Blood Pressure Medication & Licorice Interaction Checker
How This Tool Works
This calculator helps you understand the potential interaction between licorice root consumption and your blood pressure medication. Based on scientific evidence from the article, it estimates how much glycyrrhizin you're consuming and the resulting impact on your medication effectiveness.
Interaction Risk Assessment
It’s easy to assume that natural means safe-especially when it comes to supplements like licorice root. But if you’re taking blood pressure medication, licorice root could be quietly sabotaging your treatment. You might be sipping licorice tea, chewing black licorice candy, or popping a herbal pill for digestion, not realizing you’re undoing weeks of careful medication management. The result? Blood pressure spikes, potassium crashes, and sometimes emergency visits.
What’s Actually in Licorice Root?
Licorice root comes from the plant Glycyrrhiza glabra, and its sweetness comes from a compound called glycyrrhizin. This isn’t just sugar-it’s a powerful substance that acts like a hormone in your body. Specifically, it mimics aldosterone, the hormone that tells your kidneys to hold onto salt and water while flushing out potassium. That’s why licorice makes you retain fluid and feel bloated. And that’s exactly why it messes with blood pressure meds.Raw licorice root can contain anywhere from 2% to 24% glycyrrhizin. Commercial extracts often standardize to 4-20%. That’s a huge range. One candy bar might have enough to cause problems; another might be harmless. And you won’t know unless you read the label. Most licorice-flavored candies in the U.S. use anise oil instead-no glycyrrhizin. But if it says “licorice root,” “Glycyrrhiza glabra,” or “licorice extract,” you’re getting the real thing.
How It Breaks Your Blood Pressure Medication
Glycyrrhizin doesn’t just raise blood pressure-it directly interferes with how your meds work. Here’s how it breaks down by drug class:- ACE inhibitors (like lisinopril): Glycyrrhizin reduces their effectiveness by 30-50%. Your body starts holding onto salt again, undoing the drug’s ability to relax blood vessels.
- ARBs (like losartan): Effectiveness drops by about 25%. The same fluid retention kicks in, countering the drug’s action on angiotensin receptors.
- Calcium channel blockers (like amlodipine): Blood pressure control worsens by 15-20%. Some studies suggest licorice may even speed up how fast your body clears these drugs, making them less effective.
- Potassium-sparing diuretics (like spironolactone): This is the worst combo. Licorice can completely cancel out the drug’s effect within 7-10 days. You’re supposed to keep potassium up-licorice drains it.
It’s not theoretical. A 68-year-old man in the U.S. saw his systolic pressure jump from 130 to 185 in just 10 days after starting licorice tea while on lisinopril. A woman in New Zealand was hospitalized after her pressure hit 210/115-she’d been eating licorice candy daily for her “digestive health.”
What Happens in Your Body
Glycyrrhizin gets broken down into glycyrrhetic acid, which blocks an enzyme called 11β-HSD2. Normally, this enzyme keeps cortisol from acting like aldosterone. When it’s blocked, cortisol floods mineralocorticoid receptors-and your body starts behaving like it’s in salt-deprivation mode, even if you’re eating normally.The results:
- Sodium retention: +5-15% more fluid in your bloodstream
- Potassium loss: Drops by 0.5-1.5 mmol/L (normal range is 3.5-5.0)
- Blood pressure rise: 5-15 mmHg in healthy people, 10-30 mmHg in those already hypertensive
These changes don’t show up overnight. They build over two weeks of daily use. That’s why many people don’t connect the dots. They think their meds “stopped working,” not realizing they added something to their routine that’s fighting them.
Who’s at Risk?
Anyone on blood pressure medication is at risk. But some groups are more vulnerable:- People taking potassium-sparing diuretics (spironolactone, eplerenone)
- Older adults (over 60), because kidney function declines with age
- Those with existing low potassium or heart failure
- People using herbal supplements without knowing the ingredients
Even “safe” doses matter. The European Food Safety Authority says 100 mg of glycyrrhizin per day is the max for healthy adults. That’s about 50 grams of real licorice candy. But for someone on blood pressure meds? That’s dangerous territory. The American Heart Association recommends avoiding all glycyrrhizin-containing products if you’re hypertensive.
