WHAT IS RESMETIROM USED FOR?
Resmetirom is a new prescriptive drug. It is used primarily to cure a severe liver disease known as NASH only in adults. NASH is an abbreviation that is used to refer to Non-Alcoholic Steato Hepatitis. It is a subset of a larger complication commonly referred to as fatty liver disease. In NASH, the liver of a person gets filled with fat and this fat irritates and damages. In the long run, this may result in scarring (also known as fibrosis), cirrhosis (severe scarring), liver failure or liver cancer.
Resmetirom is a treatment that is applied to individuals with NASH who have moderate or advanced liver scarring (fibrosis). It does not work in people that already have cirrhosis (the scarring end stage). The medicine is aimed at preventing the further progression of the disease and assisting the liver in recovery.
HOW DOES RESMETIROM WORK?
We have a special metabolism- control centre within our body- how your body forms and consumes energy. This control centre is a form of a protein in your cells, which is known as the thyroid hormone receptor beta.
This is a thermostat receptor of your liver. It sends a message to your liver when it is turned on to work hard. It accelerates fat burning processes. This system is suppressed in individuals with NASH. Consequently, the liver does not burn the fat as it should, thus accumulation of fat and resulting in health issues. The thermostat returns to the heat with a push of the button called resmetirom. It is fitted to bind to this thyroid hormone receptor beta present in the liver. Resmetirom binds itself to it, activating the receptor. This tells the liver cells:
To increase the rate at which fat is broken down and used for energy.
Slow down the creation of new fat in the liver.
By doing these two things, Resmetirom directly tackles the root of NASH. It reduces the unhealthy fat in the liver, which then reduces the inflammation and damage caused by that fat. Less fat and less irritation can help the liver heal and prevent further scarring.
WHAT TO BE AWARE OF: POSSIBLE INTERACTIONS
"Interactions" mean how Resmetirom might change, or be changed by, other things you put in your body. This is very important for safety.
Drug Interactions: Resmetirom can affect how other medicines work. It is broken down by the liver using specific pathways. If you take other drugs that use these same pathways, it can cause problems. The levels of either Resmetirom or the other drug could become too high or too low in your blood.
Statins: Cholesterol medication such as simvastatin is considered very common. The effect of resmetirom is to raise the levels of simvastatin in your body and risk muscle pains. Your physician may have to vary your statin dose.
Other Medicines: It can also have interactions with such drugs as repaglinide and paclitaxel. Certain antidepressants and some blood thinners are also to be taken care of.
This is why one must tell your doctor about every other medicine you are taking, including prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
Alcohol: While NASH is not caused by alcohol, drinking alcohol can still harm your liver. If you have NASH, it is strongly recommended to avoid alcohol completely to give your liver the best chance to recover.
Other Health Conditions: Tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems. For example, Resmetirom is not studied in people with severe cirrhosis and should not be used by them.
To conclude, Resmetirom is a specific intervention in the treatment of NASH that acts by activating the innate fat-burning system of the liver. It promises to treat a disease with no approved medicines and so must be administered with caution under the supervision of a doctor to prevent any interaction with other medications.
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