Cirrhosis Support Group
Cirrhosis is a consequence of chronic liver disease, most commonly caused by alcoholism and hepatitis C. Ascites is the most common complication of cirrhosis and is associated with a poor quality of life, increased risk of infections, and a poor long term outcome. Liver damage from cirrhosis cannot be reversed, but treatment can stop or delay further progression and...
I know that the Lactulose and Xifaxan help rid the body of ammonia before it gets to the brain... My question is If the Amonia already found its way to the brain is there anything you can do to rid the brain of it? or is it there to stay? reason I'm asking is that I've been waiting for over a month for my Xifax to get approved either my Dr. is not doing what he has to do or my insurance Co. is just that bad I think its the Dr's office because of past experiences with similar situations.. back to Question.. once Ammonia is in brain is it there to stay? :0(
but substances like sugar are used by and effect the brain
in the same way that a drug like a tranquilizer will work for about 4 hrs
But it can be building up in the blood levels So drugs that cause ti to be expelled are used like levulose
The brain doesn't store ammonia. It relies strictly on what the blood vessels carry into it. It then filters out what it needs, oxygen, glucose and as we've discovered, drugs and things like ammonia. It's mainly a protective mechanism, blood, bacterial infections, etc. are to big to cross the barrier, but other bad things still make it through.
They aren't necessarily needed, but can cross the "blood/brain barrier" and are absorbed. They then are metabolized or dealt with through regular cellular breadown, but to answer your question, ammonia isn't stored in the brain. It certainly causes problems, but the problems go away once the liver begins filtering ammonia out the way it should.
The body is actually quite fascinating, but each organ and system has a job to do, don't want to mess with them.