medication induced hepatitis

[redrose42]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? NJ
Do I have grounds for a lawsuit if a prescribed medication landed me in the hospital with hepatitis and elevated liver enzymes with high levels of amonia and protein in my system. Although by seeking immediate medical attention, there has be no long lasting liver damage because I am tested annually by my primary physician. This all occurred less than 2yrs ago.

[justalayman]

are those known side effects of the medication?

[Proserpina]

Originally Posted by redrose42

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? NJ
Do I have grounds for a lawsuit if a prescribed medication landed me in the hospital with hepatitis and elevated liver enzymes with high levels of amonia and protein in my system. Although by seeking immediate medical attention, there has be no long lasting liver damage because I am tested annually by my primary physician. This all occurred less than 2yrs ago.

What was the name of the medication?

[ecmst12]

I'm curious how you think a medication could have caused you to get a virus.

[Proserpina]

Originally Posted by ecmst12

I'm curious how you think a medication could have caused you to get a virus.

It would seem that OP is referring to idiopathic or drug-induced hepatitis rather than the viral form.

[ecmst12]

Interesting, I hadn't heard of that.

[Proserpina]

Originally Posted by ecmst12

Interesting, I hadn't heard of that.

Unfortunately it isn't uncommon - when I was growing up in the UK acetaminophen was a somewhat common cause of hepatitis amongst would-be and actual suicides. I'd have to double check to be sure but most of the NSAIDS can do it too, along with some steroids and some of the statins.

Hang on - do want to clarify something:

If a drug is taken as prescribed and according to the recommended dosage and frequency the risk of drug-induced hepatitis drops dramatically (with the exception of a few specific drugs - Amiodarone being the one that comes to mind and that's really only because I've had to deal with it on a personal level) and though it's still possible most of us can take these drugs safely.

[cbg]

Some 40+ years ago, as a child, I was hospitalized after being prescribed an antibiotic that I was violently allergic to. The doctor who prescribed it would have had no possible way of knowing that I was allergic as I had never been prescribed it, or any other antibiotic in that family, before. I have since been diagnosed as being allergic to the entire family, which is a shame because I am also prone to a strain of bronchitis that is most effectively treated by the strain I'm allergic to and I often have to take two, or even three courses of a less effective drug to combat it.

But I digress. The point is that the form my allergy took, was hepatitis-like symptoms which left me with permanent liver damage.

But that doesn't mean the doctor was at fault, or that the manufacturer of the drug is. Neither of them is responsible for the fact, or could possibly have known in advance, that my body chemistry was designed in such a way that I am incapable of processing that particular antibiotic. That responsibility belongs solely to the Big Guy Upstairs, and to the best of my knowledge no one has successfully sued Him.

[lya]

Hepatitis is inflammation of the liver. The are several types of hepatitis and numerous causes.

Because the today's public generally considers hepatitis to mean viral and contagious, most physicians and healthcare providers do not use the term when discussing liver inflammation that results from drug reactions.

[cbg]

Which is why I specified, hepatitis like symptoms. My doctor made the same distinction.

[Proserpina]

Originally Posted by lya

Hepatitis is inflammation of the liver. The are several types of hepatitis and numerous causes.

Because the today's public generally considers hepatitis to mean viral and contagious, most physicians and healthcare providers do not use the term when discussing liver inflammation that results from drug reactions.

It would appear that enough do use the term that confusion isn't a rare or unique situation. Perhaps it is more commonly used amongst those who were not schooled in the US?

[cbg]

Don't know, Dogmatique, but my doctor made the distinction lya was talking about and I was in Canada at the time.

[lya]

Originally Posted by Dogmatique

It would appear that enough do use the term that confusion isn't a rare or unique situation. Perhaps it is more commonly used amongst those who were not schooled in the US?

I think those who have tried to teach patients and family members make the differentiation as clearly as possible. It's kinda like explaining that cirrhosis is not always due to alcoholism but comes from other causes only to hear the family mutter as they leave, "I never knew she drank".

[Proserpina]

Originally Posted by lya

I think those who have tried to teach patients and family members make the differentiation as clearly as possible. It's kinda like explaining that cirrhosis is not always due to alcoholism but comes from other causes only to hear the family mutter as they leave, "I never knew she drank".

That's actually a wonderful way of explaining it, yes.