Treatment for High Blood Ammonia Levels

A healthy liver converts the ammonia in your body into urea, which is expelled in your urine. If the liver is unable to change ammonia to urea, your ammonia levels can rise to unhealthy levels, requiring treatment.

Causes

• According to WebMD, liver disease, Reye's syndrome, heart failure and kidney failure may all cause high blood ammonia levels. Your doctor may choose to treat the cause of the high ammonia level instead of the ammonia.

Lactulose

• Lactulose is a laxative that reduces the bacterial production of ammonia in your intestines, draws ammonia from your blood to your colon and purges the ammonia through your waste, according to Medline Plus.

Protein

• Ammonia is produced when you body breaks down the protein you consume, and if you have a urea cycle disorder, your ammonia levels will rise. You doctor may choose to treat the elevated ammonia levels by limiting--not cutting out--the amount of protein in your diet.

Antibiotics

• Neomycin, among other antibiotics, may be prescribed to reduce the amount of certain bacteria in your colon. Rifaximin, though expensive, is an effective treatment with fewer side effects.

Cut Other Medications

• Medications that the liver must break down should be avoided, as well as medications with ammonium, according to Medline Plus.