Can elevated liver ALT be from antibiotics?

[LazyMoose]

My ALT has never been high. Now it is 60, the range is 9-48. Strange. The only difference is for the last three months I've been on doxy, ceftin and flagle. Has anyone heard of this happening?

I think I herxed for almost 2 months on ABX, It made me a nervous, brain dead wreck and messed up my thyroid levels. Does herxing of the dead bugs harm the liver? Or make ALT raise? Waiting for my LLMD answer. I retest in one month.

No alcohol for 3 months, and never drank hard in my life.

Any info is appreciated.

[cave76]

Some herbals/supplements can cause elevated liver enzymes in some people. Some herbs/supplements are more suspect than others.

But I think Elleon more or less proved that with her own results, at  least for her liver.

Herbs can be dangerous; just as many medications can. And herbs and supplements are no longer under any kind of control, as they used to be, so even a seemingly 'safe' herb can be contaminated.


http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Lyme-Disease/Want-supplements-and--herbs-that-mainstream-medicine-approves-of/show/2093178

[Elleon_arual]

Mine were elevated before I knew it was Lyme.

I had just been taking every day herbs for immune support like Echinacea and I had been taking some for my gallbladder because that had been bothering me.

I went off of them for 2 months straight and when rechecked they were each one point above the normal range so they said I was okay.

My LLMD hasn't done blood work since so who knows if they are elevated again....

[mojogal]

I apologize, my Lyme brain wasn't working. I am on herbals now. I can't remember how high my liver enzymes were but they were high enough to be concerned.

[Ricobord]

Good reference, Cave.  Flagyl can be hard on the liver.  I think Tindamax is a little easier.  Maybe you could switch to that one. Some ins cos won't pay for Tindamax because Flagyl is so much cheaper, but if Flagyl is already causing a problem, then they should cover Tindamax as an alternative.

My doc pulses both of them because they can be hard on the liver.  A good question for your doc.

Also, Lyme, Bartonella, or Babesia can be hard on the liver all by themselves, without any antibiotics (although I seem to remember you don't have Babs).

[cave76]

Herbals can be as powerful (and as 'dangerous') as drugs.

That's why a good doctor will always ask, on a patients medical history, what supplements/herbs are you also taking?

But my guess is  it's the Flagyl------ it's a med that can do some good but can come with dangerous side effects.

". Flagyl may cause liver enzyme levels to increase"
http://www.rxlist.com/flagyl-side-effects-drug-center.htm

[LazyMoose]

Elevated ALT just from herbals? I did not think that was possible.

I'm on herbs also- catsclaw, olive oil, garlic another along that line too (forget at the moment)

So your ALT returned to normal? How long did it take?

I see flagle may be the main culprit in my 3 abx's.

thanks

[LazyMoose]

May I ask how high it was, my ALT is not to high. Your not on lyme herbs either, I thought you wre form orevious posts? Did your ALT go back down?

thanks

[Elleon_arual]

oops from WebMD that was for Flagyl

[Elleon_arual]

I'm pretty sure most antibiotics have the risk of elevated liver enzymes.

When mine were elevated, it was just from herbals I was taking so imagine what hard core antibiotics could do.

On WebMD, it says "Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of: liver problems" .  That leads me to believe it can have an effect on your liver.

[mojogal]

Yes, I had to go off abx after 18 months because of high liver enzymes and kidney function. I am not on herbs.