Drug & supplement interaction

Licorice + Eltrombopag

Eltrombopag brand names: Promacta, Revolade, Alvaiz.

No Known Interaction

Medically reviewed by Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS · Updated July 2026 · Pair last verified Sep 20, 2026

The bottom line No known interaction

We found no known interaction between Licorice and Eltrombopag in our sources. Absence of a documented interaction is not the same as proven safety, and does not guarantee one does not exist. Do not start, stop, or change a medication or supplement based on this page; confirm with your pharmacist or doctor first. Additionally, although there is no interaction, the label for Eltrombopag states a food rule worth keeping to, and the two are separately associated with some of the same side effects, which would make a new symptom harder to attribute to one or the other.

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Interaction report

Licorice and Eltrombopag

We checked these two against our interaction database. Here is what we found.

No Known Interaction Found

We did not find a documented interaction between Eltrombopag and Licorice in our sources. This does not guarantee that the combination is completely free of risk — there is often limited research on supplements and herbal products, especially around drug interactions.

If you decide to take both, the practical routine is simple: add one new thing at a time and note the date you started it. If the combination is going to disagree with you, it usually shows in the first days to a couple of weeks — and a start date turns “I’ve been feeling off” into something a pharmacist can actually work with. Do not stop a prescribed medicine on your own.

Always talk with your pharmacist or doctor before making changes to your medications or supplements, particularly if you take several medications or have an ongoing health condition.

Licorice safety at a glance

Licorice overall Use caution Generally fine in small food amounts, but glycyrrhizin can cause serious problems with high doses or long-term use.

Pregnancy Unsafe When used orally. Licorice has abortifacient, estrogenic, and steroid effects. It can also cause uterine stimulation. Heavy consumption of licorice, equivalent... Read the full pregnancy detail

Breastfeeding Avoid Not enough reliable safety information, so it is best avoided while breastfeeding.

Pregnancy & breastfeeding ratings are from Natural Medicines (Therapeutic Research Center) — the full detail is in the Special populations card below. Safety guidance is general; always confirm with your pharmacist or doctor for your situation.

Still wondering about combining Eltrombopag and Licorice? Ask Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS directly ›

How we checked

Why No Interaction Is Listed for Eltrombopag

Interactions in our licensed database are recorded against drug classes, not just single drug names. Eltrombopag is filed under 2 classifications — hepatotoxic drugs, oral drugs. Licorice has documented interactions with 18 drug classes — the most serious being antihypertensive drugs (moderate), cisplatin (platinol-aq) (moderate) and corticosteroids (moderate) — and none of Eltrombopag’s classifications are among them.

Classification data comes from our licensed Natural Medicines dataset. A medication can belong to classes beyond those recorded there, so this describes how the check was run — it is not a safety guarantee.

Keep it in perspective

Licorice Does Interact With Other Medications

Licorice has 977 moderate, 63 minor known drug interactions in our database — Eltrombopag isn’t one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Moderate 977 Minor 63 No known interaction 1,790 (incl. Eltrombopag)

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.

What to actually watch for

No Interaction Found — But Data Suggests Licorice and Eltrombopag May Share Several of the Same Side Effects

This is not an interaction. Neither one changes how your body handles the other, and nothing here says they react together. What our sources do show is that each has separately been linked to the effects below — so taking both can make those effects more likely to turn up, and harder to pin on one or the other if they do. One of them is worth acting on rather than waiting out — marked below.

Kidney problems Worth acting on Additional detail
Licorice
“Orally, excessive licorice ingestion can lead to pseudohyperaldosteronism, which can precipitate cardiovascular complications such as hypertension and hypertensive crisis, ventricular fibrillation or tachycardia, sinus pause, and cardiac arrest. These effects are due to the licorice constituent glycyrrhizin and usually occur when 20-30 grams or more of licorice product is consumed daily for several weeks.”

