ALL liver Enzymes High/ Medication?!

[bluestreak1]

I go to the health fair in my town every year. This year I got my tests back, today & am a bit freaked out. ALL my liver enzymes are high.

Alkaline Phosphatase, Normal 33-115--- MINE-154
AST, Normal 10-30--- MINE 46
ALT, Normal 6-40--- MINE 134
GGT, Normal 3-55--- MINE 279


I've had a slightly elevated ggt for the past 5/7 years, since I had gallbladder surgery, but not any of the others. I was put on an antibiotic for my first ever UTI the week before my health fair tests... So I was on Macrobid, which did nothing for the uti, my last macrobid was a day & a half before the blood tests. The day before the blood tests I was put on Cipro. I also take Pristiq for mild depression & genralized anxiety disorder. Could these medications have caused the jump in my liver enzymes? I drink a glass of wine just a couple nights a week with dinner...I'm not a big drinker & didn't drink any alcohol for several nights before the test. I'm 40 year old female & have no other symptoms. I work out almost everyday...so I'm active & pretty healthy. I do have an appt Wednesday to discuss my tests results.


Thanks for anyone's' insight.

[Paderla Anitha, DNB]

Hello and hope you are doing well.

Understand your predicament. Elevated liver enzymes could be due to Pristiq. It is a side effect of this medication. Discuss this with your consulting doctor he may change the dose or the medication.

Hope this helped and do keep us posted.

[Rtiredrn]

I too never had elevated enzymes until I took Pristiq. No Doctor has related the increase to the medication. I was on 100mg per day for 4 years, then have reduced it myself to 25mg a day. The liver enzymes were still elevated and and an ultrasound showed fatty liver disease. There is no scarring, and don't want there to be. The odd thing is that I tried a couple of generics and they went down. The generic did not do the job, so I switched back to name brand. I have gained 14 pounds in the 6-7 months I have been on the name brand Pristiq again, and the enzymes went up a bit. It's the only antidepressant that helps me. Thanks for any help.

[Rtiredrn]

I noticed that response was in 2012. Is this still being answered by a medical professional? Thanks.

[bluestreak1]

They retested this past Thursday & the ALT/AST were even higher. I hardly drink alcohol & have not at all since I saw my tests results...so it's not from that. And all I take is Pristiq daily. They are doing a hep panel to check that...but that's just what they do when enzymes are up & need to see a GI doc. I've read Pristiq is uncommon to raise enzymes level...but I'm starting to wonder. I only started that back in February...& the enzymes keep going up. They only other time I've ever seen my enzymes up was when I needed to have my gallbladder out & then right after that they were up for awhile. The last several years they have been good, so have to wonder on the Pristiq.... :(

[Paderla Anitha, DNB]

Hello and hope you are doing well.

The SGPT and SGOT levels are elevated in liver disorders. Besides this they are also elevated in conditions like muscle injury and sometimes due to medications. GTT (gamma glutamyl transpeptidase) is often elevated in those who use alcohol. But it is also elevated due to liver-toxic substances like paracetamol. It's likely that the medications you are using could have caused this elevation. Please re check these values to study their progression.

Hope this helped and do keep us posted.

[bluestreak1]

I probably should add, I had my gallbladder removed back in 2005... Every year since I've had slightly elevated ggt levels, but not like this year. My Dr has never been too concerned about the ggt in the past.