LymeNet Flash: Do any of you have liver damage from Zithromax?

This is topic Do any of you have liver damage from Zithromax? in forum Medical Questions at LymeNet Flash.

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Posted by mycoplasma1 (Member # 6377) on :

I am thinking of pulsing in Zithromax long term with my low dose Minocin and wonder if any of you have suffered liver damage from zith.

If you look up zith on google there is a lawyers website who represents people with liver damage from limited doses of zith.

Any thoughts?

Thanks!

Chris

Posted by mikken (Member # 2276) on :

Huh. Interesting.

Mom was on Zith for years, literally. It wasn't until she went on Biaxin that she got "chemical hepatitis" and her LLMD made her back off and do a bunch of liver support stuff.

Maybe some people don't react well to Zith? Or maybe they had something else going on where Zith shouldn't have been prescribed and it did damage? Don't know.

But Zith got mom through a lot of years until we found Lymenet and got an LLMD for her. She was sort of self treating until then.

Posted by Kara Tyson (Member # 939) on :

All drugs can have potential harmful effects in some people.

I was on zithromax for aprx. 4 years with no problem. I also take a drug for memory that has potential damaging effects for the liver and no problems.

14,000 people die every year from taking the correct dosage of asprin.

Posted by trails (Member # 1620) on :

Can you tell us the link for the lawyer site? I have been wondering about this question myself.

I do not have any liver damage that is coming up on my liver function tests any longer, but I have severe Upper Right quad pain with only TINY amount of gallbladder sludge. The URQ pain began right after starting zith and still persists now even though I have been off it for a month now. The pain is much less. My Liver functio tests have returned to normal. They could have been elevated due to herx or due to the zith.

Wish I could find this out too!

Trails

Posted by beachcomber (Member # 5320) on :

Am having an abdomen ultrasound this week because my MD suspects gallbladder/liver inflammation from Zithromax. So, I guess it is possible.

All this stuff is hard on the liver.

Posted by pq (Member # 6886) on :

minocycline can cause an auto-immune hepatitis.

Best to consult sites and texts on your meds.
side-effects are as many as Carl Sagan's "...billions and billions of stars..."

Posted by yankee in black (Member # 4309) on :

Hello Mycoplasma1,

This doesn't relate in total to zithromax and liver problems......But,

Beta Sitosterol ( also called red rice yeast--a common supplement for controling cholestrol levels) can cause elavated liver enzymes

I have heard that it can be much worse in those who are on Zithromax, and also use beta sitosterol

For safety sake, skip the beta sitosterol while on zithromax

Posted by liz28 on :

It looks like the product I take for liver support is working well. But I can't go off it for more than a few days before my enzyme levels go up.

So in my case, it looks like abx cause severe symptoms if I don't take support measures, but they do not seem to indicate permanent damage.

But minocin is notorious for raising enzyme levels.

[This message has been edited by liz28 (edited 26 June 2005).]

Posted by Kaykay (Member # 6732) on :

I was on Flagyl/Zith and my liver enzymes started going up. My doc took my off. I also take blood pressure and cholesterol meds that affect liver, though.

I'm on clyndamiacin now, and liver is going much better.

Posted by bpeck (Member # 3235) on :

I had a problem with Zith - even though it's the most prescribed abx in the USA today, and most people can eat it like candy without problems.

I was concious of my liver by the 3rd day on ti so stopped. I had a blood panel darwm by my Dr. a few days later & when the results were back, free bilirubin was up just outside of range. Zith is metabolized thru biliary excretion- (not thru the P450 enzyme system) and I guess I'm just one of the few that doesn't metabolize it correctly.

It happened immediately for me-

Barb
So I stopped it.

Posted by nannie (Member # 5250) on :

Has your LLMD recomended starting one ABX at a time?

Posted by lightfoot (Member # 2536) on :

No problems with my long term Zith use....now, Biaxin that was another story for me.

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Posted by pq (Member # 6886) on :

i could feel the effect on my liver,both when on, and after stopping roxithromycin, another macrolide.

btw, Bb, and perhaps other TBDS, WILL send liver enzymes sky high. see lymeinfo.com for one source.

also, one of the liver enzymes measured, is also made by the heart, so this organ may be contributing to its elevated level, as well.