one other thing, don't worry too much about the ALT and AST levels, they flucuate often. Mine were higher than yours and my viral load was pretty low (about 500,000).
what kind of cold medicine were you taking? It would depend on the condition of your liver, and if the medication is metabolized by the liver. Also, if you have been drinking alcohol or taking other meds that are also metabolized by the liver. There are a lot of things to consider, but your liver enzymes have to be really, really, really high (1000's) before it's a major concern, as far as deciding of your liver fuction is kaput. Typically you see enzyme levels slowly decline to the low side of normal as you are decreasing the viral count. I hope this helps.
I'm sure not a medical expert, but my opinion is ... Yes, some cold medicines can affect your liver enzymes.
Don't panic about your levels yet. I'm learning those numbers mean different things at different times. I've been as high as 2515 and 1325. That was May of 2003. Been over 1000 range twice since then. Doing pretty good right now. BUT ... I'm AIH and not HCV. I don't think HCV has really high levels, but you would have to ask one of them.
The main thing is, hang in there and don't panic. Just read and ask questions and learn, but usually hepatitis is a slow moving disease. There is no need to panic.
God Bless!
Pattie
before i started tx alt-97 ast-58 geno 1b 11million vl