Liver disease symptoms and conditions

I am a 37 year old man who weighed approximately 188lbs when I prescribed 20mg of Lipitor and fish oil to combat my high triglycerides(437) and my high total cholesterol(212) in August of 2009. I have a high stress job and was experiencing occasional chest pain and heart palpitations. In addition, I have psoriasis and psoriasis arthritis and take Enbrel injections weekly. Prior to taking Lipitor, I had normal liver function tests.

At the same time that I began the fish oil and Lipitor, I began to change my eating habits and began a regular exercise routine. I began to feel better and lose weight. I was enthused about my progress. I took my Lipitor at night, however, I found it difficult to get up in the mornings and I was a little more tired than normal.

Roughly 3 months after beginning Lipitor, I developed a condition of EXTREME thirst. Blood tests from my doctor revealed elevated Liver Levels. His first inclination was that it was Lipitor so I stopped taking it ASAP. A subsequent test a week later indicated little improvement in my liver tests. My doctor suggested we give it two more weeks to test it. I just got my tests back and they actually increased!(ALT 197, AST 90, ALP 571).

My cardiologist does not have anything to suggest other than the possibility of a fatty liver, gall stones, or liver disease. His recommendation was that I get an ultrasound next week of my liver and meet with a GI doctor.

My excessive thirst and fatigue continues. I am not jaundiced but I do frequently experience dark urine. I weigh myself every morning and my weight is now down to 174. I seem to be losing very gradual weight now though my eating habits have returned to my old routine. This worries me. I am now worried that this drug triggered something terrible in my system. Does anyone have any advice?

Hi there... I came off of Yasmin just 2 weeks ago and thought I should share with you my story since yours is a skin issue. I took Yasmin for 3 years. This past year I would wake up some bumps on my lip.. then on my hands.. then (this is over a period of months) I would wake up and have a slightly swollen lip... this was over the last year or so. I would also get a feeling in my throat, like something was in it and swallowing felt funny.
WELL, 2 weeks ago, I took my bc like I always do, right before I go to bed and my lip starts to tingle and itch.. and in the morning my face was swollen 3x the normal size on on side, mostly at the lips... I couldn't really talk.. it was like those awful photos on google. It was angioedema and can kill you by swelling of the throat. I had also for about a year- an ear issue.. it would sound like I was talking under water and felt like swimmer's ear- related to the swelling I found out later. Turns out I'm allergic. I developed this allergy over the period of time I was exposed.

I just want to say to anyone out there that has FACIAL/LIP SWELLING, or swelling of the hands... GO TO THE ER. It can kill you. I got lucky.. my swelling started slow and after about a year if was full blown. It is not something to mess around with!I was prescribed an epi pen. I developed an allergy to a preservative in it and I'm not an allergen sensitive person. That was just the parms/doctor guess I might add.

The first year I took Yasmin I had numb and tingling toes. and the whole tie I've had on and off leg pain.. no sex drive, that's the truth..definite bloating issues about 6 lbs weight gain, sometimes more without change in diet. I haven't noticed any hair loss thankfully. Migraines. Lots of nausea in the morning, every morning like morning sickness. Car sick even when driving.. not normal! I used to work on an airplane and I never got motion sickness.

I'm now on day 4 of Mirena IUD and I'm having having severe diarrhea and trouble sleeping.. I really, really don't want to get pregnant. Our next step is a vasectomy for the hubby. I'm 25 and I weigh 140 5'10 if that helps. I wasn't an 'at risk' like the pamphlet said.

Hi. I posted two times in June, took lisinopril 2 weeks in April and was having side-effects 7-8 weeks out. I began a simple detox (lemon in my water, lots of water, more vegetables), took some supplements/vitamins and the racing heart, tingling, chest pains diminished greatly. My blood pressure became near normal on its own over May/June but shot back up sky high the day I went back to the doctor on June 22!! (of course). It is slowly normalizing again. My bloodwork showed high liver enzymes and that is why I believe that it took so long for the drug to clear my system. Lisinopril did not cause the high liver enzymes as I had that before the drug was prescribed. It is processed mainly by the kidneys so could cause problems there.

