Food and medication
Liquorice and medication
Real liquorice lowers potassium and raises blood pressure, which can work against some medicines or add to their side effects.
7 medicines on our checker are affected, and for 2 the advice is to avoid it. Tap a medicine for every food and drink that matters with it.
Avoid liquorice with these medicines
- Prednisolone
Real liquorice raises prednisolone levels and the risk of low potassium, so avoid it.
Where this comes from
“Do not eat real liquorice while taking prednisolone.”
Information from the NHS website - Senna
Liquorice root does not mix well with senna.
Where this comes from
“anything made with liquorice root, such as supplements or liquorice tea”
Information from the NHS website
Take care liquorice with these medicines
- ACE inhibitors · ramipril, lisinopril, perindopril
Real liquorice raises blood pressure and works against the medicine.
- Amlodipine · amlodipine, amlodipine besylate, Istin
Real liquorice raises blood pressure and works against the medicine.
- Beta blockers · propranolol, metoprolol, atenolol
Real liquorice raises blood pressure.
- Digoxin · Lanoxin
Liquorice root can increase the effects of digoxin, so limit how much you have.
Where this comes from
“try to limit how much liquorice root you have as it can increase the effects of your medicine”
Information from the NHS website - Furosemide
Licorice in large amounts can cause low potassium when used with furosemide.
Where this comes from
“Hypokalemia may develop with furosemide, especially with brisk diuresis, inadequate oral electrolyte intake, when cirrhosis is present, or during concomitant use of corticosteroids, ACTH, licorice in large amounts, or prolonged use of laxatives.”
US FDA drug label
Foods and drinks that count as liquorice
- Liquorice sweets
- Black liquorice
- Pontefract cakes
- Liquorice allsorts
- Salty liquorice
- Liquorice tea
- Liquorice root
Common questions
- Which medicines does liquorice affect?
- 7 medicines on our checker: Prednisolone (avoid), Senna (avoid), ACE inhibitors (take care), Amlodipine (take care), Beta blockers (take care), Digoxin (take care), Furosemide (take care).
- Which foods count as liquorice?
- Liquorice sweets, Black liquorice, Pontefract cakes, Liquorice allsorts, Salty liquorice, Liquorice tea, Liquorice root.
General information from NHS medicine pages and drug labels, not medical advice. Always follow your prescriber, pharmacist or the leaflet with your medicine. How we check.