications
- Antidepressant medications, particularly fluvoxamine
- Decongestants such as pseudoephedrine or phenylpropanolamine
- Some antibiotics such as ciprofloxacin.
- Clozapine
- Ma Huang
- Bitter orange
- Creatine
- Mexiletine
- Theophylline
- Lithium
- Verapamil
This is not a complete list of guarana drug interactions. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.
Guarana Precautions
Special precautions & warnings:
- Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before using guarana if you are pregnant, breast-feeding, or trying to become pregnant. There may be an increased risk of miscarriage associated with caffeine use during the first trimester or pregnancy.
- Regular consumption of caffeine use has been associated with tolerance to its effects. Stopping caffeine suddenly may cause some withdrawal effects, such as headache, drowsiness, fatigue, and irritability. These symptoms are usually not long-lasting.
- Due to lack of regulation of products containing guarana, such as some energy drinks, the caffeine content of these products is inconsistent. Some guarana-containing energy drinks have as much as 500mg of caffeine per serving (1 fl. oz.), while a cup of brewed coffee contains approximately 100mg of caffeine.
- The toxic effects of caffeine may include vomiting, abdominal pain, agitation, rigidity, seizures, and irregular heartbeat. If you suspect caffeine toxicity, seek immediate medical help.
- Avoid guarana and other caffeine-containing products if you have glaucoma. These products may increase pressure within the eye.
- Use guarana and other caffeine-containing products with caution if you have diabetes. These products have been reported to cause both increases and decreases in blood sugar.
- Use guarana and other caffeine-containing products with caution if you have osteoporosis. These products may lower blood calcium levels, particularly in individuals with a low daily calcium intake.