Licorice · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in arrhythmia.
6 sources cited

781. Farese RV Jr, Biglieri EG, Shackleton CH, et al. Licorice-induced hypermineralocorticoidism. N Engl J Med 1991;325:1223-7. PubMed

15590. Brayley J, Jones J. Life-threatening hypokalemia associated with excessive licorice ingestion (letter). Am J Psychiatry 1994;151:617-8. PubMed

15592. Dellow EL, Unwin RJ, Honour JW. Pontefract cakes can be bad for you: refractory hypertension and liquorice excess. Nephol Dial Transplant 1999;14:218-20. PubMed

15594. Eriksson JW, Carlberg B, Hillom V. Life-threatening ventricular tachycardia due to liquorice-induced hypokalemia. J Intern Med 1999;245:307-10.

15596. Lin SH, Yang SS, Chau T, Halperin ML. An unusual cause of hypokalemic paralysis: chronic licorice ingestion. Am J Med Sci 2003;325:153-6. PubMed

15597. van den Bosch AE, van der Klooster JM, Zuidgeest DM, et al. Severe hypokalemic paralysis and rhabdomyolysis due to ingestion of liquorice. Neth J Med 2005;63:146-8.
Eltrombopag

Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Eltrombopag. Read the label on DailyMed ›
Itching / A skin rash Additional detail
Licorice
“There have been reports of contact allergy, resulting in an itchy reddish eruption, occurring in patients that applied cosmetic products containing oil-soluble licorice extracts. There have also been at least 3 cases of allergic contact dermatitis reported with the topical application of glycyrrhizin-containing products to damaged skin.”

Licorice · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in acne.
4 sources cited

59912. Nishioka, K. and Seguchi, T. Contact allergy due to oil-soluble licorice extracts in cosmetic products. Contact Dermatitis 1999;40(1):56. PubMed

108578. Gatica-Ortega ME, Pastor-Nieto MA. Allergic contact dermatitis to Glycyrrhiza inflata root extract in an anti-acne cosmetic product. Contact Dermatitis 2021;85(4):454-455.

110322. Puaratanaarunkon T, Washrawirul C, Chuenboonngarm N, Noppakun N, Asawanonda P, Kumtornrut C. Efficacy and safety of a facial serum containing snail secretion filtrate, Calendula officinalis, and Glycyrrhiza glaba root extract in the treatment of maskne: A

59712. van Rossum, T. G., Vulto, A. G., Hop, W. C., Brouwer, J. T., Niesters, H. G., and Schalm, S. W. Intravenous glycyrrhizin for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled phase I/II trial. J Gastroenterol Hepatol 199 PubMed
Eltrombopag

Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Eltrombopag. Read the label on DailyMed ›
Swelling Additional detail
Licorice
“Orally, excessive licorice ingestion can cause a syndrome of apparent mineralocorticoid excess, or pseudohyperaldosteronism, with sodium and water retention, increased urinary potassium loss, hypokalemia, and metabolic alkalosis due to its glycyrrhizin content.”

Licorice · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in arrhythmia.
6 sources cited

781. Farese RV Jr, Biglieri EG, Shackleton CH, et al. Licorice-induced hypermineralocorticoidism. N Engl J Med 1991;325:1223-7. PubMed

10619. Hussain RM. The sweet cake that reaches parts other cakes can't! Postgrad Med J 2003;79:115-6.. PubMed

15591. de Klerk GJ, Nieuwenhuis G, Beutler JJ. Hypokalaemia and hypertension associated with use of liquorice flavoured chewing gum. BMJ 1997;314:731-2.

15592. Dellow EL, Unwin RJ, Honour JW. Pontefract cakes can be bad for you: refractory hypertension and liquorice excess. Nephol Dial Transplant 1999;14:218-20. PubMed

15593. Elinav E, Chajek-Shaul T. Licorice consumption causing severe hypokalemic paralysis. Mayo Clin Proc 2003;78:767-8. PubMed

15594. Eriksson JW, Carlberg B, Hillom V. Life-threatening ventricular tachycardia due to liquorice-induced hypokalemia. J Intern Med 1999;245:307-10.
“In a case report, excessive glycyrrhizin-containing licorice consumption led to water retention and was thought to trigger neuropathy and carpal tunnel syndrome.”

