Towards a healthy liver

October 2007     View PDF     En español

Medicines

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take—both prescription and non-prescription. This includes over-the-counter meds like pain medicines or flu remedies. Make a list of them and take it in during your next check-up. Many medicines packaged on their own can also be found in other products, like cold and flu products. If you ever wonder what’s in a medicine or product, read the label or ask your doctor or pharmacist. These suggestions will help you avoid dangerous side effects and drug interactions.

Some common over-the-counter pain relievers can be hard on the liver if used too often. A number of prescription drugs, including those used to treat HIV, can also stress the liver. Acetaminophen can be very toxic to the liver. Taking it and alcohol together can cause severe liver damage. If you have liver disease, NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), like Advil (ibuprofen) can also be dangerous to take.

Aspirin should also be taken with care because it can lower a person’s platelet count. People with liver disease often experience a swelling of the spleen. This can destroy platelets faster than the body can make them. Taking aspirin will add to this problem.

All benzodiazepines can harm the liver. These include Valium (diazepam), Restoril (temazapam) and others. They should be used with caution. Taking liver function tests will help monitor your liver health while you take these and other drugs.