The short answer
Licorice containing glycyrrhizin can raise blood pressure and lower potassium. Have it reviewed before use with oral methylprednisolone, which can also affect fluid and electrolytes.
What this answer covers
Oral methylprednisolone with glycyrrhizin-containing Glycyrrhiza glabra root/stolon preparations. Deglycyrrhizinated products and uncharacterized extracts differ.
- Supplement or preparation
- Glycyrrhiza glabra
- Medication ingredient
- methylprednisolone
Which treatment this applies to
This review concerns oral methylprednisolone tablets such as MEDROL. A brief course and prolonged systemic therapy have different clinical contexts. It does not establish the same interactions for injections, depot esters or skin preparations.
The concern is fluid and electrolytes
The current European licorice assessment advises against use with corticosteroids when electrolyte imbalance could worsen. Licorice can cause fluid retention, BP elevation and potassium loss. The exact methylprednisolone label also describes these effects, with risk depending on dose and clinical context.
Preparation and exposure matter
A trial in healthy adults found higher home systolic BP with licorice containing quantified glycyrrhizic acid. It did not test methylprednisolone. Root extracts, teas, food products and deglycyrrhizinated preparations should not be assumed interchangeable, and a product’s total weight does not establish glycyrrhizin exposure.
Arrange review rather than self-correction
Share the product label and daily amount before adding licorice. Report new swelling, rising BP, weakness or palpitations; clinicians may check electrolytes. Do not add potassium, change methylprednisolone or rely on a few hours of separation to counter the potential problem.
Evidence and practical considerations
Side effects & toxicity
Defined glycyrrhizin-containing licorice warrants an electrolyte/BP precaution with methylprednisolone; this is not a measured exact-pair event rate or universal metabolism effect.
- Exact scope
- Oral methylprednisolone with glycyrrhizin-containing Glycyrrhiza glabra root/stolon preparations. Deglycyrrhizinated products and uncharacterized extracts differ. with Exact RxNorm 6902 IN methylprednisolone; MEDROL plain oral tablets. Injectable esters, depot formulations and topical products are not assumed equivalent.
- Medication form and route
- Oral
What remains uncertain
- Exact-drug label plus preparation-specific class precaution and supplement trial, not a controlled exact-pair study. No universal extract effect, PK increase or spacing benefit.
Factors that may matter: Exact oral preparation and dose; Treatment duration and indication; Blood pressure and electrolyte status; Other medicines.
Read the supporting source summaries
Source 1: Current prescribing information
dailymed.nlm.nih.gov · Source check Sep 10, 2026
Population: Patients prescribed MEDROL methylprednisolone oral tablets.
Describes immune suppression, osteoporosis and calcium excretion; salt retention and potassium loss are less likely with synthetic derivatives except at large doses. Dietary adjustment or potassium supplementation may be necessary in context.
How this applies: Exact ingredient and specified formulation. Exact RxNorm 6902 IN methylprednisolone; MEDROL plain oral tablets. Injectable esters, depot formulations and topical products are not assumed equivalent.
Label does not prove universal deficiency or direct supplement absorption interactions. Dose, duration and formulation matter.
Source 2: Final regulatory assessment
ema.europa.eu · Source check Sep 10, 2026
Population: Users of defined G.glabra, G.inflata or G.uralensis root/stolon preparations.
BP elevation, fluid retention and potassium loss; precaution against corticosteroid co-use that could aggravate electrolyte imbalance. Explicitly rejects assuming inhibition of every corticosteroid and notes dexamethasone counterevidence.
How this applies: Preparation-limited electrolyte/BP precaution; steroid-specific counterevidence retained.
Not an exact methylprednisolone combination incidence or universal PK effect. Deglycyrrhizinated products and processed Gan cao preparations differ.
Source 3: Original clinical research
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov · Source check Sep 10, 2026
Population: 28 healthy young adults in a randomized crossover.
Home systolic BP increased and renin/aldosterone were suppressed.
How this applies: Applicable only to the stated preparation, route and endpoints; other-drug evidence is indirect.
Abstract-only; no methylprednisolone co-use or universal safe amount. Trial changes of 3.1 versus -0.3 mm Hg are not a 3.1 mm Hg between-treatment estimate.
Source 4: Medication terminology
rxnav.nlm.nih.gov · Source check Sep 10, 2026
Population: Terminology.
methylprednisolone is IN.
How this applies: Exact ingredient.
Not clinical evidence.
Research assessment: · Open full citations ↗
Review and change history
- Publication status
- Published research summary
- Clinical review
- Not yet recorded
| Date | Update |
|---|---|
| Article prepared | |
| Sources checked and article drafted. | |
| Research summary published |
Article revision: fd8f9b875125543c
This guide brings together the evidence records used by our interaction checker. Each finding retains its own preparation limits, research date, and source summaries.
Full citations require verification. Reading this answer and the source summaries does not.
Taking other supplements or medications?
Use the checker to explore your other combinations. Ask a pharmacist to review the exact products, amounts and medical conditions in your complete list.
Open the interaction checkerInformation, not medical advice. Do not change prescribed treatment based on this guide.