Licorice Root (Glycyrrhiza glabra) (Glycyrrhiza glabra)

Licorice root causes potassium loss that makes digoxin dangerously toxic — even herbal teas with real licorice can do this.

What to do: Completely avoid real licorice (glycyrrhizin-containing) products while on digoxin. Artificially flavored licorice candy is safe. Check herbal tea ingredients.

Timing: Be consistent with how you take Digoxin relative to meals — take it with food or without food consistently each day. Licorice Root — sudden large changes in diet composition can affect how your body processes many medications. Grapefruit, leafy greens, and high-fiber foods are the most common food-drug interaction culprits.

Licorice root activates the exact receptor that spironolactone is designed to block. Taking both means your medication cannot work properly.

What to do: Do NOT take licorice root while on spironolactone. They have directly opposing mechanisms. DGL (deglycyrrhizinated licorice) is safe.

Timing: Be consistent with how you take Spironolactone relative to meals — take it with food or without food consistently each day. Licorice Root — sudden large changes in diet composition can affect how your body processes many medications. Grapefruit, leafy greens, and high-fiber foods are the most common food-drug interaction culprits.

Both licorice root and HCTZ cause your body to lose potassium. Together, potassium can drop to dangerous levels, risking heart rhythm problems.

What to do: Avoid licorice root supplements while on HCTZ. The combined potassium-wasting effect is dangerous. Monitor potassium levels. DGL (deglycyrrhizinated licorice) is safe.

Timing: Be consistent with how you take Hydrochlorothiazide relative to meals — take it with food or without food consistently each day. Licorice Root — sudden large changes in diet composition can affect how your body processes many medications. Grapefruit, leafy greens, and high-fiber foods are the most common food-drug interaction culprits.

Both licorice root and Lasix cause your body to lose potassium. Together, potassium can drop to dangerously low levels, risking heart rhythm problems.

What to do: Do NOT take licorice root supplements while on furosemide. The combined potassium-wasting effect is dangerous. DGL (deglycyrrhizinated licorice) is a safe alternative as the problematic compound has been removed.

Timing: Be consistent with how you take Furosemide relative to meals — take it with food or without food consistently each day. Licorice Root — sudden large changes in diet composition can affect how your body processes many medications. Grapefruit, leafy greens, and high-fiber foods are the most common food-drug interaction culprits.

Licorice root triggers a hormonal cascade that mimics aldosterone excess, driving up blood pressure through sodium retention and potassium loss. Since Lisinopril works by blocking the ACE enzyme to lower blood pressure, licorice essentially creates a competing hypertensive force that your ACE inhibitor cannot fully overcome.

What to do: Stop licorice root supplements while on Lisinopril. Because ACE inhibitors like Lisinopril already affect potassium balance (they tend to raise potassium), the potassium-depleting effect of licorice can create unpredictable electrolyte swings. Monitor your blood pressure at home for 2 weeks after stopping licorice. DGL (deglycyrrhizinated licorice) supplements are safe since glycyrrhizin has been removed.

Timing: Take Lisinopril at a consistent time daily. Licorice Root — be mindful of potassium-rich foods (bananas, potatoes, tomatoes, avocados). ACE inhibitors raise potassium levels, and excessive dietary potassium on top of this can cause dangerous hyperkalemia. Moderate intake is fine.

Licorice root contains glycyrrhizin, which forces your kidneys to hold onto sodium and flush out potassium — raising blood pressure. Enalapril, your ACE inhibitor, tries to do the opposite. Taking both means your medication is fighting an uphill battle it may not win.

What to do: Avoid all licorice-containing supplements and candies while taking Enalapril. Enalapril is often prescribed for heart failure as well as hypertension, making uncontrolled blood pressure spikes especially dangerous. If you have been using licorice, tell your doctor — they may need to recheck your potassium levels and adjust your Enalapril dose. DGL licorice is an acceptable substitute.

Timing: Take Enalapril at a consistent time daily. Licorice Root — be mindful of potassium-rich foods (bananas, potatoes, tomatoes, avocados). ACE inhibitors raise potassium levels, and excessive dietary potassium on top of this can cause dangerous hyperkalemia. Moderate intake is fine.

