chrpps99
07-10-2003, 11:48 PM
Hello All! :wave:
I have been wondering about this for some time, and decided to post and get some of your opinions on this...You know the pamphlets we get with our pain medications.. That states long term use can cause liver or kidney damage..Well I am wondering do any of you have your liver and kidneys tested on a regular basis? I do know that it is the acetaminephin that causes this damage. Is there anything that can be done to protect your organs?, and do any of you do it? I know that many of us are in excruiating daily pain, and some of us may not even care..they just want to be rid of the pain no matter what the outcome may be..
I have heard that the health stores sell products that detoxify your liver, what is your opinions on this..I have also read articles that recommend that you do this every so often.. But I am not so sure..
Well I look forward to getting some of your opinions on this subject.. I hope I get some replies on this. Oh one more thing... supposin that you already have liver disease.. is there any medication out there that isn't harsh on your liver?
Thanx in advance
Take Care and Pain Free Wishes to You All
Sonya
I have been wondering about this for some time, and decided to post and get some of your opinions on this...You know the pamphlets we get with our pain medications.. That states long term use can cause liver or kidney damage..Well I am wondering do any of you have your liver and kidneys tested on a regular basis? I do know that it is the acetaminephin that causes this damage. Is there anything that can be done to protect your organs?, and do any of you do it? I know that many of us are in excruiating daily pain, and some of us may not even care..they just want to be rid of the pain no matter what the outcome may be..
I have heard that the health stores sell products that detoxify your liver, what is your opinions on this..I have also read articles that recommend that you do this every so often.. But I am not so sure..
Well I look forward to getting some of your opinions on this subject.. I hope I get some replies on this. Oh one more thing... supposin that you already have liver disease.. is there any medication out there that isn't harsh on your liver?
Thanx in advance
Take Care and Pain Free Wishes to You All
Sonya
Sponsor
Pippin31
07-11-2003, 01:03 AM
Ask your doctor if he can run a liver profile..it’s a blood test. I have discussed liver detoxification and was told it was O.K. to do. I get mine through my chiropractor, but they do have them at health food stores as well. I also drink Aloe Vera every night. I am not sure if you can buy this in health food stores or not. My mom became a distributer for it about 30 years ago, before it became the “thing” to do. She used to go door to door with this stuff and people slammed doors in her face. Now you can’t even buy a stick of chewing gum without Aloe in it :) Shame she wasn’t the one who created and marketed the stuff...she just sold it for the company. Anyway, my point is, if you can find pure Aloe Vera Juice maybe give it a try. It does taste nasty, but it helps to cleanse your kidneys and such.
I know they have pain medication without acetaminophen, it’s a wonder our doctors don’t prescribe it since we are on it long term. Actually, my doctor said I am too young to worry about it (28). I talked to the pharmacist and she said he is nuts!! She said your liver (the younger you are the better) does regenerate to a point, but once damage is done, it’s too late.
I know they have pain medication without acetaminophen, it’s a wonder our doctors don’t prescribe it since we are on it long term. Actually, my doctor said I am too young to worry about it (28). I talked to the pharmacist and she said he is nuts!! She said your liver (the younger you are the better) does regenerate to a point, but once damage is done, it’s too late.
HikingFan
07-11-2003, 05:41 AM
Hi there
I have been on opiate therapy for about a year now, and have stepped up from Vicodin 5/500-->Oxycodone 5/500-->Norco 10/325-->SR Morphine 45mg 3X's a day with Norco for Bthru pain. I was also concerned about the liver stuff, and asked to be tested for liver enzymes (I was more worried about my years of college binge drinking, which are now over) Anyhow, they said everything was perfect, and my doctor actually told me that a normal healthy person probably could take up to 4,000mg of tylenol a day AND drink a 6-pack of beer, and still have a perfectly functioning liver with no damage. Before anyone starts getting upset that I am condoning drinking and pain meds, HEAR ME NOW>>>I AM NOT ADVISING THIS!! PLEASE DO NOT WRITE AND TELL ME THAT THIS IS DANGEROUS, BECAUSE I AM WELL AWARE OF IT!!! All I'm saying is that my doc says most healthy people have nothing to worry about with the liver, but the only way to know this is to get a simple blood test done. We shouldn't jump to conclusions that tylenol is the enemey, because it is very helpful in pain relief much of the time, and has many potentially harmful side-effects just like lots of other meds. The key is to monitor the liver with occasionally simple blood tests if you take tylenol long-term.
Good luck!
