The short answer
Glycyrrhizin-containing licorice can lower potassium, which is especially concerning during sotalol treatment. Have the exact root product reviewed before use; separating doses does not address this electrolyte risk.
What this answer covers
Oral sotalol with the exact supplement preparation described below.
- Supplement or preparation
- Radix et Rhizoma Glycyrrhizae
- Medication ingredient
- sotalol
Low potassium matters with sotalol
Sotalol can prolong the heart’s electrical recovery time. Its label warns that low potassium or magnesium can increase the risk of dangerous rhythms, so electrolyte monitoring is part of treatment.
Licorice can change electrolytes and pressure
Current root guidance warns about potassium loss, fluid retention, high pressure and rhythm disorders. These effects can matter even if the supplement and medicine are taken at different times.
Identify the actual licorice preparation
Gan cao and root/rhizome labels do not identify one fixed exposure. Confirm the species, preparation and glycyrrhizin content. Evidence for conventional root cannot be applied automatically to a deglycyrrhizinated product.
Keep the rhythm-treatment plan consistent
Sotalol requires attention to kidney function, heart rhythm and potassium and magnesium levels. Do not stop prescribed replacement minerals or change the medicine on your own. A new supplement should be checked against the actual treatment plan.
Evidence and practical considerations
Side effects & toxicity
Glycyrrhizin-containing licorice can lower potassium, which is especially concerning during sotalol treatment. Have the exact root product reviewed before use; separating doses does not address this electrolyte risk.
- Exact scope
- Oral sotalol with the exact supplement preparation described below. with Oral sotalol; intravenous cases are identified as indirect route evidence where discussed.
- Medication form and route
- oral
What remains uncertain
- Conditional electrolyte-mediated rhythm concern combines exact sotalol warning and covered licorice-root guidance; no exact pair event rate, direct QT trial or universal product equivalence.
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 sotalol.
Oral sotalol exposure is reduced by the studied aluminum oxide/magnesium hydroxide antacid. The label advises a two-hour interval. Low potassium or magnesium increases the risk of dangerous rhythm effects.
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: 439b20af2abfc717
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.