Taking Prednisone For Long Can Cause Liver Damage?
Mar 1, 2016
I suffer from sarcoidosis for nearly 16 years now and have been on prednisolone all these years an a varied level of dosage. at the moment i am in hospital as i have just been diagnosed with TB and Hepatitis B. I have been put on anti TB treatment last week and now stopped because it is not working. my blood cells are getting worst with TB treatment. Now they will try to put me on Hep B treatment to see how it goes and then gradually re-start TB treatment. Saying so as i have a check up every 3 months for my sarcoid, Hep b appears in my blood test in 2014 and was not told about this. Now i have a chronic hep b. Has anyone had the same experience as me and also can taking prednisone for that long damage the liver.
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I have just been found to have liver and kidney damage through taking Quinine for leg cramps. It is banned in the US for treating this condition.
I am now on a repair diet, to aid good health again.
I had a call from my Dr, to say STOP taking them asap, they are creating many problems for your health.
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My Cholesterol was 7.8 and I was put on Statins 3 years ago. Because they gave me pains in my legs and other areas I stopped them.
A year ago my Cholesterol was still high and I had changed doctors and was prescribed Atorvastatin 10 mg after 2 months my doctor sent me for blood tests and in a phone call when I was at work he told me that Atorvastatin had caused Liver damage. He said I should stop taking the tablets immediately, pity this advice was not put on my notes so that when I phoned for my blood results a week earlier the receptionist could inform me to stop Atorvastatin. She just said Doctor will be in touch via phone call next week
He referred me to a Liver Specialist.
I went to see Liver Specialist after having Liver Ultrasound. Fatty liver was diagnosed and Liver Specialist promptly put me back on Atorvastatin claiming this would help my fatty liver. I couldn't believe it but what could I do?
Local GP had advised me to have bloods done again after being on tablets for 2 months. When my results came back the Locum doctor I saw said "whoa your Liver is not happy" STOP the tablets and have a blood test in 2 weeks.
2 weeks later Liver levels are coming down so thats a good direction. Dilemma is I have to see my Liver Consultant 16 June 2015. Wish me luck!
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IiIt was picked up by chance thaI have fatty liver, could have had this for years without knowing about it, how do I find out how much damage has been done already if any? My GP does not seem too concerned about it, all my LFT have come back normal so what can I do about it apart from lifestyle change which I'm doing already?
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Just before christmas I received a letter from my hospital saying “ recent blood tests show a slightly abnormal liver function and the scan revealed cirrhosis. It is absolutely crucial that you consider urgently reducing your alcohol intake to avoid further liver damage. I would be grateful if you could see your gp to discuss this further.”
Immediately I phoned my gp and couldn’t get an appointment for 2 weeks, when finally seeing my gp she referred me to a councillor, which took another 2 weeks before I saw them, only to be told they don’t have a clue at what stage my cirrhosis is?
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I've been prescribed the orlistat pills today and I was wondering if it's true about the rumours about the liver damage
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Does liver damage cause terrible leg cramps, swollen feet and ankles? I also can't sleep at night but I'm always tired and sleepy in the day time.
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Can someone explain why the chronic Hepa B patient has a normal ALT/AST, but the liver damage still progress ...?
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I know I suffer from anxiety (and depression and insomnia), which is partly what drove me to drink, am on treatment for same and will review things with my GP asap, but I want to concentrate on my physical health concerns. Please ignore this thread if you ONLY want to talk about anxiety.
Briefly: I was a social drinker for 25 years, occasionally drinking more than I should have (but at things like celebrations and functions).
Two years ago, I began to develop mental health problems, but didn't start drinking more heavily (self-medicating) until about one year ago, when I also started to binge drink occasionally, including twice last October. After a gap, I then restarted drinking heavily in March this year, and this became very heavy at times in the summer (80+ units per week), with occasional even heavier binges, the most recent being last Thursday / Friday (50+ units each day).
I finally ended-up in hospital last weekend with tachycardia, low blood pressure and probably alcohol poisoning. While there, I first developed a painful red/purple rash on my chest. I was put on antibiotics for this, and it seems to be clearing-up.
However, then, I quickly developed various other strange and unpleasant physical symptoms:
- numerous bruises;
- numerous pimples and red/purple dots under the skin;
- some hair loss and extensive hair-thinning;
- a spider naevus;
- red palms;
- itchy skin- skin darkening affecting the backs of my hands and genitals;
- regular, profuse sweating;
- whites of eyes turned lemon;
- brain "fog".
