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Drug-induced cholestasis - Treatment

Alternative Names

Cholestasis - drug-induced

Treatment:

If a medication is causing the cholestasis, the doctor will probably tell you to stop taking the drug and will prescribe an alternative, if possible. Do NOT stop taking medications on your own without talking to your doctor. There is no medicine to reverse drug-induced cholestasis.

Cholestyramine (or colestipol) may reduce the itching.

Vitamin replacement therapy restores vitamins A, K, and D, which are lost in fatty stools. A calcium supplement should be added to prevent or treat soft, weakened bones (osteomalacia).

Expectations (prognosis):

Most patients recover, but severe cases may lead to liver failure. Drug-induced cholestasis usually reverses after you stop taking the medication or drug. However, it may take many months for cholestasis to get better.

Complications:

Diarrhea
Poor absorption of fat and fat-soluble vitamins
Severe itching

Calling your health care provider:

Call your health care provider if you have persistent itching or notice that your skin or eyes are yellow.

Bile pathway

Reviewed last on: 5/4/2010
David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; George F. Longstreth, MD, Department of Gastroenterology, Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program, San Diego, CA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

Afdhal NH. Diseases of the gall bladder and bile ducts. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 159.

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