Whether it’s a cup of coffee every day or the occasional energy drink, caffeine is a regular and important part of many people’s lives.
But what if your favorite coffee brew (or tea) negatively affects your medical treatment? Caffeine may interact with some common medications, including antibiotics. It could potentially make your medication less effective — or even bring on unpleasant symptoms or side effects.
We called upon Joy Alonzo, PharmD, to explain how caffeine affects the body and which medications it interacts with. She’s a clinical assistant professor in the Department of Pharmacy Practice at Texas A&M University in College Station.
What kind of effect does caffeine have on the body in general?
Caffeine is commonly known to give us more energy and make us feel more alert. It’s found naturally, but it can also be found in synthetic (human-made) form.
Alonzo says, “First off, let’s go over what caffeine is. It’s a natural ingredient in the plants we use to make some of our favorite fixes: Coffee, tea, and chocolate. And it can be added to other foods and drinks, too.
When you eat or drink something that contains caffeine, it enters your bloodstream. It then travels to your brain and central nervous system, where it acts as a stimulant. That means it can boost your energy and mood and make your brain more alert.”
Some research even finds that caffeine can promote weight loss and improve memory.
But caffeine can cause some negative side effects, too, particularly in children and adolescents. These include an increased heart rate, headaches, insomnia, and depression.
According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), a maximum of 400 mg of caffeine a day is the amount that’s generally thought of as safe for a healthy adult. That’s about 4 cups of coffee or 8 cups of green tea.
What are some medications that interact poorly with caffeine?
According to Alonzo, the medications that can interact with caffeine come from three main classes: antibiotics, estrogen-containing medications, and medications that slow blood clotting, such as anticoagulants and antiplatelets.
Antibiotics
A specific class of antibiotics, known as quinolones, can interact with caffeine. Examples of quinolones include ciprofloxacin (Cipro) and levofloxacin (Levaquin).
Alonzo says, “Quinolones are broken down by the same pathway in the body as caffeine. Taking these antibiotics together with caffeine may increase the side effects of both. You might experience jitteriness, headaches, increased heart rate, and other side effects.”
In fact, some research suggests that caffeine should never be combined with antibiotics as this can lead to the medication not working. It can even lead to drug toxicity, where there is too much of the medication in your bloodstream.
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