Licorice · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in carpal tunnel syndrome.
1 source cited

59791. Tacconi, P., Paribello, A., Cannas, A., and Marrosu, M. G. Carpal tunnel syndrome triggered by excessive licorice consumption. J Peripher.Nerv.Syst. 2009;14(1):64-65. PubMed
Eltrombopag

Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Eltrombopag. Read the label on DailyMed ›
Tiredness Additional detail

Licorice

Recorded for Licorice in the same Natural Medicines adverse-effect record shown under Kidney problems above.

Eltrombopag

Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Eltrombopag. Read the label on DailyMed ›
Diarrhea / Vomiting / Nausea Additional detail

Licorice

“Nausea and vomiting have been reported rarely following oral use of deglycyrrhizinated licorice.

Intravenously, the glycyrrhizin constituent of licorice has rarely caused gastric discomfort, diarrhea, or nausea.”

Licorice · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in diarrhea.

Eltrombopag

Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Eltrombopag. Read the label on DailyMed ›
Headache Additional detail

Licorice

Recorded for Licorice in the same Natural Medicines adverse-effect record shown under Kidney problems above.

Eltrombopag

Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Eltrombopag. Read the label on DailyMed ›

Reported for Licorice but not commonly for Eltrombopag: an irregular heartbeat, raised blood pressure, muscle weakness and low potassium.

Effects for Eltrombopag come from the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of its FDA label; effects for Licorice come from the Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, quoted above. Wording is matched across sources by our own clinical vocabulary, so treat this as a prompt to pay attention, not a diagnosis.

Special populations

Licorice in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding

Pregnancy Unsafe

When used orally. Licorice has abortifacient, estrogenic, and steroid effects. It can also cause uterine stimulation. Heavy consumption of licorice, equivalent to 500 mg of glycyrrhizin per week (about 250 grams of licorice per week), during pregnancy seems to increase the risk of delivery before gestational age of 38 weeks. Furthermore, high intake of glycyrrhizin, at least 500 mg per week, during pregnancy is associated with increased salivary cortisol levels in the child by the age of 8 years. This suggests that high intake of licorice during pregnancy may increase hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical axis activity in the child; avoid using.

DISCLAIMER: This tool is intended for informational purposes only, and should not be interpreted as specific medical advice. Patients should consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making decisions about therapies and/or health conditions.© 2026 Therapeutic Research Center

How to take them

Some Eltrombopag Products Have a Food Rule — Licorice Should Not Break It

At least one FDA label for a product containing Eltrombopag says to take it with food. If you take Licorice on an empty stomach out of habit, keep them separate — and take Eltrombopag with a meal where the label says to.

This may not be true of your version. Food instructions belong to the product, not the ingredient: two Eltrombopag products can carry different directions, and extended-release forms often differ from immediate-release ones. The label we read is quoted below — check the directions on your own box or bottle, or ask your pharmacist, for how to take the exact product you were given.

Do not split, chew, or crush tablets and mix with food or liquids.

From the Dosage and Administration section of the FDA label we read for Eltrombopag — where that label names a specific product, the instruction is that product's. Read the label on DailyMed ›

A food rule is not an interaction — it is about how much of the medicine you absorb. The directions that came with your own product, and your pharmacist, outrank anything on this page.

Overlapping uses

What Eltrombopag Is Prescribed For, and What Licorice Has Been Studied For

These two come up together because they touch the same health topic — not because they do the same job. Eltrombopag is a prescription medicine with approved uses on its FDA label. Licorice is a supplement: what follows is what researchers have looked at it for, and how strong that evidence is.

Eltrombopag is prescribed for: Eltrombopag treats thrombocytopenia (low platelet counts) in several different conditions. It is used for adults and children (age 1 and older, depending on the product) with persistent or chronic immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) — a condition where the immune system destroys platelets — when other treatments like steroids or immunoglobulins haven't worked well enough. It is also used to raise platelet counts in adults with chronic hepatitis C whose low platelet count prevents them from starting or staying on interferon-based antiviral therapy. Eltrombopag tablets (including Promacta) are also approved — alone or combined with immunosuppressive therapy — for adults and certain children (age 2 and older) with severe aplastic anemia, a serious bone marrow failure condition.

