Overview

Green coffee is unroasted coffee beans from Coffea fruits (Coffea arabica, Coffea canephora). It contains more chlorogenic acid than roasted coffee.

The chlorogenic acid in green coffee is thought to have health benefits. It might affect blood vessels so that blood pressure is reduced. It might also affect how the body handles blood sugar and metabolism. Green coffee also contains caffeine, but in lower amounts than regular coffee.

People take green coffee for obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.

Don't confuse green coffee with other caffeine sources, including coffee, black tea, and green tea. These are not the same.

Uses & Effectiveness ?

We currently have no information for GREEN COFFEE overview.

Side Effects

When taken by mouth: Green coffee is possibly safe when used appropriately. Green coffee extracts taken in doses up to 1000 mg daily have been used safely for up to 12 weeks. A specific green coffee extract (Svetol, Naturex) has been used safely in doses up to 200 mg five times daily for up to 12 weeks.

Green coffee contains caffeine, but in lower amounts than in regular coffee. One cup of green coffee contains about 25-50% of the amount of caffeine found in a one cup of regular coffee. Consuming large amounts of green coffee might cause caffeine-related side effects, including headache, anxiety, agitation, and irregular heartbeat.

Special Precautions and Warnings

When taken by mouth: Green coffee is possibly safe when used appropriately. Green coffee extracts taken in doses up to 1000 mg daily have been used safely for up to 12 weeks. A specific green coffee extract (Svetol, Naturex) has been used safely in doses up to 200 mg five times daily for up to 12 weeks.

Green coffee contains caffeine, but in lower amounts than in regular coffee. One cup of green coffee contains about 25-50% of the amount of caffeine found in a one cup of regular coffee. Consuming large amounts of green coffee might cause caffeine-related side effects, including headache, anxiety, agitation, and irregular heartbeat.


Pregnancy and breast-feeding: There isn't enough reliable information to know if green coffee is safe to use when pregnant or breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.

Abnormally high levels of homocysteine: Consuming a high dose of chlorogenic acid might increase homocysteine levels, which might be linked to conditions such as heart disease.

Anxiety disorders: The caffeine in green coffee might make anxiety worse.

Bleeding disorders: The caffeine in green coffee might make bleeding disorders worse.

Diabetes: The caffeine in green coffee might affect the way people with diabetes process sugar. Use caffeine with caution if you have diabetes and monitor your blood sugar carefully.

Diarrhea: Green coffee contains caffeine. Caffeine, especially when taken in large amounts, can worsen diarrhea.

Epilepsy: Green coffee contains caffeine. People with epilepsy should avoid using caffeine in high doses. Low doses of caffeine should be used cautiously.

Glaucoma: The caffeine in green coffee can increase pressure inside the eye, which can make glaucoma worse.

High blood pressure: The caffeine in green coffee might increase blood pressure in people with high blood pressure. But this effect might be less in people who consume caffeine regularly.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS): Green coffee contains caffeine. Caffeine, especially when taken in large amounts, might worsen the diarrhea some people have with IBS.

Osteoporosis: Caffeine from green coffee and other sources can increase the amount of calcium that is flushed out in the urine. This might weaken bones. If you have osteoporosis, limit caffeine consumption to less than 300 mg per day.

Interactions ?

    Major Interaction

    Do not take this combination

  • Ephedrine interacts with GREEN COFFEE

    Stimulant drugs speed up the nervous system. The caffeine in green coffee and ephedrine are both stimulant drugs. Taking green coffee and ephedrine might cause too much stimulation and sometimes serious side effects and heart problems. Do not take caffeine-containing products and ephedrine at the same time.

    Moderate Interaction

    Be cautious with this combination

  • Adenosine (Adenocard) interacts with GREEN COFFEE

    Green coffee contains caffeine. The caffeine in green coffee might block the effects of adenosine, which is often used by doctors to do a test called a cardiac stress test. Stop consuming green coffee at least 24 hours before a cardiac stress test.

  • Alendronate (Fosamax) interacts with GREEN COFFEE

    Green coffee might decrease how much alendronate the body absorbs. Taking green coffee and alendronate at the same time might decrease the effects of alendronate. Don't take green coffee within two hours of taking alendronate.

  • Birth control pills (Contraceptive drugs) interacts with GREEN COFFEE

    Green coffee contains caffeine. The body breaks down caffeine to get rid of it. Birth control pills can decrease how quickly the body breaks down caffeine. This might increase the risk for side effects from caffeine, such as jitteriness, headache, and fast heartbeat.

