So much has changed since my liver failed in 2010. There was a lot of medications for liver disease in the beginning. By eating right , I finally weaned onto lower doses. I went off and on some of them. It was a see saw for sure. I’ve taken just about everything that they give someone with complications from liver disease from NASH, fatty, Hepatitis, and autoimmune liver disease. 
There is no really cure for liver disease or for any of the above listed causes of cirrhosis. There is a cure for Hepatitis C Virus, and I was able to clear that on some of the older drugs. The new treatment on DAAs is quick and sure to help almost everyone with every genotype. So when we have to take medications for liver disease, it’s because we probably have cirrhosis. Let’s break it down.
Compensated or Decompensated
If you have liver disease with bridging fibrosis stage F1 or F2, you probably aren’t on meds. Your body and liver are doing okay. If your body no longer compensates for your ailing liver, you become decompensated. After that, you might be F3 or F4, or even end stage. You could need medications for liver disease to help you feel better.
Medications for Cirrhosis
Diuretics – When my kidneys and liver got overwhelmed, my body held fluid. First my feet and hands, then my whole body and belly were full of water. After a paracentesis, drain, or “tap” as they are called, I had to take two diuretics 3 times a day to keep ascites down.
Spironolactone – This is a potassium sparing diuretic that helps to move fluid out of your body while protecting your potassium levels.
Lasix or furosemide, is used to reduce the fluid through your urine.
Beta Blockers – A severe case of portal vein hypertension can cause esophageal bleeding. In their case a doctor may prescribe a beta blocker to be taken once or twice daily. They can reduce the pressure in your portal vein, which lowers the risk of a bleed out.
Metoprolol, Nadolol, or Propanolol – These are the top beta blockers. I took Nadolol only after a bleed out and the endoscopy showed varices that could not be banded. I was on them for most of the years right up until my liver transplant in 2015.
Lactulose – I learned to take swigs throughout the day to keep the ammonia off my brain. I hated the stuff, and would do almost anything to get my dosage reduced. It’s hard to keep a healthy weight up when you’re in the bathroom all the time.
Xifaxin – For hepatic encephalopathy, this pill is expensive, but it works. I got a card from the pharmacy to help pay for it. It cleared up my brain fog. Check out my youtube on that.
That’s All Folks
These are the only medications for liver disease that I took. Your doctor can guide to what is best for you. Between the diuretics and the lactulose, I was on the go. The beta blockers kept my bleed outs down between bandings. After liver cancer, I switched out to a whole different set of meds. Now I’m only on immunosuppressants and other transplant drugs. That’s another lifetime, it seems. I love you all. No matter what, we’re together. xo Karen
What medications for liver disease are you using?
6 thoughts on “Medications for Liver Disease”
Fantastic resources. Keep doing what you’re doing!
BJ Woods recently posted…Foods to avoid on keto (the “Purge list”)
Thanks so much BJ and you’ve done an amazing job with your diet and sugar levels. I hope anyone needing that kind of help will seek you out. Of course with liver disease diet, there is a little different in how we metabolize fat.
Most people don’t think of all the great veggie dishes that go with keto, but can be used for any healthy eating routines.
xo Karen
I am taking everyone of the pretransplant meds that you took other than nadalol. I take Metoprolol. I hate Lactulose and try to lie to my wife about taking it. I might get away with it for a day but unfortunately confusion and irritability tell on me by day 2 and I don’t even realize it!
Hi Joel,
Always good to hear from you. I took Metoprolol too. It’s all kind of a blur after years on those, right? I lied to everyone about my lactulose. I kept refilling, and hid bottles. When I moved, after the transplant, I found a 2 large bottles in the bottom of my close. 🙂 I was so zoned out. I totally get you on the confused and irritable part. I refer to those days of when I acted like a child. HE is like nothing else in the world. I love you friend and hope all is going well otherwise. xoxoxoxo Karen
Hi Karen
First time posting here but your name is very familiar from the internet and all the good work you do.
I cleared Hep C with maviret (in the UK, might be called something else in other countries) but have F4 cirrhosis.
I was curious about your comment above about how liver patients metabolise fats differently. Do you have any links for me to read up on that. I’m struggling to eat but my weight keeps going up, or maybe its just bloat?
I also wondered about cramps. I know that we can’t access glycogen when we need it and can end up burning our own muscle but can you actually feel that happening?
I notice if I have a very busy day my body really hurts and not in the way it used to from being tired, this is different, as if I’m like a car without an engine just being pushed along and its stressing the bodywork, if that makes sense!
So many questions,,,sorry Karen.
Best wishes to you. Suzanne
Hi Suzanne, and you post some very good questions that are burning up in my mind also. Of course, the usual “I’m not a doctor, but I know what I experience” thing is so true for us, isn’t it?
In a nutshell, The liver produces all the lipids, such as cholesterol, triglycerides, to name a few. It takes the food sources in and then secretes them in the form of bile. Of course when the liver is inflamed, this whole process gets messier, because it can’t carry on all the functions as neatly.
As that relates to your weight gain, I know that the liver takes up most of our carbs and stores them as glycogen. It’s constantly trying to keep our insulin in balance. I don’t think it’s just bloat unless you are having problems with ascites. Talk to doc about that.
I’m on a holiday with friends and am going to read up on this while we drive to a nearby city today. It will be my next blog. In the meantime, link to https://www.ihelpc.com/healing-fatty-liver/ and https://www.ihelpc.com/top-10-reasons-to-avoid-sugar-with-hepatitis-c/ to get you started.
So glad to know you now, and here’s the best part. Congratulations on clearing HEP C !!!! Woohoo. Your liver will calm down over time, and these processes can get better and better. There are so many people who are having success in reversing from F4 to F2. It’s amazing. Keep in touch.
All my best, xoxoxo Karen Hoyt
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