Some of these symptoms have reduced or resolved (eg. red palms and itchy skin), but the others have persisted.
I am eating OK, but making an effort to do so. In spite of this, I have lost about a stone in weight in the past 3 weeks. I'm also lacking in energy.
Since June, I have had regular liver function tests and other blood tests, too.
These have shown elevated enzymes, more or less in line with the extent of my drinking. In early August, after a serious binge, the AST was 96 and GGT was 121. In mid-August, AST had reduced to 25 and GGT 72. But they were higher again (though both under 100) on my admission to hospital last weekend, but had started to fall again after I was there for a few days. I have been advised that, in all of the tests, the values for other important measures were consistently normal. The junior doctor in hospital said the LFTs indicated no cirrhosis or hepatitis.
I also had a physical exam (just manual) from a GP in mid-August, and she said my liver / abdomen felt soft and suple with no sign of inflammation, enlargement or hardness.
However, given the strange and unpleasant physical symptoms that quickly developed in hospital last weekend, I fear that my last serious binge a week ago finally tipped me over the edge and into serious liver disease. Too many of the symptoms are those of cirrhosis for me to think anything else. (I've checked on the NHS website.)
I am absolutely terrified that, despite good advice and warnings, I did not take heed and my body, especially the liver, has finally been permanently damaged by the alcohol.
My main question is: can I turn things around? I have not had anything to drink since last Friday, and have no inclination to do so. I am drinking a lot of water, fruit and vegetable juices, and eating healthily. I will try to get some exercise, though I don't have much energy.
I'll see my regular GP next week, but could do with some advice and, if it's appropriate, some reassurance before then.
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This is my first post to medical discussion website. I have PMR and am so, so weary of it. I was put on Prednisone and immediately knew it is not working for me. Oh it took away all my joint pain but I felt I could not breathe. It took one year to taper off of it and it was the hardest thing to do to stay off. I've been steroid free for a bit over 3 months and lost 22 pounds. I still have PMR and when it gets really bad, I take a Duexis (800mg of ibuprofen & 26.6mg of famotidine). I want a cure for this PMR! I do not want to take steroids which for me causes all kinds of trouble. The steroid risk does not outweigh the benefit. Is anyone taking something other than steroids for their PMR?
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I was diagnosed with vin3 in Jan 2014. I had surgery in the Feb and had 3 weeks off work recovering. My consultant told me that I would need about a week. I then had laser surgery in sept 2015 and then after cells appeared immediately had more surgery 5 weeks later. Is it just me or is the recovery time under estimated. I keep being told that it is only a week to recover but the pain is excruciating. I find standing up difficult and have to roll over to get up. I don't think anyone realises how painful this condition is post op and I feel like I am trying to avoid work when asking for a sick note! I'm really fed up!
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My mother is a 65 year old female, 136 lbs, and on peritoneal dialysis for 3 years due to End Stage Renal Disease. Last week, she began experiencing severe abdominal pain that was a burning/gnawing pain. She went to the hospital and a CT Abdomen was taken without contrast. All was normal.
Over the next four (4) days, the pain persisted, particularly during dialysis exchanges at home. She returned to the hospital who admitted her. Another CT Abdomen was taken at this time which showed "nodular contour on the liver", free air in transverse colon which appeared to be dilated. She was also constipated for several days during this period. The CT impression suggested clinical evaluation for chronic liver disease.
A standard liver panel was taken and all results were normal. Nothing even close to elevated. She has never had a history of any liver issues and never had anything show on a CT for liver. After a day in the hospital, all stomach pain disappeared, she was able to use the restroom, and all stool samples/GI tests were normal without blood. She is naturally anemic due to ESRD with low iron/protein. Her last ANA/autoimmune panel was in December, all clear. No history of any hepatitis.
An Ultrasound Right Upper Quadrant was performed and the impression was no biliary obstruction, moderate ascites (tends to be normal due to peritoneal dialysis fluid), and "heterogeneous liver." The impression suggested referral for cirrhosis evaluation.
She began taking Hydralazine (25mg/3 times daily) in the last 3-4 months. She also takes a host of other blood pressure medicines.
QUESTION: She is currently awaiting a kidney transplant and very worried about this. A blood test will be taken in a couple weeks by a specialist that is supposed to diagnose Cirrhosis. Given this presentation alone, what other causes could explain this imaging results? Should we fear the worst?
