Hepatic Encephalopathy Treatment Options
The therapies used for Hepatic Encephalopathy treatment vary depending upon a number of factors including:
- The precipitating cause, or triggering event
- Your specific symptoms
- The severity of the disorder
- The severity of your underlying liver disease
- Your age and general health
The first step is to identify and treat precipitating factors such as infection, gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding, certain drugs or kidney dysfunction. Hepatic Encephalopathy treatment therapies may include medications to treat infections, medications or procedures to control bleeding, stopping the use of medications that can trigger an episode and any appropriate therapy for kidney issues.
If HE presents as a medical emergency requiring immediate hospitalization, life support may be necessary to help with breathing or blood circulation, particularly if there’s a loss of consciousness.
Once the precipitating factors have been addressed, treatment is aimed at lowering the level of ammonia and other toxins in your blood. Since these toxins originally arise in your GI system, therapies are aimed at your gut to eliminate or reduce the production of toxins. There are two types of medications that are used to do this: lactulose (a type of sugar) and antibiotics.
For more information about Hepatic Encephalopathy treatment consult your healthcare provider or call 1-800-GO-LIVER.