12 Kinds of Drugs with Hepatotoxicity 

Some commonly used drugs may bring serious liver damage. More and more drug-induced liver damage is reported, and most of them are caused by drug abuse or overdose. Drugs Hepatotoxicity is caused in different ways. Some drugs have a direct toxic effect on liver cells and destroy the entire structure of liver cells; some drugs act as antigens and destroy liver cells through antigen and antibody reactions in the body and liver. Here we list 12 Kinds of Drugs with Hepatotoxicity .

Paracetamol  is a commonly used antipyretic and analgesic drug for the treatment of rheumatic bone pain, fever, headache, toothache, muscle pain and so on.Each tablets contains 0.5g of acetaminophen. It will not cause liver damage when taken according to the instructions. But long-term high-dose can cause acute liver failure.

The elderly, infants and people with liver disease who have weak liver detoxification functions should be careful to use paracetamol tablets.

Cimetidine is mainly used for the treatment of gastric ulcer and duodenal ulcer. Usually in the dosage form of cimetidine tablets or cimetidine injection.  Cimetidine might cause liver damage, slightly increase in serum aminotransferase, occasionally cause severe hepatitis, liver necrosis, liver steatosis, severe liver necrosis etc, So use with caution for patients with liver cirrhosis.

Rifampicin is the most commonly used anti-tuberculosis treatment drug with strong antibacterial effect on Mycobacterium tuberculosis and is often used in combination with other anti-tuberculosis drugs. Anti-tuberculosis treatment is a long-term process, and rifampicin can cause liver damage, such as elevated transaminase, hepatomegaly, jaundice, etc. It might cause severe liver damage for patients with liver disease, alcoholics, and those who take isoniazid at the same time.

Isoniazid is one of the first-choice drugs for anti-tuberculosis treatment with good effect on Mycobacterium tuberculosis. But isoniazid is hepatotoxic too. It can damage liver cells, cause elevated transaminase and jaundice especially for alcoholics, liver metabolizers, and people who take rifampicin.

Tetracycline is a broad-spectrum antibiotic might cause hepatotoxicity and liver cell degeneration by long-term oral administration. It is mainly related to the absorption of tetracycline and the deposition in the mitochondria of liver cells, which interferes with the function and activity of the enzyme system in the liver.

Erythromycin is a macrolide antibiotic that can cause liver damage, such as elevated transaminase, hepatomegaly, and cholestatic jaundice. Generally, it can recover within a few days after stopping the drug. Other macrolide antibiotic such as roxithromycin, Azithromycin are with similar side effects.

Ketoconazole is an imidazole antifungal drug, which can cause severe liver toxicity and increase serum transaminase.

Glibenclamide is a sulfonylurea hypoglycemic drug, which has liver toxicity. Generally, the symptom of liver damage isfever and rash.

Propylthiouracil is a commonly used anti-thyroid drug used to treat hyperthyroidism with hepatotoxicity.It is mainly due to the hepatotoxicity of active metabolites in the body, which can cause different degrees of liver cell necrosis.

Statins lipid-lowering drugs have hepatotoxicity.Fat-soluble statin, such as simvastatin, are with  stronger hepatotoxicity than water-soluble statins. The sypmtoms are serum transaminase increase, hepatitis and jaundice.

Fenofibrate is a drug for the treatment of hypertriglyceridemia with hepatotoxicity. It can transaminase levels, cause acute hepatitis. So used with caution for patients with liver insufficiency.

Carbamazepine is usually used to for the treatment of  epilepsy and Sancha neuralgia etc. It can affect liver drug enzyme metabolism.

Above are 12 kinds of common drugs with hepatotoxicity. Use with caution, and it is better to use the above drugs strictly follow doctor’s advice in order to avoid liver damage.