I believe that my body was in trouble and the elevated liver enzymes and bp were the first signs. I think the lisinopril took me over the edge. I had one very bad panic attack at night this week with racing heart, horrible chest pain, left sided tingling and bilateral hands/feet tingling. I really thought I was dying. I had never had these symptoms before starting that drug but now I think that maybe I was in a hypoglycemic state. All this to say that, in my research, I came across books by Dr. Sandra Cabot (Unlock the Secrets that Keep You Fat, The Liver Cleansing Diet) that explains a lot of the problems I am having (which many of you have mentioned also). These are systemic, affect the vital organs/functions of the body (ability to lose weight, high bp, achy joints, etc), and are pre-diabetic/pre-liver disease states. The book gave me a lot of hope because we can get our bodies back in working order through proper diet, exercise, and supplements. Dr. Cabot has a great website too. Google her and check it out.

This antibiotic should be taken off the market. I took it for 2 days and stopped. A week later and I still feel ill! I'm so afraid I wont recover!! Please, DO NOT TAKE THIS!!! Oh and by he way --- I have liver disease and still the stupid dentist prescribed it!!

I have been on prednisone since I was two years old (I am now sixteen) because I have Autoimmune Hepatitis IIa. I would like to point out that there is still a life worth living being on prednisone, maybe I say this because I do not know life without it, but at least we're alive! Last year I had a flare up of the AIH and had to 6x my dose of prednisone. It sent me into a spiraling depression of constant sleep, crying, hopelessness etc....but I made it through. Just PLEASE keep hope that things would get better, because I know what it's like being on the dreaded drug better than most.

I am a 36 year old woman living in hell for 3 months now.

In early October of last year I was admitted to the Hospital with diagnosed bronchitis a possible pneumonia. I was given Avelox which is a member of the Fluoroquinolone drug family. At the time I was in sever distress, could not breath, and was extremely weak from the infection. I stayed in the hospital for 6 days while they gave me Avelox along with various other meds to treat my symptoms and was released after finally getting a clear chest x-ray. The drug had done its job. But it was a week later that hell started. I was re-admitted to the same hospital with sever abdominal pain. They told me that I had hepatitis due to a reaction from the Avelox. My Dr. Also suspected I could have Wilsons Disease so he prescribed a liver biopsy, to say the very least this was a painful procedure. The biopsy came back negative and the liver function began to return to normal just as the pain everywhere else began.

joint and muscle pain
headaches
insomnia
uncontrollable twitching
arm and leg numbness
neck pain/spasms
a mass on my left breast (further diagnosed after mammogram, CT and Biopsy as a side effect to the Avelox)

My internist, Rheumatologist and the liver specialist all suspect “Post infection pain syndrom”.

However, after hearing now 3 separate times from 3 seperate Dr's about the possible side effect of Avelox I did a little research and every single one of my “symptoms” are on the lists of dangerous side effects for this drug. Now none of my Dr.s can tell me if I will ever get rid of the pain I am in. None of them seem to be able to do ANYTHING but treat my symptoms. By treating the symptoms all they can do is pain management which means pain killers. I simply can not function day to day with most pain killers so I am forced to live with the pain.

More drugs than I have ever taken, Dr.s visits, time off work, stress and a standard of living that simply put is not living, not to mention the tremendous outlay of cash...to say the least I am frustrated.

Three years ago I was prescribed Levaquin for an infection. After the Levaquin I was unable to stay up in my wheelchair for more than two hours. I started taking two extra strength Tylenol and I was able to increase that to three hours. I added Naproxen 325 mg and that has decreased the pain and has also increased the time in my wheelchair by about an hour. I am also on a drug called Lyrica 150 mg which has decreased the pain further. I am a quadriplegic so I cannot feel anything below my shoulders but my body responds to pain. I can tell that my body is in constant pain but of course I cannot feel were it's coming from. Ever since the Levaquin I also have a condition called Terry's nails. I looked at this condition on the Internet and is says that Terry's nails occurs when the body is in distress usually with kidney disease or liver disease or cancer. I've had more blood tests than I can count and all of them are normal. My body's sensitivity to pain appears to be getting worse. I'm not sure what can help anymore, have any of you found anything out about pain management?

