Compound licorice tablets are commonly used cough suppressants, but because they contain opioids, you should be cautious when taking them, especially when combined with certain medications, which is extremely dangerous.
The main ingredients of compound licorice tablets are licorice flow extract, opium powder, camphor, star anise, and sodium benzoate. Among them, licorice flu extract is a protective antitussive expectorant; Opium powder has a strong antitussive effect; Camphor and star anise oil can stimulate the bronchial mucosa, reflexively increase gland secretion, dilute sputum, and make sputum easy to cough up; Sodium benzoate is a preservative. The synergistic effect of these ingredients makes compound licorice tablets have a good antitussive and expectorant effect.
However, because compound licorice tablets contain opioids, the following 7 points should be paid attention to when taking them:
1.It should not be taken for a long time. Long-term use can lead to patients becoming dependent on the drug, yawning, cold sweating, runny nose, restlessness and other symptoms will occur after stopping the drug, and it often takes 2-3 months to return to normal, and it is recommended to take it continuously for no more than 1 week.
2.It should not be used in combination with strong antitussive drugs. The opioids contained in this product are powerful antitussives, so they should be avoided in combination with other strong antitussive drugs (compound bellflower tablets, healing syrup, federal cough drop, etc.) to avoid toxic reactions caused by the superposition of similar drugs.
3.It should not be used in combination with cardiac glycosides. Compound licorice tablets contain glycyrrhizic acid, which can promote the excretion of potassium in the human body and reduce the blood potassium concentration, thereby increasing the sensitivity of people to cardiac glycosides and easily inducing cardiac glycoside poisoning. Patients who are taking cardiac glycosides (cedilan, digoxin, etc.) should avoid preparations containing licorice such as compound licorice tablets when choosing cough suppressants.
4.It should not be used in combination with antihypertensive drugs. The licorice flow extract in compound licorice tablets can cause pseudoaldosteronism, resulting in an increase in blood pressure, which is easy to antagonize with antihypertensive drugs and reduce its efficacy.
5.It should not be used in combination with hypoglycemic drugs. Glycyrrhizic acid is hydrolyzed into glycyrrhetinic acid under the action of human enzymes, which has the effect of glucocorticoids, which can increase blood sugar and reduce the effect of hypoglycemic drugs.
6.It should not be used in combination with potassium-excreting diuretics. Licorice has the effect of sodium preservation and potassium excretion, and potassium excretion diuretics (furosemide, diuretic acid, hydrochlorothiazide, etc.) can also reduce the concentration of potassium ions in the blood, and the combination of the two can easily lead to hypokalemia, increase edema, increase blood pressure, urinary retention and other adverse reactions.
7.It should not be taken with salicylic acid. Licorice has a glucocorticoid-like effect, which can increase gastric acid secretion, reduce gastric mucus secretion, induce or aggravate gastric ulcers, especially when combined with drugs such as aspirin and salicylic acid, which will increase the risk of gastric ulcers.
References: 1PSM Medicine Shield Public Welfare.