Licorice root acts like a steroid hormone in your body, causing sodium and water retention that pushes blood pressure up. Ramipril lowers blood pressure by reducing angiotensin II production. When licorice overrides this through a completely separate pathway (mineralocorticoid receptor activation), Ramipril cannot compensate.

What to do: Discontinue licorice root while on Ramipril. This is especially critical if you take Ramipril post-heart attack for cardiac protection — uncontrolled blood pressure undermines the cardiovascular benefits your doctor prescribed it for. Check ingredient labels on herbal teas, as many contain licorice root. DGL licorice is the safe alternative.

Timing: Take Ramipril at a consistent time daily. Licorice Root — be mindful of potassium-rich foods (bananas, potatoes, tomatoes, avocados). ACE inhibitors raise potassium levels, and excessive dietary potassium on top of this can cause dangerous hyperkalemia. Moderate intake is fine.

Licorice root raises blood pressure through pseudoaldosteronism — it tricks your body into retaining salt and water. Losartan blocks angiotensin II receptors to lower blood pressure, but it cannot counteract the separate mineralocorticoid pathway that licorice activates. Your blood pressure may rise despite taking Losartan faithfully.

What to do: Eliminate licorice root from your supplement regimen while taking Losartan. Unlike ACE inhibitors, Losartan (an ARB) does not cause cough as a side effect, which is why many patients are switched to it — but it shares the same vulnerability to licorice interference. Check labels on digestive supplements and herbal teas. DGL licorice is safe because the glycyrrhizin has been removed.

Timing: Be consistent with how you take Losartan relative to meals — take it with food or without food consistently each day. Licorice Root — sudden large changes in diet composition can affect how your body processes many medications. Grapefruit, leafy greens, and high-fiber foods are the most common food-drug interaction culprits.

Licorice root's active compound glycyrrhizin causes your body to act as if it has too much aldosterone — retaining sodium, losing potassium, and raising blood pressure. Valsartan blocks angiotensin receptors to relax blood vessels, but cannot overcome the volume overload that licorice creates through a completely different hormonal mechanism.

What to do: Do not use licorice root supplements with Valsartan. Valsartan is commonly prescribed in fixed-dose combinations (like Valsartan/HCTZ), and if you are on a combo that includes a diuretic, the potassium loss from licorice becomes even more dangerous. Have your electrolytes checked if you have been combining these. Switch to DGL licorice for digestive benefits without the blood pressure risk.

Timing: Be consistent with how you take Valsartan relative to meals — take it with food or without food consistently each day. Licorice Root — sudden large changes in diet composition can affect how your body processes many medications. Grapefruit, leafy greens, and high-fiber foods are the most common food-drug interaction culprits.

Licorice root drives blood pressure up by causing sodium and water retention through pseudoaldosteronism. Amlodipine lowers blood pressure by relaxing blood vessel walls (blocking calcium channels), but it cannot counteract the increased blood volume that licorice creates. The result is higher blood pressure despite your medication.

What to do: Avoid licorice root while taking Amlodipine. Because Amlodipine is a calcium channel blocker (not an ACE inhibitor or ARB), it does not affect potassium levels on its own — but licorice's potassium-depleting effect can still cause muscle cramps, weakness, and dangerous heart rhythm changes independently. Amlodipine also causes ankle swelling in some patients, and licorice's fluid retention can worsen this. Use DGL licorice instead.

Timing: Be consistent with how you take Amlodipine relative to meals — take it with food or without food consistently each day. Licorice Root — sudden large changes in diet composition can affect how your body processes many medications. Grapefruit, leafy greens, and high-fiber foods are the most common food-drug interaction culprits.

Licorice root causes your body to retain sodium and lose potassium, raising blood pressure independently of the pathways Metoprolol targets. Metoprolol slows your heart rate and reduces cardiac output to lower blood pressure, but it has no mechanism to counteract the fluid overload and electrolyte imbalance that licorice creates.

What to do: Stop licorice root while on Metoprolol. This interaction is particularly concerning because Metoprolol is frequently prescribed after heart attacks and for heart failure — conditions where uncontrolled blood pressure and low potassium are especially dangerous. The potassium loss from licorice can also increase the risk of irregular heartbeats, which beta-blockers like Metoprolol are often used to prevent. Use DGL licorice as a safe alternative.

