Hello Everyone! Just found out that my liver enzymes are through the roof. The Dr. thinks it's because of the med.'s but they are not sure so I'm going for more blood work 03/25. Has anyone else encountered this problem due to RA med.'s?
Hi -
I had elevated liver function tests when I first went to the rheumatologist (so he wont' put me on MTX or any of the typical DMARDS). At the time I was only taking 100 mg Celebrex and 10 mg Amitriptyline (Elavil), along with guaifenesin and a bunch of vitamins/minerals. I think that scared him. (I didn't mind passing on the MTX, to tell you the truth!) I stopped both of them immediately and they were back to normal in 2 weeks. I'm just weird that way. I have taken both of them since, and my liver enzymes bob up and down, but not to the extreme that they were. No reason has ever been determined for sure. I think my GI doctor is suspicious of the biologics, but they
That said, I do have the habit of only taking what I feel I most need to take at any given time. I would vary the timing of Enbrel shots, spread them out to every 5 or 6 days if I was doing well. (Because if not, it really irritated my sinus and throat.) Sometimes I will alternate Celebrex with Tylenol. I'm told I can take up to 400 mg Celebrex in a 24-hour period, but for me 200 mg (100 mg a.m. & 100 mg p.m. even) makes me feel sick. My GI doc kinds of appreciates my take on that. But even if he didn't - well, "it's my body and I'll wait if I want to, ..."
Please understand, I'm not saying this is for everyone. My symptoms are not overall as bad as many people's, and for me this works, and protects me as well. My doctors have learned to trust my intuition for the most part, and I have learned to trust their professional judgment if they seriously disagree with me on something. There is a give and take.
Looking at your profile, you are taking a number of things - maybe you can think about what you would most easily be able to back off with, or do less with, before you see your doc, , or do without, for a period of time. You may be able to increase again later. I've actually been more regular with the Enbrel for the last 3 months, because I cut back Celebrex to once a week (it was bothering my stomach). Then I had to up the Celebrex schedule again, because I reached the breaking point (meltdown!!)
Our bodies are not machines, they are 'people' we can listen to, to try and decide what's best for us. I try and listen to my body. Some times it says "a cup of coffee would help today!" and other days, it says, "Don't you dare! You'll regret it ... crash warning!"
I don't know if this is helpful, but it's my experience and there are many others! Living with chronic illness is an art in itself, I believe.
Hi Ellen~~you are right about listening to our bodies. In the past I have stopped taking some of my med.'s to see how things would go & I did ok not taking some of the med.'s but then my swelling got out of control. So I went back on all my med.'s & saw some improvement but not much so I asked my Rheuma. what can be done. He is actually stumped by what is going on because he said he has never seen swelling like this. My hands, feet, & ankles look like balloons. We've done some new tests & are waiting on the results & will once we do the new blood work we will go from there. Thanks for your info & I hope you have a great day.
I agree with you, I have a pretty bad case and cannot spread things out as much as I would like. However, I have refused the roids and have spoken out when a medication has interferred with my overall well being. MTX just mad me feel bad all the time, and I was sick from it. Joints felt OK, but I could not function. I don't think sacraficing your total body wellbeing to save joints is good medicine. It is a art, and you must be dilligent with your care.
The liver enzimes have never been a issue for me. I am religous about my blood work, and I make sure I am flushing my body with water. I am not sure that helps, just a thing with me. My husband nearly died when he became dehydrated.
Actually I think the water thing is very important. Not only hydration but I think it's necessary to help dilute the medicine and make it easier to metabolize- if nothing else it doesn't hit the stomach as hard! I know with Celebrex and other stuff, it is better to drink the whole glass of water and/or with milk, if not food.
Yes, especially if you're taking MTX. I had the same problem until my rheumy got me off that med.
After I was taken off of MTX, my rheumy put me on leflunomide (Arava), but that didn't work either. Terrible side effects.
I don't know if this would be a good choice for you, this med is not for women who could get pregnant.
I think I might be switching to Humira, since Enbrel seems to not work aymore.
Good uck.
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I had problems before the meds, years before. I had to have a liver biopsy before my dr. would put me on meds. Started on Humira and meth (the cultprit) and it just got worse. One day I had a physical with my GP. and was force on the scale I was 175 at 5'5". He told me I was over weight he gave me a month to do it on my own. Unsuccessful, he told me to do slimfast (keep in mind that I walk every day 4 miles or use the elliptical my husband bought me). However I was still overweight. I lost 35 pounds in 2 and a half months. That was four years ago, I get my liver enzymes checked every 2 weeks and very rarely have a problem. Yes part of it was the meds and they still make the them go up. But the risk is cut in half. If it persists you my need a liver biopsy which is not fun. But a quick lifestlye change my make the difference also. Just make sure that you keep up with your blood work on a regurlar basis
Thanks for the info. about the diet. My hubby also bought us an eliptical machine & we already had a recumbant bike that I was using. It is hard to lose weight when you're on these med.'s so I bought the Alli (the one the Wynona recommends) & it seems to be working. Power walking is my favorite thing but w/ this Ankylosing Spondylitis it's almost impossible to do the power walking so I just stick to the machine & the bike. Thanks again for the info.~~Kellie
Hope, that is really interesting. I am a bit overweight as well, I didn't realize that could make a difference. (When my RA gets more active, I lose my appetite, and a few pounds, but then it comes back with the RA gets under control!)
I've recently made some changes in my diet and have started Tai Chi. I wish I could walk 4 miles (used to on a really good day, before RA, now I can't do 1, due to ankle/foot problems, but happier after ankle surgery just to be able to do what i can!)
I bought my brother-in-law's recumbent bike, which I can really enjoy while watching TV, and because of digestive issues, I'm having salad (at least the greens, if nothing else), yogurt & probiotics, and for quite a while, I've been eating less meat and more veggies (I found that helped even before the RA diagnosis).
I simply can't do without the greens. I feel run-down in a day or two. Taking supplements does not to the same thing, I've done that almost all my adult life. [Brewer's yeast is my friend, full of B vitamins as well as trace minerals.] I also take fiber supplements (Benefiber works OK for me). This IN SPITE of eating oatmeal for breakfast virtually every day. [It did lower both my husband's and my cholesterol to within the normal range - yay!] I used to take them rarely, only when I had a problem, but now the problems pop up the day after i skip it. (I think it's the post-menopausal organ slump due to gravity - but I'm only 57, for goodness sake!) I have more sympathy for 'older folks' than I ever dreamed of before! I HAVE to stick to my routine (which has been developing gradually since around last December when I felt truly awful and totally stressed out).
Ellen,
You said that you feel really run down, have you tried vitamin D. I find taking 2000 iu a day helps with the lose of energy. I can't take a b supplement, it upsets my stomach and cancells out the probiotic that I take. The D however made such a noticable difference in my energy levels, in fact if I don't take its now more noticable/
Thanks for your note _ I guess we are all different! I had tried Caltrate D and did not feel better, actually felt a little worse, and my bone density got worse faster - go figure!