Which has fewer side effects: licorice tablets or compound licorice tablets?
Generally speaking, compared to compound licorice tablets, licorice tablets have fewer side effects, and it is recommended to take medication as directed by a physician. The specific analysis is as follows:
Compound licorice tablets contain multiple active ingredients, resulting in stronger therapeutic effects but also greater potential side effects. Therefore, licorice tablets are associated with relatively fewer side effects. Licorice tablets are made from dried and ground licorice root or rhizome, possessing a mild sweet taste, and are commonly used to treat symptoms such as indigestion, bitter taste in the mouth, dry throat, cough with sticky phlegm, febrile illnesses, and headaches. In addition to licorice, compound licorice tablets also contain ingredients such as opium and camphor. The opium provides potent antitussive effects, while camphor and star anise oil stimulate the bronchial mucosa, reflexively increasing glandular secretions, thinning mucus, and making it easier to expel phlegm.
If a patient experiences any adverse symptoms, it is recommended to seek medical attention promptly to avoid delaying treatment.