Timing: Take Metoprolol at the same time daily. Food generally doesn't significantly affect beta-blocker absorption. Licorice Root — potassium-rich foods (bananas, oranges) are generally fine with beta-blockers (unlike ACE inhibitors). Avoid excessive caffeine intake, which can counteract blood pressure benefits.

Licorice root contains glycyrrhizin, which mimics aldosterone in your body and causes sodium retention with potassium depletion. This raises blood pressure through a mechanism that Atenolol — which works by slowing heart rate and reducing the force of heart contractions — simply cannot block.

What to do: Avoid licorice root while on Atenolol. Atenolol is a cardioselective beta-1 blocker often chosen for patients who also have respiratory conditions. The potassium loss caused by licorice is an independent cardiac risk that Atenolol does not address. If you are also taking a thiazide diuretic alongside Atenolol, the combined potassium depletion with licorice becomes even more critical. Switch to DGL licorice.

Timing: Take Atenolol at the same time daily. Food generally doesn't significantly affect beta-blocker absorption. Licorice Root — potassium-rich foods (bananas, oranges) are generally fine with beta-blockers (unlike ACE inhibitors). Avoid excessive caffeine intake, which can counteract blood pressure benefits.

Licorice root triggers pseudoaldosteronism — your body retains sodium and loses potassium as if aldosterone levels were too high. Propranolol reduces blood pressure by blocking beta receptors throughout your body, but this mechanism cannot prevent the fluid retention and electrolyte shifts that licorice causes.

What to do: Do not take licorice root with Propranolol. As a non-selective beta blocker, Propranolol is often used for anxiety, migraines, and tremor in addition to blood pressure. Even if you take it for a non-cardiac reason, licorice-induced hypokalemia (low potassium) can cause palpitations and arrhythmias. Propranolol may mask the rapid heartbeat that would normally alert you to dangerously low potassium. Choose DGL licorice instead.

Timing: Take Propranolol at the same time daily. Food generally doesn't significantly affect beta-blocker absorption. Licorice Root — potassium-rich foods (bananas, oranges) are generally fine with beta-blockers (unlike ACE inhibitors). Avoid excessive caffeine intake, which can counteract blood pressure benefits.

Licorice root forces your kidneys into sodium-retention mode while flushing potassium, elevating blood pressure through volume overload. Carvedilol lowers blood pressure through dual alpha-1 and beta receptor blockade, but neither pathway can compensate for the mineralocorticoid-like effects of glycyrrhizin in licorice.

What to do: Avoid licorice root while taking Carvedilol. Carvedilol is commonly prescribed for heart failure with reduced ejection fraction, where maintaining stable blood pressure and electrolytes is critical. Licorice-induced potassium loss is especially dangerous in heart failure patients because it increases the risk of fatal arrhythmias. If you use licorice for digestive issues, DGL licorice is the safe substitute.

Timing: Take Carvedilol at the same time daily. Food generally doesn't significantly affect beta-blocker absorption. Licorice Root — potassium-rich foods (bananas, oranges) are generally fine with beta-blockers (unlike ACE inhibitors). Avoid excessive caffeine intake, which can counteract blood pressure benefits.

Licorice root can deplete potassium and cause fluid retention, which may unpredictably alter how warfarin works in your body. Your INR may become unstable.

What to do: Avoid licorice root supplements while on warfarin. If you consume any, monitor INR more frequently. Small amounts of licorice candy (which often contains no real licorice) are generally fine.

Timing: Be consistent with Licorice Root intake. If on warfarin, vitamin K-rich foods (leafy greens, broccoli, Brussels sprouts) affect clotting — don't avoid them, but eat consistent amounts week to week. Cranberry juice, grapefruit, and alcohol can amplify anticoagulant effects. Warfarin at the same time daily.

Licorice root elevates blood pressure by causing pseudoaldosteronism — sodium retention and potassium wasting via mineralocorticoid receptor activation. Clonidine works centrally in the brain by stimulating alpha-2 receptors to reduce sympathetic nervous system output. These two mechanisms operate through entirely different pathways, so Clonidine cannot block licorice's peripheral blood pressure effects.

