Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 984305

Shown: posts 1 to 14 of 14. This is the beginning of the thread.

 

liver,lithium, and nardil

Posted by lifelover on May 1, 2011, at 18:02:36

So I got back my blood tests from my doctor and he said I had high liver levels. Nothing he said hes to concerned about but something that needs to be watched as I get older. Im currently on lithium and about to start nardil again soon. Im thinking the high levels are either because of the 1200mg of lithium I am taking, or because of the 80 or so pounds Ive gained while being on medications(nardil and invega). Will losing weight lower my liver levels and my cholesterol? Is there any suppliment I can take to lower my liver levels? And also some people are saying that nardil is not healthy for ur liver? Is this true and should I be concerned about this?

 

Re: liver,lithium, and nardil » lifelover

Posted by mtdewcmu on May 1, 2011, at 21:23:27

In reply to liver,lithium, and nardil, posted by lifelover on May 1, 2011, at 18:02:36

> So I got back my blood tests from my doctor and he said I had high liver levels. Nothing he said hes to concerned about but something that needs to be watched as I get older. Im currently on lithium and about to start nardil again soon. Im thinking the high levels are either because of the 1200mg of lithium I am taking, or because of the 80 or so pounds Ive gained while being on medications(nardil and invega). Will losing weight lower my liver levels and my cholesterol? Is there any suppliment I can take to lower my liver levels? And also some people are saying that nardil is not healthy for ur liver? Is this true and should I be concerned about this?

These must be the questions that you should have asked the doctor but forgot <g>. I'm not aware that your body weight has much to do with the health of your liver. In extreme cases you can get a fatty liver (you can google that), but I don't know how that would show up on labs, and I don't think it's the first thing that comes to mind when you see elevated liver enzymes. The prime suspect in my mind would be your meds, especially lithium and nardil, since those are older ones and currently second- or third-line treatments due to toxicity issues. Invega is a remote possibility, but if that one messed up your liver, you could probably still sue Janssen and have a chance to win. Drinking alcohol actually does measurable liver damage, and I have heard that drinking the night before a liver test can raise your levels. Luckily the liver regenerates on its own. I don't think there is any significant thing you can do to help your liver other than eliminate anything that might be damaging it.

Your cholesterol is something you have a lot more control over. There are meds and lifestyle changes that may change those. High cholesterol isn't really a disease in and of itself, though. It is considered a risk factor for heart disease and vascular disease.

 

Re: liver,lithium, and nardil

Posted by Phillipa on May 1, 2011, at 21:55:12

In reply to Re: liver,lithium, and nardil » lifelover, posted by mtdewcmu on May 1, 2011, at 21:23:27

I'd say meds also but there are also physical causes. Phillipa

 

Re: liver,lithium, and nardil

Posted by mtdewcmu on May 1, 2011, at 22:55:20

In reply to Re: liver,lithium, and nardil, posted by Phillipa on May 1, 2011, at 21:55:12

> I'd say meds also but there are also physical causes. Phillipa

Yes, Phillipa reminds me that there are other potential causes such as viral hepatitis. I trust that your doctor is on top of those and will contact you if you need more tests.

 

Re: liver,lithium, and nardil

Posted by desolationrower on May 2, 2011, at 4:37:52

In reply to liver,lithium, and nardil, posted by lifelover on May 1, 2011, at 18:02:36

> So I got back my blood tests from my doctor and he said I had high liver levels. Nothing he said hes to concerned about but something that needs to be watched as I get older. Im currently on lithium and about to start nardil again soon. Im thinking the high levels are either because of the 1200mg of lithium I am taking, or because of the 80 or so pounds Ive gained while being on medications(nardil and invega). Will losing weight lower my liver levels and my cholesterol?

yes, note that weight loss will increase HDL (high density lipoproteins, aka 'good cholesterol'). do you have high blood sugar? eating less junk food and more veg is never a bad idea.

>Is there any suppliment I can take to lower my liver levels? And also some people are saying that nardil is not healthy for ur liver? Is this true and should I be concerned about this?

Drink more coffee, lose weight. I am not sure how liver prophylactics work. Most studies only report on 'liver enzymes' without describing the underlying pathology. So i'm not sure if the dozen things that 'reduce liver enzymes' are effective against anything that does damage to the liver. if anyone wants to send me a textbook on livers, id like that. If nothing else, cut down on sugar/HFCS etc. and corn/soy/'vegetable' etc oil.

-d/r

 

Re: liver,lithium, and nardil » desolationrower

Posted by mtdewcmu on May 2, 2011, at 12:13:17

In reply to Re: liver,lithium, and nardil, posted by desolationrower on May 2, 2011, at 4:37:52

> Drink more coffee, lose weight. I am not sure how liver prophylactics work. Most studies only report on 'liver enzymes' without describing the underlying pathology. So i'm not sure if the dozen things that 'reduce liver enzymes' are effective against anything that does damage to the liver. if anyone wants to send me a textbook on livers, id like that.

