Liver Function?

handsy
handsy Member Posts: 209
edited 12. Nov 2009, 13:17 in Living with Arthritis archive
Hi Gang,

Has anyone on here or heard anyting about liver function problems whilst taking Methotrexate. My Rhuemy said that my ALT had risen from 74 to 102. Also i may have to go into Hospital.

Can anyone give me some info, thanks as this would be most wellcome.

Comments

  • breane
    breane Member Posts: 392
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Handsy,This probably won't help with your question but for several months I had abnormal liver function tests and when the rhuemy first prescribed meds for my OA and RA she said she wouldn't put me on Methotrexate as that med can alter the liver function. :( Instead she put me on Hydroxy.Ive been on that since last June and the blood tests I've had done each month since, has shown my LFT back to normal. :) I also read somewhere that Methotrexate can alter the liver function.Hope you soon get it sorted. Breane.
  • barbara01
    barbara01 Member Posts: 85
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi breane
    sorry to but in on this post but I see you are on hydroxy since last June can you tell me is it working for you and do you take anything else with it ... Thanks only I am looking to swap from mtx to hydroxy at next rheumy visit as I can't bear the side effects...
    Take care barbara xx
  • breane
    breane Member Posts: 392
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Barbara,So far I've not had any bad side effects from Hydroxy but have noticed a bit of hair loss when I wash my hair and comb it out when still wet.When I saw the rhuemy nurse last month she said my blood tests were fine and my DAS score was low which is a good thing. :lol: I still have the stiffness in the hands and wrists and aches and pains that move around the body but it has been better since being on Hydroxy.Being one of the less toxic drugs,I was pleased I was prescribed Hydroxy instead of Methotrexate.However,with Hydroxy you must have an eye test at least once a year as there is a very slim chance of a sort of crystal build up behind the eye.I've been on it for almost 5 months and so far so good.I see the consultant again in Dec. and she will decide if I stay on the drug.Breane.
  • barbara01
    barbara01 Member Posts: 85
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Thanks Breane that's really interesting am quite keen to swap to hydroxy as I had heard it's less toxic not many people seem to be taking it on here though, do you mind me asking what dose you are on or does everyone take the same. Thanks for your help.
    Barbara x
  • jaspercat
    jaspercat Member Posts: 1,238
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Handsy, Mxt can affect your liver function that is why you need to have monthly blood tests, I think that they may stop the Mxt, perhaps you should speak to your Rheumy nurse, she could help with more info etc love Jaspercatxx
  • breane
    breane Member Posts: 392
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi again Barbara, I take 2 x 200mg Hydroxy a day,one with or after breakfast and the other with my evening meal.It's best taken with or just after food,not on an empty stomach.I used to take Naproxen,omeprazole and steroids but the rhuemy took me off all those and put me on Hydroxy telling me they take 3 or 4 months to get in the system so it's not instant results.Let me know how you get on taking them. Breane. :)
  • dollydaydream
    dollydaydream Member Posts: 21
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    barbara01 wrote:
    Thanks Breane that's really interesting am quite keen to swap to hydroxy as I had heard it's less toxic not many people seem to be taking it on here though, do you mind me asking what dose you are on or does everyone take the same. Thanks for your help.
    Barbara x

    Hi everyone
    Non of the meds I was on seemed to work so they have added hydroxy to the mix.
    I take Methotrexate 20mg weekly Sulfasalazine 1000mg daily plus Hydroxy 200mg x2 daily for 5 days and1 folic acid.
    I have noticed my hair is thinning a bit - so did my hairdresser on thursday! Will talk to Rheumy in December. Not happy about that :(

    I'm tired all the time which I thought was some med side effect but nurse said it was probably more due to Arthurs.
    hope thats some help
    luv
    Dolly :shock:
  • dollydaydream
    dollydaydream Member Posts: 21
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    sorry just thought of something else. I had eye test at the opticions (spelling ?) after I was on Hydroxy and she was very helpful. She even took a photo of the back of my eyes so she can compare it with my next eye test. She also said it was quite rare that crystals can form.

    The only test they did at the hospital when they 1st put me on Hydroxy was to hold up a card and ask me to read from it,which I could even without my specs !! :shock:

    Dolly x
  • Wonkylegs
    Wonkylegs Member Posts: 3,504
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    handsy wrote:
    Hi Gang,

    Has anyone on here or heard anyting about liver function problems whilst taking Methotrexate. My Rhuemy said that my ALT had risen from 74 to 102. Also i may have to go into Hospital.

    Can anyone give me some info, thanks as this would be most wellcome.