:wave:
I have been on opiate therapy for about a year now, and have stepped up from Vicodin 5/500-->Oxycodone 5/500-->Norco 10/325-->SR Morphine 45mg 3X's a day with Norco for Bthru pain. I was also concerned about the liver stuff, and asked to be tested for liver enzymes (I was more worried about my years of college binge drinking, which are now over) Anyhow, they said everything was perfect, and my doctor actually told me that a normal healthy person probably could take up to 4,000mg of tylenol a day AND drink a 6-pack of beer, and still have a perfectly functioning liver with no damage. Before anyone starts getting upset that I am condoning drinking and pain meds, HEAR ME NOW>>>I AM NOT ADVISING THIS!! PLEASE DO NOT WRITE AND TELL ME THAT THIS IS DANGEROUS, BECAUSE I AM WELL AWARE OF IT!!! All I'm saying is that my doc says most healthy people have nothing to worry about with the liver, but the only way to know this is to get a simple blood test done. We shouldn't jump to conclusions that tylenol is the enemey, because it is very helpful in pain relief much of the time, and has many potentially harmful side-effects just like lots of other meds. The key is to monitor the liver with occasionally simple blood tests if you take tylenol long-term.
Good luck!
:wave:
kim32
07-11-2003, 08:27 PM
I was taking oxycontin 10mg one time a day,
for 4 months straight and i had my liver
checked and my results weren't very good,
the results were really high, so then i went
off of the oxycontin and was put on ultram,
i have been on ultram for over a month now
and i recently had my blood taken to check
for my liver and my liver results are now
back to normal. I was only taking 1 oxycontin
10mg once a day and it affected my liver, i
hate to think what would of happend if i would
of taken more then that! :-(
I advised everyone who is taking any kind
of pain med to get there blood taken and checked
for there liver! Kim
for 4 months straight and i had my liver
checked and my results weren't very good,
the results were really high, so then i went
off of the oxycontin and was put on ultram,
i have been on ultram for over a month now
and i recently had my blood taken to check
for my liver and my liver results are now
back to normal. I was only taking 1 oxycontin
10mg once a day and it affected my liver, i
hate to think what would of happend if i would
of taken more then that! :-(
I advised everyone who is taking any kind
of pain med to get there blood taken and checked
for there liver! Kim
tryuo
07-11-2003, 09:19 PM
Are you sure that you weren't on a compound with 10 mg oxycodone such as percocet. Pure oxycodone which is what oxycontin is, should not cause liver damage in most people, unless perhaps you are allergic to oxycodone. The best way for people with chronic pain to avoid liver and kidney damage is to avoid taking meds containing APAP on a regular basis. They should only be used for bt pain, and then sparingly. Yes tylenol is good for fevers and good for certain situations, but i think it should actually be used with more caution in chronic pain patients than narcotics. Most guidelines for doctors state that chronic pain patients should be exposed to no more than 2000 mg of APAP on an ongoing basis.
whaleylaker
07-16-2003, 09:56 PM
CHRPPS You brought up a great piont about liver concern. My Dr. perscribed Oxyfast which is liquid oxycodone with no acte...(I can never spell that) because my liver count got a little high. It worked great. The best for me was that you can measure your dosage accurately with an eye dropper type of thing. I don't know about you but luckily I had some days that weren't as bad as others so could regulate for those other days. Unfortunately I just got bad pain news so I'm back to the stronger meds. I did run across something about liver protection, but the site was a little too pro drug if you know what I mean so I wouldn't give it much credence. Take care, Lake
mokita
07-16-2003, 10:46 PM
I have heard that Milk Thistle is supposed to be good for your liver - to help detox it and prevent build-up of nasty enzymes.
Ofcourse, as with anything you're putting in your body, always best to check w/ doc that's treating your pain! :)
Good luck!
Karen
Ofcourse, as with anything you're putting in your body, always best to check w/ doc that's treating your pain! :)
Good luck!
Karen
chrpps99
07-17-2003, 02:35 AM
Hi Lake,
Glad you thought it was a good topic, I sure did. I mean face it many of us on the board are on Pain Meds that can cause liver damage..Even if it is only the BT meds..I personnally am on the Duragesic Patch 50 mg w/ Lorcet 7.5 for BT.. I am truly sorry to hear that you got bad news, and are back on stronger meds.. What kind of chronic pains do you have? If you don't mind me asking. I have Post Surgical Adhesion Disease..from many abdominal surgeries....also, have major back problems. DDD Herniations at T-7,8,& 9, Hernations at L-4, L-5 and L5-S1 has been operated on..But Knock on Wood the Back hasn't been flaring up..for about 5 months now.. Probably cause the Patch is easing that daily pain as well. Beleive me I knocked on wood really hard so that it don't start giving me a fit..OH well just thought I'd tell you a little about my pain, since I was questioning yours.. Well I hope you see this post..I do appreciate your reply, and glad to hear that you were intelligent enough to have your liver tested.. Pain Free Wishes To Ya!!
