  Viral Hepatitis   Quick Links  Veterans Crisis Line Badge My
healthevet badge EBenefits Badge  Complications of cirrhosis:
the main issues involving antibiotics, diuretics, and lactulose
for Health Care Providers  3: Complications of cirrhosis: What
are the main issues involving antibiotics, diuretics, and
lactulose?   A 58-year-old man initially presented with new
onset jaundice, ascites, cachexia, edema, and encephalopathy. He
has been a heavy alcohol user on and off for approximately 20
years, and 2 years ago he started drinking between a pint and a
quart of vodka daily. He required hospitalization 3 times over
the course of 3 months for medical management of encephalopathy
and ascites, including large-volume paracenteses. He was treated
with spironolactone, furosemide, prophylactic ciprofloxacin,
lactulose, folic acid, thiamine, and multivitamin. He was
noncompliant with his medication regimens between
hospitalizations. He then stopped drinking alcohol for 10 months
and improved his medication complian