The short answer
Glycyrrhizin-containing licorice root can raise blood pressure and work against blood-pressure treatment with pindolol. Review the exact product before use; a dosing gap has not been shown to prevent the effect.
What this answer covers
Oral pindolol with the exact supplement preparation described below.
- Supplement or preparation
- Radix et Rhizoma Glycyrrhizae
- Medication ingredient
- pindolol
The concern is pressure control
The current licorice-root monograph states that covered preparations may counteract prescribed antihypertensive medicines. This is different from proving that licorice blocks pindolol absorption.
Human research supports an intrinsic effect
In a randomized crossover study, a defined daily licorice exposure raised home systolic pressure and suppressed renin and aldosterone. The study did not measure this exact medicine combination or establish a safe threshold for everyone.
Root identity and preparation matter
Confirm the species and whether the product contains glycyrrhizin. Gan cao, rhizome and deglycyrrhizinated products are not one interchangeable exposure. Spacing alone has not been shown to prevent sustained pressure or electrolyte effects.
Keep the prescribed treatment plan
Do not stop pindolol abruptly or adjust the dose to compensate for a supplement. Bring the product label and your recent blood-pressure and pulse readings to your pharmacist or prescriber so any change can be assessed in context.
Evidence and practical considerations
Side effects & toxicity
Glycyrrhizin-containing licorice root can raise blood pressure and work against blood-pressure treatment with pindolol. Review the exact product before use; a dosing gap has not been shown to prevent the effect.
- Exact scope
- Oral pindolol with the exact supplement preparation described below. with Oral pindolol; intravenous cases are identified as indirect route evidence where discussed.
- Medication form and route
- oral
What remains uncertain
- Conditional covered-root antihypertensive antagonism supported by current monograph and intrinsic human pressure trial, not exact pindolol absorption impairment. No routine need or protective timing rule.
Factors that may matter: Exact ingredient and preparation; Kidney function and clinical indication; Concomitant medicines.
Read the supporting source summaries
Source 1: Current U.S. regulatory product labeling
dailymed.nlm.nih.gov · Source check Sep 10, 2026
Population: Patients prescribed oral pindolol.
Pindolol is rapidly absorbed, with renal excretion and metabolism. Food does not significantly change bioavailability. Hypotension and bradycardia precautions apply.
How this applies: Exact active-ingredient and oral-route context.
Label omission of an herb does not prove safety. No invented exact supplement interaction rate or universal spacing rule.
Source 2: Regulatory herbal monograph
ema.europa.eu · Source check Sep 10, 2026
Population: Adults considering covered medicinal licorice-root preparations.
Warns of hypertension, potassium loss and rhythm disorders, and states root may counteract antihypertensive treatment.
How this applies: Supports avoiding unsupervised covered-root use in cardiovascular disease and reviewing the actual ingredient.
Not every product sold as Gan cao, rhizome or deglycyrrhizinated extract. No exact beta-blocker absorption or interaction rate established.
Source 3: Original human study
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov · Source check Sep 10, 2026
Population: Twenty-eight healthy adults.
Home systolic pressure rose and renin/aldosterone were suppressed.
How this applies: Human evidence for intrinsic pressure effects, distinct from impaired drug absorption.
No exact beta-blocker co-use or direct arrhythmia measurement. Specific exposure is not a universal safe threshold.
Research assessment: · Open full citations ↗
Review and change history
- Publication status
- Published research summary
- Clinical review
- Not yet recorded
| Date | Update |
|---|---|
| Article prepared | |
| Initial source-checked research draft with exact preparation limits, contrary findings and source-access details. Clinical review not recorded. | |
| Research summary published |
Article revision: bac0d7401baf7015
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.