  • Cimetidine (Tagamet) interacts with GREEN COFFEE

    The body breaks down the caffeine in green coffee to get rid of it. Cimetidine can decrease how quickly your body breaks down caffeine. Taking cimetidine along with green coffee might increase the chance of caffeine side effects including jitteriness, headache, fast heartbeat, and others.

  • Clozapine (Clozaril) interacts with GREEN COFFEE

    The body breaks down clozapine to get rid of it. The caffeine in green coffee might decrease how fast the body breaks down clozapine. Taking green coffee along with clozapine can increase the effects and side effects of clozapine.

  • Dipyridamole (Persantine) interacts with GREEN COFFEE

    The caffeine in green coffee might block the effects of dipyridamole. Dipyridamole is often used by doctors to do a test on the heart called a cardiac stress test. Stop taking green coffee at least 24 hours before a cardiac stress test.

  • Disulfiram (Antabuse) interacts with GREEN COFFEE

    The body breaks down the caffeine in green coffee to get rid of it. Disulfiram can decrease how quickly the body gets rid of caffeine. Taking green coffee along with disulfiram might increase the side effects of caffeine including jitteriness, hyperactivity, irritability, and others.

  • Estrogens interacts with GREEN COFFEE

    The body breaks down the caffeine in green coffee to get rid of it. Estrogens can decrease how quickly the body breaks down caffeine. Taking estrogen and green coffee might increase caffeine side effects, including jitteriness, headache, fast heartbeat, and others. If you take estrogen, limit your caffeine intake.

  • Fluvoxamine (Luvox) interacts with GREEN COFFEE

    The body breaks down the caffeine in green coffee to get rid of it. Fluvoxamine can decrease how quickly the body breaks down caffeine. Taking caffeine along with fluvoxamine might increase caffeine side effects including nervousness, anxiety, and insomnia.

  • Lithium interacts with GREEN COFFEE

    Green coffee contains caffeine. Caffeine can increase how quickly your body gets rid of lithium. If you take products that contain caffeine and you take lithium, don't stop taking caffeine products all at once. Instead, reduce use slowly. Stopping caffeine too quickly can increase the side effects of lithium.

  • Medications for asthma (Beta-adrenergic agonists) interacts with GREEN COFFEE

    Green coffee contains caffeine. Caffeine can stimulate the heart. Some medications for asthma can also stimulate the heart. Taking caffeine with some medications for asthma might cause too much stimulation and cause heart problems.

  • Medications for depression (MAOIs) interacts with GREEN COFFEE

    Green coffee contains caffeine. There is some concern that caffeine can interact with certain medications, called MAOIs. If caffeine is taken with these medications, it might increase the risk of serious side effects including fast heartbeat and very high blood pressure.

    Some common MAOIs include phenelzine (Nardil), selegiline (Zelapar), and tranylcypromine (Parnate).

  • Medications that slow blood clotting (Anticoagulant / Antiplatelet drugs) interacts with GREEN COFFEE

    Green coffee might slow blood clotting. Taking green coffee along with medications that also slow blood clotting might increase the risk of bruising and bleeding.

  • Pentobarbital (Nembutal) interacts with GREEN COFFEE

    Green coffee contains caffeine. The stimulant effects of caffeine can block the sleep-producing effects of pentobarbital.

  • Phenylpropanolamine interacts with GREEN COFFEE

    The caffeine in green coffee can stimulate the body. Phenylpropanolamine can also stimulate the body. Taking caffeine and phenylpropanolamine together might cause too much stimulation and increase heartbeat, blood pressure, and cause nervousness.

  • Riluzole (Rilutek) interacts with GREEN COFFEE

    Green coffee can decrease how quickly the body breaks down riluzole and increase the effects and side effects of riluzole.

  • Stimulant drugs interacts with GREEN COFFEE

    Stimulants, such as amphetamines and cocaine, speed up the nervous system. By speeding up the nervous system, stimulant medications can increase blood pressure and speed up the heartbeat. Green coffee contains caffeine. Caffeine can also speed up the nervous system. Taking green coffee along with stimulant drugs might cause serious problems including increased heart rate and high blood pressure.

  • Theophylline interacts with GREEN COFFEE

    The caffeine in green coffee works similarly to theophylline. Caffeine can also decrease how quickly the body gets rid of theophylline. Taking green coffee and taking theophylline might increase the effects and side effects of theophylline.

