Key points
What this medicine is. Glycyron (グリチロン配合錠, Minophagen, Japan) is a tablet with 25 mg of glycyrrhizic acid from licorice root, 25 mg of glycine and 25 mg of DL-methionine. It has been produced since 1954, and the current formula was approved in 1991 (package insert of Japan’s PMDA agency, rev. 05.2026).
Alopecia: hair regrew more often. Compound glycyrrhizin (the same formula), added to usual treatment of alopecia areata, raised the chance of complete hair regrowth 1.6 times — 23 studies, 2,219 people (Li M Ann Med 2025. PMID 40265259).
Eczema: a double-blind study. In 199 adults with chronic eczema, compound glycyrrhizin capsules with an ointment gave an improvement of at least 75% in 47.9% versus 21.2% on placebo with the same ointment (Xu W Evid Based Complement Alternat Med 2020. PMID 32308712).
Urticaria, psoriasis, vitiligo. Pooled analyses of randomized studies showed benefit when it was added to standard treatment (Chen S J Dermatolog Treat 2024. PMID 38166511; Yu JJ Curr Med Res Opin 2017. PMID 27786567; Li M Expert Rev Clin Pharmacol 2023. PMID 37218470).
Liver. In a Japanese double-blind study in chronic hepatitis, liver test results clearly improved in 22.3% of those taking Glycyron versus 11.8% on placebo (PMDA package insert 2026).
What is in the tablet
In Japan, Glycyron is approved for eczema and dermatitis, papular urticaria in children (strophulus), alopecia areata, stomatitis and for improving liver test results in chronic liver disease. It is also sold in China, Mongolia, Uzbekistan and Armenia (PMDA 2026).
According to the label, glycine and methionine reduce the sodium and fluid retention caused by glycyrrhizin, but this has been studied only in animals: such an effect has not been shown in humans (PMDA package insert 2026).
In China, the same formula is produced as “compound glycyrrhizin”: 25 mg of glycyrrhizin, 25 mg of glycine and 25 mg of methionine in a tablet or capsule (Li M Ann Med 2025. PMID 40265259). Most studies were done with it.
Skin and hair
Alopecia areata. In 23 studies (2,219 people), compound glycyrrhizin added to usual treatment gave complete hair regrowth 1.6 times more often and improved the score on the SALT hair-loss severity scale. Swelling was more common, and low potassium occurred in 1 of 253 people taking it whose potassium was checked (Li M Ann Med 2025. PMID 40265259). In 11 studies (1,189 people), together with minoxidil the SALT score fell by a further 10 points compared with minoxidil alone (Guo C J Dermatolog Treat 2024. PMID 39230160). For the main treatment, see the guide to alopecia areata.
Eczema. At 6 centers in China, 199 adults with chronic eczema received capsules 3 times a day or placebo for 28 days, and all of them used the steroid ointment mometasone 0.1% once a day. With the capsules, the Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI) fell by at least 75% in 47.9% versus 21.2%, and relapses occurred in 3.19% versus 12.12%. There was no significant difference in side effects; the most common was leg swelling (Xu W Evid Based Complement Alternat Med 2020. PMID 32308712).
Urticaria. In 24 studies (2,649 people) with chronic urticaria, compound glycyrrhizin together with a second-generation antihistamine gave complete cure 1.54 times more often and relapses three times less often (data on 446 people) than an antihistamine alone (Chen S J Dermatolog Treat 2024. PMID 38166511).
Psoriasis and vitiligo. In psoriasis vulgaris (plaque psoriasis), in 11 studies, compound glycyrrhizin added to usual treatment gave a reduction in the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) of at least 60% 30% more often, with the same rate of side effects (Yu JJ Curr Med Res Opin 2017. PMID 27786567). In vitiligo, in 17 studies (1,492 people), compound glycyrrhizin added to usual treatment raised overall efficacy 1.54 times (Li M Expert Rev Clin Pharmacol 2023. PMID 37218470).
The abstracts of the pooled analyses in urticaria, psoriasis and vitiligo do not say whether tablets or injections were used.
Liver
In a Japanese double-blind study, 224 people with chronic hepatitis at 19 centers took 9 Glycyron tablets a day or placebo for 12 weeks. A clear improvement in liver test results occurred in 22.3% versus 11.8%. The 1989 study is not indexed in PubMed, and the figures come from the label; improvement was assessed by categories, not by enzyme values (PMDA package insert 2026).