Liver enzymes are not like cholesterol levels, where there is a lot of natural variance. The enzymes only come from dying liver cells, so the vast majority of people will have negligible levels.

 

Re: liver,lithium, and nardil

Posted by lifelover on May 2, 2011, at 15:34:01

In reply to Re: liver,lithium, and nardil » desolationrower, posted by mtdewcmu on May 2, 2011, at 12:13:17

so are u guys saying that coffee works for lowering enzyme levels? and if so how much should i drink? Also saw my doc today and she sais the lithium cant be the culprit because its metabolized in the kidney's not the liver... Im so pissed cause she doesnt want to start the nardil yet because i brought up the liver levels and she told me take the next 3 months to lose weight and then take a blood test again... wtf

 

Re: liver,lithium, and nardil

Posted by desolationrower on May 2, 2011, at 18:26:22

In reply to Re: liver,lithium, and nardil, posted by lifelover on May 2, 2011, at 15:34:01

> so are u guys saying that coffee works for lowering enzyme levels? and if so how much should i drink? Also saw my doc today and she sais the lithium cant be the culprit because its metabolized in the kidney's not the liver... Im so pissed cause she doesnt want to start the nardil yet because i brought up the liver levels and she told me take the next 3 months to lose weight and then take a blood test again... wtf

well i guess as much as it takes, no? just based on various studies OR for intake level, i'll say 5 cups a day is enough for most of the benefit

-d/r

 

Re: liver,lithium, and nardil

Posted by lifelover on May 2, 2011, at 18:33:47

In reply to Re: liver,lithium, and nardil, posted by desolationrower on May 2, 2011, at 18:26:22

thanks des, 5 cups is a lot theres no question about that, but watever it takes to get these liver enzyme levels down i will do, because nardil is really a lifesaver for me and i need it to function. Il drink the coffee straight black if I have to. Also what about milk thisstle? Has that been shown to lower liver enzymes in anyway?

 

Re: liver,lithium, and nardil » lifelover

Posted by Phillipa on May 2, 2011, at 19:43:39

In reply to Re: liver,lithium, and nardil, posted by lifelover on May 2, 2011, at 18:33:47

Let me see what I can find on liver enzymes. I think it's milk thistle some say helps the liver not sure though? Phillipa

 

Re: liver,lithium, and nardil » Phillipa

Posted by Phillipa on May 2, 2011, at 19:51:05

In reply to Re: liver,lithium, and nardil » lifelover, posted by Phillipa on May 2, 2011, at 19:43:39

Lots of causes including meds and an array of illnessnes. Hope this Mayo Clinic link works Phillipa

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/elevated-liver-enzymes/MY00508

 

Re: liver,lithium, and nardil » Phillipa

Posted by lifelover on May 2, 2011, at 20:12:53

In reply to Re: liver,lithium, and nardil » Phillipa, posted by Phillipa on May 2, 2011, at 19:51:05

Thanks for the info on the mayo clinic, ya I know milk thisstle or however u spell it can help with ur liver, I was just wondering if someone had any personal experiences with it.. The thought of drinking 5 cups of coffee a day is unsettling.......but if I have to I will...Hola at urrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr boooooooooooooyyyyyyyyy(alvin n the chipmunks voice)

 

Re: liver,lithium, and nardil

Posted by desolationrower on May 3, 2011, at 20:45:36

In reply to Re: liver,lithium, and nardil, posted by lifelover on May 2, 2011, at 18:33:47

> thanks des, 5 cups is a lot theres no question about that, but watever it takes to get these liver enzyme levels down i will do, because nardil is really a lifesaver for me and i need it to function. Il drink the coffee straight black if I have to. Also what about milk thisstle? Has that been shown to lower liver enzymes in anyway?
>

I remember milk thistle being somewhat effective, its quite popular with people doing anabolics. I never tried it since i like supplements that do more than one thing, and that are foods (and never had liver problems). SAMe is expensive, i'd avoid because of risk of 5ht syndrome. I remember phosphatydlecholine came up a few times too. I think coffee is the most studied.

Decaff is almost as good, so if you drink half of your coffee like that its easier.

-d/r

 

Re: liver,lithium, and nardil

Posted by Christ_empowered on May 5, 2011, at 19:40:31

In reply to liver,lithium, and nardil, posted by lifelover on May 1, 2011, at 18:02:36

I at one point had super-high liver enzymes from popping too many benzos and being over-medicated in general. I quit medications altogether, but then I had to go on depakote b/c I went mad. What helped my liver over the long haul was supplements. I take a lot of them, but I think the niacinamide and the taurine (3 grams, 6grams respectively) have really done good stuff for helping my liver return to a healthy state.


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