Many people enjoy drinking tea, even when taking medication. However, consuming certain types of medication alongside tea is not advisable.

Which medications cannot be taken with tea?

1. Alkaloid Drugs

If you take alkaloid drugs, it is not suitable to drink tea because tea leaves are rich in various polyphenols. Alkaloid drugs such as ephedrine and hyoscyamine can react with tea polyphenols to form insoluble organic alkaloid substances, which affects the body's absorption of the medication. Such drugs include ephedrine, belladonna tablets, berberine, etc.

2. Sedative and Tranquilizer Drugs

The alkaloids in tea leaves are mostly composed of purine bases, including caffeine, theophylline, and theobromine. These substances stimulate the central nervous system, causing excitement. Therefore, do not drink tea when taking sedative and tranquilizer drugs, as it will counteract their effects. Sedative drugs include benzodiazepines like diazepam (Valium), estazolam (Eurodin), and barbiturates.

3. Drugs Containing Metal Ions

Tea polyphenols, also known as tea tannins, are easily broken down into tannic acid in the body. Tannic acid can combine with metal ions to form tannate compounds, which are insoluble in water. For example, anemia medications containing iron and ulcer medications containing aluminum hydroxide can form aluminum tannate.

4. Tonic Traditional Chinese Medicine

Most tonics contain alkaloids and saponins. These substances can bind with tea polyphenols, producing precipitates that the human body cannot absorb, thereby reducing the effectiveness of the tonic. Tonics such as astragalus, polygonum multiflorum, ginseng, and prepared rehmannia are rich in alkaloids and other active substances. Therefore, it is best not to drink tea when taking these tonics.