licorice
7 interactions related to licorice
losartan + licorice
Glycyrrhizin in licorice mimics aldosterone, causing renal sodium and water retention and potassium loss. This pseudoaldosteronism raises blood pressure and counteracts losartan's antihypertensive effect, while also producing hypokalemia that can cause weakness and arrhythmia.
prednisone + licorice
Glycyrrhizin in licorice inhibits the enzyme 11-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2, prolonging the half-life of glucocorticoids and dramatically amplifying mineralocorticoid effects. The combination potentiates sodium retention, hypertension, and hypokalemia, and has been linked to severe hypokalemic crises.
lisinopril + licorice
Glycyrrhizin in licorice mimics aldosterone, causing the kidneys to retain sodium and water and excrete potassium. This raises blood pressure and directly opposes lisinopril's antihypertensive effect, while also driving hypokalemia that can complicate other cardiovascular risks.
furosemide + licorice
Glycyrrhizin in licorice inhibits 11-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2, allowing cortisol to act on mineralocorticoid receptors and stimulating renal potassium excretion. Combined with furosemide, this produces additive potassium wasting and a markedly higher risk of severe hypokalemia, edema, hypertension, and arrhythmia.
licorice tea + digoxin
Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) contains glycyrrhizin, which inhibits renal 11-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 and causes potassium loss through mineralocorticoid-like activity. The resulting hypokalemia sharply increases digoxin's binding to cardiac Na/K-ATPase, raising the risk of life-threatening digoxin toxicity and arrhythmia.
digoxin + licorice
Glycyrrhizin in licorice inhibits 11-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2, mimicking aldosterone excess and causing sodium retention and potassium wasting. The resulting hypokalemia sensitizes the myocardium to digoxin and can trigger toxicity (arrhythmias, heart block) even at therapeutic serum digoxin levels.
spironolactone + licorice
Glycyrrhizin in licorice blocks 11-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 and activates mineralocorticoid receptors - the same receptors that spironolactone is designed to block. The two work in opposite directions: licorice raises blood pressure and lowers potassium while spironolactone lowers blood pressure and raises potassium, so the herb partially undoes the drug's intended therapeutic effect.