Guarana (Brazilian cocoa, guarana gum, guarana paste, guaranine, paullinia cupana, Uabano, Uaranzeiro, zoom)

Suggested dosing of Brazilian cocoa, guarana gum (guarana)

 

Weight Loss

Seed extract: 200-1600 mg PO qDay; no more than 3 g/day

 

Cognitive Enhancement

Standardized dry extract: 150 mg PO qDay

 

Energy Enhancement

200-800 mg before breakfast or lunch PO qDay, no more than 3 g/day

 

Diuretic

486 mg PO qd

 

Diarrhea or Dysentery

1 g PO no more than QId

 

Suggested uses of Brazilian cocoa, guarana gum (guarana)

Weight loss, to enhance athletic performance, to reduce mental and physical fatigue, hypotension, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), stimulant, diuretic, and astringent, prevent malaria and dysentery

 

Efficacy

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

 

Brazilian cocoa, guarana gum (guarana) adverse (side) effects

Frequency not defined

Agitation

Anxiety

Arrhythmias

Convulsions

Delirium

Dependence

Diarrhea

Diuresis

Dizziness

GI upset

Headache

Hyperglycemia

Hypertension

Increased respiration

Insomnia

Irritability

Muscle spasms

Nausea/vomiting

Nervousness

Restlessness

Tachycardia

Tinnitus

Withdrawal symptoms

Abdominal spasms (from overdose)

Painful urination (from overdose)

 

Warnings

Contraindications

Duodenal ulcer, gastric ulcer

 

Cautions

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

 

Pregnancy and lactation

Pregnancy category: N/A

Lactation: avoid use

 

Pregnancy categories

A: Generally acceptable. Controlled studies in pregnant women show no evidence of fetal risk.

B: May be acceptable. Either animal studies show no risk but human studies not available or animal studies showed minor risks and human studies done and showed no risk.

C: Use with caution if benefits outweigh risks. Animal studies show risk and human studies not available or neither animal nor human studies done.

D: Use in LIFE-THREATENING emergencies when no safer drug available. Positive evidence of human fetal risk.

X: Do not use in pregnancy. Risks involved outweigh potential benefits. Safer alternatives exist.

NA: Information not available.

 

Pharmacology of Brazilian cocoa, guarana gum (guarana)

Metabolism: N/A

Excretion: N/A

 

Mechanism of action

Contains 2.5-5% caffeine; see caffeine