Most people don't notice liver damage until it's advanced. That makes the liver a quiet organ — but also one you need to pay attention to. This tag page gathers easy-to-read guides, drug reviews, and practical tips so you can spot problems early and make better choices about medicines, supplements, and tests.
The liver handles detox, makes important proteins, and helps digest food. When it fails, you might see yellow skin or eyes (jaundice), dark urine, pale stools, itchy skin, unusual fatigue, or belly pain. Those signs don't prove liver disease, but they should prompt a doctor visit and liver function tests (LFTs) — a blood panel that checks enzymes like ALT, AST, ALP, and bilirubin.
Common causes include viral hepatitis, fatty liver (often linked to obesity or diabetes), alcohol-related damage, autoimmune liver disease, and drug-induced liver injury. Some prescription drugs and supplements can stress the liver, so review everything you take with your clinician.
Many articles here look at medicines that affect the liver or need dose changes when liver function is poor. For example, some antibiotics (like combinations containing clavulanate), cancer drugs, and older seizure meds can cause liver issues in certain people. Even herbal supplements can be risky; agrimony and other herbal remedies list both benefits and potential liver interactions in their guides.
If you take multiple drugs — for diabetes, heart disease, or mental health — your risk of interactions rises. Simple steps help: keep an up-to-date medication list, avoid alcohol, and ask for LFT monitoring if you start a new medication that can harm the liver. If your provider suggests switching drugs, we have pieces on safe alternatives to common meds and what to ask your doctor when changing therapy.
Tests beyond bloodwork include liver ultrasound and FibroScan (a quick scan that checks stiffness). Those tests help figure out fatty liver or scarring (fibrosis). If results are unclear, your doctor may recommend specialist referral to a hepatologist for more targeted care.
Use this tag page to find practical reads: drug safety reviews, comparisons of alternatives, supplement guides, and survivor stories that touch on liver follow-up. Each article aims to help you ask the right questions at the clinic and make safer choices at home.
If you're worried right now: check for jaundice, severe abdominal pain, high fever, or confusion — these need urgent care. For routine concerns, book a primary care visit, get basic blood tests, and bring a list of everything you take. Small steps now can prevent bigger problems later.