Licorice and Medications: Unexpected Interactions with a Common Candy
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Most people think of licorice as just a sweet, chewy candy-something you grab at the checkout line or share with kids during the holidays. But if youâre taking any kind of medication, that piece of licorice might be doing more than satisfying a craving. It could be quietly messing with your blood pressure, your potassium levels, or even how your drugs work in your body. And you probably have no idea.
Whatâs Really in Licorice?
Not all licorice is the same. The kind that causes problems contains glycyrrhizin, a compound pulled from the root of the licorice plant. This isnât just flavoring-itâs a powerful substance that mimics the effects of aldosterone, a hormone your body uses to control salt and water balance. When glycyrrhizin sticks around too long, it tricks your kidneys into holding onto sodium and flushing out potassium. Thatâs fine in small doses. But if you eat a lot of it over weeks, things go sideways.
Traditional black licorice candy usually has between 0.5% and 2% glycyrrhizin. That means a 50-gram serving could pack 100 to 200 milligrams of the stuff. The European Food Safety Authority says healthy adults should stay under 100 mg per day. One bag of candy might already put you over that limit. And if youâre snacking on herbal supplements or medicinal extracts? Those can hit 4% to 30% glycyrrhizin. One capsule might equal a whole bag of candy.
Hereâs the catch: most packages donât tell you how much glycyrrhizin is in them. A 2023 Consumer Reports survey found that 78% of black licorice products didnât list the glycyrrhizin content. And 92% didnât warn about drug interactions. Youâre guessing-and thatâs dangerous.
How Licorice Breaks Your Medications
Licorice doesnât just cause side effects. It interferes with how your body handles other drugs. There are two main ways this happens.
The first is direct. Glycyrrhizinâs mineralocorticoid effect can turn your blood pressure into a ticking bomb. If youâre on blood pressure meds like lisinopril, hydrochlorothiazide, or even fludrocortisone, licorice fights against them. Instead of lowering your pressure, it pushes it higher. In one documented case, a man on fludrocortisone for years had his blood pressure spike to 205/110 after eating licorice. Heâd never had issues before-until he added candy to his routine.
The second way is through potassium. Licorice makes you lose potassium. When your levels drop below 3.0 mmol/L, you get muscle weakness, cramps, irregular heartbeat, and sometimes even paralysis. In extreme cases, people have needed emergency treatment. One woman developed a blood clot in her arm after eating licorice daily for weeks. Her potassium had crashed to 2.4 mmol/L. Thatâs not a coincidence-itâs a known risk.
And then thereâs the hidden layer: drug metabolism. Licorice can mess with liver enzymes like CYP3A4 and CYP2D6. These enzymes break down about half the drugs you take-statins, antidepressants, blood thinners, even some cancer meds. Some licorice compounds boost these enzymes, making your drugs less effective. Others block them, making your drugs too strong. This isnât theoretical. A 2021 case report showed a 92-year-old womanâs INR (a measure of blood thinning) suddenly dropped after she started eating licorice while on phenprocoumon. Her doctor had no idea why her blood wasnât thinning anymore.
Whoâs at the Highest Risk?
You donât have to be a licorice addict to be in danger. Even moderate use can trigger problems if youâre on certain meds.
- People on blood pressure meds: ACE inhibitors, diuretics, beta-blockers-licorice cancels their effect.
- People on potassium-depleting drugs: Thiazide diuretics, laxatives, corticosteroids. Add licorice? Your potassium drops faster.
- People on blood thinners: Warfarin, phenprocoumon. Licorice can make them weaker-or stronger, depending on your metabolism.
- People with heart or kidney disease: Your body already struggles with fluid and salt balance. Licorice makes it worse.
- Older adults: Your kidneys donât clear glycyrrhizin as well. Even small amounts can build up.
And hereâs something most people donât realize: itâs not just candy. Licorice is in teas, herbal supplements, throat lozenges, and even some chewing gums. If it says âlicorice root extractâ on the label, youâre getting glycyrrhizin. If it says âanise flavor,â youâre probably safe-but you canât assume.
What About DGL Licorice?
