Licorice can Impede Drug Absorption
Apr
14
Written by:
4/14/2009
A new study presented at the 237th national meeting of the American Chemical Society shows that licorice can interfere with the absorption of the immunosuppressant drug cyclosporine. Cyclosporine is used in rheumatoid arthritis, thyroid eye disease, and numerous other autoimmune diseases.
In this study, chemists in Taiwan report that one of the active ingredients in licorice appears to block the absorption of cyclosporine. Several other reports indicate that licorice can trigger potentially dangerous drug interactions with various medications, including certain anti-inflammatory drugs.