My doctor has been reducing my antidepressants in case they have been contributing to my high ALT 400+ this means my anxiety is returning. A

[Katface]

Am I ok to take propananol which was prescribed when I first started my antidepressants?

[Bolly]

Hi kat, all medication is processed by the liver, so the less stress you put it under the better and the faster your liver enzymes will return to normal.

Is there any chance you could try talking therapy for your anxiety/depression instead of medication? I realise it can take for ever to get a referral for counselling on the NHS, but for those who can pay there are ultimately real benefits.

[Katface in reply to Bolly]

Its just the physical withdrawal from the Citalopram causing the problems, panic attacks, shaking, crying etc. I'm quite happy to be weaned off them. I ended up taking the propananol , this eased the symptoms and I haven't needed any more so hopefully this won't keep happening. Thanks.

[nico111]

Hi, I take propranolol and don't have any problems with it. I also agree with Bolly though, the less medication you have to take is better overall.

[Bolly]

Hi again Kat. Its good that you are easing off the medication within your GP's care, but perhaps you are reducing too fast and that may be why you have the anxiety symptoms that the meds were treating coming back. I don't have personal experience of taking these meds, but I have been for some years an admin on a liver forum where people undergoing Hep C treatment have been on antidepressants due to the side effects of the Hep C meds. When they 'wean' off the anti-d's at the end of the HCV treatment they do it very very slowly, and I mean to the extent of just shaving off small pieces of the tablets day by day, week by week. It sounds like you could be trying to come off too fast, and substituting another med to counteract the side effects of withdrawal of the Citalopram isn't really the best way to go for your body or you mental state. Hope this helps a little.

[Katface in reply to Bolly]

Thanks for this - to be honest I didn't want to start withdrawing from my meds just yet as I feel ill enough from my liver symptoms. My GP was insistent that I should wean from all meds. I will speak to my GP next week and ask if I can delay this until at least I've seen the specialist.

[Bolly]

Its quite possible that its the meds that are giving you the high ALT, and therefore some of the symptoms. Its a bit of a vicious circle, if you stay on the meds because you think without them some symptoms will get worse you may never know if its the meds that are causing the liver inflammation. With a high ALT you will feel a bit fluey and tired and its possible that the fatigue wont go until you reduce the ALT, and to do this you may need to reduce the medication you take unless a different cause of the high enzyme is diagnosed. Obviously without the meds your anxiety will be a worry to you, that's why I wondered if you could look at alternatives to medication to deal with the anxiety/depression. I agree the liver specialist will probably take some different blood tests to look for other reasons for the high ALT, but it does sound as though you have some underlying health issues that need dealing with, as long term your liver will suffer if you take medication continually.

[Katface]

After pretty much the worst 5 days of my life I've had to stop the citalopram detox. Just for background I was given them for severe PMT not depression, for a few days a month I was a monster! Joking aside, it nearly destroyed my relationship. Anyway as you know my GP is weaning me off them and I had withdrawal symptoms the first few days as expected - anxiety, panic attacks etc but then my 'monster' came back! I did some awful things over the past few days, behaved how I used to before I was prescribed citalopram, I was like a maniac don't want to go into details but needless to say I started back and took a citalopram, the relief was almost instant and I got my period today which pretty much proves my theory! I will of course speak to my GP about this but I won't be continuing with the citalopram detox until I've got my appt with the specialist. If he/she decides I need to if it's causing my high ALT then I'll have to be weaned off them in hospital where I can't hurt anyone or do any damage.

[Bolly]

Sorry to hear this Kat, it must be awful for you. Sounds like you came off the citalopram (and the paracetamol) far to quickly. Hopefully, under medical supervision - hope it doesn't come to needing to be an inpatient) - you can try again sometime. People I know who have done this successfully have done it, not by reducing a whole pill at a time, but by literally shaving off just a few bits of powder off the end of a tablet each day, taking a little bit more each week. It can take many months, it shouldn't be attempted in just a few days. Good luck and I hope the liver specialist can get to the bottom of things for you.

[Katface]

Thanks I'll keep you updated!

[ancientadolescent]

I cannot reply about propananol. I took,and still do so after a transplant, a medication called dosulupin. This is the anti depressant is I was prescribed for my depression. I believe there are several alternative anti depressant drugs,one other is prozac.

[H1ghtower]

Mirtazapine and floxetine are the worst where liver is concerned but thats all i know i,m afraid...

[Hidden]

Sertraline seems ok and said to help some with itchiness. Nevertheless I have failed several times to wean myself off without side affects both physical and with mood. As Bolly says slowly is advised -shaving a tiny piece off each day. Still awful choices . And yes talking therapy. I made a decision yesterday to look for some kind of therapy support. Maybe group and maybe short term but I need to stop obsessing !! I have little to complain of- I thought this would override other life stuff but it's starting to drive me nuts. I am too much on a panic loop lately. I am originally from the UK here knowledge about PBC is even less. One reason I feel I need anti-ds is simply to be same enough for work. I am guilty and feeling so self centred I cannot seem to move on here when I have not much excuse except fear!! So probably need a shove or the proverbial kick!!!