Toxic hepatitis

There is no specific treatment for most cases of liver damage from different drugs, other than stopping the drug that is causing the problem.

However, if you took high doses of acetaminophen, treatment should be started as soon as possible after you develop hepatitis. See: Acetaminophen overdose

You should rest during the acute phase of drug-induced hepatitis, when the symptoms are most severe. If you have more severe nausea and vomiting, you may need to receive fluids through a vein.

People with acute hepatitis should avoid physical exertion, alcohol, acetaminophen, and any other substances that are harmful to the liver.

Usually, drug-induced hepatitis goes away within days or weeks after you stop taking the drug that caused it.

Liver failure is a possible but rare complication of drug-induced hepatitis.

Call your health care provider if:

• You develop symptoms of hepatitis after you start taking a new medication.
• You have been diagnosed with drug-induced hepatitis and your symptoms do not improve after stopping the medication.
• You develop any new symptoms.

Images

Hepatomegaly

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Review Date: 11/23/2010
Reviewed By: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; and George F. Longstreth, MD, Department of Gastroenterology, Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program, San Diego, CA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)