GGT LEVELS POST TX

[robert1957]

Hi I have recently as in 14 weeks completed 24 weeks of Pegasys treatment and about half way through treatment Ichanged ADs from Zoloft to Avanza as zoloft wasnt agreeing with me. About this time my GGTS went higher than they have ever been (up from nornal to about 300) and dragged the ALTs and ASTs with them and stayed at that high level. I am having a blood test next week to see if they are back to normal. My medical team wasnt sure what caused the rise.

A friend of mine has recently told me that she thinks ADs can raise GGTs. Is this correct???    

[nygirl7]

I can't remember ever hearing that an antidepressent could cause that significant a rise but I guess anything is possible.......although I can't understand why it would be killing liver cells as badly as yours area being destroyed right now. You should look at the Avanza website and see if it says it is metabolized in the liver or the kidneys - if it's in the liver then there is your answer. Sorry I just don't know.

[nygirl7]

Avanza (spelled Avinza) is morphine sulphate which is time released and is a narcotic so I'd  assume if you were to use a lot it would be able to mess with your liver functions.  Why they use a narcotic for antidepression I have no idea though but that is what it says.

Avanza is the wrong spelling but it is Avinza according to drugs.com and other websites.

"AVINZA capsules are a modified-release formulation of morphine sulfate indicated for once daily administration for the relief of moderate to severe pain requiring continuous, around-the-clock opioid therapy for an extended period of time. AVINZA CAPSULES ARE TO BE SWALLOWED WHOLE OR THE CONTENTS OF THE CAPSULES SPRINKLED ON APPLESAUCE. THE CAPSULE BEADS ARE NOT TO BE CHEWED, CRUSHED, OR DISSOLVED DUE TO THE RISK OF RAPID RELEASE AND ABSORPTION OF A POTENTIALLY FATAL DOSE OF MORPHINE. PATIENTS MUST NOT CONSUME ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES WHILE ON AVINZA THERAPY. ADDITIONALLY, PATIENTS MUST NOT USE PRESCRIPTION OR NON-PRESCRIPTION MEDICATIONS CONTAINING ALCOHOL WHILE ON AVINZA THERAPY. CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOL WHILE TAKING AVINZA MAY RESULT IN THE RAPID RELEASE AND ABSORPTION OF A POTENTIALLY FATAL DOSE OF MORPHINE."

                  * MORPHINE IS METABOLIZED IN THE LIVER*

You should get off of this one right away and switch to something like Paxill - this all is very confusing to me why any hep doctor would suggest this?