STRANGELY ENOUGH THE CORRECT INFORMATION IS SHOWING UP IF YOU HIT REPLY SO DO THAT!

GUESS WHAT, WHEN YOU CUT AND PASTE THE SIDE EFFECTS INTO THIS WEBSITE THEY DON'T ALL SHOW UP!

MISSING IS:

BEHAVIOR AND MOOD RELATED CHANGES

CHECK FOR YOURSELF ON THEIR WEBSITE BECAUSE THEY ARE THERE!

MY APOLOGIES TO ALL FOR AN ERROR IN MY PRIOR POST. WHEN I CUT AND PASTED THE INFORMATION FROM MERCK'S WEBSITE NOT ALL OF IT APPEARED IN MY POST FOR SOME REASON. THE CORRECTED INFORMATION IS BELOW. CHECK THEIR WEBSITE FOR YOURSELVES TO VERIFY THIS.

THIS IS FROM THE PATIENT INFORMATION:

"What are the possible side effects of SINGULAIR?

The side effects of SINGULAIR are usually mild, and generally did not cause patients to stop taking their medicine. The side effects in patients treated with SINGULAIR were similar in type and frequency to side
effects in patients who were given a placebo (a pill containing no medicine).
The most common side effects with SINGULAIR include:
• stomach pain
• stomach or intestinal upset
• heartburn
• tiredness
• fever
• stuffy nose
• cough
• flu
• upper respiratory infection
• dizziness
• headache
• rash

Less common side effects that have happened with SINGULAIR include:
• increased bleeding tendency
• allergic reactions
• behavior and mood related changes
• drowsiness, pins and needles/numbness, seizures (convulsions or fits)
• palpitations
• nose bleed
• diarrhea, indigestion, inflammation of the pancreas, nausea, vomiting
• hepatitis
• bruising
• joint pain, muscle aches and muscle cramps
• swelling

Rarely, asthmatic patients taking SINGULAIR have experienced Rarely, asthmatic patients taking SINGULAIR have experienced a condition that includes certain symptoms that do not go away or that get worse. These occur usually, but not always, in patients who were taking steroid pills by mouth for asthma and those steroids were being slowly lowered or stopped.
Although SINGULAIR has not been shown to cause this condition, you must tell your doctor right away if you get one or more of these symptoms:
• a feeling of pins and needles or numbness of arms or legs
• a flu-like illness
• rash
• severe inflammation (pain and swelling) of the sinuses (sinusitis)
These are not all the possible side effects of SINGULAIR. For more information ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Talk to your doctor if you think you have side effects from taking SINGULAIR."

d27gayle POSTED INCORRECT INFORMATION ABOUT THE SIDE EFFECTS OF SINGULAIR. I JUST COPIED THIS FROM MERCK'S SINGULAIR WEBSITE. THIS IS THE CORRECT AND UPDATED INFORMATION. THIS INFORMATION DOES LIST DEPRESSION AND SUICIDAL BEHAVIOR AS SIDE EFFECTS.

IF PEOPLE ARE GOING TO SHARE INFORMATION ON THIS SITE, PLEASE MAKE SURE IT IS CORRECT BEFORE POSTING!!!!!!!!!

What are the possible side effects of SINGULAIR?
The side effects of SINGULAIR are usually mild, and generally did not cause patients to stop taking their medicine. The side effects in patients treated with SINGULAIR were similar in type and frequency to side effects in patients who were given a placebo (a pill containing no medicine).
The most common side effects with SINGULAIR include:
• stomach pain
• stomach or intestinal upset
• heartburn
• tiredness
• fever
• stuffy nose
• cough
• flu
• upper respiratory infection
dizziness
• headache
• rash

Less common side effects that have happened with SINGULAIR include:
• increased bleeding tendency
• allergic reactions
• behavior and mood related changes
• drowsiness, pins and needles/numbness, seizures (convulsions or fits)
• palpitations
• nose bleed
• diarrhea, indigestion, inflammation of the pancreas, nausea, vomiting
• hepatitis
• bruising
• joint pain, muscle aches and muscle cramps
• swelling

Rarely, asthmatic patients taking SINGULAIR have experienced a condition that includes certain
symptoms that do not go away or that get worse. These occur usually, but not always, in patients who
were taking steroid pills by mouth for asthma and those steroids were being slowly lowered or stopped.
Although SINGULAIR has not been shown to cause this condition, you must tell your doctor right
away if you get one or more of these symptoms:
• a feeling of pins and needles or numbness of arms or legs
• a flu-like illness
• rash
• severe inflammation (pain and swelling) of the sinuses (sinusitis)

These are not all the possible side effects of SINGULAIR. For more information ask your doctor or pharmacist. Talk to your doctor if you think you have side effects from taking SINGULAIR.

