{"id":56996,"date":"2023-02-10T09:30:26","date_gmt":"2023-02-10T14:30:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=56996"},"modified":"2025-10-22T10:57:22","modified_gmt":"2025-10-22T14:57:22","slug":"caffeine-and-beta-blockers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/caffeine-and-beta-blockers\/","title":{"rendered":"Can you drink coffee while taking beta blockers?"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you\u2019re one of the nearly <\/span>50%<\/span> of Americans with hypertension, your healthcare provider may prescribe a <\/span>beta blocker<\/span><\/a> like <\/span>Lopressor<\/span><\/a> (<\/span>metoprolol<\/span><\/a>), <\/span>Inderal<\/span><\/a> (<\/span>propranolol<\/span><\/a>), or <\/span>Tenormin<\/span><\/a> (<\/span>atenolol<\/span><\/a>) to lower your blood pressure. Beta blockers are medications that limit the effects of epinephrine, a hormone that constricts blood vessels and increases the rate and force of heart contractions<\/span>. These medications allow blood vessels to open, improving blood flow to the heart. They also reduce the speed and force by which the heart beats. Both of these factors result in a reduction in blood pressure. Beta blockers may also be prescribed to individuals with heart arrhythmia (abnormal heart rhythms), chest pain, or heart failure.<\/span><\/p>\n

If you\u2019re a coffee lover, you may be wondering what happens if you drink caffeine with beta blockers. Is it safe? In short, it depends. Here\u2019s what you need to know about mixing caffeine and beta blockers.<\/span><\/p>\n

Can you drink coffee while taking beta blockers?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Ideally, it\u2019s best to avoid caffeine while taking beta blockers, says <\/span>Ahmad Nooristani, <\/span>MD, an internal medicine physician practicing in San Luis Obispo, California, and founder of the<\/span> SLO Noor Foundation<\/span><\/a>. Why? There are two reasons:<\/span><\/p>\n

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  1. Caffeine increases blood pressure overall when it enters your bloodstream.<\/span><\/li>\n
  2. Caffeine reduces the effectiveness of beta blockers and other types of blood pressure medication.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    \u201cCaffeine is a stimulant, which means that it increases your heart rate and blood pressure. If you are taking a blood pressure medication, caffeine may interact with it in a way that makes your blood pressure rise,\u201d Dr. Nooristani says.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Do you need to give up caffeine completely?<\/span><\/h3>\n

    However, caffeine affects everyone differently, and for patients who won\u2019t give up their morning cup of joe, it\u2019s possible to combine beta blockers and coffee safely, says <\/span>Marc Helzer<\/span><\/a>, MD, a board-certified primary care physician specializing in family medicine at the <\/span>University of Michigan Health-West<\/span><\/a> in Wyoming, Michigan. <\/span>In fact, according to a <\/span>study<\/span><\/a> published in the <\/span>Journal of the American Heart Association<\/span><\/i>, while heavy coffee consumption resulted in an increased risk of cardiovascular disease mortality among individuals with severe hypertension (Stage 2 or 3), this correlation was not found among individuals with blood pressure readings that were normal, elevated, or Stage 1 hypertension.<\/span><\/p>\n

    RELATED:<\/strong> Understanding blood pressure levels<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

    Your best bet? Avoid excessive caffeine consumption if you have hypertension, whether you\u2019re on beta blockers or not. \u201cAnyone in the severe range (Stage 2-3) is not meant to have more than one cup per day,\u201d Dr. Helzer says. He adds that if you\u2019re going to drink coffee on beta blockers, stick with one cup in the morning with no more than 200 mg of caffeine, and be sure to stay well-hydrated, drinking two cups of water per cup of coffee. If you\u2019re an all-day coffee drinker, try swapping out most of your regular coffee for decaf, which won\u2019t have the same effect.<\/span><\/p>\n

    And if you are on beta blockers due to a tachyarrhythmia (abnormal heart rhythm marked by a ventricular rate of 100+ beats per minute) such as <\/span>atrial fibrillation<\/span><\/a>,<\/span> palpitations<\/span><\/a>, etc., you should limit your caffeine intake\u2014that\u2019s not so much because of the beta blocker, but due to the underlying condition, adds <\/span>Carlos Ince,<\/span><\/a> MD<\/span>, a board-certified cardiologist at<\/span> The Heart Center at Mercy<\/span><\/a> in Baltimore, Maryland.<\/span><\/p>\n

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