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Avatar universal

AST/ALT

Someone told me that my levels where "off the top".  One was 135 and the other 235.  I don't know which goes to which right now.  My question is... does cold medicine effect your AST/ALT levels becuase the day of my blood work, i was taking 2 tablets for at least 5 days in a row every 6 hours.  I get my second blood work back on Thursday telling me the genotype and viral load.  Just curious about the AST/ALT levels.  thanks again for being out there.
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Avatar universal
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).

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Avatar universal
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.
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Avatar universal
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
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Avatar universal
before i started tx alt-97 ast-58 geno 1b 11million vl
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