October I received my mirena in 2006, if I had known then what I know
1st now I would never have gotten it. My husband and I share 3
2008 beautiful children, 2 being twins, since the risk of having another
8.30am set of twins was high, and his refusal of a vasectomy, my
doctor assured me this was the best thing for me. During the
2 years that my mirena was in I gained 20 kilos and continued
to gain blowing me up to 130 kilos. I have always been chubby
but no efforts to lose weight would work. I suffered depression
and the same doctor started me on medication for that,
still saying nothing about my mirena as the possible cause for
my problems. I was suffering excessive sweating, and not the
nice smelling kind, terrible tiredness and fatigue, aches and
pains, pelvic pain and complete loss of periods. It was only
when I went to my doctor a few months ago and demanded
that the mirena be removed, that I have started to improve. No
more sweats, I am still on my depression medication and am in
the process of weening off it. I have started to lose some weight
but unfortunately have now been blessed with liver disease. If
it's not one thing it's another. I have been researching to see if
mirena has contributed to my liver problem as I did not have it
before the mirena was inserted ????????? My experience has
not been a happy one, but losing trust in who I thought was a
good doctor really sucks. Don't take what they say as truth!!!!
Now I have to convince my husband to have a vasectomy and
so far he is proving quite difficult!!!!!

15 years ago, at the age of 35, I had a major heart attack. After testing, the doctors decided I needed a quadruple bi-pass operation, followed by Lipitor, among other things. I was taking 20mg (the doctor ordered 40mg), but due to financial reasons I took only half. Everything was just great for 15 years. During a routine annual physical this year, my doctor noticed that my liver enzymes were off the chart high. He immediately had me discontinue the Liptor, but stay on all of my other medications. One month later, my liver enzymes were normal, and so was everything else; however, my cholesterol had climbed to 204, and I eat no meat, eggs, or other dairy products. They say my liver damage is permanent. Having had 4 lumbar surgeries and 1 cervical surgery to fuse disks in my spine, I have always attributed my back and other muscle pains to that. Now that I have been of the Lipitor for 3 months, I have not noticed in decrease in pain in these areas.

I've taken Ultracet for about 4 years almost every day, morning and night time and sometimes in the afternoon depending how severe my pain is. I take 2 pills each time. It does help take the edge off my pain. My doctor said my Fibromyalgia is as bad as it can get, plus I have severe arthritis through my whole body. I can hardly stand up straight and trouble walking. Ultracet seems to help better then Ultram for me. I'm concerned about how long I've taken Ultracet and damaging my liver or other organs. Does anyone know how long you can continue using Ultracet before it does damage. I'm very concerned about that issue because it does somewhat help with pain. I haven't noticed any side effects using Ultracet. If anyone knows how long you can stay on Ultracet without any harm, please post your knowledge or experience. Should I also have my blood monitored periodically?

I took this in the hospital for 4 days through a IV, I had a 9 beat V-Tach then a few triplets and more. The RN on duty came in and said don't ever let them give this to you again, and showed me the tape that was off the monitor that I wore, she said they use paddles to get you to come back and that's the only thing they can do. I have never had a heart problem in my life, I had a blood infection and my ammonia level was high because I have a liver disease that was why I was in the hospital. The infectious disease doctor they got for me for the blood infection came in when I was ready to be released and said here's a script for a weeks worth of Levaquin , I said isn't that what caused my heart to react like that? He said no take it. I came home and called my liver coordinator and she said get of that stuff we've had so many problems with it.