  • Verapamil (Calan, others) interacts with GREEN COFFEE

    Verapamil can decrease how quickly the body gets rid of caffeine. Drinking green coffee and taking verapamil can increase the risk of caffeine side effects including jitteriness, headache, and an increased heartbeat.

  • Nicotine interacts with GREEN COFFEE

    Green coffee contains caffeine. Taking caffeine along with nicotine might increase rapid heart rate and blood pressure.

  • Water pills (Diuretic drugs) interacts with GREEN COFFEE

    The caffeine in green coffee can reduce potassium levels. "Water pills" can also decrease potassium levels in the body. Taking caffeine with water pills might cause potassium levels to drop too low.
    Some "water pills" that can deplete potassium include chlorothiazide (Diuril), chlorthalidone (Thalitone), furosemide (Lasix), hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ, HydroDiuril, Microzide), and others.

  • Pioglitazone (Actos) interacts with GREEN COFFEE

    Green coffee contains caffeine. Caffeine might increase the amount of pioglitazone that the body absorbs. Taking green coffee might increase the effects and adverse effects of pioglitazone.

    Minor Interaction

    Be watchful with this combination

  • Alcohol (Ethanol) interacts with GREEN COFFEE

    The body breaks down the caffeine in green coffee to get rid of it. Alcohol can decrease how quickly the body breaks down caffeine. Taking green coffee along with alcohol might increase the risk for caffeine side effects including jitteriness, headache, and fast heartbeat.

  • Antibiotics (Quinolone antibiotics) interacts with GREEN COFFEE

    The body breaks down caffeine to get rid of it. Some antibiotics might decrease how quickly the body breaks down caffeine. Taking these antibiotics along with green coffee can increase the risk of caffeine side effects including jitteriness, headache, increased heart rate, and others.

  • Fluconazole (Diflucan) interacts with GREEN COFFEE

    The body breaks down the caffeine in green coffee to get rid of it. Fluconazole might decrease how quickly the body gets rid of caffeine. Taking fluconazole and green coffee might increase caffeine side effects including nervousness, anxiety, and insomnia.

  • Medications for diabetes (Antidiabetes drugs) interacts with GREEN COFFEE

    Green coffee might increase or decrease blood sugar levels. Taking green coffee along with diabetes medications might change the effects of these medications. Monitor your blood sugar closely.

  • Medications for high blood pressure (Antihypertensive drugs) interacts with GREEN COFFEE

    Green coffee might lower blood pressure. Taking green coffee along with medications that lower blood pressure might cause blood pressure to go too low. Monitor your blood pressure closely.

  • Mexiletine (Mexitil) interacts with GREEN COFFEE

    Green coffee contains caffeine. The body breaks down caffeine to get rid of it. Mexiletine can decrease how quickly the body breaks down caffeine. Taking mexiletine along with green coffee might increase the risk of caffeine side effects.

  • Terbinafine (Lamisil) interacts with GREEN COFFEE

    The body breaks down the caffeine in green coffee to get rid of it. Terbinafine can decrease how fast the body gets rid of caffeine. This might increase the risk of caffeine side effects including jitteriness, headache, increased heartbeat, and others.

  • Phenothiazines interacts with GREEN COFFEE

    Green coffee contains caffeine. The body breaks down caffeine to get rid of it. Phenothiazines can decrease how quickly the body breaks down caffeine. Taking phenothiazines along with green coffee might increase the risk of caffeine side effects.

Dosing

Green coffee extract has most often been used by adults in doses of 90-1000 mg by mouth daily for 8-12 weeks. Speak with a healthcare provider to find out what dose might be best for a specific condition.

Keep in mind that green coffee contains caffeine, but in lower amounts than in regular coffee. When coffee beans are roasted, they release water and the caffeine in the bean is more readily released when brewed. Unroasted (green) coffee beans release less caffeine when brewed. One cup of green coffee contains about 20-50 mg of caffeine, compared to about 100 mg in one cup of regular coffee.

View References

CONDITIONS OF USE AND IMPORTANT INFORMATION: This information is meant to supplement, not replace advice from your doctor or healthcare provider and is not meant to cover all possible uses, precautions, interactions or adverse effects. This information may not fit your specific health circumstances. Never delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice from your doctor or other qualified health care provider because of something you have read on WebMD. You should always speak with your doctor or health care professional before you start, stop, or change any prescribed part of your health care plan or treatment and to determine what course of therapy is right for you.

This copyrighted material is provided by Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database Consumer Version. Information from this source is evidence-based and objective, and without commercial influence. For professional medical information on natural medicines, see Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database Professional Version.
© Therapeutic Research Faculty 2020.