    I have not had this problem myself (so far :wink: ) but I believe that they only stop the MTX if the liver results get to TWICE the top level of 'normal'. That was what my GP told me when mine went up very slightly. She thought that if that happened they would stop the MTX for a couple of weeks and retest before restarting the MTX. I think they would only stop the MTX permanently if there were repeated rises in your ALT.

    hope that helps - best to ask the rheumy nurse anyway, as there are different guidelines in different areas of the country I think :roll:
  • tkachev
    tkachev Member Posts: 8,332
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi John
    It doesnt rain in your life it pours!
    The liver can get damaged by the medication(usually MXT) so they do the blood tests to keep an eye and nip any problems in the bud as soon as possible.
    Your nurse will advise on what to do next.
    Take care
    Elizabeth
    Never be bullied into silence.
    Never allow yourself to be made a victim.
    Accept no ones definition of your life

    Define yourself........

    Harvey Fierstein
  • yorkie
    yorkie Member Posts: 57
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    handsy wrote:
    Hi Gang,

    Has anyone on here or heard anyting about liver function problems whilst taking Methotrexate. My Rhuemy said that my ALT had risen from 74 to 102. Also i may have to go into Hospital.

    Can anyone give me some info, thanks as this would be most wellcome.
    HELLO HANDSY
    JUST STOPPED MTMX 3 WEEKS AGO.
    MY ALT WENT FROM 33 TO 133 STOPPED FOR 1 WEEK HAD BLOOD TEST NOW ALT 44 SAID TO CARRY ON WITH MTX. I DECIDED TO LET MY BODY RECOVER ANOTHER WEEK THEN STARTED UP WITHMTX AGAIN. HAD A BLOOD TEST DUE TO OPERATION TO HAVE PARATHYRIOD REMOVED SO NEEDED A BLOOD TEST AGAIN . ALT NOW 67 AND I AM OFF MTX AT THAT TIME. BACK ON MTX AFTER OP ALT NOW 80. RANG RHUEMY NURSE AS ABIT WORRIED ABOUT THIS. SHE GOT ALL DEFENSIVE AND TOLD ME THEY WER`NT MAKING ME TAKE MTX AND THAT ALL THERE DRUGS ARE TOXIC....SAID MY GP SHOULD BE MONIOTRING ME NOW AND THEY COULDN`T DO IT TOO MANY PEOPLE.... NEWS TO ME I THOUGHT SPECIALIST AND R. NURSE WERE KEEPING A EYE ON ME... PUT PHONE DOWN BUT ASKED FOR HER NAME FIRST.... ONE HOUR LATER RANG UP FROM HOSPITAL SPECIALIST COULD FIT ME IN NEXT DAY TO DISCUSS MY MEDICATION. TOOK ME OFF IT SEEING RH NURSE IN 5 WEEKS TO DECIDE WHAT TO TRY NEXT... SO ITS CO-CODIMAL 8 TIMES ADAY AT THE MOMENT.. BUT APART FROM SWELLING OF HANDS AND MUSCLE STRENGTH I FEEL SO WELL..I FEEL MYSELF AGAIN..
    I DONT FEEL SO TIRED ALL THE TIME I`VE BEEN SPRING CLEANING THE HOUSE, I FEEL HAPPY.
    RHUEMY TOLD ME TIREDNESS IS DUE TO MTX AS WELL AS ARTHRITIS ITSELF. NOT HAPPY TAKING MTX BUT I GAVE IT JUST OVER A YEAR AND MY QUALITY OF LIFE SUFFERED I THINK. I SPENT ALOT OF TIME IN BED OR SAT STAREING INTO SPACE. NOT CONCENTRATING ON ANYTHING. JUST FEELING DEPRESSED. I WORK BUT ONLY PART TIME. NOT MUCH ENERGY WHEN I GOT HOME.
    I NO I WILL HAVE TO TRY SOMTHING ESLE BUT I NOT RUSHING INTO IT JUST YET... OR TILL PAIN SAYS ITS TIME TO.
    ONE MORE THING 1 WEEK AFTER TAKING MTX I WROTE IN MY DIARY HAD WARM FEELING DOWN MY GULLET AND TO RIGHT OF CHEST HAD THIS ALL TIME WHILE ON MTX. NOW I VE STOPPED IT HAS CALMED DOWN NEARLY GONE. WAS TOLD THIS WAS NOT DUE TO MTX BUT I THINK IT WAS.
    HOPE ALL GOES WELL FOR YOU.. YORKIE :lol:
  • dorcas
    dorcas Member Posts: 3,516
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi handsy,
    I had to come off MTX a few years ago for the same problem...abnormal LFTs.

    However I was restarted MTX ( at a lower dose) in combo with Humira last year... but MTX is given also by sub cut injection weekly, rather than in tablet form. So far have had couple of LFT spikes but settled quickly.

    Looks like you'll be coming off the MTX too my friend, even for short spell. Raised LFTs also make you feel green at the gills!

    Some interesting comments from other forum users about alternatives though; that might be worth mentioning to your rheumy nurse.?
    good luck. Dorcas x