Phantom_309
07-21-2006, 06:21 PM
I went to my normal doctor (not neurologist) to get refills of my hypertension medicine. He is always wanting to run blood tests and says I have slightly high cholesterol (~230 total). So he ran another blood test this most recent visit and says I have slightly raised liver enzymes. What is this? He tells me this after wanting to put me on cholesterol medicine and telling me I will have to do liver tests because it could cause problems.
I am a 33 year old male 6' and 190lbs. I take 750mg Depakote and 64.8mg phenobarbitol a day. I have heard epilepsy meds can cause raised liver enzymes. Is this true with Depakote or Pheno? I have had epilepsy since I was 27. I have GM seizures. I ALWAYS have auras.
I have not had a seizure in 17 months and before that I went 2 1/2 years. I love my neurologist but am starting to hate my normal doctor. I first saw him for hypertension and he wanted to do a chest X-ray. My heart was fine but he found "spots on my lungs". So he said I would have to get more chest x-rays in 6 months to see if they enlarge. I went back in 6 months and the x-ray technician was really nice. She told me that she sees this all the time in people of all ages because we live in a humid area near the river and it is scar tissue caused from mold called granulomas. She really put my mind at rest (I don't smoke either BTW). Well the spots (3 or 4, can't remember) did not enlarge so I am fine.
Next time I see him he does more blood work. He says my cholesterol is high again and will check again. So next time he checks he also checks my epilepsy med levels:confused:. Shouldn't my neuro do this? Get a call the next day and they say cholesterol is high and he wants to put me on more meds but says I will have to have blood work to check my liver every once in awhile. Well then I get a call about two weeks later with more "lab results". I tell the nurse "you already called me". She tells me they tested my liver and I have slightly raised liver enzymes - and I am not even on these cholesterol pills yet. Then I get a call a few days later from another specialist wanting to setup an appointment.
I am starting to think my regular doctor works for the drug companies and not me. Especially when all I see are cholesterol pill commercials on T.V.
Anyway, just wanted to vent and see if the Depakote/Pheno could cause slightly elevated liver enzymes. My neuro took me off of Dilantin years ago because of this and put me on Depakote/Pheno.
I am a 33 year old male 6' and 190lbs. I take 750mg Depakote and 64.8mg phenobarbitol a day. I have heard epilepsy meds can cause raised liver enzymes. Is this true with Depakote or Pheno? I have had epilepsy since I was 27. I have GM seizures. I ALWAYS have auras.
I have not had a seizure in 17 months and before that I went 2 1/2 years. I love my neurologist but am starting to hate my normal doctor. I first saw him for hypertension and he wanted to do a chest X-ray. My heart was fine but he found "spots on my lungs". So he said I would have to get more chest x-rays in 6 months to see if they enlarge. I went back in 6 months and the x-ray technician was really nice. She told me that she sees this all the time in people of all ages because we live in a humid area near the river and it is scar tissue caused from mold called granulomas. She really put my mind at rest (I don't smoke either BTW). Well the spots (3 or 4, can't remember) did not enlarge so I am fine.
Next time I see him he does more blood work. He says my cholesterol is high again and will check again. So next time he checks he also checks my epilepsy med levels:confused:. Shouldn't my neuro do this? Get a call the next day and they say cholesterol is high and he wants to put me on more meds but says I will have to have blood work to check my liver every once in awhile. Well then I get a call about two weeks later with more "lab results". I tell the nurse "you already called me". She tells me they tested my liver and I have slightly raised liver enzymes - and I am not even on these cholesterol pills yet. Then I get a call a few days later from another specialist wanting to setup an appointment.
I am starting to think my regular doctor works for the drug companies and not me. Especially when all I see are cholesterol pill commercials on T.V.
Anyway, just wanted to vent and see if the Depakote/Pheno could cause slightly elevated liver enzymes. My neuro took me off of Dilantin years ago because of this and put me on Depakote/Pheno.