Licorice Root Can Cancel Out Your Blood Pressure Medication - Here's How
Oct, 30 2025
Licorice Intake Risk Calculator
Licorice root contains glycyrrhizin, which can raise blood pressure and reduce the effectiveness of many blood pressure medications. This calculator helps you assess your risk based on consumption.
Most people think of licorice root as a sweet herbal treat - maybe a chewy candy or a tea for sore throats. But if you're taking medication for high blood pressure, that harmless-looking root could be quietly sabotaging your treatment. It’s not a myth. It’s not exaggeration. It’s science. And it’s happening to people right now.
What’s Actually in Licorice Root?
Licorice root comes from the plant Glycyrrhiza glabra. It’s been used for thousands of years in traditional medicine - from ancient Egypt to Chinese herbalism - for coughs, digestion, and inflammation. But the thing that makes it sweet also makes it dangerous for people on blood pressure meds: glycyrrhizin. Glycyrrhizin isn’t just a flavoring. It’s a powerful compound that acts like a fake hormone. When you consume it, your body can’t tell the difference between glycyrrhizin and aldosterone - the hormone that tells your kidneys to hold onto salt and water. The result? Your body retains more sodium, loses potassium, and your blood volume goes up. All of that pushes your blood pressure higher. The problem? This isn’t a minor effect. Studies show that taking just 100 mg of glycyrrhizin a day for two weeks can raise systolic blood pressure by up to 30 mmHg. That’s the difference between a controlled 130/80 and a dangerous 160/90 - or worse.How It Kills Your Blood Pressure Medication
It doesn’t matter what kind of blood pressure pill you’re on. Licorice root finds a way to neutralize it.- ACE inhibitors (like lisinopril): These work by relaxing blood vessels and reducing fluid buildup. But glycyrrhizin floods your system with extra fluid, cutting the drug’s effectiveness by 30-50%.
- ARBs (like losartan): These block the hormone that tightens blood vessels. Licorice overrides that by mimicking aldosterone, making the drug barely work.
- Calcium channel blockers (like amlodipine): These relax artery walls. But when your blood volume spikes from licorice, your arteries have to fight harder - lowering the drug’s impact by 15-20%.
- Potassium-sparing diuretics (like spironolactone): This is the worst combo. Spironolactone helps you keep potassium. Licorice drains it. Within 7-10 days, the diuretic stops working entirely. Blood pressure spikes. Heart rhythm gets unstable. Emergency room visits follow.
It’s Not Just Candy - It’s Everywhere
You might think, “I don’t eat licorice candy.” But here’s the catch: most licorice-flavored candy in the U.S. doesn’t even contain real licorice root. About 95% of it uses anise oil instead - safe for blood pressure. But the real danger is in the places you don’t expect:- Herbal supplements: Licorice root is a common ingredient in liver cleanses, adrenal support formulas, and anti-inflammatory blends.
- Cough syrups and throat lozenges: Many natural brands use licorice root to soothe irritation - and many don’t list glycyrrhizin content.
- Traditional Chinese medicine: About 25% of formulas contain licorice root as a “harmonizing” agent. You won’t find it on the bottle unless you read the fine print.
- Herbal laxatives: One in three contains licorice. People take them for “detox” - not realizing they’re sabotaging their heart meds.
Real People, Real Consequences
You won’t find many success stories about this interaction - only warnings. - A 68-year-old man on lisinopril started drinking licorice tea for “digestion.” Within 10 days, his blood pressure jumped from 130/80 to 185/105. He ended up in the ER. - A Reddit user on r/HighBloodPressure posted about his amlodipine suddenly seeming “useless.” His doctor found he’d been eating black licorice candy daily. His systolic pressure rose 22 points over two weeks. - The New Zealand Centre for Adverse Reactions Monitoring documented a case where a patient on fludrocortisone (a steroid that already raises blood pressure) spiked to 210/115 after starting licorice root. He had panic attacks. His heart was racing. He needed IV meds to stabilize. On PatientsLikeMe, 92% of 84 posts about licorice and blood pressure meds described worsening control. Seventeen people ended up in emergency rooms.What You Can Do - Right Now
If you take blood pressure medication, here’s your action plan:- Check every supplement label. Look for “Glycyrrhiza glabra,” “licorice root,” “licorice extract,” or “glycyrrhizin.” If it’s there, stop.
