Liver damage - Lymecycline

[gspleo]

A recent blood test (2 days ago) has indicated I have liver damage, the diagnosis based on an ALT reading of 626. As a result my GP has referred me for various urgent tests for which I am waiting appointments. On a second blood test taken 24 hours later the ALT reading has dropped to 485. I am a long term type 2 diabetic.

I know its very early days but obviously I'm shaken up.

Having started to do some research I note that 18 months ago I was prescribed Lymecycline (itchy skin) which I am still taking. One of its known rarer side effects is liver problems. Does anyone have any experience of this drug? My instinct is to stop taking it.

Thanks

[AyrshireK]

Hi there, you have a few things going on there that may lead to liver issues. Diabetes particularly if not too well controlled can contribute to the now most common cause of liver disease i.e. Non Alcohol Related Fatty Liver (NAFLD).

The Lymecycline too may potentially be an issue (my hubby has auto immune related cirrhosis though his presentation of Auto Immune Hepatitis (AIH) was very odd in that he has no ongoing inflammation and we wonder if actually he had a drug induced liver injury from a long term use of an antibiotic for acne which sadly he can't recall the name of). I wouldn't just stop the medication just now without doctor consultation anyway.

I also wonder if doctor carried out many tests to originally identify the cause of your itchiness or did they just bang you on these tablets. Skin itching can occur due to liver issues - often as a result of too much bilirubin in your blood. Possibly something was going on even before the lymecyline was added to the mix.

Get the repeat tests done, hopefully one will be some sort of scan to check the liver out and see if there is any lasting damage or whether it is just some inflammation at present as indicated by the high ALT figures.

Drug induced liver problems can often be slowed/stopped with cessation of the offending treatment and possibly an introduction of some of the meds commonly used to bring down inflammation in AIH.

NAFLD can often be treated with better diet, less sugar, less salt and more exercise. A Mediterranean style diet has been found to work great for management of NAFLD.

Hopefully you get medical feedback soon and get to the bottom of what's going on and get some sort of treatment plan in place.

All the best, Katie

[gspleo in reply to AyrshireK]

Hi Katie

Thanks for your feedback, I have spoken to my GP today and he agreed I should stop the Lymecycline with immediate effect. I wouldn't mind betting that your husband was prescribed the same or very similar. Having had time to reflect and do more research I'm not sure that initial diagnoses of the cause of my itching was correct - it was definitely not acne and although the Lymecycline might not have caused the problem it certainly didn't help it. Apparently I had a high ALT reading of 167 about six months ago which I was not aware off as it was disregarded by my GP.

Regards

Alan

[DavyGravy]

Hi gspLeo

it is natural to be shaken up when we get told about our liver problems. I was extremely panicked but it is not the end of the world, there are lots of people on here who are managing their liver problems very well, and people can live for many years with liver problems. So I hope that helps a little.

Once your doctors have the test results you will know if you have any liver problems and can work out a plan of action from there but in the meantime, Katie has already mentioned diet and exercise... the 2 things that always help.

I have itchy skin, I do not take anything for it, it is a side effect of my type 2 diabetes, it gets itchier if I eat too much food with white flour or anything with sugar (obviously ).

It is worth asking your GP if it would have any effect if you stopped taking the Lymecycline suddenly (apart from the itch returning). It may help or it may even rule it out as a possible cause. My itching does get annoying enough to keep me awake some nights but I try not to take any medication if I can avoid it.

Wishing you well

Dave

[gspleo in reply to DavyGravy]

Hi Dave

Thanks for the feedback my itching is usually worse in the evening - I thought perhaps I was just more aware when relaxing with no distraction from work etc. Don't know if this will help you but the best thing I have found that helps is heating the effected area with a hair dryer. Sometimes the effect is amazing and not something that wears off like scratching.

All the best

Alan

[billyde]

I was on Lymecycline over 4 years for Rosacea. During the first lockdown I was taken to hospital with liver problems (booze related unfortunately They checked my meds and told me to stop the Lymecycline immediately. I even remember the doc saying something on the lines of 'well they won't be doing your liver much good'! I did some digging and I'm sure that I saw some prescribing guidelines suggesting that patients with hepatic impairment or alcohol dependence should be monitored with regular bloods. I don't even think that I had a review in four years, yet alone bloods. Of course I'd like to be able to say that my liver problems where not just solely due to my stupidity in drinking too much (19 months sober btw:), but aside from passing the buck, if long-term Lymecycline use can cause problems then the people prescribing them should know. Hope you manage to get everything sorted.

[gspleo in reply to billyde]

Hi billyde

Thanks for the feedback. Congratulations on your 19 month abstinence, I know it's tough. The NHS website says that Lymecycline shouldn't be given to people with liver problems so you would think they would at least monitor on a regular basis.

Good luck

Alan