Hello! I have been diagnosed with chronic daily migraines. Yes, a migraine everyday for 5 months straight. Next comes swelling of fingers, hands, arms, legs, ankles and feet with major pain for the last 5 weeks. I have gone to the neurologist, ob-gyn & family Dr. I had 4 Dr/ER visits of testing to see what the problem could be. Tested for heart failure, liver disease, kidney failure/disease, lung, lupus, ms, chest x-ray, ekg and a brain CT scan...all to be negative THANK GOD! All of my Dr's including the ER staff said....hmmmm I think its the NUVARING! After some research my symptoms matched the nuvaring side effects exactly...the part that says...if you have any of these...then call the Dr. immediately. It has been approx a week and 1/2 of the removal of the Nuvaring and the headaches are no longer everyday or a "10" in rating. I was so busy typing that I forgot to mention that I match quite a few of your symptons as well...like no sex drive, depression, nausea, dizziness etc. I'm not sure about what happened and if my symptoms will go away without the nuvaring. I can say that it is worth a try. I also want to tell you all that no, you are not crazy and please listen to your body. Nuvaring came along when I really needed to regulate my periods...so I know the feeling of being relieved, but I wish I had taken a break from a 3 year run with the "Nuvaring". Please take care!

Although I am not a woman, my fiance is using nuvaring, and on her 2nd day, she's vomited 2 or 3 times. I went to a professional health web-site that listed the "COMMON" side effects of nuvaring, which are:

More common side effects may include:
Abdominal cramps, allergic rash, bloating, blood clots, breakthrough bleeding and spotting, breast secretions, change in menstrual flow, changes in the breast such as tenderness or enlargement, dark pigmentation of the skin, decreased milk production in nursing mothers, depression, emotional instability, gallbladder disease, headaches, heart attack, high blood pressure, intolerance to contact lenses, liver disease, liver tumors, migraine headaches, missed periods, nausea, problems with the ring, sinus inflammation, stroke, swelling, temporary infertility after discontinuing NuvaRing, upper respiratory tract infections, vaginal inflammation or discharge, vision problems, vomiting, weight gain or loss, yeast infections, yellow tint to the skin

These are DANGEROUS side effects. not to mention they're "common". i don't know what you girls must be going through, but I really don't want my fiance going through these things. she's always been really sensitive to medicine and changes in her medicine. I am not a gullible person and I'm usually pretty skeptical when it comes to things like this, but I honestly do not think that NuvaRing is a stable product. As one other girl on here mentioned, my fiance recieved a sample and prescription for it. we read through literally EVERYTHING she received, NO side effects listed *whatsoever* She's already had problems in the past with depression, this is really the last thing she needs.

This is more of a vent. sorry to waste space, but people need to know what they're putting in their bodies.

If this WAS a safe product, they would freely and openly tell the people they're handing these rings out to, the common side effects. BUT if they did that, no one would buy this thing. It seems more like quick release of a new product without proper testing.

Stay SAFE! just because a doctor gives it to you, doesn't mean its safe.

I'm posting my comment here on the Levaquin site because I too was poisened by this drug one year ago. I experienced horrible joint and tendon pain and even a year later I am still experiencing problems with both Achilles tendons. What I wanted to talk about today is Levaquin's horrible sibling Cipro. Here it is...the honest facts...In late Dec 2006 my dad was diagnosed with chirrosis of the liver. On Jan 8, 2007 he was admitted into the hospital to have fluid drained from his abdomen as a result of his liver not functioning well. My dad was given 400 mg of Cipro through an IV over the course of one hour. I wasn't there with him at the time because I would have never allowed the doctor/nurse/whomever to administer that to him. He was released from the hospital two days later and was ok by all accounts. On Jan 18, 2007 my dad was rushed to the hospital ER where we were told he was in complete kidney failure (renal failure). His liver was also failing. My 70 year old dad died on Feb 13, 2007 from complete kidney and liver failure. At one point over the weeks he was slowly dying I looked up Cipro on the internet and was horrified to read that Cipro is notorious for causing acute renal and liver failure. Another Flouroquinolone, Tequin, was taken off the market last year for causing the same thing. My dad had a "sick" liver to begin with and I cannot comprehend whay a doctor would prescribe a drug to him that is known to cause liver failure. Yes my dad had a liver problem, but besides that he was in excellent health. I do believe that one day my dad would have died as a result of having liver disease, but I truly believe that the Cipro he was given caused his kidney and liver to fail so soon and so rapidly. Beware my friends....beware. May God bless us all who have been affected in one way or another from this crap that is STILL on the market.

