Meds Not to Mix: Your Guide to Taking OTC Drugs Safely

Licorice and Digoxin

A seemingly safe food, large amounts of the flavorful herb can actually decrease potassium levels in the body, which in turn, can increase the side effects of taking a drug like digoxin (used to treat congestive heart failure and other abnormalities in the heart). "If you mix the two it can cause digoxin toxicity which can be life threatening," says Fryhofer. Licorice has also been known to reduce the effects of blood pressure drugs. Side effects typically include irregular heart rates, diarrhea, nausea, and double vision.