Acute liver failure

Acute liver failure is loss of liver function that happens quickly — in days or weeks — usually in a person who has no preexisting liver disease. It's most often caused by a hepatitis virus or medications, such as acetaminophen. This condition is quite rare.

Medicines given to manage acute liver failure complications include:

• Medicine for the underlying causes. If liver failure is caused by another condition, such as hepatitis B or autoimmune hepatitis, specific antiviral or immune-based medicines may be prescribed.
• N-acetylcysteine (NAC). NAC is the main treatment for liver damage caused by an acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) overdose. It also may help protect the liver in other forms of drug-induced liver injury (DILI) and nonacetaminophen-induced acute liver failure.
• Medicines for infections. Because people with liver failure are more likely to develop infections, antibiotics or antiviral medicines may be prescribed to treat or prevent them.