High bilirubin level

[Alexa445]

Hi there!Someone here has issues with his liver enzymes because of the statins?My boyfriend who is 29y old had a heart attack last year and he take 80mg Atorvastatin.Since then liver test results are not great😔,ALT level is 49 and Bilirubin is slowly increasing,now is 24.Do you think statin is the problem?If so,what dr did?is ok to decrease the dosage or he should keep it like that?Im scared it will damage his liver.Thank you

[Hidden]

I think you saw my post earlier, but my situation is very different to your boyfriend’s. I’m not medically qualified in the slightest, but 49 for ALT is the very top of normal, not yet abnormal. I believe the normal for bilirubin is 21 or less, so that is only just over, too. From reading up a little bit today, statins are known to be associated with increased liver enzyme levels, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re causing liver damage or that they should be stopped. In your partner’s case, the fact that he’s already had a heart attack at just 29 would suggest that minor changes in liver blood tests are going to be far less of a worry to doctors than his cholesterol being left and leading to another heart attack that could kill him. Have you or he asked his doctors about it? Is he drinking alcohol at all? Sorry I can’t be more help, but I don’t know what they’re going to do about my statins yet, or even if it’s relevant to my liver levels being raised.

[Alexa445 in reply to Hidden]

Hi.No i did not see your post but i will read it for sure.He is not drinking any alcohol at all,in fact he didnt even taste it for years.His ALT level was 110 few months ago and now is back to 49.The thing is bilirubin level is increasing,i know 24 is not very high level,but im.worried if it will keep raising😔.He is having an appointment with GP next week to see if something need to change in his medication.Im wondering if they can at least reduce the dosage of statin as he is having muscle pain and burning feeling in his legs

[Hidden in reply to Alexa445]

Hi my bilirubin levels are 40 plus doctors dont seem concerned somethings about it could be Gilbert's syndrome and I too have burning shins on 10 atorvastatin and have pretty non existent cholesterol levels its 1 it's never been high on statin for a year now feel like I ve been beaten up every day muscle and joint pain and exhausted all the time but trying to work through it

[Alexa445 in reply to Hidden]

Also his cholesterol level is below normal,he is eating quite healthy

[Prl43]

Hi guys, I also had problems with statins/ liver enzymes etc. Speak to your GP about it all but Charlie G seems to be correct liver count is about normal. Regarding statins tell your GP about the pains and try different statins i had a lot pains with atorvstatin too. Also you could try Milk thistle which is good for liver its a natural supplement that i take myself but speak to your GP first.👍

[45sue]

Hi Alexa445 and and Charlie G - raised liver enzymes are a known side effect of statins & should not be ignored. It is not a trade off for the benefit of statins but a sign that the medication should be reviewed and most likely changed. I developed what is called a 'deranged liver' on 80mg of Atorvastatin - was taken off them immediately, bloods monitored closely until back to normal & also had a liver scan as a precautionary measure. Am now on low dose of Pravastatin.

[Alexa445 in reply to 45sue]

Thats what i want to also,dr should not ignore liver at all.They say is more benefic for heart than harmful for liver😒.did you had a heart attack also?

[45sue in reply to Alexa445]

Yes- I had a HA & 2 stents. My GP did not think my liver's reaction was OK at all & rang me as soon as she got the results, something which is unusual in our GP practice.

[Alexa445 in reply to 45sue]

That is true.Our GP is not so helpful.We will se what he say on next appointment but i doubt he will do something.

[benjijen]

I've just been taken off Atorvastatin 40mg as some days I could barely walk to the front door due to muscle pain. I am now on low dose Rosuvastatin (5mg). It's only been 2 weeks but I can already feel some difference. I'm also hoping my liver results will be better.