Licorice
Licorice has a history of being used for stomach ulcers, bronchitis, and sore throat. If you have heart disease or high blood pressure, you should take cautioun about using licorice.
Licorice Overview
Licorice is a plant.
Licorice is used most often for stomach ulcers, bronchitis, and sore throat, as well as infections caused by viruses, such as hepatitis.
In large amounts, licorice containing glycyrrhizin can cause high blood pressure, salt and water retention, and low potassium levels.
Licorice Cautionary Labels
Uses
Licorice is used most often for stomach ulcers, bronchitis, and sore throat, as well as infections caused by viruses, such as hepatitis.
Licorice may be used for other conditions. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.
Side Effects of Licorice
In large amounts, licorice containing glycyrrhizin can cause high blood pressure, salt and water retention, and low potassium levels.
This is not a complete list of licorice side effects. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.
Tell your doctor if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.
Licorice Interactions
Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Especially tell your doctor if you take:
- diuretics (water pills)
- corticosteroids
- medicines that reduce the body’s potassium levels
This is not a complete list of licorice drug interactions. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.
Licorice Precautions
Special precautions & warnings:
- In large amounts, licorice containing glycyrrhizin can cause high blood pressure, salt and water retention, and low potassium levels, which could lead to heart problems.
- Licorice can be found with glycyrrhizin removed; the product is called DGL (for “deglycyrrhizinated licorice”). DGL products are thought to cause fewer side effects.
- People with heart disease or high blood pressure should be cautious about using licorice.
- When taken in large amounts, licorice can affect the body’s levels of a hormone called cortisol.
- Pregnant women should avoid using licorice as a supplement or consuming large amounts of licorice as food, as some research suggests it could increase the risk of preterm labor.
