| What do Medications do to
the Liver?
Most medications (drugs) have to be broken down by the liver in
order to be helpful to the body. When drugs enter the liver, liver
enzymes are called in to deal with the drugs so that the drugs do
not hurt the body. When more drugs arrive at the liver, more enzymes
are called into action. A liver function test measures how many
liver enzymes are in the blood. High liver enzymes or an elevated
liver function test may mean that the liver is working too hard
or that liver damage has occurred.
An over-worked liver:
• may make the side effects of drugs a lot worse,
• may not be able to absorb HIV treatment drugs or other medications,
and
• may prevent the absorption of nutrients.
Medications, hepatitis, alcohol, and intravenous drugs can raise
liver enzymes. People infected with HIV frequently have high liver
enzymes. Elevated levels may be due to medication toxicity or to
co-infection with Hepatitis C or Hepatitis B. Toxicity to the liver
can occur when people are on antiretroviral therapy, but people
are different and so are the medications.
An Analogy…
A liver without too many toxins or stressors (such as viral infections
and alcohol) is like a person who has only 3 chores to do for the
entire day.
This person has time to do those 3 activities well and with very
little stress.
A liver with too many stressors or toxins is like a person who
has 12 chores to do in just one day.
This person has neither the time nor the energy to do all 12 activities
well. S/he becomes tired and over-worked, and does not do the chores
efficiently or effectively.
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