Licorice

Licorice suggested uses include adrenocortical insufficiency, arthritis, bronchitis, dry cough, peptic ulcers, gastritis, infections (bacterial/viral), prostate cancer, sore throat, systemic lupus erythematosus, and upper respiratory inflammation.

• Licorice is available under the following different brand and other names: alcacuz, Chinese licorice, gan cao, gan zao, Glycyrrhiza glabra, lakritze, Lakritzenwurzel, orozuz, regliz, Russian licorice, Spanish licorice, sweet root, yashtimadhu, and yo jyo hen shi ko.

Suggested Dosing

Root

• 1-4 g orally three times daily

Tea

• 1 cup orally three times daily; 1-4 g powdered root/150 ml water

Ulcer

• 760-1520 mg deglycyrrhizinated licorice (DGL) orally, before meals, must mix with saliva; 8-16 weeks

Other Information

• Use no more than 4-6 weeks

Dosage Considerations – Should be Given as Follows:

• See "Suggested Dosing"

Common side effects of licorice include:

• Absence of a menstrual period
• Congestive heart failure
• Decreased sexual interest (libido)
• Erectile dysfunction
• Excess fluid in the lungs (pulmonary edema)
• Fluid and sodium retention
• Headache
• High blood pressure (hypertension)
• Hypertensive encephalopathy
• Hypokalemic myopathy
• Lethargy
• Low potassium levels (hypokalemia)
• Mineralocorticoid effects
• Muscle wasting
• Myoglobinuria
• Occasionally brain damage in otherwise healthy people
• Paralysis (quadriplegia)
• Swelling (edema)
• Tiredness
• Weakness

In people who eat a lot of salt or have heart disease, kidney disease, or high blood pressure, as little as 5 grams of licorice per day can cause these problems.

This document does not contain all possible side effects and others may occur. Check with your physician for additional information about side effects.

If your doctor has directed you to use this medication, your doctor or pharmacist may already be aware of any possible drug interactions and may be monitoring you for them. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with your doctor, health care provider, or pharmacist first.

• Licorice has no known severe, serious, moderate, or mild interactions with other drugs.
• Mild Interactions of licorice include:
  • digoxin

This information does not contain all possible interactions or adverse effects. Therefore, before using this product, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all the products you use. Keep a list of all your medications with you, and share this information with your doctor and pharmacist. Check with your health care professional or doctor for additional medical advice, or if you have health questions, concerns, or for more information about this medicine.

Warnings

• This medication contains licorice. Do not take alcacuz, Chinese licorice, gan cao, gan zao, Glycyrrhiza glabra, lakritze, Lakritzenwurzel, orozuz, regliz, Russian licorice, Spanish licorice, sweet root, yashtimadhu, or yo jyo hen shi ko if you are allergic to licorice or any ingredients contained in this drug.
• Keep out of reach of children. In case of overdose, get medical help or contact a Poison Control Center immediately.

Contraindications

• Breast cancer, cholestatic liver disorders, cirrhosis, CHF, diabetes mellitus, endometriosis, hormone-sensitive conditions, hypertonia, hypersensitivity to licorice, hypertension, hypokalemia, ovarian cancer, renal insufficiency (severe), uterine cancer, uterine fibroids

Effects of Drug Abuse

• No information available

Short-Term Effects

• See "What Are Side Effects Associated with Using Licorice?"

Long-Term Effects

• FDA consumer alert: Consuming more than 2 ounces/day for at least 2 weeks may cause low blood potassium levels (hypokalemia) and result in irregular heart rate (arrhythmia); adults aged 40 or older are at a higher risk (October 2011)
• See "What Are Side Effects Associated with Using Licorice?"

Cautions

• Concurrent CYP 3A4 substrates or potassium-depleting agents
• Impaired liver function
• FDA consumer alert: Consuming more than 2 ounces/day for at least 2 weeks may cause low blood potassium levels (hypokalemia) and result in irregular heart rate (arrhythmia); adults aged 40 or older are at a higher risk (October 2011)

Pregnancy and Lactation

• Licorice is considered unsafe for use during pregnancy or while breastfeeding