Liver cirrhosis is the end-stage of hepatic disease characterized by liver scarring and poor hepatic function. It may be caused by any disease or condition that continuously damages liver cells.
The liver is one of the most important organs of the body, which attempts to repair the damage. But in liver cirrhosis, it fails to repair and regenerate, forming scar tissue that starts to interfere with blood flow to functioning hepatocytes (liver cells), causing them to die.
The most common causes of cirrhosis are chronic alcoholism, chronic hepatitis B or C, and nonalcoholic fatty liver, which is common in people with obesity, diabetes, or high cholesterol or triglycerides levels.
Liver cirrhosis treatment includes abstaining from alcohol, taking medication, and liver transplant.
Common generic drugs for liver cirrhosis are aldosterone antagonists, bile acids, and diuretics. Popular generic drugs for liver cirrhosis include:
Aldosterone Antagonists
- Spironolactone (Generic Aldactone): An aldosterone antagonist that works just like a diuretic. It helps patients to make more urine and to lose excess water from their bodies.
- Spironolactone and Hydrochlorothiazide (Generic Aldactazide): It is a combination of aldosterone antagonist and thiazide diuretic.
Bile Acids
- Ursodeoxycholic Acid (Generic Ursodiol): It is a bile acid that helps dissolve gallbladder stones in patients with liver cirrhosis.
- Obeticholic Acid (Generic Ocaliva): It is also a bile acid. It treats primary biliary cholangitis caused by liver cirrhosis.
Diuretics
- Hydrochlorothiazide (Generic Microzide): A thiazide diuretic that reduces swelling and water retention caused by liver disease.
- Generic Chlorthalidone: It is a thiazide-like diuretic drug used to treat high blood pressure and edema caused by liver cirrhosis.
- Chlorothiazide (Generic Diuril): Chlorothiazide is yet another thiazide diuretic that treats swelling from liver or kidney disease. It also treats hypertension.
- Furosemide (Generic Lasix): A loop diuretic that also reduces edema or swelling caused by liver dysfunction.
- Torsemide (Generic Demadex): Another loop diuretic that helps you make more urine and lose excess salt and water from the body. It treats swelling caused by liver disease.
- Ethacrynic Acid (Generic Edecrin): It is one of the loop diuretics. The drug treats swelling from liver disease.
- Triamterene (Generic Dyrenium): It is a potassium-sparing diuretic. The drug helps you to make more urine and lose salt and water from your body, treating edema caused by liver disease.
Scarring of the liver in cirrhosis is irreversible so doctors usually focus on treating the underlying disease or condition to prevent further liver damage. For instance, your doctor may recommend an antiviral medication to treat hepatitis.
Avoiding alcohol, using medications to remove toxins from the liver, removing bile duct blockages, losing weight, and managing diabetes and high cholesterol are a few important treatment aspects of liver cirrhosis. Always check with your doctor before using or changing any generic drugs for liver cirrhosis.
