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4152590 tn?1350772856

liver problems and dmd

Hello everyone,

I just wondering if anyone has had problems with their liver after taking Avonex. My liver was completely normal before I started taking it. After only a month on the drug, my liver function was double what it should be. Dr said to wait and watch. A month later, it was 10 times normal. Needless to say, I quit taking it. Well, it has been a month since I quit taking it and my liver is still at 10 times normal. I realize that abnormal liver function can be a side effect of the drug, but I'm wondering why it hasn't started to go back down yet. Dr wants to do a liver ultrasound and hepatitis testing which I am doing next week. It just seems weird that my liver could get so messed up, so quickly. Has anyone had the same experience and if so, what did you do to get things back to normal?

Thanks for any input....
Barb
Best Answer
4461995 tn?1357955108
So sorry to hear about your lousy liver!!  I have been fortunate to not have any problems w/ this---- but make sure you drink lots and lots of water, no alcohol (as I'm sure you know!) and see if your dr. thinks it would be ok for you to take milk thistle.  Either as tablets or a tea.  That is supposed to be very good for your liver and helping to clean it out.  
I can't think of anything else offhand that would help to clear up your liver - see if your dr. has any ideas on alternative meds that could help too.  Or more herbs.........  Can't hurt!  
Good luck to you. !!  
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Avatar universal
I had a ct scan a year ago for an unrelated problem and my liver looked great! I had a follow up ct scan a week ago and have live cysts now! The only thing I have done different is start talking the gabapintin!? I don't know what's going to happen yet! I go to gastro doc in a few days and I'm worried sick! One other problem I have had is gas and diarrhea... And I mean BAD! I also have lots of memory problems... Good luck to you and I pray Alls well!
Helpful - 0
4152590 tn?1350772856
thank you everyone for your input.... yes, the Dr has suggested that Copaxone would probably be better for me to try. I just want my liver to get better first. I know the Copaxone isn't supposed to affect the liver, so I guess it's a psychological thing for me. I really hate taking any drug, especially such potent ones.  

I haven't had tylenol, ibuprofen, or alcohol since the first elevated liver results. I do take 300 mg Neurontin and 10mg Baclofen every night, but the Dr said they shouldn't affect my liver. I tried to stop those as well, but the nerve pain gets too unbearable.

I guess I'll just wait to see what the tests next week reveal...
Helpful - 0
382218 tn?1341181487
I had the same problem after a very short time on Rebif; this is a known side effect of the interferons which occurs in a very small % of patients, like 3% of us or something like that.  

I had no liver problems previously with the exception of some inflammation 20 years earlier when I had mono.  

My neuro had me go off of it immediately after the first blood test which was abnormal, I can't recal how long I'd been on it, a few weeks maybe?  Not very long.  I went off it, and went temporariy off ALL meds and supplements and no alcohol, as all of these things can affect liver anyzyme levels.  After one week, liver function back to normal.  Restarted Rebif and only Rebif, stayed off the other meds, alcohol, etc, and liver enzymes shot up again after only a weeek or two.  

So I stopped and immediately started Copaxone.  This was nearly 5 years ago.  I've had no side effects other than the inital site reactions and one minor IPIR episode.  

On Copaxone my attacks went from 4 in a little over a year to 1 every 2-3 years on average.

Perhaps you are among the minority who aren't good candidates for interferon, and Copaxone may be more tolerable for you.  
Helpful - 0
667078 tn?1316000935
They use Interferons for liver disease so Interferons themselves are not dangerous to everyone's liver. That said we are all individuals and react to medications differently. I would follow the Doctors recommendations. Sorry for your problem.

Alex
Helpful - 0
1896537 tn?1381900009
Hi, I haven't tried an interferon drug yet as I'm too scared of liver problem's so I was interested to read your post and I hope you start getting back to normal very soon. I wonder if there was an underlying problem which didn't show up on your initial liver function test? I guess it's possible. Anyway, good luck and I hope its all back to normal soon
Helpful - 0
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