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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by linkadge on May 6, 2006, at 0:13:14
Is depakote induced liver damage common to all people taking the drug, or is it only restricted to certain persons.
Is there a reliable way to detect if depakote is causing dammage to the liver ?
Thanks
Linkadge
Posted by MidnightBlue on May 6, 2006, at 10:47:52
In reply to How bad is depakote on the liver ?, posted by linkadge on May 6, 2006, at 0:13:14
I took it for many years. 10+ at a level of about 1000 mg per day. I had NO damage. But I was careful not to drink and to do liver tests from time to time.
MB
Posted by Phillipa on May 6, 2006, at 15:55:55
In reply to Re: How bad is depakote on the liver ? » linkadge, posted by MidnightBlue on May 6, 2006, at 10:47:52
Liver enxyme tests will tell you the status of your liver. Love Phillipa
Posted by linkadge on May 6, 2006, at 19:49:52
In reply to Re: How bad is depakote on the liver ?, posted by Phillipa on May 6, 2006, at 15:55:55
Can liver tests tell weather or not dammage is occuring, or just after damamge has been done?
Linkadge
Posted by Phillipa on May 6, 2006, at 22:19:31
In reply to Re: How bad is depakote on the liver ? » Phillipa, posted by linkadge on May 6, 2006, at 19:49:52
Link I think by the numbers of all the liver enzymes you can tell how bad the damage is. And you do know that the liver rejuvenates itself? And now they can do transplants with just a piece of a person's liver that has compatatble DNA. And he will also grow back the liver you have used. Love Phillipa
Posted by blueberry on May 7, 2006, at 18:15:28
In reply to How bad is depakote on the liver ?, posted by linkadge on May 6, 2006, at 0:13:14
I think the primary liver damage risk with depakote is from polypharmacy with other meds.
I took it with zyprexa for 2 months and that worried me.
By itself I think the risk is maybe just a tad bit more than anything else out there we take.
Posted by linkadge on May 7, 2006, at 19:11:50
In reply to Re: How bad is depakote on the liver ?, posted by blueberry on May 7, 2006, at 18:15:28
I guess I am just wondering if liver tests are sufficiant to detect any damamge before it becomes a significant problem.
Linkadge
Posted by MidnightBlue on May 8, 2006, at 0:06:33
In reply to Re: How bad is depakote on the liver ?, posted by linkadge on May 7, 2006, at 19:11:50
It is my understanding that MOST of the time in MOST people the test will find the damage (if there is any) early enough so that there is not a major problem.
But nothing is perfect. And nothing is a sure thing.
MB
Posted by Larry Hoover on May 9, 2006, at 12:48:02
In reply to Re: How bad is depakote on the liver ?, posted by linkadge on May 7, 2006, at 19:11:50
> I guess I am just wondering if liver tests are sufficiant to detect any damamge before it becomes a significant problem.
>
> LinkadgeYes, they are sufficient. In almost every case, they are. The liver-specific enzyme tests are looking for the amino-transferases, free, in the blood. The only way they can get into the blood is from hepatic apoptosis, i.e. the death of liver cells. It's a routine event, liver cell death. It happens every day. Your liver assays are never zero. Your liver simply grows new cells to replace the ones that got all blowed up.
When your liver enzymes go above a certain threshold, that threshold is intended to represent more or less the capacity of your liver to regenerate. Below the threshold, your liver is regenerating as fast as it is destroyed. Above that threshold, your liver is losing ground.
So, if liver stress increases, as measured by free liver enzymes in blood, and you know what the stressor is, you stop the stressor. Usually, in almost every case, the liver bounces right back. {Assumption only that liver disease is not otherwise present.}
Depakote can cause chronic elevation in liver enzymes. But, if the baseline shift is still below that critical regenerative threshold, it really is not a medical issue. You can sometimes manage liver stress with e.g. milk thistle, or glutathione precursors, or antioxidant minerals (zinc, selenium).
The liver is very resilient. Ask any alcoholic.
Lar
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