Read the rest of what Eltrombopag is prescribed for

Alvaiz (a specific brand) shares most of these uses but has product-specific dosing that is not interchangeable milligram-for-milligram with other eltrombopag products. The oral suspension formulation is approved for ITP and for refractory severe aplastic anemia, but is not approved for first-line severe aplastic anemia in combination with immunosuppressive therapy.

Licorice has been studied for:

Bleeding studied, not established Licorice has been studied for this. Natural Medicines rates the evidence: Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate Read what the research shows

Licorice for bleeding

Topical licorice might reduce bleeding when used in combination with other ingredients; its effect when used alone is unclear.
Hepatitis studied, not established Licorice has been studied for this. Natural Medicines rates the evidence: Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate Read what the research shows

Licorice for hepatitis

Evidence for the use of intravenous licorice in the management of hepatitis B and C is mixed.

Effectiveness ratings and the research summaries above are the verbatim record from the Natural Medicines database, which grades evidence from “Effective” down to “Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate”. A rating below the top of that scale means researchers have looked at it — not that it works, and never that it can stand in for a prescribed medicine. Do not stop or replace Eltrombopag on your own; if you are taking Licorice for the same health topic, tell your prescriber, especially if the medicine is being adjusted to a target.

From our Q&A

Questions About Licorice or Eltrombopag

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 Eltrombopag, 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 Eltrombopag

This page covers Licorice only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Eltrombopag page lists 55 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Beer (major), Siberian Cocklebur (major), Wine (major) and Ashwagandha (moderate).

By severity: 4 major · 42 moderate · 9 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Eltrombopag page

“Eltrombopag (Promacta, Revolade) boosts platelet production, and because the drug itself can stress the liver, this list warrants genuine care. Thirty-eight of the 55 supplements and herbs here can injure the liver on their own, so combining them stacks risk on an organ your doctor is already watching with blood tests.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Eltrombopag 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. Even though Licorice itself has no known interaction with Eltrombopag, another ingredient on your label might. Find your product and we’ll check every ingredient on its label:

How much people look this up

Where Licorice and Eltrombopag 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 Eltrombopag

Steady interest

#1,930 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.

Where does our data come from?

Source: the Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) clinical database — the evidence-graded professional reference for herb & supplement interactions.
Citation library: 103,510 references behind our interaction content, 65,311 of them resolved to verified PubMed/DOI sources. See every Licorice reference on this page ↓
Freshness: we automatically re-check this combination every week — this pair was last verified September 20, 2026. The Licorice and Eltrombopag records this page draws on were last updated July 11, 2026.
What “no known interaction” means: no documented interaction in the sources above — not a guarantee of safety. Supplements are studied far less than prescription drugs, so we say exactly what the evidence supports, and nothing more.

Data structure & sourcing designed and verified by Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS.

Supplement

About Licorice

What is 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.

Glycyrrhiza glabra · Fabaceae · Root · Tea, capsules, tablets (including DGL chewable tablets), liquid extract, lozenges, dried root, candy

An interaction check asks whether these two react with each other — it does not ask whether Licorice is a good idea for someone in your situation. Here is what our Licorice record says about it on its own.

Licorice: dosing

There is no single well-established standard dose of licorice for any condition, and the safe amount depends on whether the product contains glycyrrhizin. Health authorities generally warn against consuming large amounts of glycyrrhizin, especially daily over weeks or longer.The safest approach is to follow the directions on the product label and not exceed the recommended amount. DGL products are often preferred for ongoing use.

From our Licorice monograph — the full record covers uses, side effects and every documented interaction.

Read the full Licorice monograph & all interactions

Medication

About Eltrombopag

What Is Eltrombopag Used For?