If youâre using licorice for stomach issues-like heartburn or ulcers-you might have heard of DGL. That stands for deglycyrrhizinated licorice. Itâs been stripped of glycyrrhizin. That means it wonât raise your blood pressure or wreck your potassium. DGL is fine if youâre on meds. But you need to check the label. Not all âDGLâ products are created equal. Some still sneak in trace amounts. Look for products that say âless than 1% glycyrrhizin.â
How Much Is Too Much?
Thereâs no universal answer. Some people get sick after eating a few pieces a week. Others tolerate more. But science gives us a rough guide:
- Under 100 mg glycyrrhizin per day: Generally safe for healthy adults, short-term.
- 100-200 mg per day for more than 2 weeks: High risk of low potassium, high blood pressure.
- Over 200 mg per day: Dangerous. Can cause heart rhythm issues, muscle damage, even kidney failure.
Thatâs why the UK requires warning labels on products with more than 100 mg per serving. Japan limits supplements to 100 mg per day. The U.S. FDA doesnât require any labeling. Thatâs a gap-and itâs putting people at risk.
What Should You Do?
If you take any regular medication, hereâs what to do:
- Check your candy. If itâs black licorice, assume it contains glycyrrhizin unless labeled otherwise.
- Read supplement labels. Look for âglycyrrhizinâ or âlicorice root extract.â If itâs not listed, donât take it.
- Ask your pharmacist. Only 37% of community pharmacists can list all the major licorice-drug interactions. Donât assume they know. Bring the product with you.
- Monitor your body. If youâve been eating licorice and suddenly feel weak, bloated, or get headaches, stop immediately. Check your blood pressure. Get a potassium test.
- Choose alternatives. If you like the flavor, go for anise, fennel, or star anise. They taste similar but wonât mess with your meds.
And if youâre taking warfarin, digoxin, or diuretics? Just avoid it. No gray area. No âmaybe.â The risk isnât worth it.
Why Isnât This Common Knowledge?
Itâs not that doctors are ignoring it. Itâs that the evidence is messy. Some studies say licorice doesnât affect liver enzymes. Others show it does. Some say itâs safe in small doses. Others show harm after just two weeks. The FDA calls it a âhigh-priorityâ interaction, yet you wonât find warnings on candy bags.
Part of the problem is that licorice is treated like food, not medicine. But it acts like both. And until labels change, consumers are left in the dark. A 2022 ConsumerLab survey found 68% of licorice supplement users didnât know about drug interactions. Thatâs not ignorance-itâs lack of information.
Thereâs progress. The American Herbal Pharmacopoeia is pushing for mandatory glycyrrhizin labeling by 2026. The European Commission is considering reclassifying high-glycyrrhizin products as medicines. Thatâs a step in the right direction. But right now, youâre the only one who can protect yourself.
Final Reality Check
Licorice isnât evil. Itâs been used for thousands of years. But itâs not harmless, either. When you combine it with modern medications, youâre playing with chemistry your body didnât evolve to handle. That piece of candy? Itâs not just sugar. Itâs a biochemical wildcard.
If youâre on medication, skip the black licorice. If youâre not sure, ask. If youâve been eating it and feel off, stop and get checked. Your blood pressure, your potassium, and your meds deserve better than guesswork.
Can licorice raise my blood pressure even if Iâm not on any medication?
Yes. Even if youâre not taking medication, eating more than 100 mg of glycyrrhizin daily for two or more weeks can cause high blood pressure and low potassium. This is called pseudoaldosteronism. Symptoms include headaches, swelling, fatigue, and muscle cramps. Healthy people can develop these issues too-itâs not just about drug interactions.
Is red licorice safe?
Usually, yes. Most red licorice doesnât contain licorice root at all-itâs flavored with anise or artificial flavors. Anise doesnât have glycyrrhizin, so it wonât affect your blood pressure or potassium. But always check the ingredients. Some brands do add real licorice extract, even to red candy.
How long does it take for licorice to affect my meds?
It varies. Blood pressure and potassium changes can show up in as little as a few days with high intake. For enzyme interactions, it may take a week or more to build up. But if youâve been eating licorice daily for two weeks and youâre on blood pressure or heart meds, assume itâs having an effect.
