Drugs That Can Cause Liver Damage

Acetaminophen

Many studies on drug abuse and liver disease have found acetaminophen to be a common culprit. Acetaminophen is a medication that’s used to treat moderate to severe pain and is often used in conjunction with opiates to reduce fever. Also known as Tylenol, acetaminophen is also available in many over-the-counter medications such as Actifed, Alka-Seltzer Plus Liquid Gels, Cepacol, Contac, Nyquil, and more. However, this drug is also known for causing liver damage when taken in excess. When people follow the recommended dose of this drug, they’re relatively safe. However, many people often take higher doses for pain relief or may misuse drugs that contain this ingredient, increasing their risk of liver damage and even overdose.

Acetaminophen causes liver damage by overwhelming the glutathione pathway with its metabolite, NAPQI. Your cells contain glutathione, a substance that acts as an antioxidant in your body and detoxifies chemicals like pollutants and drugs. When someone takes too much acetaminophen, it overwhelms this pathway, causing the toxic compounds to accumulate in the liver, impairing its ability to rid the body of toxins and causing damage. Additionally, as with other medications, mixing acetaminophen with other drugs or alcohol can also increase the likelihood of developing liver problems. If you notice that a loved one is misusing their medications or if you’re struggling with this yourself, our prescription drug addiction treatment at Banyan Pompano can help.

Inhalants

Inhalants are substances that people usually use only by inhaling, such as solvents, aerosol sprays, gases, and nitrites. Inhalants are various products that can be purchased or found in homes or workplaces, including spray paints, keyboard cleaners, air fresheners, glues, markers, and cleaning fluids. When these substances are used to get high, they’re referred to as inhalants. Inhalants contain psychoactive or mind-altering properties that can produce euphoria, hallucinations, lightheadedness, and breathing problems.

In addition to liver damage and failure, inhalants can also cause long-term problems like hearing loss, bone marrow damage, and brain damage. Of their side effects, the most common and concerning is asphyxiation, in which the person doesn’t get enough oxygen to the brain, causing coma and permanent damage. Certain inhalants, specifically toluene, are also more harmful to the liver when the person is a heavy drinker.

Heroin

Heroin is an illegal opioid that’s highly harmful and addictive. It’s most commonly smoked or injected for the euphoric and sedative side effects it produces. In addition to liver damage, heroin is also known to produce lung disease, insomnia, mental illness, sexual dysfunction, fertility issues, nasal problems, scarred or collapsed veins, soft tissue infection, and more. When a person injects heroin, it enters the liver via the bloodstream. The liver’s job is to detoxify these drugs and remove them from the body. Most drugs are fat-soluble, meaning they’re difficult to pass through urine. The liver corrects this issue by breaking down these substances and converting them into water-soluble forms so they can be passed through bile or urine. While it’s normal for the liver to do this every once in a while, chronic drug use forces the organ to work twice as hard. Therefore, heroin liver damage is the result of chronic drug abuse, which forces the liver to constantly detoxify itself and the body, basically wearing it out.

Cocaine

Cocaine is a central nervous system (CNS) stimulant that’s also highly addictive and damaging to the body. Often made with other cutting agents like fentanyl and paint thinner, crack, or coke is known for causing serious physical damage. Cocaine liver damage is the result of the drug’s impact on liver enzyme levels. Cocaine effects on the liver include:

• Viral hepatitis (liver inflammation)
• Arterial hypotension (low blood pressure)
• Kidney failure
• Rhabdomyolysis (leakage of muscle contents into blood circulation)

Moreover, as with any other substance, whenever the liver is constantly flooded with toxins, it’s being overworked to the point where it stops functioning properly. Long-term cocaine use also increases a person’s chances of cardiovascular disease, overdose, and death. If you’re addicted to cocaine, our cocaine rehab can help you regain your health and sobriety before it’s too late.

Methamphetamine

Methamphetamine is another CNS stimulant that’s derived from amphetamine. Like cocaine, meth can be smoked, injected, or swallowed. When used, meth increases alertness, energy, and physiological functions like breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure. Long-term meth use is commonly associated with problems like skin disease (meth face) and tooth decay (meth mouth), but it can also severely damage the liver. Crystal meth liver damage is usually the result of hyperthermia or abnormally high body temperature. Hyperthermia is believed to cause oxidative stress and depleting glutathione, which can cause cell and tissue damage as well as affect the liver’s ability to break down toxins and detoxify the body. Without the help of meth treatment, those who are dependent on this drug are more likely to suffer from organ failure of all kinds as well as overdose.

DXM

Dextromethorphan or DXM is an over-the-counter (OTC) cough suppressant. Robotripping, dexing, and skittling are common names for DMX abuse, which is done to experience a range of physical and psychological side effects. Although DXM is an OTC drug, people who abuse it usually do so by taking dangerously high doses. Not only does constantly flooding the liver with any kind of drug damage it, but OTC drugs often contain acetaminophen as well, which we’ve already established how damaging it can be to the liver. When used in high doses, DXM can lead to hepatitis and liver toxicity.