How to Treat Alcoholic Hepatitis

Alcoholic hepatitis is a complex version of the virus that causes inflammation of the liver. Not all heavy drinkers develop hepatitis, and some people are diagnosed with the infection with only moderate drinking or short periods of excessive drinking. There is no sure pattern for alcoholic hepatitis, and the options to treat it are just as vague. Read on to learn what to do if you are diagnosed with alcoholic hepatitis.

Things You'll Need

• Nutritionist

Instructions

1. See a doctor who specializes in diseases of the liver. She will be able to recognize more acute symptoms and will you keep you abreast of the latest treatment options.

2. Stop drinking if you have been diagnosed with alcoholic hepatitis. The most important element used to treat the disease is complete abstinence from alcohol. Marked improvement usually appears about 6 to 12 months after a patient quits drinking.

3. Expect your doctor to prescribe medications to treat the inflammation of the liver. There is no proven drug therapy for alcoholic hepatitis, and clinical trials have produced limited results.

4. Have a liver biopsy to determine the extent of the damage to the liver. In some cases, a liver transplant may be needed, while in others the effects can be totally reversed once the patient stops drinking.

5. Visit a nutritionist or dietitian to set up a program for a healthy diet. Malnutrition can contribute to liver damage, so your doctor will most likely prescribe a high calorie, nutrient-dense diet to help rebuild the liver. Supplemental vitamins, including folate and thiamine, will probably be prescribed.

6. Consider using complementary therapy to treat alcoholic hepatitis. In Europe, milk thistle is often used to treat liver disorders. It seems that milk thistle helps rebuild the liver by stimulating antioxidant enzymes.

7. Continue seeing your doctor, even if your symptoms subside. You need to closely monitor the health of your liver, ensuring that it does not sustain more damage that could eventually lead it to fail.

Tips & Warnings

• If you are having a problem abstaining from alcohol, consider joining Alcoholic's Anonymous or getting help in some other way to stop drinking.

• An overall healthy lifestyle is key to treating alcoholic hepatitis. You should get plenty of rest, exercise frequently and eat well-balanced meals. This healthier lifestyle means you must also forgo illegal drugs and alcohol.

• Alcoholic hepatitis causes you to bruise and bleed more easily. Some people recommend vitamin K as a supplement to combat the bruising.

• Smoking can cause additional liver damage. If you have been diagnosed with alcoholic hepatitis, quit smoking.