Top liver remedies

Medicines for the liver depend on the type of condition that affects this organ, and the doctor may recommend the use of statins or antidiabetics, in the case of fatty liver, or even immunoglobulins, antivirals or antibiotics, in the case of diseases such as hepatitis, cirrhosis or liver failure, for example.

The liver is an organ responsible for filtering the blood, eliminating toxins, producing proteins, clotting factors, triglycerides, cholesterol and bile. When it suffers damage, the liver can have its function altered and lead to symptoms such as abdominal pain, especially in the upper right region, belly swelling, itchy skin or yellowish skin and eyes, for example. See other symptoms of liver problems.

Therefore, it is important to consult a hepatologist or general practitioner whenever symptoms of liver problems appear, so that they can be diagnosed and begin the most appropriate treatment according to their cause.

Fatty liver remedies

Medicines for fatty liver must be prescribed by a hepatologist or general practitioner to control diseases that impair its functioning, such as diabetes, high cholesterol or hypothyroidism, for example, as there are no specific medications for this disease.

The main remedies for fatty liver that may be recommended by your doctor are:

• Statinssuch as atorvastatin, rosuvastatin or simvastatin, to lower blood cholesterol;
• Antidiabeticssuch as metformin, pioglitazone, liraglutide, exeglatide, sitagliptin or vildagliptin, for example, for the treatment of diabetes, which helps to reduce or prevent the accumulation of fat in the liver;
• Thyroid medicinesuch as levothyroxine, for the treatment of hypothyroidism;
• Vitamin Eto help reduce or neutralize damage caused by inflammation in the liver, due to its powerful antioxidant action.

Medicines for fatty liver are not always necessary and, therefore, a hepatologist should be consulted to assess the need for them, as it can normally be treated with a diet low in fat and sugar, and daily physical exercise. See what a fatty liver diet should be like.

Medicines for hepatitis

The medicines for hepatitis that may be prescribed by the doctor vary according to its cause, which may be infection with hepatitis viruses A, B, C, D, E or G, autoimmune diseases or excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages. See other causes of hepatitis.

Therefore, some remedies for hepatitis are:

• Antiemeticssuch as metoclopramide, to relieve symptoms of nausea and vomiting;
• Immunoglobulinsapplied as an injection into the muscle, to prevent hepatitis A, or applied up to 14 days after contact with the virus;
• Antiviralssuch as lamivudine, tenofovir or entecavir, to reduce the multiplication of the chronic hepatitis B virus, or ribavirin, in the case of chronic hepatitis C or chronic hepatitis E;
• pegylated interferonapplied as an injection under the skin, in cases of chronic hepatitis B or chronic hepatitis C;
• Corticosteroids, such as prednisone, for autoimmune hepatitis. In some cases, the doctor may recommend the use of corticosteroids together with an immunosuppressive medication, such as azathioprine, for example;
• Food suplementssuch as folic acid or B vitamins, in cases of mild alcoholic hepatitis.

Furthermore, in people with severe alcoholic hepatitis and at risk of bleeding, the doctor may recommend the use of vitamin K, used only in a hospital environment and applied by a nurse, under medical supervision.

Medicine for liver cirrhosis

Remedies for liver cirrhosis depend on its cause, which may arise due to excessive and constant use of alcoholic beverages or infection with the hepatitis B or C virus, causing liver cells to be replaced by fibrous tissue or scar tissue, affecting the normal function of this organ. See other causes of liver cirrhosis.

Thus, the doctor may recommend the use of medicines such as:

• Antiviralssuch as lamivudine, tenofovir, entecavir or ribavirin, for the treatment of hepatitis B or C;
• Non-selective beta-blockerssuch as propranolol, nadolol or timolol, for the treatment of portal hypertension and risk of bleeding in cases of severe cirrhosis;
• Diuretics, such as spironolactone and/or furosemide, in the case of development of ascites, which is the accumulation of fluid in the abdominal cavity. Check out other treatments recommended for ascites;
• Antibioticswhen infection of the ascites fluid occurs;
• Rifaximinafor the treatment or reduction of episodes of hepatic encephalopathy.

Additionally, the doctor may recommend the use of albumin infusion, applied directly into the vein, in the hospital, in cases of decompensated liver cirrhosis.

Medicines for liver failure

Liver failure can have several causes, such as the hepatitis virus or the incorrect use of some medications, such as paracetamol, for example, and treatment must be carried out according to the symptoms and causing various complications such as low blood pressure, bleeding, renal failure or hepatic encephalopathy.

Therefore, some remedies that may be recommended by your doctor are:

• N-acetylcysteinefor the treatment of acute liver failure, caused by excessive use of paracetamol;
• Antibioticsfor the treatment of infections;
• Supplementscontaining sodium, potassium, phosphate or magnesium, in case of deficiency of these minerals.

Furthermore, in cases of low blood pressure, the doctor may recommend the application of serum directly into the vein, carried out in a hospital environment, glucose into the vein to treat hypoglycemia, or even plasma transfusion, in the case of bleeding. See other treatments that may be recommended by your doctor for liver failure.