A doctor has claimed that some people may need to give up their favourite sweet treat if they have been prescribed a certain type of medication. People who ignore the warning risk putting themselves in a potentially fatal situation.

Previously speaking on ITV's This Morning, former resident doctor Chris Steele claimed that people taking certain medications needed to avoid specific common foods in their diets. In some cases, these food items could lead to harmful problems if consumed while taking the medication.

One item highlighted was black liquorice - a common and popular sweet made from the naturally-grown liquorice root. The medic claimed that people who take glycosides, like digoxin, which treat heart failure and abnormal heart rhythms, should avoid these at all costs.

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He said: "Liquorice contains glycyrrhizin. Mixing digoxin with glycyrrhizin can cause irregular heartbeats and could even lead to a heart attack. Herbal liquorice extract can also interfere with a host of other medications, including insulin, certain antidepressants, oral contraceptives, blood thinners, and some other medications.

"Low levels of potassium can increase side effects associated with digoxin, used to treat congestive heart failure and abnormal heart rhythms. Diuretics to treat high blood pressure, glaucoma, heart failure and liver and kidney problems, also lower potassium, so taken with liquorice they cause levels to fall. This causes weakness, cramps and irregular heart rhythms."

Combining this medication with large amounts of liquorice may lead to dangerously high digoxin levels left in the body for longer than intended, causing other side effects such as:

• Nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea


• Blurred vision


• Abnormally fast, slow, or uneven heartbeat

If you have a heart problem, high blood pressure, or are on any medication, make sure to talk to your doctor or pharmacist before using liquorice products or supplements. It is crucial to avoid liquorice if you are taking certain heart or blood pressure medications. The interaction can be harmful.

• Digoxin (Lanoxin): liquorice can lower potassium levels, which increases the risk of digoxin toxicity, a potentially fatal condition.


• Diuretics (water pills): liquorice can lead to dangerously low potassium levels (hypokalemia), resulting in serious heart problems.


• Blood pressure medications (Antihypertensives): liquorice can raise blood pressure, it may reduce the effectiveness of blood pressure-lowering drugs, such as ACE inhibitors (captopril, fosinopril).


• Blood thinners (Anticoagulants): liquorice may interfere with the metabolism of blood thinners like warfarin (Coumadin), potentially increasing or decreasing their effect and raising the risk of bleeding or stroke.

According to the NHS website, digoxin is used to control some heart problems and often works alongside other medications to manage the symptoms of heart failure. The tablets, often taken for life, work by slowing down the heart rate and increasing the heart's contractions, which makes it easier for the heart to pump blood around the body.

Digoxin remains a commonly prescribed medication in the UK, with over 2.5 million prescriptions issued in England as of the latest available figures. People need regular blood tests while taking digoxin to ensure their kidneys are functioning properly. Doctors will check if patients have the right amount of potassium, magnesium and calcium levels in their blood.

In a similar warning, NHS experts have advised people to avoid certain fruit juices if they are taking specific medications, including statins, amlodipine and anti-anxiety pills. People who are taking these types of drugs should not eat grapefruit or drink its juice.

In a statement on the NHS website, it says: "Do not take amlodipine with grapefruit juice. Having large amounts of grapefruit or grapefruit juice can increase how much amlodipine is in your body and make side effects worse.

Not all medications are affected equally by grapefruit juice. Always talk to your doctor or pharmacist before making any changes. Be sure to read the labels and watch for any warnings about "grapefruit" on your medication guides.