Hepatotoxicity is liver damage caused by drugs, herbal remedies, and natural chemicals. Acetaminophen is the most common over-the-counter drug associated with liver damage. Treatment involves changing medications and periodic blood tests, but in severe cases, a liver transplant may be required.
Hepatotoxicity is a medical term used to describe liver damage, especially liver damage caused by the use of drugs. Some drugs, such as those used to treat HIV, are known to lead to hepatotoxicity in some patients. Some specific medical conditions, including hepatitis, are classified under the label of hepatotoxicity. Some potential symptoms may include nausea, abdominal pain, or fatigue. Treatment often involves changing medications that could be causing the hepatotoxicity.
Prescription drugs, herbal remedies, and natural chemicals can lead to hepatotoxicity. In fact, this is the most common reason a drug is pulled from the market. There are several hundred drugs known to cause liver damage. About half of all cases of acute liver failure are related to hepatotoxicity. The type of liver damage caused by drugs varies widely and depends on the type of drug taken, the dosage, and the patient’s overall health.
The most common over-the-counter drug associated with the development of liver damage is acetaminophen. With this type of drug being so readily available, patients often take more of this drug than the label recommends. When this happens, the body is unable to rid itself of the drug before it starts to cause harm. Other types of drugs that have been linked to high rates of hepatotoxicity include chemotherapy drugs and drugs designed to treat HIV.
The patient who has been prescribed medications known to be linked to potential liver damage will likely be advised to have periodic blood tests to determine levels of liver function. This may allow your doctor to change your medications early in the disease course and prevent or slow the progression of liver damage.
In most cases of hepatotoxicity, the doctor will try to reduce the dosage or change the drug completely once liver damage is detected. Unfortunately, this isn’t always enough to prevent liver failure. In cases where the liver is no longer functioning at an adequate level, a liver transplant is often required, provided the patient’s general health is stable enough for such a major surgery. The donated liver may come from an organ donor or, in some cases, part of the liver may be transplanted from a living donor. Once a transplant has occurred, the patient will need to take lifelong prescribed medications to prevent the body from rejecting the new organ.
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