Is PBC classified as liver disease?

[butterflyEi]

Some time ago my GP prescribed Omeprazole. I have just read the leaflet and it says that it should be used with caution for those with liver disease. I am wondering if I should look for an alternative to Omeprazole.

Has anyone any idease please?

[June9961]

I was given Omeprazole for sickness and stomach pains when I had to take strong painkillers for joint and muscular pain. I have had pbc for 16 years and Omeprazole did me no harm. In fact I found them to work very well

[exy21 in reply to June9961]

I have pbc/ auto immune hep and i take omeprazole and it works great. Quite a lot of meds say not to take with liver problems. Ask doc if you're every unsure.

[Junolee in reply to exy21]

Me too. Take it everyday, just so my stomach can tolerate all the other Meds. I think there is a general warning on all Meds about liver.

[Juamcc in reply to June9961]

It was announced that practically any product including the one you mentioned it's definitely not to be taken by someone with liver disease. Check it out if you like I did.

[teddybear7]

I have been prescribed omeprozol by my liver specialist and I'm doing fine.

[Juamcc in reply to teddybear7]

I encourage you to look it up!

[teddybear7 in reply to Juamcc]

Well I have a small hiatus hernia, confirmed via endoscopy. I also take a drug called naproxin for a pre existing condition. I would not be able to function without omeprazol. I also have a very good general Dr, & a very good Gastro Dr who deals with both my PBC & my hernia. My lfts fluctuate up & down just like many of us. My liver has received no damage because of this drug. I have a liver condition, not liver disease & I have been taking it for 8 years. So I would prefer a professional's opinion to your clever sharp message.

[Rosehip19]

On the other hand I was also prescribed omeprazole, my lfts went a bit haywire, and I came off it. I then treated my acid reflux with ordinary indigestion tablets bought over the counter. I have recently been given ranitidine for the same condition and have just read on the leaflet "Please be aware that Ranitidine Tablets may give a false result for liver function tests" !!! You can't win ....

[Juamcc in reply to Rosehip19]

I really know how you feel as I have antimitochondrial PBC and diabetes. The liver handles the sugar. What bothers me most is that day doctors that treat me for my PBC and the doctors Within the same medical complex treat me for a diabetic and no one treats me for the autoimmune disease that I have.

[Hidden]

Hello butterflyEi.

PBC is classed as a liver disease but I say 'liver condition' purely because in my mind it isn't something that is passed along as such. It doesn't sound nice saying we have a disease. To me it is a lifelong condition. But that is what it goes down as 'disease'.

You'll more than likely find that there are a lot of medications that are said to be either used with caution or not to be used with things like liver problems. But I often think it can be a pharmaceutical covering itself in the event a doctor chooses to prescribe and there might be a problem or side-effect.

It is said that with PBC until someone is in a late stage medications can be 'well tolerated' by the liver but I reckon that is up to the health profession who decides a patient requires some medication for something and the patient to decide by guidance if it is for them to try it or avoid it.

I know that some medicatons can alter the LFTs but again that would be something that would be noted you are on some other medication when you have repeat bloods.

I am one that since early 2010 and I was informed that it appeared there was something wrong for myself in the liver area I chose not to take any over-the-counter meds or even have anything presribed other than the urso when informed I had PBC. But this was my own way of thinking pre-PBC anyway. I think it depends on you as a person really. Sometimes there is no avoidance of certain medications and at the time you have to act as you think right.

[Juamcc in reply to Hidden]

Same here but my diabetes is way out of whack and I can't find a medication to complement metformin that will work for both

[overnighthearingloss]

It is a liver disease.

Something I read on a Dr Mercola newsletter was that sugar could be responsible for overloading the liver and causing it to fail. Perhaps explaining the high incidence of young people with liver issues who have had absolutely no experience of alcohol. Dr Mercola suggested that sugar was the younger persons alcohol

[Juamcc in reply to overnighthearingloss]

I posted the other day on another group,"which came first the diabetes or the pbc! I don't think there's a clear answer out there.

[butterflyEi]

Thank you everyone for your contributions. I was not sure how it would relate to disclaimers on medicines but I think your answers have helped me better understand. I am due to have blood tests (first in 5 years) and then see the GP so I want to be a bit better prepared with some "intelligent" questions.

best wishes and thank you

[annscot]

I have recently been in hospital and the liver consultant took me off Omeprazole saying I should never have been precribed it. I was told to take gaviscon when needed!!!

[butterflyEi in reply to annscot]

Thank you Annscot, I obviously need to address this question.

[Juamcc in reply to annscot]

Finally, backup.