Drug & supplement interaction

Licorice + Bazedoxifene Acetate, Conjugated Estrogens

Bazedoxifene Acetate, Conjugated Estrogens brand name: Duavee.

Moderate Interaction
The bottom line Moderate

Bazedoxifene Acetate, Conjugated Estrogens falls into 3 drug categories that Licorice can interact with; the most serious is rated moderate. Theoretically, licorice might increase or decrease levels of drugs metabolized by CYP3A4.

Read the full interaction report
SeverityModerate
LikelihoodPossible
Interactions3
EvidenceB
What do Severity, Likelihood & Evidence mean?
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Interaction report

Licorice and Bazedoxifene Acetate, Conjugated Estrogens

These two interact in 3 distinct ways. Each one is explained separately below.

Why Are There 3 Interactions?

Licorice interacts with whole categories of medication. Bazedoxifene Acetate, Conjugated Estrogens falls into 3 of those categories, so it can interact with Licorice in 3 different ways. We’ve listed each one below — your overall risk is driven by the most serious of them (Moderate).

Moderate

CYTOCHROME P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) SUBSTRATES

1 of 3

Why this applies to Bazedoxifene Acetate, Conjugated Estrogens

Bazedoxifene Acetate, Conjugated Estrogens falls under CYTOCHROME P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) SUBSTRATES — the group Licorice interacts with.

Theoretically, licorice might increase or decrease levels of drugs metabolized by CYP3A4.
Pharmacokinetic research shows that the licorice constituent glycyrrhizin, taken in a dosage of 150 mg orally twice daily for 14 days, modestly decreases the area under the concentration-time curve of midazolam by about 20%. Midazolam is a substrate of CYP3A4, suggesting that glycyrrhizin modestly induces CYP3A4 activity. Animal research also shows that licorice extract from the species G. uralensis induces CYP3A4 activity. However, licorice extract from G. glabra species appear to inhibit CYP3A4-induced metabolism of testosterone in vitro. It is thought that the G. glabra inhibits CYP3A4 due to its constituent glabridin, which is a moderate CYP3A4 inhibitor in vitro and not present in other licorice species. Until more is known, licorice should be used cautiously in people taking CYP3A4 substrates.
Severity Moderate Likelihood Possible Evidence B

Interaction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists.

Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS
Dr. Brian Staiger explains PharmD, Clinical Pharmacist

Here's the practical side of mixing licorice supplements with Duavee. The estrogen and bazedoxifene in this combo are partly cleared by a liver enzyme called CYP3A4. Licorice can tug on that enzyme in both directions depending on the species and product, so the science here is mostly theoretical and based on limited human data. In one study, a licorice compound modestly sped up that enzyme, which could in theory lower your hormone levels a touch and make Duavee a little less effective for hot flashes or bone protection.

Honestly, the bigger concern with licorice isn't this enzyme. Real licorice (with glycyrrhizin) can raise blood pressure and drop potassium, which matters more here. If you take Duavee, please check with your pharmacist before using licorice supplements, and consider a DGL product instead.

References
  1. Kent UM, Aviram M, Rosenblat M, Hollenberg PF. The licorice root derived isoflavan glabridin inhibits the activities of human cytochrome P450S 3A4, 2B6, and 2C9. Drug Metab Dispos 2002;30:709-15.. PubMed
  2. Mu Y, Zhang J, Zhang S, et al. Traditional Chinese medicines Wu Wei Zi (Schisandra chinensis Baill) and Gan Cao (Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch) activate pregnane X receptor and increase warfarin clearance in rats. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 2006;316:1369-77. PubMed
  3. Tu, J. H., He, Y. J., Chen, Y., Fan, L., Zhang, W., Tan, Z. R., Huang, Y. F., Guo, D., Hu, D. L., Wang, D., and Hong-Hao Zhou. Effect of glycyrrhizin on the activity of CYP3A enzyme in humans. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 2010;66(8):805-810. PubMed
  4. Li G, Simmler C, Chen L, et al. Cytochrome P450 inhibition by three licorice species and fourteen licorice constituents. Eur J Pharm Sci. 2017;109:182-190. PubMed
Moderate

ESTROGENS

2 of 3

Bazedoxifene Acetate, Conjugated Estrogens also falls under ESTROGENS.

Theoretically, licorice might increase or decrease the effects of estrogen therapy.
Theoretically, licorice might interfere with estrogen therapy due to estrogenic and anti-estrogenic effects.
Severity Moderate Likelihood Possible Evidence D

Interaction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists.

Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS
Dr. Brian Staiger explains PharmD, Clinical Pharmacist

Here's the honest scoop on combining licorice with Duavee (your estrogen plus bazedoxifene tablet). Licorice contains plant compounds that can act a little like estrogen in some situations and block it in others. Because of that, there's a theory that it could either nudge your estrogen therapy's effects up or dampen them down. The catch is that this concern comes only from lab and animal studies, not from real people, so we honestly can't say it'll cause a noticeable change for you.

There's a more practical reason to be careful, though. Regular licorice (the kind with glycyrrhizin) can raise blood pressure and lower potassium, which isn't ideal alongside hormone therapy. DGL licorice avoids that. Please check with your pharmacist or doctor before adding it, and don't change your Duavee on your own.

References
  1. Amato P, Christophe S, Mellon PL. Estrogenic activity of herbs commonly used as remedies for menopausal symptoms. Menopause 2002;9:145-50. PubMed
  2. Francini-Pesenti F, Puato M, Piccoli A, Brocadello F. Liquorice-induced hypokalaemia and water retention in the absence of hypertension. Phytother Res 2008;22:563-5. PubMed
Moderate

P-GLYCOPROTEIN SUBSTRATES

3 of 3

Bazedoxifene Acetate, Conjugated Estrogens also falls under P-GLYCOPROTEIN SUBSTRATES.

Theoretically, licorice might decrease the absorption of P-glycoprotein substrates.
In vitro research shows that licorice can increase P-glycoprotein activity.
Severity Moderate Likelihood Possible Evidence D

Interaction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists.

Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS
Dr. Brian Staiger explains PharmD, Clinical Pharmacist

Here's the short version on combining licorice with Duavee (conjugated estrogens with bazedoxifene). Bazedoxifene is partly handled by a transporter called P-glycoprotein, which acts like a gatekeeper in your gut. Lab studies suggest licorice may rev up that gatekeeper, which could push a bit more of the drug back out before it gets absorbed. In plain terms, that might mean slightly less medicine reaching your system, so you could notice your hot flashes creeping back or get less bone protection over time.

I want to be honest: this is only test-tube evidence, not proven in people, so the real-world effect is uncertain. Food-flavored licorice is unlikely to matter, but regular use of licorice supplements is worth running by your pharmacist or doctor first.

References
  1. Wang H, Dong L, Qu F, et al. Effects of glycyrrhizin on the pharmacokinetics of nobiletin in rats and its potential mechanism. Pharm Biol. 2020 Dec;58(1):352-356. PubMed

What These Ratings Mean

Every interaction above is graded three ways — here’s the key to each label.

Severity how clinically significant the interaction is
Major

Clinically significant. Avoid the combination, or use only under close professional supervision.

Moderate

Usually worth avoiding or managing — may need monitoring, a dose change, or timing apart.

Minor

Generally not serious. Be aware of it and mention it to your pharmacist.

Likelihood how strong the evidence is that the interaction actually happens in people
  • LikelyWell-controlled human studies have demonstrated the likely existence of this interaction.
  • ProbableInteraction has not been documented in well-controlled studies, however, the interaction has been demonstrated in some small human studies or in controlled animal studies in conjunction with multiple case reports.
  • PossibleInteraction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists.
  • UnlikelyInteraction has been demonstrated in animal or in lab research but has been shown not to occur in humans.
Evidence the quality of the studies behind the rating (graded A–D)
  • AHigh-quality meta-analysis (quantitative systematic review).
  • BCase-control study.
  • CConsensus.
  • DAnecdotal evidence.

These ratings are for information only. Never start, stop, or otherwise change your therapy before speaking with your provider.

Keep it in perspective

Licorice Also Interacts With Other Medications

Licorice has 976 moderate, 63 minor known drug interactions in our database — the Bazedoxifene Acetate, Conjugated Estrogens one above is among them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Licorice

Covers the 2,830 medications we’ve checked against Licorice. Pick one to open its full report.

From our Q&A

Questions About Licorice or Bazedoxifene Acetate, Conjugated Estrogens

These are real questions from readers, answered by the pharmacists at HelloPharmacist — written by a person, not generated from a database. Each one covers Licorice or Bazedoxifene Acetate, Conjugated Estrogens, not necessarily both, but if one is close to what you were about to ask it will usually go further than a database entry can:

Not quite your question? Ask our pharmacists directly — it is free, there is no account required, and answers usually come back within 24 hours.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Bazedoxifene Acetate, Conjugated Estrogens

This page covers Licorice only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Bazedoxifene Acetate, Conjugated Estrogens page lists 187 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Grapefruit (major), St. John's Wort (major), Acacia Rigidula (moderate) and Adrafinil (moderate).