What to do: Do not use licorice root with Clonidine. Clonidine is sometimes used for ADHD or opioid withdrawal in addition to hypertension, and sudden blood pressure spikes from licorice are dangerous regardless of why you take Clonidine. Never abruptly stop Clonidine (rebound hypertension risk), and adding licorice on top of Clonidine makes blood pressure even more unpredictable. DGL licorice is the safe option.

Timing: Be consistent with how you take Clonidine relative to meals — take it with food or without food consistently each day. Licorice Root — sudden large changes in diet composition can affect how your body processes many medications. Grapefruit, leafy greens, and high-fiber foods are the most common food-drug interaction culprits.

Licorice root's glycyrrhizin compound activates mineralocorticoid receptors, causing sodium retention and potassium loss that raises blood pressure. Telmisartan blocks angiotensin II type-1 receptors to lower blood pressure and protect kidneys, but it cannot counteract the separate hormonal pathway that licorice hijacks.

What to do: Avoid licorice root supplements while on Telmisartan. Telmisartan has the longest half-life among ARBs (about 24 hours) and is valued for its PPAR-gamma activity that helps with metabolic syndrome. Licorice undermines both the blood pressure and metabolic benefits. If you also take Telmisartan for diabetic kidney protection, stable blood pressure is essential — do not risk it with licorice. DGL licorice is safe.

Timing: Be consistent with how you take Telmisartan relative to meals — take it with food or without food consistently each day. Licorice Root — sudden large changes in diet composition can affect how your body processes many medications. Grapefruit, leafy greens, and high-fiber foods are the most common food-drug interaction culprits.

Licorice root creates a state of pseudoaldosteronism in your body — your kidneys retain sodium and excrete potassium as if aldosterone levels were elevated. Olmesartan blocks angiotensin II receptors to reduce blood pressure, but the mineralocorticoid pathway that licorice activates bypasses this mechanism entirely.

What to do: Stop taking licorice root if you are prescribed Olmesartan. Olmesartan is one of the more potent ARBs, often used when other blood pressure medications have been insufficient. Adding licorice negates the extra potency you need. Olmesartan has also been linked to a rare sprue-like enteropathy with chronic diarrhea — if you are taking licorice for GI symptoms alongside Olmesartan, discuss both with your doctor. DGL licorice is the safe substitute.

Timing: Be consistent with how you take Olmesartan relative to meals — take it with food or without food consistently each day. Licorice Root — sudden large changes in diet composition can affect how your body processes many medications. Grapefruit, leafy greens, and high-fiber foods are the most common food-drug interaction culprits.

Licorice root causes sodium and water retention through pseudoaldosteronism, raising blood pressure. Diltiazem relaxes blood vessels and slows heart rate by blocking calcium channels, but it cannot prevent the volume expansion and potassium loss that licorice triggers through mineralocorticoid receptor activation.

What to do: Avoid licorice root while on Diltiazem. Diltiazem is a non-dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker also used for heart rate control in atrial fibrillation. The potassium depletion from licorice increases arrhythmia risk, which is particularly dangerous if Diltiazem was prescribed specifically to manage your heart rhythm. Diltiazem also inhibits CYP3A4, so discuss any supplement changes with your doctor. Use DGL licorice instead.

Timing: Be consistent with how you take Diltiazem relative to meals — take it with food or without food consistently each day. Licorice Root — sudden large changes in diet composition can affect how your body processes many medications. Grapefruit, leafy greens, and high-fiber foods are the most common food-drug interaction culprits.

Licorice root drives blood pressure upward by activating mineralocorticoid receptors, causing your body to retain salt and water while losing potassium. Nifedipine is a dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker that relaxes arterial smooth muscle, but it cannot counteract the fluid overload and hormonal disruption that licorice produces.

What to do: Do not combine licorice root with Nifedipine. Nifedipine is often used for resistant hypertension and Raynaud's phenomenon. It commonly causes ankle edema as a side effect, and licorice's fluid-retaining properties will significantly worsen this swelling. If you experience sudden severe headache or facial flushing, these could indicate a blood pressure spike from the combination. Use DGL licorice as a safe alternative.

Timing: Be consistent with how you take Nifedipine relative to meals — take it with food or without food consistently each day. Licorice Root — sudden large changes in diet composition can affect how your body processes many medications. Grapefruit, leafy greens, and high-fiber foods are the most common food-drug interaction culprits.