What You Might Not Realize Contains Licorice
You think it’s just candy. But licorice root is hiding in places you wouldn’t expect:- Herbal teas labeled “licorice root” or “Glycyrrhiza glabra”
- Some cough syrups and throat lozenges
- Traditional Chinese medicine formulas (25% contain licorice)
- Herbal laxatives (30% include licorice root)
- Some tobacco products and chewing tobacco
- Supplements for “adrenal support” or “digestive healing”
And here’s the kicker: only 37% of supplement labels warn about blood pressure interactions. Most don’t mention glycyrrhizin at all. You’re left guessing.
What to Do Instead
If you’re on blood pressure meds, here’s what works:- Read every label. Look for “Glycyrrhiza glabra,” “licorice root,” or “licorice extract.” Avoid them.
- Choose deglycyrrhizinated licorice (DGL). This form has over 99% of glycyrrhizin removed. It’s safe for digestion and won’t affect your meds.
- Ask your pharmacist. They can check your supplements and OTC products for hidden licorice.
- Switch to anise-flavored candy. If you crave the flavor, go for anise or fennel-no glycyrrhizin.
- Get your potassium checked. If you’ve been using licorice, even once, ask your doctor for a blood test. Levels below 3.0 mmol/L are dangerous and can cause heart rhythm problems.
The Bottom Line
Licorice root isn’t evil. It’s been used for thousands of years for coughs, ulcers, and inflammation. But when you’re on blood pressure medication, it becomes a silent saboteur. You don’t need to avoid every herb. You just need to know which ones are playing against you.There’s no benefit to taking licorice root if you’re hypertensive. The risks far outweigh any imagined perks. And the damage isn’t always obvious-it creeps in slowly, quietly, until your pressure spikes and your doctor asks, “Have you started anything new?”
Don’t wait for that moment. Check your supplements. Read your candy labels. Talk to your pharmacist. Your blood pressure is too important to leave to chance.
Can I still eat licorice candy if I’m on blood pressure medication?
Only if it doesn’t contain real licorice root. Most U.S. licorice candy uses anise oil and is safe. But if the ingredient list says “licorice root,” “Glycyrrhiza glabra,” or “licorice extract,” avoid it. Even small amounts can raise blood pressure and lower potassium over time.
How long does it take for licorice to affect blood pressure meds?
Effects can start within a week, but they usually become clear after two weeks of daily use. Glycyrrhizin’s effects can linger for up to two weeks after you stop, so stopping it won’t fix your blood pressure right away. Give your body time to clear it out.
Is deglycyrrhizinated licorice (DGL) safe with blood pressure meds?
Yes. DGL has less than 1% glycyrrhizin, which is too low to affect blood pressure or potassium. It’s commonly used for stomach ulcers and heartburn and is considered safe for people on antihypertensive drugs.
What should I do if I’ve been taking licorice root and my blood pressure is high?
Stop taking licorice immediately. Contact your doctor and ask for a blood test to check your potassium and sodium levels. Your blood pressure may take days or weeks to return to normal after stopping. Don’t adjust your meds on your own-your doctor may need to tweak your prescription.
Are there any supplements that are safe alternatives to licorice root?
For digestive support, try ginger, chamomile, or slippery elm. For cough relief, honey or thyme-based syrups work well. For adrenal support, focus on stress reduction, sleep, and magnesium-none of these carry the same risks as licorice root. Always check with your pharmacist before starting any new supplement.
Next Steps
If you’re on blood pressure medication:- Go through your medicine cabinet and check every supplement, tea, and OTC product for “licorice root” or “Glycyrrhiza glabra.”
- Call your pharmacist and ask them to review your supplements for hidden licorice.
- Ask your doctor for a serum potassium test if you’ve used licorice in the last 30 days.
- Switch to DGL if you need digestive support.
- When buying candy, choose brands that list “anise oil” instead of licorice.
There’s no shame in avoiding licorice root if you’re on blood pressure meds. It’s not about being overly cautious-it’s about protecting what you’ve worked hard to control. Your meds are doing their job. Don’t let a sweet root undo it.
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