By severity: 3 major · 152 moderate · 32 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Bazedoxifene Acetate, Conjugated Estrogens page

“If you take Duavee (bazedoxifene with conjugated estrogens) for hot flashes or bone protection after menopause, give this list genuine care, because three of its 187 supplement interactions rate major. Grapefruit and St.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Bazedoxifene Acetate, Conjugated Estrogens interaction page

One more smart check

Taking Licorice as Part of a Dietary Supplement Product? Check It for Interactions

We hold 4,721 real supplement products containing Licorice, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Licorice. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Bazedoxifene Acetate, Conjugated Estrogens too, on top of Licorice — and those would not show on this page. Find your product and we’ll check every ingredient on its label:

How much people look this up

Where Licorice and Bazedoxifene Acetate, Conjugated Estrogens Sit Against Everything Else

Out of every supplement and medication people look up on HelloPharmacist, here is where these two land this week — and which way each has been moving.

Supplement Licorice
Top 5%

#36 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today
Medication Bazedoxifene Acetate, Conjugated Estrogens
Top 10%

#159 of 2,830 medications looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today

Position among everything looked up on this site, not a measure of how commonly either one is used or how important it is. A supplement can climb this list because of a news story. It counts every request to the page, automated ones included, and nothing here identifies anyone.

Supplement

About Licorice

What is Licorice?

Licorice
  • Sore throat and cough
  • Heartburn and stomach upset
  • Mouth ulcers and digestive complaints
  • Inflammation
  • Traditional tonic/adrenal support

Licorice root is a traditional remedy used for sore throats, coughs, and digestive complaints, but solid human evidence is limited for most uses. Regular licorice contains glycyrrhizin, which can raise blood pressure and lower potassium when taken in large amounts or for a long time, so deglycyrrhizinated (DGL) products are often preferred. Talk to your pharmacist or doctor before using it, especially if you have high blood pressure, heart, or kidney problems.

Read the full Licorice monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Estrogen and Bazedoxifene

What Is Estrogen and Bazedoxifene Used For?

Brand name: Duavee

  • Estrogen and bazedoxifene tablets are used to treat hot flashes (sudden feelings of warmth, especially in the face, neck, and chest) in women who are experiencing menopause (stage of life when menstrual periods become less frequent and stop and women may experience other symptoms and body changes). Estrogen and bazedoxifene tablets are also used to prevent osteoporosis (condition in which the bones become thin and weak and break easily) in women who have undergone menopause. Estrogen is in a class of medications called hormones and bazedoxifene is in a class of medications called estrogen agonist–antagonists. Estrogen works by replacing estrogen that is normally produced by the body. Bazedoxifene is used to block the action of estrogen on the lining of the uterus, decreasing the risk of overgrowth that may lead to cancer.

See full Estrogen and Bazedoxifene drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Licorice

Browse every other medication we’ve checked against Licorice — both the ones with a known interaction and the ones without. Select any drug for the full detail.

0Major
976Moderate
63Minor
1,790No known interaction
Moderate

976 interactions

Showing 60 of 976 moderate interactions — see all 976 on the Licorice page.

Minor

63 interactions

Showing 60 of 63 minor interactions — see all 63 on the Licorice page.

No interaction 1,790 drugs checked — show the list
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Interaction details are evidence-graded and sourced from the Natural Medicines database. The medication overview comes from MedlinePlus.

Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists. See our data sources and editorial standards for how this information is built and checked.

Parts of this content are provided by the Therapeutic Research Center, LLC.

DISCLAIMER: Currently this does not check for drug-drug interactions. This is not an all-inclusive comprehensive list of potential interactions and is for informational purposes only. Not all interactions are known or well-reported in the scientific literature, and new interactions are continually being reported. Input is needed from a qualified healthcare provider including a pharmacist before starting any therapy. Application of clinical judgment is necessary.

© 2021 Therapeutic Research Center, LLC

Keep exploring
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Licorice and Bazedoxifene Acetate, Conjugated Estrogens Together: Common Questions

Can you take Licorice with Bazedoxifene Acetate, Conjugated Estrogens?
There is a moderate interaction, so it may be acceptable with monitoring or timing changes — but check with your pharmacist first. Read the full details on this page and confirm with your pharmacist before combining them.
Why are there 3 interactions listed for Licorice and Bazedoxifene Acetate, Conjugated Estrogens?
Bazedoxifene Acetate, Conjugated Estrogens belongs to more than one drug category, and Licorice interacts with each of those categories a little differently. We list every one so nothing is missed — your overall risk is driven by the most serious of them.
How serious is the Licorice and Bazedoxifene Acetate, Conjugated Estrogens interaction?
We rate it Moderate. This combination may require monitoring, a dose adjustment, or separating the times you take each one. Consult your pharmacist before using them together.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

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This information is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always check with your pharmacist or doctor before starting, stopping, or combining supplements and medications.