Which drugs damage the liver

Fluid accumulates in the abdomen and legs. Eventually, scar tissue in the liver cirrhosis Cirrhosis of the Liver Cirrhosis is the widespread distortion of the liver's internal structure that occurs when a large amount of normal liver tissue is permanently replaced with nonfunctioning scar tissue. Other herbs: Liver damage may also result from herbs such as Atractylis gummifera , Camellia sinensis used to make green and black teas , celandine in the poppy family , chaparral, Garcinia cambogia a supplement used to support weight loss , green tea extract used for weight loss and disease prevention , germander, jin bu huan , kava, ma huang Ephedra , mistletoe, pennyroyal oil used to make teas , and syo-saiko-to a mixture of herbs.

In general, liver doctors recommend avoiding all herbal supplements because of the lack of safety testing by the US Food and Drug Administration FDA and the fact that many of these substances can cause liver damage and even liver failure, even in people who do not have any preexisting liver disease.

Drinking alcohol increases the risk of liver damage because alcohol damages the liver Alcohol-Related Liver Disease Alcohol-related liver disease is liver damage caused by drinking too much alcohol for a long time. In general, the amount of alcohol consumed how much, how often, and for how long determines In addition, alcohol reduces the body's supply of an antioxidant that helps protect the liver.

Doctors categorize drug-induced liver damage in various ways, such as by how the drug damages the liver, how liver cells are affected, and which liver enzyme abnormalities are detected by blood tests Liver Blood Tests Liver tests are blood tests that represent a noninvasive way to screen for the presence of liver disease for example, hepatitis in donated blood and to measure the severity and progress of For example, drugs may damage the liver by directly damaging liver cells hepatocellular , by blocking the flow of bile out of the liver cholestatic , or by doing both.

Symptoms of liver disease Overview of Liver Disease Liver disease can manifest in many different ways. Characteristic manifestations include Jaundice a yellowish discoloration of the skin and whites of the eyes Cholestasis reduction or stoppage After stopping the drug suspected of causing damage, doctors repeat liver tests.

A significant decrease in liver enzyme levels further supports the diagnosis of drug-induced liver damage. Doctors ask which drugs are being taken to determine whether any can cause liver damage. Doctors also do blood tests to measure levels of specific liver enzymes and to evaluate how well the liver is functioning and whether it is damaged liver tests Liver Blood Tests Liver tests are blood tests that represent a noninvasive way to screen for the presence of liver disease for example, hepatitis in donated blood and to measure the severity and progress of Drug-induced liver injury DILI is likely when results of liver tests are typical of the liver damage usually caused by a drug that the person is taking.

Drugs sometimes cause damage after they are stopped, even when the dose was not high, and sometimes it can take several months for DILI to improve.

Thus, determining that a drug is the cause is sometimes difficult or impossible. Because no test can confirm the diagnosis, doctors also check for other causes of liver damage. Blood tests to check for hepatitis Overview of Hepatitis Hepatitis is inflammation of the liver. Hepatitis is common throughout the world. Hepatitis can be Acute short-lived read more , autoimmune disorders, and other causes are done.

Pressing on the upper abdomen to determine the size of the liver and doing imaging tests, such as ultrasonography Ultrasonography Imaging tests of the liver, gallbladder, and biliary tract include ultrasonography, radionuclide scanning, computed tomography CT , magnetic resonance imaging MRI , endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography When some drugs that can damage the liver such as statins are used, doctors sometimes regularly do blood tests to monitor liver enzyme levels.

Such monitoring may detect problems early and may help prevent liver damage. For most drugs, monitoring liver enzyme levels is not done.

Usually, stopping the drug results in recovery. Drugs to relieve symptoms such as itching can be used. Only a few drugs have antidotes. For example, acetylcysteine can be used if people have taken an overdose of acetaminophen Acetaminophen Poisoning People sometimes ingest too many products that contain acetaminophen and poison themselves. Corticosteroids may be appropriate in some cases.

If the damage is severe, people may be referred to a specialist. Liver transplantation Liver Transplantation Liver transplantation is the surgical removal of a healthy liver or sometimes a part of a liver from a living person and then its transfer into a person whose liver no longer functions. The following is an English-language resource that may be useful. Food and Drug Administration: Sometimes Drugs and the Liver Don't Mix: Consumer-friendly information on how to prevent the potentially toxic effects of drug use on the liver.

Merck and Co. From developing new therapies that treat and prevent disease to helping people in need, we are committed to improving health and well-being around the world. The Manual was first published in as a service to the community.

Learn more about our commitment to Global Medical Knowledge. This site complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information: verify here. Common Health Topics. Medicinal herbs and the liver. Risk factors. Liver damage caused by drugs Liver damage from other causes. More Information. Drugs and the Liver. Test your knowledge. Jaundice is a condition in which the skin and white parts of the eyes appear yellow. This makes them risky buys for consumers.

The most common dietary supplements that lead to liver problems are workout supplements and fat burners that people take to gain muscle and lose weight. Durazo said. You may have a drug-induced liver injury if you develop jaundice and a lack of appetite. If this happens, seek care immediately. There are typically five questions that Dr. Durazo asks himself when trying to determine if he has a drug-induced liver injury case:.

Knowing the specific medication making the patient sick is important in making the diagnosis, Dr. Durazo explained. Different medications can cause different types of liver disease, and not all medications have the same latency period, the amount of time between taking a medication and developing symptoms. If physicians determine that there has been an acetaminophen overdose, they will provide a treatment called acetylcysteine that can help reduce liver toxicity.

In other cases, physicians will make a diagnosis of a drug-induced liver injury based on the exclusion of other injury diagnoses. Depending on the type and severity of liver disease, both outpatient and inpatient supportive care can help. For example, if your liver tests show mild abnormalities, you can be monitored as outpatient in our Hepatology Clinic. If the liver toxicity reaches a level that causes your liver to fail, you can expect to be admitted to the hospital and possibly put on the liver transplant waiting list.

If acute liver failure occurs from a drug-induced liver injury, a liver transplant may be needed to help you extend your life. Physicians will use clinical criteria to determine if you are right for a transplant, and place you on the list if you meet the criteria.

If you think the patient is not going to recover without a new liver, then we list the patient for a liver transplant. This is what patients can expect from the liver transplant process.

If you think you may be at risk for a drug-induced liver injury, call if your condition is emergent. If your condition is stable, request an appointment with a member of the hepatology team.

Thanks for your request, Janet. If you would like to be seen by one of our specialists, you can request an appointment with Dr. Franco, Dr. Thanks, Carla. Skip to main content. Taking acetaminophen in excess is the leading cause of drug-induced liver injury. Illicit drugs, such as cocaine and PCP, negatively impact the liver.