Take Care
Sonya
Glad you thought it was a good topic, I sure did. I mean face it many of us on the board are on Pain Meds that can cause liver damage..Even if it is only the BT meds..I personnally am on the Duragesic Patch 50 mg w/ Lorcet 7.5 for BT.. I am truly sorry to hear that you got bad news, and are back on stronger meds.. What kind of chronic pains do you have? If you don't mind me asking. I have Post Surgical Adhesion Disease..from many abdominal surgeries....also, have major back problems. DDD Herniations at T-7,8,& 9, Hernations at L-4, L-5 and L5-S1 has been operated on..But Knock on Wood the Back hasn't been flaring up..for about 5 months now.. Probably cause the Patch is easing that daily pain as well. Beleive me I knocked on wood really hard so that it don't start giving me a fit..OH well just thought I'd tell you a little about my pain, since I was questioning yours.. Well I hope you see this post..I do appreciate your reply, and glad to hear that you were intelligent enough to have your liver tested.. Pain Free Wishes To Ya!!
Take Care
Sonya
Wes1212
07-17-2003, 03:38 AM
i couldn't find the article to put here but:
Venkataramanan R, Ramachandran V, Komoroski BJ, Zhang S, Schiff PL, Strom SC, Milk thistle, a herbal supplement, decreases the activity of CYP3A4 and uridine diphosphoglucuronosyl transferase in human hepatocyte cultures. Drug Metab Dispos. 2000 Nov;28(11):1270-3.
when i was researching on the benefits of milk thistle, i discovered that it hinders the metabolism of different drugs. a pharmacist should have the list of interactions.
[This message has been edited by Wes1212 (edited 07-17-2003).]
Venkataramanan R, Ramachandran V, Komoroski BJ, Zhang S, Schiff PL, Strom SC, Milk thistle, a herbal supplement, decreases the activity of CYP3A4 and uridine diphosphoglucuronosyl transferase in human hepatocyte cultures. Drug Metab Dispos. 2000 Nov;28(11):1270-3.
when i was researching on the benefits of milk thistle, i discovered that it hinders the metabolism of different drugs. a pharmacist should have the list of interactions.
[This message has been edited by Wes1212 (edited 07-17-2003).]
whaleylaker
07-17-2003, 10:23 AM
Hi Sonya. If just one person reads your post and goes for a liver check up you've done a wonderful thing. If two people go then it's twice as wonderful,if three go...I'm only partially kidding you did a great service!!! So sorry to hear about your back. I also have DDD. It seems to come in stages, or maybe my body gets used to the pain who knows. My tests came back and for some reason it looks like the degeneration kicked into high gear. Been feeling more pain so it wasn't that big a surprise, But wouldn't be great to come back from the Dr. without bad news at least once? So I'm back on Morphine and hydrocodone along with valiums for spasms. Not exactly gives you get up and go feeling. I think that what gets to me the most. But anyway thanks for asking,sincerly. Take care, Lake...I quess I didn't get to route of the question,sorry. They found that s1-l7 is gone,L6 is 75% gone, L5 close to 50%. I also have all the other fun stuff like arthitis,siadica(sp?)anyway I'm sure I don'/t have to tell you what comes along with back problems. Take care and thanks agian for asking.Lake
chrpps99
07-18-2003, 09:08 PM
Hey There
Yep you are absolutely right. It would be fantastic to go to the Dr and hear that things are improving not getting worse. I hear ya loud and clear..And Yes I definetly know all about back pain too..Unfortunetly Sorry that you have to suffer but at least you have meds to help you thru it.. I know I know taking the meds are a pain in the A@@ well here I go using more pain words.. You know what I mean... Well listen I was glad that you informed me of your current issues.. Now I know.. Listen if you ever need some support, or just need to yell and scream. I will read it and maybe even respond if you aren't screaming too to bad.. LOL Take Care
Sonya
Yep you are absolutely right. It would be fantastic to go to the Dr and hear that things are improving not getting worse. I hear ya loud and clear..And Yes I definetly know all about back pain too..Unfortunetly Sorry that you have to suffer but at least you have meds to help you thru it.. I know I know taking the meds are a pain in the A@@ well here I go using more pain words.. You know what I mean... Well listen I was glad that you informed me of your current issues.. Now I know.. Listen if you ever need some support, or just need to yell and scream. I will read it and maybe even respond if you aren't screaming too to bad.. LOL Take Care
Sonya