Here is a concise summary of the provided text:
**Title:** Top 10 Drugs that Can Harm the Liver
**Key Points:**
1. **Liver Importance:** The liver detoxifies the body, filtering medications, toxins, and chemicals.
2. **Liver Damage Risk:** Over 2,000 cases of acute liver failure occur annually in the US, with half caused by drugs or supplements.
3. **Early Signs of Liver Damage:**
* Stomach pain, fever, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting
* Dark urine, white stools, jaundice, extreme fatigue, itching
4. **Timeline for Liver Damage:** Symptoms can appear 5 days to 3 months after starting a medication.
5. **Top 10 Liver-Harming Drugs:**
1. Methyldopa (antihypertensive)
2. Amoxicillin/Clavulanate (antibiotic)
3. Diclofenac (anti-inflammatory)
4. Amiodarone (anti-arrhythmic)
5. Allopurinol (gout treatment)
6. Methotrexate (rheumatoid arthritis, cancer treatment)
7. Anticonvulsants (e.g., Phenytoin, Valproic Acid)
8. Carbamazepine and Lamotrigine (anticonvulsants, rare cases)
9. Antifungals (e.g., Fluconazole, Itraconazole)
10. **Paracetamol (Acetaminophen)**: Leading cause of drug-induced liver failure, especially with overdoses.
**Important Reminders:**
* Always follow prescribed medication dosages.
* Be aware of potential liver damage from medications and supplements.
* Protect your liver to maintain overall body health.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text, each with a number and in short sentences:
1. **All medications and supplements pass through the liver**.
2. **Drug-induced liver damage can occur within 1 day to 90 days** after taking a drug or supplement.
3. **The liver is the main organ for detoxifying the body** from chemical wastes and toxins.
4. **No machine can replace liver function if it fails**, unlike kidney dialysis.
5. **Over 2,000 cases of acute liver failure occur annually in the US**, with half caused by drugs or nutritional supplements.
6. **Hundreds of drugs can damage the liver**, with 10 highlighted as particularly harmful.
7. **Symptoms of drug-induced liver damage include**:
* Stomach pain
* Fever
* Diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting
* Dark urine
* White stools
* Yellow skin (jaundice)
* Extreme fatigue or drowsiness
* Itching and skin irritation
8. **Time to liver damage varies** depending on body sensitivity, dose, age, and pre-existing liver conditions.
9. **Symptoms of drug-induced liver damage typically appear between 5 days and 3 months** after starting a drug.
10. **Alcohol and illicit drugs (e.g., cocaine) are also harmful to the liver**, with ~10% of liver transplants due to alcohol.
11. **The following medications can cause liver damage** (listed in the order they appear):
1. Methyldopa (antihypertensive)
2. Amoxicillin/clavulanate (antibiotic)
3. Diclofenac (anti-inflammatory)
4. Amiodarone (anti-arrhythmic)
5. Allopurinol (for high uric acid/gout)
6. Methotrexate (for rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and some cancers)
7. Anticonvulsants (e.g., phenytoin, valproic acid, carbamazepine, lamotrigine)
8. Antifungals (e.g., fluconazole, itraconazole)
9. **Paracetamol (acetaminophen)** is the **primary drug causing liver failure**, especially with overdoses.
12. **Paracetamol liver damage can start within 1-3 days**, with symptoms appearing within 2-4 days.
13. **Acetylcysteine is an antidote for paracetamol overdose**.
14. **Fulminant hepatitis has a high mortality rate** (~80% without a liver transplant) in cases of acute drug-induced hepatitis with jaundice.