About 3 weeks ago my ALT levels of my liver came back elevated at 79. My lab denotes the normal range to be between 3-60. When that happened my LLMD took me off my mepron and ketek and my labs a week later improved to 65 on the ALT.
Well, I have remained off my med's and this week my ALT was 109! It also feels like I can actually feel my liver sometimes. I have no other symptoms of liver disease besides occaisonal mild discomfort on the right side there.
What do you think could be going on? Why would my levels increase after CEASING med's? Could it be that I've been on antibiotic's so long (2 years) that going off them is a shock to the system?
Worried in Florida
Marc
Posts: 173 | From Lakeland, FL 33813 | Registered: Aug 2003
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Jill E.
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9121
posted
Marc,
I had a far more dramatic set of numbers for elevated liver enzymes from Ketek, so I was much further along in the seriousness of the problem. So what I will tell you is not to alarm you, just what had happened to me.
I had to go off all antibiotics, herbs, vitamins, supplements, everything.
Yet my liver enzymes continued to skyrocket for several weeks after.
Eventually, they plateaud, then started to come down.
I had a liver biopsy showing massive cell death and inflammation, consistent with someone who was already in liver failure. However my liver did continue to work and I eventually recovered.
So perhaps you have some inflammation in your liver from the medications and just need more time off medications to let the enzymes come down.
My LLMD said most people with elevated liver enzymes do see them turnaround fairly quickly. I was not one of those.
Before the biopsy, they did run tests to see if I had various liver diseases, including whether it had turned into an autoimmune attack on my liver. I had none of those diseases. It turned out to be a toxic reaction from medication.
If there is any question, your LLMD may have you see a hepatologist. My hepatologist knows nothing about Lyme so of course is horrified by the antibiotics we all take.
Anyway, your LLMD may just want you to give it more time to let your liver recover on its own.
I had liver pain, too. My hepatologist said it was from the inflammation.
Many people have had serious liver problems from Ketek. My case was reported as an adverse incident to the pharmaceutical company and the authorities. My hepatologist thinks it will be pulled off the market.
Please post and let us know what happens.
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
At one time my liver enzymes were much higher than 79. I think 130 or thereabouts. They came down to a normal range within a month when I started taking milk thistle. It had to be the milk thistle because that was the only variable I changed.
Posts: 649 | From United States | Registered: Dec 2003
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posted
My enzymes had also gone up much over 100 at one point when I was on Ketek. My LLNP had me stop all abx for a month and start taking milk thistle and alpha lipoic acid 300mg twice a day.
The enzymes level came down enough that I could start abx (Ketek and Bicillin LA) again, and kept coming down as I continued to take the milk thistle and ALA. Eventually my enzymes were normal again, even on Ketek.
It's good that you stay on top of your liver function tests regularly, but you should try taking at least milk thistle if you don't already. This and ALA seem to have liver protective qualities, at least for some of us.
Patti
Posts: 449 | From Pasadena, CA, usa | Registered: Aug 2005
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posted
My liver numbers became elevated while on Ketex, and also went higher the week after stopping it and all other meds. So, sounds normal. Maybe it takes a while to clear our system of all drugs. They did come back down.
It was like monthly checks slowly climbing for several months. Then a test with it over the cutoff. Now weekly checks, and off of all meds. Then next weekly check even higher. But within a couple weks of milk thistle and ala as only supplements and no meds, my liver number are now down to my normal very low level. I am still off all meds.
Posts: 222 | From Santa Cruz Mountains, CA USA | Registered: Nov 2004
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posted
I'd like to say thanks so much to all those that replied to me. It's all beenm very helpful. I called my LLMD after reading the suggestions and he ok'd me picking up some milk thistle and ALA. From where should these be ordered? Thanks again!
Marc
Posts: 173 | From Lakeland, FL 33813 | Registered: Aug 2003
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