- Read candy and tea ingredients. If it says “anise,” “fennel,” or “natural flavor,” you’re likely safe. If it says “licorice,” assume it’s dangerous.
- Ask your pharmacist. They can check your herbal products for hidden licorice. Most don’t know to ask - but they can look it up.
- Switch to DGL. Deglycyrrhizinated licorice (DGL) removes the glycyrrhizin. It’s safe for digestion and won’t interfere with meds. Look for “DGL” on the label.
- Get your potassium checked. If you’ve been consuming licorice - even once - ask your doctor for a blood test. Potassium below 3.5 mmol/L is dangerous, especially with diuretics.
The Bigger Problem: No One Warns You
The FDA says licorice root is “Generally Recognized As Safe” - but only for flavoring. It doesn’t require warning labels on supplements. The EU does. If you buy licorice candy in Germany, and it has more than 10 mg of glycyrrhizin, the label must say: “May raise blood pressure.” In the U.S.? No such rule. A 2021 study found only 37% of licorice supplement labels mention blood pressure risks. That means 63% of people are taking it without knowing the danger. And here’s the kicker: glycyrrhizin sticks around. Even after you stop, its effects can last up to two weeks. So if you took licorice last week and your blood pressure is still high, it might not be your meds - it might be the root you thought was harmless.What’s Next?
The FDA is proposing the Dietary Supplement Listing Act of 2023. If passed, manufacturers will have to list exact amounts of active ingredients - including glycyrrhizin. That could change everything. But until then, the burden is on you. Don’t wait for a warning label. Don’t assume “natural” means safe. Don’t trust flavor. Trust the ingredient list. Your blood pressure medication works - unless something else is working against it. And licorice root? It’s one of the most common, quiet saboteurs out there.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, which is safe. But if the label says “licorice root,” “Glycyrrhiza glabra,” or “licorice extract,” avoid it. Even small amounts can raise blood pressure over time. When in doubt, check the ingredients - not the flavor.
How long does it take for licorice to affect blood pressure meds?
It can happen in as little as 7-10 days. Some people see changes in blood pressure within a week of daily use. The effect builds up because glycyrrhizin lingers in the body - its half-life is about 14 hours, but its impact on mineralocorticoid receptors lasts up to two weeks after stopping. Don’t wait for symptoms. If you’ve been consuming licorice, assume it’s interfering.
Is deglycyrrhizinated licorice (DGL) safe with blood pressure meds?
Yes. DGL has had the glycyrrhizin removed - usually to less than 1%. It’s commonly used for stomach ulcers and acid reflux and doesn’t raise blood pressure or lower potassium. It’s the only form of licorice you can safely use if you’re on antihypertensive medication. Always look for “DGL” on the label.
Can licorice root cause low potassium?
Yes, and it’s dangerous. Glycyrrhizin causes your kidneys to flush out potassium, often dropping levels by 0.5-1.5 mmol/L. Normal range is 3.5-5.0 mmol/L. Levels below 3.0 can cause muscle weakness, irregular heartbeat, and even cardiac arrest. If you’re on diuretics or licorice, get your potassium checked every 2 weeks.
What should I do if I’ve been taking licorice root and my blood pressure is high?
Stop consuming all licorice products immediately. Then contact your doctor. Don’t just adjust your meds on your own. Your blood pressure may stay elevated for up to two weeks after stopping licorice because the compound lingers. Your doctor may need to check your potassium, adjust your medication, or run additional tests. If you feel dizzy, have chest pain, or your blood pressure is over 180/110, go to the ER.
