Side Effects Of Wu-long Tea

Wu-long tea, also called oolong tea, is one of three main varieties of green tea. Wu-long, green, and black teas all come from the Camellia sinensis plant, the University of Maryland Medical Center notes. Black tea is fully fermented, whereas wu-long is partially fermented, and green tea remains unfermented. Camellia sinensis teas have many documented health benefits, UMMC experts advise, but can have some side effects as well.

Mild Effects

Mild effects you may experience with wu-long, and other teas made from the Camellia sinensis plant, include heartburn and gastric irritation, George T. Grossberg and Barry Fox write in "The Essential Herb-Drug-Vitamin Interaction Guide."

Caffeine Effects

Side effects caused by the caffeine in wu-long tea may include restlessness, nervousness, insomnia, and diuresis, or increased urination, according to Grossberg and Fox. You can even develop caffeine poisoning from drinking large amounts of tea, according to the UMMC. If you start to have abdominal spasms or vomit after drinking lots of tea, consult a doctor.

Effect on Health Conditions

The caffeine in wu-long tea can trigger or worsen several health conditions. These include high blood pressure, osteoporosis, anxiety disorders, irregular heartbeat, ulcers, gastroesophigal reflux disease, irritable bowel syndrome, and bleeding disorders, Grossberg and Fox warn. Caffeine also may be a factor in glaucoma by increasing pressure on your eye. Consult a doctor before drinking wu-long tea if you have kidney disease or an overactive thyroid, advises Drugs.com.

Blood Sugar and Appetite

Wu-long tea can reduce your appetite, Grossberg and Fox note, adding that combining caffeine with certain diabetes drugs like acarbose and insulin can have an unpredictable effect on your blood sugar levels.

Drug Interactions

If consumed in large amounts, the caffeine in wu-long tea can increase risk for high blood pressure when taken with decongestants like ephedrine, and antidepressants like iproniazid. Consuming wu-long tea with certain medications also can increase risk for bruising or bleeding, according to Grossberg and Fox. These include blood thinners like warfarin and aspirin, as well as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like flurbiprofen, ibuprofen and naproxen. It also can interfere with absorption of nonheme iron, iron that comes from sources other than meat.

Pregnancy Concerns

Pregnant and nursing women should avoid wu-long tea because its caffeine can cause sleep disorders, restlessness, and other effects in breast-feeding fetuses and babies, according to Drugs.com. Caffeine consumption can lead to anemia in children, for example.