How does jaundice affect the metabolism of medications in the liver?

The liver one of the important organs of the body plays a vital role in processing medications and converts them into a substance to excrete it out of the body. But when the function of the liver is disturbed it affects the entire body, due to this conditions like jaundice may occur and drug metabolism is going to be affected significantly. Jaundice is a condition that is characterized by the yellowing of skin and eyes due to the excessive accumulation of bilirubin in the blood, while the liver is functioning normally they are eliminated from the body. This is one of the indications of underlying liver dysfunction. As the liver deteriorates that may also have a greater influence on the drug metabolism this going to have a potential reason for harmful consequences. The below content explores how possibly the jaundice could affect the metabolism of the drugs and its potential risk, read get aware of it.

The role of the liver in drug metabolism

The liver is going to be the superior organ in drug metabolism inside the body in this case it detoxifies the chemical components present in the drug, metabolizes drugs, and filters harmful substances from the blood. Once the drug enters the body, it has to be converted into an active or inactive form for therapeutic effect or excretion, here this transformation happens in two phases,

• Phase I metabolism, this phase involves chemical modifications including oxidation, reduction, or hydrolysis these are the basic steps carried out by enzymes. At the end of these reactions, the drug you were taking will be made into water-soluble and then excreted via urine.
• Phase II metabolism, in this stage of metabolism the drug going to get attached to substances like sulfate, this enhances the water-soluble property and makes it simple for the body to eliminate the drug.

In such instances when the liver is impaired both Phase I and Phase II metabolism are going to get disrupted which results in a buildup of drugs in the body.  Because of this severe complications may arise in the patients with jaundice.

Impact of jaundice on drug metabolism

In general, jaundice going to affect drug metabolism in several ways, the severity of this is going to vary based on the cause and severity of liver impairment. Below are some of the views on how jaundice influences medication metabolism, check it out.

• Liver diseases usually cause jaundice it may include hepatitis, cirrhosis, or bile duct obstruction, all of these conditions affect drug metabolism by affecting the liver’s ability to produce enzymes. As a result, the chemical components in the drug accumulate in the blood and cause drug toxicity or exaggerated effects.
• Bile is produced by the liver it acts on fatty substances, It also plays a vital role in excreting certain medications. In this case, when there is obstructive jaundice bile flow will be affected and due to this they may not be produced or produced in small quantities as a result the drug may accumulate to toxic levels in patients with obstructive jaundice. 
• When a person is affected with jaundice there the blood flow to the liver will also be reduced. The decreased hepatic blood flow limits the liver's function and also affects the drug metabolism.

Experiencing jaundice is not a rare thing the majority of getting but proper treatment and monitoring are required to ensure your liver is functioning properly and also it effectively carries drug metabolism. When you are diagnosed with jaundice follow the doctor's guidance properly and get over it as soon as possible. 

Experiencing jaundice is not a rare thing; the majority of people get it, but proper treatment and monitoring are required to ensure your liver is functioning properly and also that it effectively carries out drug metabolism. When you are diagnosed with jaundice, follow the doctor's guidance properly and get over it as soon as possible. For expert care and treatment, visit Gem Hospital 

Contact us to book your appointment and ensure your liver health is in good hands!