Specific medications can be used to treat the complications of cirrhosis. These are in addition to the medications you may be taking for the cause of your cirrhosis, or for other health conditions.

Tell your liver specialist if you start or stop any of these medications.

Ascites

Aldactone© (Spironolactone)

  • Diuretic (water pill) that helps get rid of extra fluid

Lasix© (Furosemide)

  • Diuretic (water pill) that helps get rid of extra fluid
  • Do not take these medications if you are ill and not eating or drinking well. They can cause you to become dehydrated and harm your kidneys.

Keeping track of your own weight can help your doctor adjust the doses of these medications. You can use the weight tracker tool provided here.

Weight Tracker Tool

Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis

Norfloxacin (or Ciprofloxacin) 

  • Antibiotics will be used to treat the infection in the ascites if one is found
  • Once you develop this infection, you should remain on antibiotics as long as you have ascites – maybe even the rest of your life – to prevent another infection from happening

Varices

Nadolol (or Propranolol or Carvedilol)

  • Beta blocker: helps decrease the pressure in the liver, make existing varices smaller and prevent new ones from forming
  • The right dose of beta block is one that lowers your heart rate to less than 60 bpm
  • Please let your doctor know if you feel dizzy or heightened after taking these medications

NOTE: It may also lower your blood pressure

Hepatic encephalopathy

Lactulose

  • Sweet syrup that gives diarrhoea to help clear toxins in your gut
  • Important to adjust the amount you take to make sure you have 2-3 bowel movements every day.
  • Even though it tastes sweet, it is safe in diabetes as your body does not absorb it.
  • It is meant to give you loose stools; a bit of cramping and gas is normal too. Do not stop taking Lactulose without talking with your care provider. 

Rifaximin

  • Antibiotic pill that controls the growth of bacteria in the intestine to prevent too much toxin (ammonia) from being produced
  • It is usually started when Lactulose alone is not enough to control symptoms of hepatic encephalopathy

To keep track of any mental and physical symptoms of hepatic encephalopathy, it is possible to use the tool provided below. Once opened, you can print it and follow the given instructions.

Encephalopathy Symptom Tracker