Can I have licorice tea?
It depends. Licorice tea made from whole root can contain high levels of glycyrrhizin-sometimes more than candy. A single cup might have 50-100 mg. If you drink it daily, youâre at risk. If you only have it occasionally, itâs lower risk-but still not zero. Look for DGL tea if you want to avoid glycyrrhizin.
What should I do if Iâve been eating licorice and Iâm on medication?
Stop eating it immediately. Then call your doctor or pharmacist. Ask for a blood test to check your potassium and blood pressure. If youâre on warfarin, ask for an INR check. Donât wait for symptoms. The damage can happen silently. Even if you feel fine, itâs better to be safe.
Lori Anne Franklin
December 27, 2025 AT 07:34omg i had no idea licorice could do this. i eat that stuff like candy every day and im on blood pressure meds đł i just stopped cold turkey. thanks for the wake-up call!
Bryan Woods
December 28, 2025 AT 06:07This is an exceptionally well-researched piece. The distinction between glycyrrhizin-containing products and DGL is critical, and the lack of labeling is a public health oversight. Regulatory bodies must act.
Ryan Cheng
December 28, 2025 AT 13:48Hey everyone - if you're on meds and love the flavor, try anise or fennel seeds instead. They taste similar, no risk. I switched after my pharmacist flagged my licorice habit. My BP dropped 10 points in a week. Small change, big difference.
wendy parrales fong
December 29, 2025 AT 20:53Itâs wild how something so simple - a candy, a tea, a supplement - can quietly mess with your body like that. We treat food like itâs harmless, but chemistry doesnât care what you call it. Be kind to your insides.
Sarah Holmes
December 31, 2025 AT 20:19How is this not a class-action lawsuit waiting to happen? Companies knowingly sell products with dangerous ingredients and refuse to label them. This isn't negligence - it's corporate malice. People are dying because of candy wrappers.
Jay Ara
January 2, 2026 AT 01:45bro i used to drink licorice tea every morning for digestion... now i know why i kept feeling dizzy. stopped it last week. my legs stopped cramping. thanks for the post
Michael Bond
January 2, 2026 AT 02:48Red licorice is fine. Just check the label.
Kuldipsinh Rathod
January 2, 2026 AT 03:49i live in india and we use licorice root in ayurveda all the time. but we also know to avoid it if you have high bp. this is why traditional knowledge matters - but modern labeling needs to catch up.
SHAKTI BHARDWAJ
January 3, 2026 AT 14:09LOL so now im the villain for eating my favorite candy? what next, are you gonna tell me water is dangerous if you have kidney disease? this is fearmongering. i feel fine.
Matthew Ingersoll
January 4, 2026 AT 05:58In Japan, they regulate this tightly. In the EU, warning labels are mandatory. In the U.S., we treat food like itâs not medicine - even when it behaves like both. We need policy, not just awareness.
carissa projo
January 4, 2026 AT 06:14Imagine if your doctor handed you a candy bar and said, âTake this with your heart pill.â Youâd freak out. But we do this every day without thinking. Licorice isnât the enemy - our disconnect from what we put in our bodies is.
josue robert figueroa salazar
January 5, 2026 AT 07:15So what? People die from sugar. This is just another thing to stress about. Chill.
david jackson
January 7, 2026 AT 00:57Let me tell you about my aunt. She was 89. Took warfarin. Ate a bag of black licorice every day for three weeks. Didnât feel a thing. Then one morning she collapsed. INR dropped to 1.1. They thought it was a stroke. Turned out her blood wasnât thinning anymore. The ER doc asked if sheâd eaten anything weird. She said, âOh, just my daily licorice.â Thatâs when I realized - this isnât theoretical. Itâs in our kitchens. And no oneâs telling us.
christian ebongue
January 7, 2026 AT 18:42So the FDA lets candy companies hide dangerous ingredients? Wow. And we wonder why people donât trust medicine. Meanwhile, Iâm still eating it. But now I know to check the label. Thanks for the heads-up⌠I guess.