In a pooled analysis of 15 studies (1,367 people with liver disease), licorice preparations lowered alanine aminotransferase (ALT) by an average of 15.6 U/L and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) by 7.4 U/L, especially purified glycyrrhizic acid; the analysis included various licorice preparations, including injections (Giangrandi I Phytother Res 2024. PMID 39079711).
How it is taken
According to the Japanese label, adults are prescribed 2–3 tablets 3 times a day after meals, children 1 tablet 3 times a day (PMDA package insert 2026).
The adult dose is 150–225 mg of glycyrrhizic acid a day, while for food the EU scientific committee considers regular intake of up to 100 mg a day from all sources, including licorice confectionery, safe for most people (EU Scientific Committee on Food 2003). The limit is set for food, not for a medicine taken under a doctor’s supervision, but it explains why blood pressure and potassium are monitored on Glycyron.
Japanese Glycyron (100 tablets) is available in the shop — ordered on request via chat, taken as prescribed by a doctor.
What the studies showed
| What was studied | Who took part | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Alopecia areata, 23 studies, 2025 | 2,219 people | Complete hair regrowth 1.6 times more often; swelling more common |
| Alopecia + minoxidil, 11 studies, 2024 | 1,189 people | SALT score a further 10 points lower |
| Chronic eczema, double-blind with placebo, 2020 | 199 adults | Improvement of at least 75%: 47.9% vs 21.2%; relapses 3.19% vs 12.12% |
| Chronic urticaria, 24 studies, 2024 | 2,649 people | Cure 1.54 times more often, relapses three times less often (data on 446 people) |
| Psoriasis, 11 studies, 2017 | Not stated | PASI 60 30% more often |
| Vitiligo, 17 studies, 2023 | 1,492 people | Overall efficacy 1.54 times higher |
| Chronic hepatitis, double-blind with placebo, 1989 | 224 people, Japan | Clear improvement in 22.3% vs 11.8% |
| Liver, licorice preparations, 15 studies, 2024 | 1,367 people | ALT and AST lower than in controls |
A caveat: most studies are Chinese and open-label, the drug was added to standard treatment, and the authors of the pooled analyses themselves note low quality (Guo C J Dermatolog Treat 2024. PMID 39230160; Yu JJ Curr Med Res Opin 2017. PMID 27786567). We found no placebo-controlled studies in alopecia: in that design an effect has not been shown, which is not the same as “no effect”.
Who should be more careful
- Contraindicated according to the label: end-stage liver cirrhosis with raised blood ammonia (a methionine metabolite may interfere with its clearance), aldosteronism, myopathy (muscle disease) and low potassium (PMDA package insert 2026).
- The main risk is pseudoaldosteronism, and its frequency is unknown. Licorice interferes with the kidney’s conversion of cortisol into inactive cortisone, and cortisol starts retaining sodium like the hormone aldosterone (Stewart PM Lancet 1987. PMID 2889032). Swelling, rising blood pressure, weight gain, less urine and weakness are a reason to see a doctor right away; potassium and blood pressure are monitored during treatment.
- Rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown), its frequency also unknown: with weakness, muscle pain or cramps, see a doctor right away; if creatine kinase (CK) and myoglobin rise, the drug is stopped.
- Do not combine it with other products that contain licorice: the glycyrrhizin adds up. On the risks of licorice in supplements, see the article on adaptogens.
- Use caution with diuretics (loop and thiazide), as potassium falls further, and with the antibiotic moxifloxacin: with low potassium, dangerous heart rhythm disturbances with QT prolongation on the ECG are possible.
- In older people, low potassium is more common.
- In pregnancy, only if the doctor decides that the benefit outweighs the risk; during breastfeeding, the decision is made individually.
Bottom line
Compound glycyrrhizin of the same formula taken by mouth together with standard treatment improved outcomes in alopecia areata and eczema, and compound glycyrrhizin (tablets or injections — not specified) together with standard treatment did so in urticaria, psoriasis and vitiligo. In a Japanese double-blind study, Glycyron improved liver test results in chronic hepatitis. The quality of most studies is low, and the main risk is pseudoaldosteronism, so it is taken as prescribed by a doctor, with blood pressure and potassium monitoring. You can discuss whether it suits you at a consultation.
This material is for information only and does not replace a doctor’s consultation. The decision to take Glycyron, the dose and the monitoring of potassium and blood pressure are determined by the treating doctor.
