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Author Topic: Urgent need to start meds but high liver enzymes  (Read 5094 times)

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Offline kuttakamina

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Urgent need to start meds but high liver enzymes
« on: March 31, 2010, 01:52:10 am »
Hi all,

I urgently need to start meds as I'm suffering from many symptoms like neuropathy, dementia, etc. and have a very low CD4 count but the problem is my liver enzymes are quite elevated. The SGOT and SGPG are 100 and 106. This after the doc gave me some meds for liver problems, it seems the meds raised my numbers rather than dropping them.

Now my doc is concerned and is saying that he may still put me on Atripla and we'll cross our fingers. Where is hope when you need it?

Offline kev72

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Re: Urgent need to start meds but high liver enzymes
« Reply #1 on: March 31, 2010, 11:09:57 am »
This after the doc gave me some meds for liver problems, it seems the meds raised my numbers rather

Hi,

Just curious what meds you dr put you on for liver problems? You're levels are elevated based on the maximum the lab uses, but they do not seem severe such as having Hep which can raise them to the 1000s.

Are you taking any other meds? I know mine were slightly elevated recently. It turns out because I was taking Androgel. My dr still put me on Atripla, and stopped the Androgel. Keep us posted. Thanks

Offline newt

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Re: Urgent need to start meds but high liver enzymes
« Reply #2 on: March 31, 2010, 06:09:20 pm »
Your liver enzymes are not really high. Anything under 2 1/2 times normal limit is not high. It is possible even that they will go down after a few months of treatment.

Probably the benefits of treatment, eg not getting ill/dying, recession of cognitive disorders, perhaps even in time improvement in neuropathy, outweight the disadvantages.

- matt


Edited for missing "not" (doh!)
« Last Edit: March 31, 2010, 06:12:35 pm by newt »
"The object is to be a well patient, not a good patient"

Offline kuttakamina

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Re: Urgent need to start meds but high liver enzymes
« Reply #3 on: April 01, 2010, 03:36:04 am »
THank you both for your replies, I suppose I have to make the life and death decision of going on meds soon.

Offline Ann

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Re: Urgent need to start meds but high liver enzymes
« Reply #4 on: April 01, 2010, 09:26:39 am »
Kuttakamina, have you been screened for hep B and hep C? If you haven't been, you should talk to your doctor about being tested.

Ann
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Offline kuttakamina

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Re: Urgent need to start meds but high liver enzymes
« Reply #5 on: April 03, 2010, 08:26:48 am »
Yes, Ann and both are negative. I wonder if it's better to die from this horrible disease than to take such poisons that will keep you alive for a little while longer but feel totally sick.

Offline kuttakamina

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Re: Urgent need to start meds but high liver enzymes
« Reply #6 on: April 03, 2010, 08:37:41 am »
Hi,

Just curious what meds you dr put you on for liver problems? You're levels are elevated based on the maximum the lab uses, but they do not seem severe such as having Hep which can raise them to the 1000s.

Are you taking any other meds? I know mine were slightly elevated recently. It turns out because I was taking Androgel. My dr still put me on Atripla, and stopped the Androgel. Keep us posted. Thanks

Kev,

Since I'm in India he gave me meds from here, mainly pantocid, levocit (and shucks because of memory loss issues I can't remember any other name.)

I'm not taking any other meds. I just started milk thistle on my own to see if it helps but the doc wants me to start hiv meds ASAP without delay.

Offline Ann

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Re: Urgent need to start meds but high liver enzymes
« Reply #7 on: April 03, 2010, 11:40:50 am »
Yes, Ann and both are negative. I wonder if it's better to die from this horrible disease than to take such poisons that will keep you alive for a little while longer but feel totally sick.

Good to hear that you're negative for hep.

With the newer meds currently in use (even in India), most people have little or no side-effects. Most people feel remarkably better after they start meds. So no, it's definitely not better to die from aids-related causes than to take the meds.

And as Matt (Newt) said, your liver enzymes aren't really all that high - certainly not high enough to stop you taking anti-hiv meds.
Condoms are a girl's best friend

Condom and Lube Info  

"...health will finally be seen not as a blessing to be wished for, but as a human right to be fought for." Kofi Annan

Nymphomaniac: a woman as obsessed with sex as an average man. Mignon McLaughlin

HIV is certainly character-building. It's made me see all of the shallow things we cling to, like ego and vanity. Of course, I'd rather have a few more T-cells and a little less character. Randy Shilts

Offline kev72

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Re: Urgent need to start meds but high liver enzymes
« Reply #8 on: April 03, 2010, 05:13:14 pm »
Kev,

Since I'm in India he gave me meds from here, mainly pantocid, levocit (and shucks because of memory loss issues I can't remember any other name.)

I'm not taking any other meds. I just started milk thistle on my own to see if it helps but the doc wants me to start hiv meds ASAP without delay.

Good news on you not having any of the Heps... I was curious about what meds, because I had Hep-C and in 1995 my doctor started me on Interferon injections. My Enzyme's dropped from the 1000s (if I recall) to normal very quickly so the doctor decided to keep my on the medication for 1 year rather than the normal 6 month's. After a year, my viral load was undetectable and has stayed that way ever since.

My SGOT and SGPT have been normal all of this time except a few weeks ago when they slightly elevated due to Androgel medication (for Testosterone) which is why I asked if you were taking any other meds. I also take Milk Thystle also daily as a precaution. I was unaware of meds for high enzyme levels, but I have not kept up on it since mine have been okay.

I think you should start the Atripla if you are at a level for OIs. Just my opinion.

 


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