What are the adverse reactions of licorice tablets?

Licorice is a traditional Chinese medicine that nourishes the spleen and replenishes qi. It is widely used in daily life. Whether it is used in traditional Chinese medicine or extracted from licorice for use in Western medicine, the medicinal value of licorice is very high. The extracted licorice is used to treat cough and expectoration, and the effect is very good. However, no matter how good licorice is, there are some taboos. What are the adverse reactions of licorice tablets?

What are the adverse reactions of licorice tablets?

The main ingredient of licorice tablets - licorice extract powder has good functions of moistening the lungs, relieving cough and removing phlegm, but it is not suitable for long-term use. The opium powder contained in licorice tablets, also known as opium, has a central nervous system cough suppressant effect. Although the content is very low, long-term and large-scale use can cause addiction. Once the medication is stopped, the patient may experience symptoms such as frequent yawning, cold sweats, runny nose, and even restlessness, which often take two or three months to get rid of.

In addition to the above two ingredients, licorice tablets also contain camphor, star anise oil and sodium benzoate. Camphor has local anesthetic and expectorant effects. Star anise oil is volatile. Once it enters the respiratory tract, it can stimulate gland secretion, dilute sputum, and make it easier to cough up. These ingredients work together to make the antitussive effect of licorice tablets very obvious. Sodium benzoate is the preservative ingredient in this drug and has a certain antibacterial effect.

Licorice tablets are suitable for dry cough caused by external stimuli and are symptomatic treatment drugs. If you take medication on your own, the usage time should not exceed 3 days. If the symptoms are not relieved after 3 days, you should go to a regular hospital to find the cause and take symptomatic medication.

The licorice component in licorice tablets has hormone-like effects. Long-term use may cause gastric ulcers. It is recommended to take it sublingually after meals to reduce irritation to the gastrointestinal tract. In addition, the opioid components can also cause side effects such as nausea, vomiting, and constipation. In addition, licorice has the effect of retaining water and sodium, which will increase blood pressure, so patients with hypertension should use it with caution; it can cause miscarriage in pregnant women, so pregnant women and breastfeeding women should also avoid using it.

Precautions for taking licorice tablets

1. Licorice tablets should not be taken for a long time. If symptoms do not improve after taking them for 3 to 7 days, please consult a doctor immediately.

2. People who are allergic to licorice tablets are prohibited from using this product.

3. Use with caution in patients with gastritis and gastric ulcer.

4. It is forbidden to use licorice tablets when their properties change.

5. If you overdose or have serious adverse reactions, seek medical attention immediately.

6. Keep this medicine out of reach of children.