Kickas.org Forums Treatments, Drugs and Alternatives Anti TNF and other biological medications Elevated liver enzymes

Anyone had a problem with this while on Enbel? My blood work was normal when taken end of April, went on Enbrel, was tested last week - - and it's up around 700! At 1000 they slam you in the hospital. I feel fine, if it wasn't for the blood work I'd have no clue anything was wrong, but evidently it's a serious elevation, so off all meds. They think it's the Enbrel -- well, the timing is suspicious to say the least and nothing else in my life has changed. So has anybody had this problem and, more importantly, did they drop when you stopped the Enbrel? I'm a bit worried here. So far so good, no yellow eyes or itching or nausea, but feeling stressed, retest next week, so keeping fingers and toes crossed it's not gokoing to be a serious long term problem. Advice needed!

Cheryl

Hi Cheryl, long time no speak, my fault!!

I've been on Enbrel for 1.5 years, and the rheumy has taken blood with every vist, as has the regular doc, and no one has told me of elevated liver enzymes...however, that's what got me to stop Vioxx in 2001...I was on it for six or so months...one blood test showed it and I stopped...and then within two months when I took a second test with regular doc, it was normal...and I didn't change a thing other than Vioxx...maybe you need to stop Enbrel for awhile, get tested, then start again, have them test you...the scientific method in action...compare results...but if the doc is too worried about your liver health, then listen and stop doing shots...

I know that when I get any infection, I stop Enbrel, deal with the doc, cure the infection, and then go back on...and I've been off for almost a month and felt ok...

Enbrel gave me me life back, the life of a 26 yr old....and I'm hoping nothing will be discovered that will cause me to stop using it!!! But hang in there, because....you....freakin'....ROCK.

Peace
Linc

It might be a combo problem too, I was on Arava for 3 1/2 years, normal blood work, but there was a bit of overlap with Arava when I started Enbrel, and also a week on MTX - - only a week, I didn't tolerate it - - well, I didn't the last time. So maybe with Arava still in my system, MtX for a week, and then Enbrel, it tipped me over the edge. Yes, stopped ALL drugs, including muscle relaxers which is a bit of a problem at night, but she (the doc) did put me on a taper down pred thing. No symptoms - - did you have any? - - except depressed appetite and that's improving. At least, unlike the "normal" folks, we have blood work done regularly so things like this can't lurk and get worse. Hopefully my problem will clear up quickly.

How high was your level? Mine was a little over 700.

Thanks, Linc, for getting back to me on this.

Cheryl

Hey!
My doc never told me the full results of my liver test...just that liver enzymes were "elevated"....but she did not urge me to stop Vioxx...I did that one myself...after hearing news about the liver....
Less beer, less coffee, less townspeople....hey, relaxation is key...

must crash, talk into ASkickin,. now wheel around to the mountaintop landing strip....and land on that sucker~~~~'

Did you have follow up tests to see if the liver had normalized? I'm gonna miss having a beer with my football games this fall. If liver returns to normal are there restrictions?

I think mine was a double whammy, researched Arava (again), turns out they lied to us (again), it was supposed to be more liver friendly but alas, not true, over time (and more folks being on it, not just controlled small studies) the conclusion is it's a liver enzyme culprit too, and it lives in the body for up to 2 years after stopping the meds unless I undergo the "cleansing" procedure, which doesn't sound much fun. That plus Enbrel and voila, liver screaming.

About ready to go cold turkey here on all meds - - which I am right now - - fed up with the side effects. Celebrex [**BLEEP**] near killed me (aggravated high BP, found that out due to horrible headaches when working out at the gym, it shot up from comatose to 190 over 90, and has never come back down without medication (BP meds). If it's not one thing it's - - well, a million things.

Cheryl