United States Department of Veterans Affairs

VA Home

About VA

Organizations

Apply Online

Locations

Contact VA

National Hepatitis C Program

	Patients' Home > Complications > Cirrhosis > Encephalopathy	Enlarge Text Size:



Cirrhosis

Encephalopathy (confusion)

A liver that is working poorly may not be able to get rid of toxic substances like ammonia (which comes from the intestines), and it may allow these substances to go into the brain and cause confusion.

Besides confusion, toxins in the brain cause changes in your sleep, your mood, your concentration, and your memory. If it gets really bad, it can even cause a coma.

These are all symptoms of hepatic encephalopathy. If you have encephalopathy, you may have problems driving, writing, calculating, and performing other activities of daily living. Signs of encephalopathy are trembling and hand "flapping."

Encephalopathy may occur when you have an infection or when you have internal bleeding, and it may also occur if you are constipated or take too many water pills or take tranquilizers or sleeping pills. You doctor might recommend lactulose. Lactulose is a syrup that makes your bowels move more often (up to two or three times a day) and helps get rid of ammonia.

If you are not acting like yourself, if you are confused, or if you are very sleepy, you should be taken to the emergency room immediately. These symptoms could be a sign of a serious medical problem. You should not drive when you have these symptoms.

Reviewed/Updated Date: May 11, 2007

Cirrhosis

Encephalopathy (confusion)

Contents