INFO: Drugs That May Cause Liver Dysfunction or Damage

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Drugs That May Cause Liver Dysfunction or Damage

The liver is the principal organ that is capable of converting drugs into forms that can be readily eliminated from the body. Given the diversity in use today and the complex burden they impose upon the liver, it is not surprising that a

broad spectrum of adverse drugs effects on liver functions and structures has been documented. The reactions range from mild and transient changes in the results of liver function tests to complete liver failure with death of the

host. Many drugs may affect the liver adversely in more than one way, as cited below in several listings. The use of the following drugs requires careful monitoring of their effects on the liver during the entire course of treatment.

Drugs that may cause ACUTE DOSE-DEPENDENT LIVER DAMAGE (resembling acute viral hepatitis)

acetaminophen salicylates (doses over 2 grams daily)

Drugs that may cause ACUTE DOSE-INDEPENDENT LIVER DAMAGE (resembling acute viral hepatitis)

acebutolol allopurin atenolol cimetidine dantrolene diclofenac diltiazem enfluraneethambutol ethionamide halothane ibuprofen indomethacin ol labetaloisoniazidketoconazolecarbamazepinemaprotilinemetoprolomianserinnaproxenpara-aminosalicylic acid penicillinsphenelzine phenindionephenobarbital phenylbutazonephenytoin piroxicamprobenecid pyrazinamide quinidinequinineranitidine sulfonamides sulindactricyclic antidepressants valproic acid verapamil

Drugs that may cause ACUTE FATTY INFILTRATION OF THE LIVER

adrenocortical steroids antithyroid drugs isoniazid methotrexate

phenothiazines phenytoinsalicylates

sulfonamides tetracyclines valproic acid

Drugs that may cause CHOLESTATIC JAUNDICE actinomycin Damoxicillin/ clavulanate azathioprine captopril carbamazepine carbimazole cephalosporinschlordiazepoxidechl orpropamide cloxacillin cyclophosphamide cyclosporine danazoldiazepamdisopyramide enalapril erythromycinflecainide flurazepamflutamideglyburide goldgriseofulvinhaloperidolketoconazole mercaptopurine methyltestosteronenifedipine nitrofurantoinnorethandrolone nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs oral contraceptives oxacillinpenicillamine phenothiazines phenytoinpropoxyphenesulfonamides tamoxifenthiabendazole tolbutamidetricyclic antidepressantstroleandomycin verapamil

Drugs that may cause LIVER GRANULOMAS (chronic inflammatory nodules)allopurinol aspirin carbamazepinechlorpromazine diltiazemdisopyramide gold hydralazineisoniazid nitrofurantoin penicillin phenylbutazone phenytoinprocainamidequinidinesulfonamidestolbutamide

Drugs that may cause active chronic hepatitisacetaminophenuisoniazid dantrolene nitrofurantoin methyldopa

Drugs that may cause liver cirrhosis or fibrosis (scarring) methotrexate nicotinic acid

Drugs that may cause chronic cholestasis (resembling primary biliary cirrhosis) chlorpromazine/ valproic acid (combination)chlorpropamide/ erythromycin (combination)imipramine phenothiazinesphenytointhiabendazoletolbutamide

Drugs that may cause LIVER TUMORS (benign and malignant) anabolic steroids danazoloral contraceptives thorotrasttestosterone

Drugs that may cause DAMAGE TO LIVER BLOOD VESSELSadriamycinanabolic steroids azathioprine carmustine cyclophosphamide/ cyclosporine (combination) dacarbazine mercaptopurinemethotrexate mitomycinoral contraceptives thioquaninevincristinevitamin A (excessive doses) SOURCE: The Essential Guide to Prescription Drugs, by W. Long and J. Rybacki. ISBN 0-06-273211- 0