Guarana

Guarana suggested uses include weight loss, to enhance athletic performance, to reduce mental and physical fatigue, hypotension, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), stimulant, diuretic, and astringent, and to prevent malaria and dysentery.

Guarana may cause weight loss when taken in combination with mate and damiana. More evidence is needed to rate its effectiveness.

Guarana is available under the following different brand and other names: Brazilian cocoa, guarana gum, guarana paste, guaranine, Paullinia cupana, Uabano, Uaranzeiro, and zoom.

Suggested Dosing

Weight Loss

• Seed extract: 200-1600 mg orally once/day; no more than 3 g/day

Cognitive Enhancement

• Standardized dry extract: 150 mg orally once/day

Energy Enhancement

• 200-800 mg before breakfast or lunch orally once/day, no more than 3 g/day

Diuretic

• 486 mg orally once/day

Diarrhea or Dysentery

• 1 g orally no more than four times daily

Dosing Considerations – Should be Given as Follows:

• Dependence and withdrawal symptoms may occur
• See "Suggested Dosing"

Common Side effects of Guarana include:

• Abdominal spasms (from overdose)
• Agitation
• Anxiety
• Convulsions
• Delirium
• Dependence
• Diarrhea
• Dizziness
• Fast heart rate
• Gastrointestinal (GI) upset
• Headache
• High blood pressure (hypertension)
• High blood sugar (hyperglycemia)
• Increased respiration
• Increased urination
• Insomnia
• Irregular heartbeats (arrhythmias)
• Irritability
• Muscle spasms
• Nausea/vomiting
• Nervousness
• Painful urination (from overdose)
• Rapid breathing
• Restlessness
• Ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
• Stomach cramps or irritation
• Tremors
• Withdrawal symptoms

This document does not contain all possible side effects and others may occur. Check with your physician for additional information about side effects.

If your doctor has directed you to use this medication, your doctor or pharmacist may already be aware of any possible drug interactions and may be monitoring you for them. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with your doctor, health care provider or pharmacist first.

• Guarana has no known severe, serious, moderate, or mild interactions with other drugs.
• Mild interactions of guarana include:
  • armodafinil
  • caffeine
  • dexmethylphenidate
  • dextroamphetamine
  • green tea
  • lisdexamfetamine
  • methamphetamine
  • methylenedioxymethamphetamine
  • methylphenidate
  • modafinil
  • phentermine
  • yohimbine

This information does not contain all possible interactions or adverse effects. Therefore, before using this product, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all the products you use. Keep a list of all your medications with you, and share this information with your doctor and pharmacist. Check with your health care professional or doctor for additional medical advice, or if you have health questions, concerns or for more information about this medicine.

Warnings

• This medication contains guarana
• Do not take Brazilian cocoa, guarana gum, guarana paste, guaranine, Paullinia cupana, Uabano, Uaranzeiro, or zoom if you are allergic to guarana or any ingredients contained in this drug
• Keep out of reach of children
• In case of overdose, get medical help or contact a Poison Control Center immediately

Contraindications

• Duodenal ulcer, gastric ulcer

Effects of Drug Abuse

• No information available

Short-Term Effects

• See "What Are Side Effects Associated with Using Guarana?"

Long-Term Effects

• See "What Are Side Effects Associated with Using Guarana?"

Cautions

• Anxiety disorders, arrhythmias, cardiac disease, depression, hypertension, kidney disease

Pregnancy and Lactation

• There is no information about use of guarana during pregnancy
• Consult your doctor
• Avoid use of guarana if breastfeeding