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Prevention
By Mayo Clinic staffThe only sure way to prevent alcoholic hepatitis is to drink very sparingly or not at all. If you have been diagnosed with alcoholic hepatitis, you should not drink alcohol again.
These measures also may help reduce your risk of alcoholic liver disease:
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Protect yourself from hepatitis C. Hepatitis C is a highly infectious liver disease caused by the hepatitis C virus. Untreated, it can lead to cirrhosis. If you have hepatitis C and drink alcohol, you're far more likely to develop cirrhosis than someone who doesn't drink is. Because there's no vaccine to prevent hepatitis C, the only way to protect yourself is to avoid exposure to the virus.
In the past, many people with hepatitis C became infected through blood transfusions before improved blood-screening tests became available. Today, contaminated drug paraphernalia is responsible for the majority of all new cases of hepatitis C. Avoid sharing needles or other drug paraphernalia. Hepatitis C can sometimes be transmitted sexually. If you aren't absolutely certain of the health status of a sexual partner, use a new condom every time you have sex. See your doctor if you have or have had hepatitis C or think you may have been exposed to the virus.
- Limit medications and supplements. Because your liver detoxifies and eliminates drugs from your system, most medications, including nonprescription ones, can damage liver cells. This is particularly true if the drugs are taken in excess or with alcohol. Be especially careful not to mix acetaminophen or medicine containing acetaminophen with alcohol — the combination can cause liver failure. Before taking any medications or supplements, talk to your doctor about the potential effect on your liver.
