posted
Has anyone ever experienced chemical hepatitis from taking Ketek? My liver function is not doing well and it appears that I have chemical hep. What are your experiences with that? How and when do you resume abx?
Posts: 66 | From Texas | Registered: May 2005
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posted
I had to stop taking ketek because it elevated my liver enzymes very quickly. The enzymes weren't really high but I sure felt sick. Went off of antibiotics for about 3 weeks to a month and then restarted bicillin and zithromax. Feel better than ever.
Posts: 293 | From healdsburg, ca , sonoma | Registered: Feb 2005
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Jill E.
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9121
posted
Yes, I had serious liver damage from Ketek. My liver enzymes skyrocketed, and continued to skyrocket even after I went off it because there was massive inflammation and cell death in my liver.
I had a liver biopsy that confirmed a medication toxicity, not autoimmune hepatitis (which they had to rule out).
I had to go off antibiotics, herbs,supplements, everything until my enzymes returned to normal, and then we waited one more month just to be sure.
I was off everything for five months and my Lyme symptoms worsened dramatically.
My LLMD thinks I will always be high-risk for future liver problems because of what happened to me, so that is ruling out the use of several medications for Lyme and coinfections.
Jill
-------------------- If laughter is the best medicine, why hasn't stand-up comedy cured me? Posts: 1773 | From San Diego | Registered: Apr 2006
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Marnie
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 773
posted
It is called toxic hepatitis.
Vancoymcin and 2 other IV abx. given simultaneously (post op infection) caused this to happen with my dad.
His liver recovered quickly (few days). His remaining kidney did not. He went into kidney failure.
Too many acids harm healthy cells. The kidneys maintain the pH - the acid-alkaline balance. They can only work just so fast.
Posts: 9481 | From Sunshine State | Registered: Mar 2001
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posted
The same thing happened to me. My LLNP had me stop abx for a month and start taking 1 Milk Thistle and 300mg alpha lipoic acid twice a day, and my enzymes came down, and even stayed down after I restarted the Ketek.
What does your Dr. want you to do?
Patti
Posts: 449 | From Pasadena, CA, usa | Registered: Aug 2005
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Unfortunately I am unable to connect completely with my LLNP but the direction I have now is to stay off abx, take milk thistle and ALA and have blood drawn weekly. This is my first full week and I am UNABLE to get my blood results. The doctor that I was able to go to is out of town and will NOT release my results. Reading last week's results they are off the charts.....bilirubin 5.9 * range is .1-1.3, AST is 563 range is 5-35 and the ALT is 720 and the range is 7-56. I am not sure what to do.
Posts: 66 | From Texas | Registered: May 2005
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Jill E.
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9121
posted
If it's any consolation, my AST and ALT were worse than yours and I survived, although it was touch and go about whether I would need a liver transplant (I did not).
Of course your enzymes are very high, like mine were, but my liver managed to keep working despite it all - just working way too hard. My bilirubin was normal and my LLMD was relieved by that.
Your bilirubin is worrisome. Ask to see a hepatologist. They probably will know nothing about Lyme but you need to have a liver specialist working with you.
I had to stay off everything - I couldn't even be on milk thistle or anything, which worried me because I know it's protective of the liver, and I had been on it while on Ketek. But I couldn't handle being on anything and everyone - my LLMD, my Lyme naturopath, my internist, hepatologist, everyone said to stay off EVERYTHING!
But obviously your LLNP knows your personal situation better than any of us on this group do, so that is the person I would listen to.
But I would still ask to see a hepatologist.There are numerous blood tests, scans, etc. that can be done to determine whether this is medication damage or whether the body is attacking the liver.
But given Ketek's track record of causing liver problems, my money is on the Ketek as the cause.
Keep us posted, Jill
-------------------- If laughter is the best medicine, why hasn't stand-up comedy cured me? Posts: 1773 | From San Diego | Registered: Apr 2006
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posted
My symptoms were bloating, quesy and generally miserable feeling. I was feeling great on the Ketek and Amox. so this was a new feeling. Frankly I felt so bad I went to the gyno sure that I had ovarian cancer!! ( I know I know...my brain goes nuts sometimes!)
Anyway my urine was DARK and when I went to the gyno and had to give a sample in the cup, I REALLY saw how dark it was. The gyno was not too concerned about the urine but since I had typical ovarian cancern symptoms he was following that route.Those tests came back negative!
In the meantime I was feeling worse! My eyes got yellow and I was more and more miserable. I found an internist who was very thorough and took a bunch of blood. He was not really supportive of lyme - he kept questioning me ( thank goodness for knowledge and I was able to support my dx of lyme.) He wanted me to see a infectious disease guy but I was most concerned about the eyes, urine and what I was sure liver issue. I mentioned about taking K and the dosage being fairly high he was aware of the risk was possible. My inital blood draw showed everything pretty high ( see note above) My last blood work ( a week after the first) all the levels are now 1/2 of what it was, so stopping it now was the best thing for me. I did check with my LLNP right away and she conferred, so we shall see what the next steps should be.
Unfortuantely my lyme symptoms are creeping back - my hips and the joints are the first to feel it so I know that I had had it under control but I KNOW that I have to protect my liver FIRST. This is where one day at a time comes in handy!
Thanks for your insight and concern.
Posts: 66 | From Texas | Registered: May 2005
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Jill E.
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9121
posted
CaliLymer,
In response to your question, I had no symptoms right away, although in hindsight I had a mild loss of appetite - which can be liver related.
But by the time I was in severe liver damage, I had some hepatitis-like symptoms of liver aching, fatigue, greater loss of appetite, nausea. I did not have the yellow eyes. These were not my typical Lyme symptoms at all, so I knew this was something else.
Jill
-------------------- If laughter is the best medicine, why hasn't stand-up comedy cured me? Posts: 1773 | From San Diego | Registered: Apr 2006
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dontlikeliver
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 4749
posted
Crazychris,
You mention about your ketek dosage being fairly high. Were you taking more than the standard 800mg dose (same dose that is given for sinus infections)??
DLL
Posts: 2824 | From The Back of Beyond | Registered: Oct 2003
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posted
No, I guess I misspoke. The dosage was 800 mg but the dr was surprised at the length of time I was taking it - (2.5 months)
Posts: 66 | From Texas | Registered: May 2005
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