Brand names: Promacta, Revolade, Alvaiz

Eltrombopag treats thrombocytopenia (low platelet counts) in several different conditions. It is used for adults and children (age 1 and older, depending on the product) with persistent or chronic immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) — a condition where the immune system destroys platelets — when other treatments like steroids or immunoglobulins haven't worked well enough. It is also used to raise platelet counts in adults with chronic hepatitis C whose low platelet count prevents them from starting or staying on interferon-based antiviral therapy.

Eltrombopag tablets (including Promacta) are also approved — alone or combined with immunosuppressive therapy — for adults and certain children (age 2 and older) with severe aplastic anemia, a serious bone marrow failure condition. Alvaiz (a specific brand) shares most of these uses but has product-specific dosing that is not interchangeable milligram-for-milligram with other eltrombopag products. The oral suspension formulation is approved for ITP and for refractory severe aplastic anemia, but is not approved for first-line severe aplastic anemia in combination with immunosuppressive therapy.

See full Eltrombopag 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

977Moderate

63Minor

1,789No known interaction

977 Moderate 63 Minor 1,789 No interaction

Moderate

977 interactions

Showing 60 of 977 moderate interactions — see all 977 on the Licorice page.

Minor

63 interactions

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

No interaction 1,789 drugs checked — show the list

We also checked Licorice against these medications and found no known interaction in our sources. Open any page to confirm.

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 1,789 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Licorice list.

See the full Licorice interactions page

See every supplement checked against Eltrombopag, ranked by severity

Evidence & sources

Licorice References

The 92 references that drive our Licorice monograph and interaction data, from the evidence-graded Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) database. Citations with a link open the study on PubMed or the publisher’s site.

