Not sure whether anyone has experienced anything similar here?
The Mrs noticed a yellowish tinge on the palms of my hands so went to the docs who sent me for a blood test. My liver enzyme count was high so the doctor reduced my statins from 100mg to 60mg and sent me for an ultrasound on my abdomen which was clear. The yellowish tinge soon disappeared and I retested my bloods 3 Months later and the count had dropped slightly but was still unusually high. I’ve now been referred for a CT scan on my liver? Surely this high enzyme count is down to the meds?
Is there an alternative statin med available?
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baigent87
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I am in the same boat, I’ve been dropped down to 20mg now but still just above normal. Had the scan and all is fine.
GP is now thinking it’s Meds.. it’s not only statins that can effect it, I don’t know if your on Rampiril and Lansoprazol but they can both effect liver enzymes and they are the usual cocktail after HA.
Not much use to you really, I would definitely raise it with your GP and see if he can help find the specific cause.
I certainly don’t want to sacrifice my liver for my heart.. there’s not much you can do with a knackered liver! They can do amazing things with hearts..
I also had this problem , I was hospitalised because my liver tests were way out, I felt terrible, my urine was strange orange brown colour . They identified very quickly that it was the Atorvastatin I had to stop it immediately. After a few weeks when my liver had recovered I was put on simivestatin . Unfortunately I developed the same symptoms. I am now on Rosuvastatin which is working fine for me now. It was the same with my twin sister, but she had to convince her GP it was the statin, she changed and within 2weeks her liver results had improved .
Thank you for sharing this and do your advice. I can confirm my doctor is a she 😊
I’m also taking Ramapril, lansoprazol as well as blood thinners. It’s nearing a year since my HT and stent. I’m hoping my GP will take the time to evaluate my current meds.
Have the doctors confirmed the reason for your liver problem are down to your meds?
Since being diagnosed with atrial fibrillation 18 months ago they found my liver enzymes were raised I have been put on Bisoprolol and apixiban so I assumed this was the reason but now I'm wondering if it has been caused by taking atorvastatin,lanzoprazole, tiotropium ,amlodipine ,amoxcillian, and prednislone which I was prescribed over 10 yrs ago for copd have hsd mri shows nafld i have decreased some of these meds, and awaiting for bloods to be retested hope fully they will have stabilised glad to hear yours have
No I will add it to this chat if I find out soon.. my GP has spoken to my Cardiologist and I’m waiting on a letter to see what he thinks I can come off safely.
An interesting point though.. I had a week of no statin when dropping from 80 down to 20 mg, by chance i had a blood test and the Liver was normal. Only problem is they will be very reluctant to take of statins as they do a lot more than just lower cholesterol. 🤷🏻♂️
Interesting. My doctor doesn’t seem comfortable reducing my statins to less than the reduced 60. I’m just waiting in the results of my CT scan which I had on Sunday.
Hi, having problems also with high liver enzymes. Have been on the usual meds since July 2019 and liver tests fine until last August, but then have climbed rapidly - currently about 4 x normal levels. Am on 80mg of atorvastatin + ramipril etc. Dr not interested in any medication connection, just repeating blood tests. Interestingly, she thought it might be to do with taking a higher dose of vitamin d. Have tried reducing this but hasn't had much impact on numbers. Just waiting on latest test. Am convinced myself it is to do with statin, but don't understand why this problem would start after more than a year. Will be interested to see how you all get on xx
My goodness isn't that a high Mg for statins. Mine are only 10 mg daily. I have never heard of anyone taking 100mg but I suppose it depends on cholesterol levels
80mg is the recommended dose for anyone who's had an HA or CA (not sure about other heart events). I managed to get mine reduced to 40mg after a couple of months as my cholesterol was not particularly high to begin with. 20mg or 40mg are the most common doses.
Thanks for that clarification - I appreciate your response. As my cholesterol is excellent, mine is probably a preventive doseage. I learn something new on this forum every day.
My husband was put on atorvestatin 80mg after his stroke his cholesterol was fine, trying to stop any further clots, now on just 20mg. His cholesterol is 2.1 and as never gone above 3.
Hope you’re Mum is doing better, and through the worse of her COVID and hope you’re feeling better after your stay in hospital.
Good evening (Singapore 11.45pm). Hope hubby much better and stays clear of future health problems. So nice of you to ask after my mother who as you know is 100 - she is completely better and recovered from Covid and also very chirpy on the phone. I am ok but still coming to terms with my diagnosis but am determined to do all I can in my quest to reach 80 😀😀😀
Mine was slightly elevated (80mg Atorvostatin plus ramipril, lanzoprazole and bisoprolol). It fell when I cut my alcohol intake again, to only 3-5 units a week - a couple of glasses of wine and a scotch. Brewdog no-alcohol ale most nights! Liver enzymes normal last time, still taking the statin... B.
Hi, I have same issue with my liver, the docters did stop my statin for a month to see if they were the culprit, but no that wasn't the case, I had MRA, and so many blood test, they still cudnt found out what the issue is, also I had high bilirubin in my blood. I have been on Lansoprazol for the last 25 years or so, sadly they still haven't found out my liver issue.
Hi all I also have an enzyme issue on atorvastatin 20 and amlodipine 10 but my bilirubin levels are 47 max is 20 apparently if only this is high not other can be a thing called Gilbert's syndrome which isn't pleasant but not life threatening I'm awaiting further blood tests at the moment doctor doesn't seem too concerned
This is interesting. Since being told to go back on my atorvastatin I have noticed a yellowing as well. I wasn't aware the meds could affect liver. I'm also on lanzoprazole and ramapril but hadn't noticed any yellowing until went back on statins. Think I'll insist on a change as I don't particularly want my liver affected. It's bad enough having the muscle pain again, which is why I stopped it before.
I got a severely 'deranged' liver on 80 mg atorvastatin which continued even when reduced to 20 mg but returned to normal on changing to a low dose of pravastatin. Your GP should certainly look at your medication.
I am glad that your liver is normal after switching to prevastatin low dose this is what my gp put me on the 4th July it bothered me about my liver but reading your comments have helped my worry thankyou
On my 1st blood test after my Heart Attack, I got a call from my Doctor saying my Liver enzymes were high. No action was taken other than another test 2 weeks later, which showed they had reduced, so that was that.
Ever since I’ve been told all is o.k, when I’ve asked about it after each 6 month blood test. Only change in medication was a later change from ramipril to Losartan
One of the targets that GP's have to meet is prescribing statins. One of the reasons that warfarin is still prescribed is that it is still a widely prescribed drug with lots of research findings behind it.
Does anyone else get indigestion after taking their statin? Or not....because a lot of you seem to be taking lansoprozone, which stops indigestion? I had been intending to ask my GP about it, but am now worried that she might suggest a proton pump inhibitor . The one drug I am determined not to take is Omeprazole or Lansoprozole, because of the long term damage they do re Vit B 12.
Hi Arrowe. For most of us hearties we are on Lansoprazole or other PPIs to counteract the possible effect of our daily aspirin on our stomach. I now rarely get indigestion since I was put on both 3 years ago (although, tbh, I rarely got it before my HA), and my liver function is tested annually with a full blood test. I'm not sure of the effect on B12 levels.
I was taken off Atorvastatin 80mg for this reason. I got quite ill with it. Over about three months they got my blood count back to normal. Won't try me on anything else until Vivid under control because they don't want to weaken my immune system.
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Statins and Liver 
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