ALCOHOL AND HEPAITITS C
Alcohol is a strong toxin to the liver and can lead to cirrhosis and liver cancer. People with chronic hepatitis C who drink excessive amounts of alcohol are at an especially high risk for a quick, progressive course of liver disease to advanced stages. Alcohol may cause liver damage in people with HCV at small doses that would not otherwise be dangerous to the liver in a person without HCV. Alcohol is like fuel that hepatitis C needs to multiply in the body. Alcohol also can decrease the success of interferon treatment.
Daily alcohol drinking is discouraged as well as drinking large amounts at any time. If you cannot stop drinking completely, you should at least limit your alcohol intake to less than two ounces a week.
The liver detoxifies drugs and other harmful toxins by converting them into substances that can be excreted by the body. If you avoid any unnecessary drug intake, you are doing yourself a favour. There are many prescription and over-the-counter drugs that can harm the liver in certain individuals. Sometimes these harmful effects are predictable and other times they are not.
DRUGS AND HEPATITIS C
Acetaminophen (also known as Tylenol) is safe in people with liver problems of any degree; however, damage to the liver can occur when it is taken in excess or in combination with alcohol. If you have cirrhosis, you should not take other painkillers such as ASA (also known as Aspirin) or most arthritis pills (Motrin, Advil), as these drugs may adversely affect your kidney function, and may promote internal bleeding in the esophagus and stomach.
Most medications are safe to use. However, you should not take any medication without checking with your doctor or pharmacist. It is also very important to know the names of all the medications you are taking, and why you are taking them. Write the names of all the drugs you are taking on a piece of paper, and carry this in your wallet at all times.
It is also important to reduce or avoid using illicit/recreational drugs. These drugs contain chemicals which are capable of injuring the liver. Use of recreational drugs such as cocaine, methamphetamines, crack etc. alone or along with alcohol has been shown to cause extreme liver damage. These toxins can also cause injury to the heart, brain, kidneys and muscles and can even cause death.