Farese RV Jr, Biglieri EG, Shackleton CH, et al. Licorice-induced hypermineralocorticoidism. N Engl J Med 1991;325:1223-7. PubMed
Sigurjonsdottir HA, Ragnarsson J, Franzson L, Sigurdsson G. Is blood pressure commonly raised by moderate consumption of liquorice? J Hum Hypertens 1995;9:345-8.
Armanini D, Lewicka S, Pratesi C, et al. Further studies on the mechanism of the mineralocorticoid action of licorice in humans. J Endocrinol Invest 1996;19:624-9. PubMed
Zhang YD, Lorenzo B, Reidenberg MM. Inhibition of 11 beta hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase obtained from guinea pig kidney by furosemide, naringenin and some other compounds. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol 1994;49:81-5.
Strandberg TE, Jarvenpaa AL, Vanhanen H, McKeigue PM. Birth outcome in relation to licorice consumption during pregnancy. Am J Epidemiol 2001;153:1085-8. PubMed
Sigurjonsdottir HA, Franzson L, Manhem K, et al. Liquorice-induced rise in blood pressure: a linear dose-response relationship. J Hum Hypertens 2001;15:549-52. PubMed
Amato P, Christophe S, Mellon PL. Estrogenic activity of herbs commonly used as remedies for menopausal symptoms. Menopause 2002;9:145-50. PubMed
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
Yoshida S, Takayama Y. Licorice-induced hypokalemia as a treatable cause of dropped head syndrome. Clin Neurol Neurosurg 2003;105:286-7.. PubMed
Strandberg TE, Andersson S, Jarvenpaa AL, et al. Preterm birth and licorice consumption during pregnancy. Am J Epidemiol 2002;156:803-5.. PubMed
Hussain RM. The sweet cake that reaches parts other cakes can't! Postgrad Med J 2003;79:115-6.. PubMed
Morris DJ, Davis E, Latif SA. Licorice, tobacco chewing, and hypertension. N Engl J Med 1990;322:849-50. PubMed
Quinkler M, Stewart PM. Hypertension and the cortisol-cortisone shuttle. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2003;88:2384-92. PubMed
Westman EC, Guthrie GP. Licorice, tobacco chewing, and hypertension. N Engl J Med 1990;322:850. PubMed
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
Yasue H, Itoh T, Mizuno Y, Harada E. Severe hypokalemia, rhabdomyolysis, muscle paralysis, and respiratory impairment in a hypertensive patient taking herbal medicines containing licorice. Intern Med 2007;46:575-8. PubMed
Brayley J, Jones J. Life-threatening hypokalemia associated with excessive licorice ingestion (letter). Am J Psychiatry 1994;151:617-8. PubMed
de Klerk GJ, Nieuwenhuis G, Beutler JJ. Hypokalaemia and hypertension associated with use of liquorice flavoured chewing gum. BMJ 1997;314:731-2.
Dellow EL, Unwin RJ, Honour JW. Pontefract cakes can be bad for you: refractory hypertension and liquorice excess. Nephol Dial Transplant 1999;14:218-20. PubMed
Elinav E, Chajek-Shaul T. Licorice consumption causing severe hypokalemic paralysis. Mayo Clin Proc 2003;78:767-8. PubMed
Eriksson JW, Carlberg B, Hillom V. Life-threatening ventricular tachycardia due to liquorice-induced hypokalemia. J Intern Med 1999;245:307-10.
Janse A, van Iersel M, Hoefnagels WH, Olde Rikker MG. The old lady who liked liquorice: hypertension due to chronic intoxication in a memory-impaired patient. Neth J Med 2005;63:149-50.
Lin SH, Yang SS, Chau T, Halperin ML. An unusual cause of hypokalemic paralysis: chronic licorice ingestion. Am J Med Sci 2003;325:153-6. PubMed
van den Bosch AE, van der Klooster JM, Zuidgeest DM, et al. Severe hypokalemic paralysis and rhabdomyolysis due to ingestion of liquorice. Neth J Med 2005;63:146-8.
van Uum SH. Liquorice and hypertension. Neth J Med 2005;63:119-20.
Russo S, Mastropasqua M, Mosetti MA, et al. Low doses of liquorice can induce hypertension encephalopathy. Am J Nephrol 2000;20:145-8. PubMed
Stormer FC, Reistad R, Alexander J. Glycyrrhizic acid in liquorice - evaluation of health hazard. Food Chem Toxicol 1993;31:303-12. PubMed
Sontia B, Mooney J, Gaudet L, Touyz RM. Pseudohyperaldosteronism, liquorice, and hypertension. J Clin Hypertens (Greenwich) 2008;10:153-7. PubMed
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
Lapi F, Gallo E, Bernasconi S, et al. Myopathies associated with red yeast rice and liquorice: spontaneous reports from the Italian Surveillance System of Natural Health Products. Br J Clin Pharmacol 2008;66:572-4. PubMed
Chen MF, Shimada F, Kato H, Yano S, Kanaoka M. Effect of glycyrrhizin on the pharmacokinetics of prednisolone following low dosage of prednisolone hemisuccinate. Endocrinol Jpn 1990;37:331-41. PubMed
Teelucksingh S, Mackie AD, Burt D, McIntyre MA, Brett L, Edwards CR. Potentiation of hydrocortisone activity in skin by glycyrrhetinic acid. Lancet 1990;335(8697):1060-3. PubMed
Heidemann HT, Kreuzfelder E. Hypokalemic rhabdomyolysis with myoglobinuria due to licorice ingestion and diuretic treatment. Klin Wochenschr 1983;61:303-5. PubMed
Hukkanen J, Ukkola O, Savolainen MJ. Effects of low-dose liquorice alone or in combination with hydrochlorothiazide on the plasma potassium in healthy volunteers. Blood Press 2009;18:192-5. PubMed
Bisogni V, Rossi GP, Calò LA. Apparent mineralcorticoid excess syndrome, an often forgotten or unrecognized cause of hypokalemia and hypertension: case report and appraisal of the pathophysiology. Blood Press. 2014 Jun;23(3):189-92. PubMed
Dehours E, Vallé B, Rougé-Bugat ME, Florent B, Bounes V, Franchitto N. Suspected hypokalaemia following liquorice ingestion on board ship. J Telemed Telecare. 2013 Jun;19(4):227-8. PubMed
Kormann R, Languille E, Amiot HM, Hertig A. Dying for a cup of tea. BMJ Case Rep. 2012 Oct 19;2012. PubMed
Panduranga P, Al-Rawahi N. Licorice-induced severe hypokalemia with recurrent torsade de pointes. Ann Noninvasive Electrocardiol. 2013 Nov;18(6):593-6. PubMed
Räikkönen K, Seckl JR, Heinonen K, Pyhälä R, Feldt K, Jones A, Pesonen AK, Phillips DI, Lahti J, Järvenpää AL, Eriksson JG, Matthews KA, Strandberg TE, Kajantie E. Maternal prenatal licorice consumption alters hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical axis fu
Robles BJ, Sandoval AR, Dardon JD, Blas CA. Lethal liquorice lollies (liquorice abuse causing pseudohyperaldosteronism). BMJ Case Rep. 2013 Sep 19;2013. PubMed
Chamberlain, J. J. and Abolnik, I. Z. Pulmonary edema following a licorice binge. West J Med 1997;167(3):184-185.
Barrella, M., Lauria, G., Quatrale, R., and Paolino, E. Hypokaliemic rhabdomyolysis associated with liquorice ingestion: report of an atypical case. Ital.J Neurol.Sci 1997;18(4):217-220. PubMed
Fugh-Berman, A. Herb-drug interactions. Lancet 2000;355(9198):134-138. PubMed
Hasegawa, J., Suyama, Y., Kinugawa, T., Morisawa, T., and Kishimoto, Y. Echocardiographic findings of the heart resembling dilated cardiomyopathy during hypokalemic myopathy due to licorice-induced pseudoaldosteronism. Cardiovasc.Drugs Ther 1998;12(6):59 PubMed
van Rossum, T. G., Vulto, A. G., Hop, W. C., Brouwer, J. T., Niesters, H. G., and Schalm, S. W. Intravenous glycyrrhizin for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled phase I/II trial. J Gastroenterol Hepatol 199 PubMed
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Medication overviews come from MedlinePlus (NIH); supplement label data from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database. Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists — see our data sources and editorial standards.

Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Licorice and Eltrombopag Together: Common Questions

Is it safe to take Licorice with Eltrombopag?

We do not list a known interaction between Licorice and Eltrombopag. That does not guarantee the combination is risk-free, so confirm with your pharmacist or doctor — especially if you take other medications or have a health condition.

Do Licorice and Eltrombopag have any of the same side effects?

Yes — our sources link each of them separately to 9 of the same effects. That is not an interaction: neither changes how your body handles the other. It does mean that if one of those effects turns up, it can be harder to tell which one is behind it. They are listed on this page with the source behind each.

Should I take Licorice and Eltrombopag at the same time of day?

At least one FDA label for a product containing Eltrombopag says to take it with food. If you take Licorice on an empty stomach out of habit, keep them separate and take Eltrombopag with a meal where the label says to. Food instructions belong to the product rather than the ingredient — two Eltrombopag products can differ — so check the directions on your own box. This is about absorption, not an interaction.

Are Licorice and Eltrombopag used for the same thing?

They overlap in purpose, which usually means the real question is whether you need both rather than whether they are safe together. This page lists the shared uses and how strong the evidence is for Licorice in each. That is a conversation for your prescriber, especially if Eltrombopag is being adjusted to a target.

How was the Licorice and Eltrombopag combination checked?

Interactions in our licensed database are recorded against drug classes. Eltrombopag is filed under 2 classifications, and Licorice has documented interactions with 18 drug classes — none of Eltrombopag's classifications are among them. A medication can belong to classes beyond those recorded in our dataset, so this describes how the check was run rather than guaranteeing safety.

Does Licorice interact with any other medications?

Yes. Licorice has 1,040 documented drug interactions in our database — Eltrombopag is simply not one of them. If you take anything else, it is worth checking each one; they are all listed on this page.

Does Eltrombopag interact with any supplements?

Yes. Eltrombopag has documented interactions with 55 supplements in our database — Licorice is not one of them. The Eltrombopag interaction page linked on this page lists every one, ranked by severity.

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.