Sebastian Brice
October 31, 2025 AT 11:18Man, I just read this and thought about my uncle who’s been on lisinopril for 12 years and swears by his ‘herbal detox tea’ every morning. He didn’t even know licorice was in it. This is the kind of info that needs to be shouted from the rooftops. Thanks for laying it out so clearly - no fluff, just facts. I’m sharing this with my whole family.
Kyle Tampier
October 31, 2025 AT 13:21THE FDA IS LYING TO YOU. THEY’RE IN BED WITH BIG HERBAL. THEY KNOW. THEY’RE ALLOWING THIS. THEY’RE LETTING PEOPLE DIE. CHECK THE SUPPLEMENT LABELS - THEY’RE HIDING IT. YOU THINK THIS IS COINCIDENCE? NO. IT’S A COVER-UP. 🚨💊
Michael Ferguson
October 31, 2025 AT 15:53Look, I’ve been reading about this for years - and honestly, most people don’t get it because they think ‘natural’ equals ‘safe.’ But glycyrrhizin isn’t some benign herb; it’s a mineralocorticoid mimic that binds to aldosterone receptors with terrifying precision. It’s not just about blood pressure - it’s about electrolyte imbalance, QT prolongation, rhabdomyolysis risk, and silent cardiac remodeling. And the fact that DGL exists and is completely inert in this context? That’s the kicker. You can still get the mucilage benefits for gut health without the endocrine sabotage. But nobody reads the fine print. Nobody checks the ingredient list. They just see ‘licorice’ and think ‘sweet’ - like it’s candy. It’s not candy. It’s a pharmacological agent with a half-life longer than your last relationship. And the worst part? Doctors don’t ask. Pharmacists don’t screen. Patients don’t volunteer. It’s a perfect storm of ignorance, and it’s killing people quietly - like a slow drip of poison in a teacup you thought was chamomile.
Jim Aondongu
November 2, 2025 AT 00:02Angie Creed
November 3, 2025 AT 09:40It’s not just about the licorice… it’s about the system that lets this happen. The FDA doesn’t regulate supplements like drugs. They don’t require safety testing. They don’t require disclosure. They don’t even require labeling. We live in a world where ‘natural’ is a marketing term, not a medical one. And we’re supposed to trust it? We’re supposed to believe that because it comes from a plant, it’s harmless? That’s not wisdom - that’s naivety dressed up as spirituality. And the people who sell this stuff? They’re not healers. They’re profiteers. They know the risks. They just don’t care. Because your health isn’t their bottom line - your wallet is.
Kurt Stallings
November 3, 2025 AT 18:40Interesting. The data is solid. The mechanisms are well-documented. The regulatory failure is glaring. But the real tragedy is that this isn’t novel. It’s been known since the 1970s. The fact that we’re still having this conversation in 2025 speaks volumes about the collapse of medical literacy. DGL is the solution. End of story.
Michael Schaller
November 5, 2025 AT 12:48My grandma used to make licorice tea for her cough. She’s on amlodipine. She didn’t know. I found out when her BP spiked and her potassium was 2.9. We switched to DGL extract - no more issues. Just wanted to say: this isn’t theoretical. It’s real. And it’s happening to people you love. Please, check your supplements. Even if you think you’re ‘fine.’
Tom Caruana
November 6, 2025 AT 09:16OMG I JUST REALIZED I’VE BEEN DRINKING LICORICE TEA FOR MY STOMACH FOR 6 MONTHS 😭 I THOUGHT IT WAS ‘HERBAL SUPPORT’ 🙈 I’M SCARED TO CHECK MY BP RIGHT NOW BUT I’M STOPPING TODAY 💪🙏 #DGLISMYNEWBESTFRIEND
Muzzafar Magray
November 6, 2025 AT 14:51Everyone here is panicking over a root that has been used for centuries. You think Western medicine has all the answers? Your drugs have side effects too. Licorice is natural. Your pills are synthetic. Who’s really safer? You’re blaming the herb while ignoring the system that makes you dependent on chemicals. This is fear marketing dressed as science.