Licorice

[Wheelygood99]

I know we are supposed to avoid licorice while on prednisolone as it supposedly increases the steroid in our body. I've even heard it described as a steroid saver. Why then, do we not use it as such when tapering off pred? I'd happily eat some!

[SnazzyD]

I guess it’s because the point of a steroid sparer is to reduce the amount of the steroid by adding in another drug that does the same job but isn’t a steroid. Liquorice increases the available steroid, gets it to hang around longer or makes it more potent (I’m not totally sure of the mechanism here). So you are making the steroid effect stronger. Steroid sparers are meant to make this less to reduce side effects.

I can see your logic because it seems that the Liquorice could enable you to physically put less Pred into your body. The down side is that what’s going on inside is the effect of having more.

[123-go]

Lots of info and discussion in this link provided by DorsetLady:

healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to 123-go]

No me actually, but it’s what I would have linked, so thanks…

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Probably because it doesn't feature as a drug but a food-stuff or supplement so isn't controlled or monitored in production. That means few doctors are likely to try it officially. But if it increases the pred level in the body - it not only magnifies the antiinflammatory effect but also the adverse effects - and that is what is warned about in the literature.

[Wheelygood99]

Thanks everyone. I understand now.

[Hidden]

I'm going to try some. I love liquorice