Truvada causing liver damage

[Breezy19635]

I have been taking Truvada, Reyataz, norvir combo for 7 years and suddenly developed extremely high liver enzymes, mainly the ggt levels (50 is high) mine got over 1000. I was tested for autoimmune problems, and had many other tests, including a liver biopsy which concluded that nothing else was causing the increase. I have not been on any HIV medication for a month and two weeks ago my ggt levels dropped to 500. My HIV docs said this rarely happens, in fact this is the first time they have ever seen this. They are suggesting I take Kaletra and Istsentress.

[newt]

OK first things first, liver tests are real flaky, so a retest is in order before you draw any conclusions. A biopsy will tell you little in this situation.

You should be screened for hepatitis A and B if you have not been vaccinated and hepatitis C if you have been at risk of getting this.

It is very unlikely to be the Truvada causing the problem, more likely to be the other drugs.

Liver problems from Isentress are uncommon so this is a sensible suggestion.

But Kaletra is perhaps not, given that the drug most likely to be causing the problems is ritonavir (Norvir) which is in Kaletra in greater quantities than your current combo.

Abacavir, if you are not possibly allergic, may be a simple alternative to Truvada.

7 years is a long time for a sudden problem like this to emerge and be drug-related, tho I suppose it could happen.

Hope this helps and your liver enzymes return to the fold.

- matt