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I had an abdominal ultrasound done for some abdominal pain and it was noted in the report as an impression that I had an echogenic appearing liver (such as non alcoholic fatty liver). My doctor at that time didn't tell me and just said my report was normal. When I went in for my Colonoscopy that was unrelated, it was mentioned again and when I did some research I realized what fatty liver actually was. I switched doctors.
My new doctor is considering giving me a CT scan but is checking with the GI department to see if they think its needed, etc. etc. But that there is no treatment for it besides diet modification.
Here's the thing. I don't have any of the risk factors. I am not overweight. I'm actually underweight slightly (BMI is 18, I weigh 110 lbs). I don't drink any alcohol, never did. And I don't have diabetes or hepatitis. The only thing I could do and what I have been doing is change my diet. I stopped eating processed foods, watched my sugar/carbs, and eat more vegetables than I ever have.
I'm a very anxious person and I'm not sure I want to know what the scan says. If it's worse than what I thought, I'm going to be so upset and stressed out. And I can't treat it anyway. It's not like they can give me a medication and make it go away. I think knowing the extent of it will just cause me mental anguish and I'm already stressed out about it as is.
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this isn't about me but is about my girlfriend who is about to have gastric sleeve surgery.
She is a 40 year old women that has had a full hysterectomy and has type 2 diabetes. she has had a history of thyroid and weight issues. she is 5,7 weighs 225 LBS. she has an enlarged fatty liver of 27cm and the Doctor said that she needs "emergent" gastric sleeve surgery to bring down her enlarged liver. this was claimed on this past thursday. I have been looking high and low for documentation and statistics on using the surgery for reducing fatty livers but can't find any information. Does this sound right? has there been a history of using this procedure for such cases, I'm worried and scared for her.
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Been feeling lightheaded and brain foggy and a bit sick recently with some stomach grumbling and pain. Went to the doctors who did repeat blood tests over the course of 8 weeks and have said my enzymes are slightly up which could be the result of mild fatty liver. My question is does this sound related? He's also just tested me for celiac, but told me in the beginning that I could be fighting a virus. I'm worried that the 3 diagnoses he's given are so different I don't know what to believe, also does this mean I should be less worried about the tests because they are low enough to be anything?
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I've recently had 2 LFT that both showed raised enzymes, I've had a scan and it shows I have gallstones, however I am currently undergoing investigation into whether I have Reactive Hypoglycaemia, my question is that if I do have RH, would this cause my liver enzymes to elevate?
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I have general questions on those 3 above. Recently I have experience side effects ( I think) from the above medication and would like to decide if it is worth taking anything in addition to prednisone. Side effects are mainly with stomach and lately with cramps in the leg muscles. First I had constipation for month or so; lately it is soft stool, and frequent bathroom visits. I think side effects are caused by complete change in the bacteria culture in the intestines killed by antibiotics. What also does not help is PPI interfering with mineral absorption and ( most likely) causing low potassium and magnesium levels and thus muscle cramps.
So:
- How often are antibiotics and PPI given along with prednisone?
- How necessary is PPI if I take split dose, 5 mg each, and with lots of yogurt?
- After taper, at what level of pred one does not need antibiotics and/or PPI?
I have my monthly appointment with rheumatologist this week and would like to prepare for it.
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The last 2 months I've had tightness in my left buttock while on Prednisone. For the first while I could walk if off but for the last month it is constantly there but only when I walk, and sometimes shifts to the left leg's inner thigh, the result being I find I'm sort of limping. Has anyone had something like this? It could be a disc in the lower back pressing on a nerve affecting the muscles in the buttock and thigh, or maybe it's just muscle weakness resulting from the Prednisone. I'm in a quandary how to tackle it, see a physio, chiro, massage therapist. I've found that since I've had PMR 2 years ago anyone working with their hands on me greatly aggravates things so I'm unsure where to turn.
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Is it ok to have an occasional glass of wine while taking this stuff? I had one the other night and got a terrible headache. I am on a couple other meds too.
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I'm going on a month now prednisone didn't do anything nothing is working and I can't find the trigger of them they constantly burn help!
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I have been on prednisone for 62 days I am finally off of it today and scared as hell as to what to expect now... I have been reading as much as I can but am still unsure of a lot of things . like will I loose a bunch of weight now ?(the weight that i gained on that dreadful medication) or will it be better once i know my triggers? I have figured out some things that have bothered me and i have been staying away from those things I have no family that i know that is dealing with this feeling really alone.
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