Licorice (Herb/Suppl)

Brand and Other Names:alcacuz, Chinese licorice, more...gan cao, gan zao, glycyrrhiza glabra, lakritze, Lakritzenwurzel, orozuz, regliz, Russian licorice, Spanish licorice, sweet root, yashtimadhu, yo jyo hen shi ko

Suggested Dosing

Root

1-4 g PO TID

Tea

1 cup PO TID; 1-4 g powdered root/150 ml water

Ulcer

760-1520 mg DGL PO, AC, must mix w/saliva; 8-16 weeks

Cough

0.5-1 g PO powdered root qD-TID

Other Information

Use no more than 4-6 weeks

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Suggested Uses

Adrenocortical insufficiency

Arthritis, bronchitis, dry cough, peptic ulcers, gastritis, infections (bacterial/viral), prostate cancer, sore throat, systemic lupus erythematosus, upper resp. inflammation

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Interactions

Interaction Checker

and Licorice

No Results

     activity indicator 
    No Interactions Found
    Interactions Found

    Contraindicated

      Serious - Use Alternative

        Significant - Monitor Closely

          Minor

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             activity indicator 

            Contraindicated (0)

              Serious - Use Alternative (0)

                Monitor Closely (0)

                  Minor (1)

                  • digoxin

                    licorice increases effects of digoxin by pharmacodynamic synergism. Minor/Significance Unknown.

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                  Adverse Effects

                  Frequency Not Defined

                  Amenorrhea

                  CHF

                  Decreased libido

                  Edema

                  Erectile dysfunction

                  Headache

                  Hypertension

                  Hypertensive encephalopathy

                  Hypokalemia

                  Hypokalemic myopathy

                  Lethargy

                  Lower extremity weakness

                  Mineralocorticoid effects

                  Myoglobinuria

                  Pulmonary edema

                  Quadriplegia

                  Rhabdomyolysis

                  Sodium

                  Fluid retention

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                  Warnings

                  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

                  Cautions

                  Concurrent CYP 3A4 substrates or potassium-depleting agents

                  Impaired liver function

                  FDA consumer alert: Consuming >2 ounces/day for at least 2 weeks may cause hypokalemia and result in arrhythmia; adults aged 40 or older are at a higher risk (October 2011)

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                  Pregnancy & Lactation

                  Pregnancy Category: unsafe

                  Lactation: avoid use

                  Pregnancy Categories

                  A: Generally acceptable. Controlled studies in pregnant women show no evidence of fetal risk.

                  B: May be acceptable. Either animal studies show no risk but human studies not available or animal studies showed minor risks and human studies done and showed no risk.

                  C: Use with caution if benefits outweigh risks. Animal studies show risk and human studies not available or neither animal nor human studies done.

                  D: Use in LIFE-THREATENING emergencies when no safer drug available. Positive evidence of human fetal risk.

                  X: Do not use in pregnancy. Risks involved outweigh potential benefits. Safer alternatives exist.

                  NA: Information not available.

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                  Pharmacology

                  Metabolism: N/A

                  Excretion: N/A

                  Mechanism of Action

                  Anti-inflammatory, expectorant; blocks PGE2 & PGF2-alpha metab.

                  DGL less effective for upper resp. symptoms

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                  Medscape prescription drug monographs are based on FDA-approved labeling information, unless otherwise noted, combined with additional data derived from primary medical literature.