Licorice is an herb that is widely used as a flavoring for foods and as a traditional medicine for thousands of years. The active ingredient in licorice is a sweet substance called glycyrrhizin. Many black licorice candies, as well as herbal teas and black licorice extracts, contain glycyrrhizin that may interact with certain medications.
Cardiovascular Medications
You should avoid black licorice if you are taking angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, also known as ACE inhibitors, or diuretic medications to reduce high blood pressure. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, black licorice may inhibit the effectiveness of these medications. Licorice also increases the risk of dangerous side effects from digoxin, a medication sometimes prescribed for atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter and heart failure. Do not take licorice with the drug warfarin, which is used to reduce blood clotting.
Oral Contraceptives and Hormones
According to the US National Institutes of Health, licorice appears to affect hormone levels in the body. It may cause high blood pressure and low potassium levels in women taking oral contraceptives. It also appears to decrease the effectiveness of estrogen pills.
Cyclosporine
According to a study reported in ScienceDaily.com, the active ingredient in licorice appears to block absorption of the drug cyclosporine, an immunosuppressant drug used by transplant patients to prevent organ rejection. Although no cases of such an interaction have been observed in humans, the researchers caution against taking licorice together with the drug.
Other Medications
Licorice may cause potassium levels to drop in individuals taking laxatives. It may also increase the adverse effects of corticosteroid medications and exacerbate side effects of insulin. Since the active ingredient in licorice may decrease potassium plasma levels, it may interact with any drug that also affects potassium. If you are routinely taking any medication, talk to your doctor about possible side effects with licorice.
Member Comments