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Drug Interactions between Dxevo and licorice

This report displays the potential drug interactions for the following 2 drugs:

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Moderate

dexAMETHasone licorice

Applies to: Dxevo (dexamethasone) and licorice

GENERALLY AVOID: Licorice may potentiate the effects of corticosteroids. Licorice use has been associated with hypertension as well as sodium and water retention. Glycyrrhizic acid, a component of licorice, is hydrolyzed in the intestine to a metabolite (glycyrrhetinic acid) that causes mineralocorticoid and renin-suppressing effects. In one study, licorice was found to increase blood pressure in a dose-dependent manner. Healthy volunteers who consumed licorice 50 to 200 g/day (corresponding to 75 to 540 mg/day of glycyrrhetinic acid) for two to four weeks had a 3.1 to 14.4 mmHg increase in their systolic blood pressure. Even the lowest dosage demonstrated a significant effect. In another study, plasma potassium levels decreased by 0.3 to 1.5 mEq/L in 12 out of 14 healthy volunteers who ingested licorice 100 or 200 g/day (equivalent to 700 to 1400 mg/day of glycyrrhizic acid) for one to four weeks, including four who had to be withdrawn from the study because of hypokalemia. Two more subjects were withdrawn due to edema of the face, hands, and ankles. Other side effects reported include mild, transient generalized edema; headache; sodium retention; and weight gain (1 to 4 kg, mean 1.5 kg). Signs of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone suppression were observed in all subjects, especially plasma renin activity and urinary aldosterone concentrations, which fell to subnormal or undetectable levels in the majority of subjects. There have been various published case reports of refractory hypertension, severe hypokalemia (life-threatening hypokalemic paralysis, myopathy, arrhythmia, or cardiac arrest), and hypertensive encephalopathy in association with licorice intoxication. Hypertension and hypokalemia have also been reported with moderate doses of licorice in the form of licorice-flavored chewing gum or candy, chewing tobacco, or licorice-based foods and beverages consumed on a chronic basis. Prolonged use of licorice has led to a hypermineralocorticoid (pseudohyperaldosteronism) syndrome characterized by hypertension, hypernatremia, hypokalemia, metabolic alkalosis, renin-angiotensin-aldosterone suppression, and edema. In studies and case reports, licorice toxicity has generally been completely reversible within one to several weeks of licorice discontinuation. However, renin-angiotensin-aldosterone axis may be suppressed for up to several months.

MANAGEMENT: Patients receiving prolonged corticosteroid therapy should avoid or limit the consumption of licorice-containing products. Even relatively moderate doses of licorice may be problematic in susceptible patients when ingested regularly for prolonged periods.

References

  1. Ishikawa S, Kato M, Tokuda T, Momoi H, Sekijima Y, Higuchi M, Yanagisawa N "Licorice-induced hypokalemic myopathy and hypokalemic renal tubular damage in anorexia nervosa." Int J Eating Disorder 26 (1999): 111-4
  2. Fugh-Berman A "Herb-drug interactions." Lancet 355 (2000): 134-8
  3. Cumming AM, Boddy K, Brown JJ, et al. "Severe hypokalaemia with paralysis induced by small doses of liquorice." Postgrad Med J 56 (1980): 526-9
  4. Cumming A "Severe reduction of serum potassium induced by licorice." Nurs Times 72 (1976): 367-70
  5. de Klerk GJ, Nieuwenhuis MG, Beutler JJ "Lesson of the week: hypokalaemia and hypertension associated with use of liquorice flavoured chewing gum." BMJ 314 (1997): 731
  6. Edwards CR "Lessons from licorice." N Engl J Med 325 (1991): 1242-3
  7. Stewart PM, Wallace AM, Valentino R, Burt D, Shackleton CH, Edwards CR "Mineralocorticoid activity of liquorice: 11-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase deficiency comes of age." Lancet 2 (1987): 821-4
  8. Nielsen I, Pedersen RS "Life-threatening hypokalaemia caused by liquorice ingestion." Lancet 1 (1984): 1305
  9. Rosseel M, Schoors D "Chewing gum and hypokalaemia." Lancet 341 (1993): 175
  10. Clyburn EB, DiPette DJ "Hypertension induced by drugs and other substances." Semin Nephrol 15 (1995): 72-86
  11. Farese RV, Biglieri EG, Shackleton CH, Irony I, Gomez-Fontes R "Licorice-induced hypermineralocorticoidism." N Engl J Med 325 (1991): 1223-7
  12. Elinav E, Chajek-Shaul T "Licorice consumption causing severe hypokalemic paralysis." Mayo Clin Proc 78 (2003): 767-8
  13. Richard CL, Jurgens TM "Effects of natural health products on blood pressure." Ann Pharmacother 39 (2005): 712-20
  14. Sigurjonsdottir HA, Franzson L, Manhem K, Ragnarsson J, Sigurdsson G, Wallerstedt S "Liquorice-induced rise in blood pressure: a linear dose-response relationship." J Hum Hypertens 15 (2001): 549-52
  15. Dellow EL, Unwin RJ, Honour JW "Pontefract cakes can be bad for you: refractory hypertension and liquorice excess." Nephrol Dial Transplant 14 (1999): 218-20
  16. Epstein MT, Espiner EA, Donald RA, Hughes H "Effect of eating liquorice on the renin-angiotensin aldosterone axis in normal subjects." Br Med J 1 (1977): 488-90
  17. Epstein MT, Espiner EA, Donald RA, Hughes H "Liquorice toxicity and the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone axis in man." Br Med J 1 (1977): 209-10
  18. Cumming AM "Metabolic effects of licorice." Br Med J 1 (1977): 906
  19. Bannister B, Ginsburg R, Shneerson J "Cardiac arrest due to liquorice-induced hypokalaemia." Br Med J 2 (1977): 738-9
  20. Holmes AM, Young J, Marrott PK, Prentice E "Pseudohyperaldosteronism induced by habitual ingestion of liquorice." Postgrad Med J 46 (1970): 625-9
View all 20 references

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Drug and food interactions

No alcohol/food interactions were found. However, this does not necessarily mean no interactions exist. Always consult your healthcare provider.

Therapeutic duplication warnings

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Therapeutic duplication warnings are only returned when drugs within the same group exceed the recommended therapeutic duplication maximum.

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Drug Interaction Classification

These classifications are only a guideline. The relevance of a particular drug interaction to a specific individual is difficult to determine. Always consult your healthcare provider before starting or stopping any medication.
Major Highly clinically significant. Avoid combinations; the risk of the interaction outweighs the benefit.
Moderate Moderately clinically significant. Usually avoid combinations; use it only under special circumstances.
Minor Minimally clinically significant. Minimize risk; assess risk and consider an alternative drug, take steps to circumvent the interaction risk and/or institute a monitoring plan.
Unknown No interaction information available.

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