Four Seasons Pharmacist says | Is liver protection medicine a magic weapon for liver protection? Be careful that liver protection may turn into liver damage!

National Liver Protection Day

March 18

"If you stay up late for a long time, take a 'liver protection tablet'" "If you drink alcohol at social events, take a 'liver protection tablet' first"... As we all know, the liver is the most important digestive organ in the human body. It is not only the "center" for the metabolism and processing of various substances in the human body, but also has functions such as biotransformation and detoxification. Once damaged, it will pose a great threat to life and health. However, many people do not know that liver protection drugs are not a panacea. Improper use will become a "weapon" that damages the liver.

What are liver protection drugs?

Common liver protection drugs include anti-inflammatory drugs, liver cell membrane repair and protection agents, antioxidant drugs and detoxification and liver protection drugs.

—— Anti-inflammatory drugs ——

It has a non-specific anti-inflammatory effect similar to glucocorticoids, but without the immunosuppressive adverse reactions of glucocorticoids. It can mildly suppress immunity, fight inflammation, and protect the liver. Representative drugs include magnesium isoglycyrrhizinate, compound glycyrrhizin, glycyrrhizic acid diamine, etc.

—— Liver cell membrane repair and protection agent——

The representative drug is polyene phosphatidylcholine. Similar to the chemical structure of important endogenous phospholipids, it can bind to the liver cell membrane and organelle membrane, and restore damaged liver function and enzyme activity to normal by increasing membrane fluidity and stability and improving organelle function. It can also regulate the energy balance of the liver and promote liver cell regeneration.

—— Antioxidant drugs ——

This type of drug can quickly reduce transaminase, and its representative drugs are bicyclol and silymarin. Bicyclol can effectively remove free radicals and improve liver tissue inflammation; silymarin exerts anti-fibrosis, detoxification and antiviral effects through anti-oxidation.

—— Detoxification and liver protection drugs ——

Representative drugs include N-acetylcysteine, reduced glutathione, and tiopronin. Among them, the sulfhydryl group of glutathione can combine with chemical substances and their metabolites. Supplementing exogenous glutathione can prevent, reduce and stop the damage of liver tissue cells.

So, what are the misunderstandings about using liver-protecting drugs?

Myth 1 - Taking liver-protecting drugs can prevent all liver diseases

Liver protecting drugs may only help repair a damaged liver, but cannot be used to prevent all liver diseases, such as viral hepatitis, and cannot be prevented by oral liver protecting drugs. The most scientific and effective way of prevention is vaccination.

Myth 2 - Abnormal liver function requires taking liver protection drugs

If abnormal liver function is found, it is not recommended to immediately take liver protection treatment. Although liver protection drugs can reduce certain indicators that reflect abnormal liver function, it will give people the false impression that the disease has improved. Finding out the cause and treating it is the key. If the abnormal liver function is caused by drinking, then you need to quit drinking; if the abnormal liver function is caused by hepatitis B or hepatitis C, then you need to take antiviral treatment.

Myth 3 - The more liver-protecting drugs you take, the better

The more liver-protecting drugs you use, the better. Because any drug, including liver-protecting drugs, may have adverse reactions and drug-drug interactions, taking too much will increase the burden on the liver. Even if the condition requires the use of liver-protecting drugs, there should not be too many types, generally 2 to 3, and drugs with the same ingredients should not be used repeatedly.

Myth 4 - Western medicine has adverse reactions, so I take some Chinese medicine to protect my liver.

Some natural Chinese herbal medicines can indeed protect the liver. However, the medicinal ingredients of Chinese herbal medicines are quite complex, and some may contain some liver-damaging ingredients, so patients with liver disease should take them with caution and take them under the guidance of a doctor or pharmacist according to the specific condition.

What really "protects the liver" is not necessarily medicine. The key is to develop good living habits, such as reducing staying up late, eating a light diet, quitting smoking and drinking, exercising appropriately, and eating a balanced diet.