I feel like my heart flutters on it and the first time I took it, I couldn't sleep for 2 days. I am giving it another try due to cedar fever.

I found this information from another site.

Post-Marketing Experience

The following additional adverse reactions have been reported in post-marketing use: hypersensitivity reactions (including anaphylaxis, angioedema, pruritus, urticaria, and very rarely, hepatic eosinophilic infiltration); dream abnormalities and hallucinations, drowsiness, irritability, agitation including aggressive behavior, restlessness, insomnia, paraesthesia/hypoesthesia, and very rarely seizures; arthralgia, myalgia including muscle cramps; increased bleeding tendency, bruising; palpitations; edema; nausea, vomiting, dyspepsia, diarrhea, and very rarely pancreatitis. Rare cases of cholestatic hepatitis, hepatocellular liver-injury, and mixed-pattern liver injury have been reported in patients treated with SINGULAIR. Most of these occurred in combination with other confounding factors, such as use of other medications, or when SINGULAIR was administered to patients who had underlying potential for liver disease such as alcohol use or other forms of hepatitis

It looks like it has many side effects.

GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR ALLERGIES!

Ambien®

Important Note
The following information is intended to supplement, not substitute for, the expertise and judgment of your physician, pharmacist or other healthcare professional. It should not be construed to indicate that use of the drug is safe, appropriate, or effective for you. Consult your healthcare professional before using this drug.

Uses
Ambien medication is used to treat insomnia (sleeping disorders).

How to Use
Take Ambien medication by mouth immediately before bedtime on an empty stomach or as directed. This medication is usually taken for short periods of 7 to 10 days. Take this exactly as prescribed. Do not increase the dose or take this for longer than prescribed.

Side Effects
Daytime drowsiness, dizziness, headache, nausea, stomach upset, vomiting, diarrhea, lightheadedness, and dry mouth may occur. If any of these effects continue or become bothersome, inform your doctor. Notify your doctor if you develop any of these serious side effects while taking this medication: chest pain, rapid heart rate, difficulty breathing, skin rash, fever, behavior changes, mental confusion, abnormal thinking, depression. To avoid dizziness and lightheadedness when rising from a seated or lying position, get up slowly. Also avoid intake of alcoholic beverages which will aggravate these effects. Ambien medication causes drowsiness, use caution engaging in activities requiring alertness. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.

Precautions
Tell your doctor your medical history, especially of kidney disease, liver disease, lung disease, drug dependency, depression, breathing problems, any allergies. This medication should be used during pregnancy only if clearly needed. Discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor. Since small amounts of this medication are found in breast milk, consult your doctor before breast-feeding.

Drug Interactions
Tell your doctor of any over-the-counter or prescription medication you may take including: any medication for depression or seizures, narcotic pain relievers, sedatives. Avoid the use of alcohol while taking this medication. Do not start or stop any medicine without doctor or pharmacist approval.

Overdose
If overdose is suspected, contact your local poison control center or emergency room immediately. Symptoms of overdose may include difficulty breathing, clumsiness, slowed heart rate, and deep sleep from which you cannot be awakened.

Notes
Elderly persons are usually more sensitive to the effects of this medication. Use cautiously. You may experience sleeping difficulties on the first night after stopping this medication. Be aware of this effect. If the problem continues, contact your doctor.

Missed Dose
Take your Ambien dose at or near bedtime. If you miss a dose, do not take it if it is near the time for your next dose. Instead, skip the missed dose and resume your usual dosing schedule. Do not "double-up" the dose to catch up.

Storage
Store Ambien at room temperature between 59 and 86 degrees F (15 to 30 degrees C) away from heat and light. Do not store in the bathroom.

My liver enzymes went up high after taking singulair. I am a 55 yr old woman.
My ALT 134 my ast 79. For more info on singulair, just type in singulair and liver disease and Singuair dangers.