Guarana (Brazilian cocoa, guarana gum, guarana paste, guaranine, paullinia cupana, Uabano, Uaranzeiro, zoom)
Classes: Gastrointestinal, Herbals; Neurology & Psychiatry, Herbals
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