Lipitor and elevated Liver enzymes - High Cholesterol Message Board

Mikenk · 09-01-2006, 06:59 AM

I was started on 10mg of Lipitor about 3 months ago to lower my LDL. I just got my new results:

tot: 188
HDL: 70
LDL: 106:
Tri: 58

While these are good, my liver enzymes are slightly elevated: AST: 43; ALT: 75.

My doctor told me to stop the lipitor and come back next week for a retest. Is this a typical bad reaction to Lipitor? I had also been on a two week trip to New Zealand with much more than normal alcohol. Would that have had a possible impact?

Thanks for any comments.
Mike

Lenin · 09-01-2006, 07:14 AM

Mike,

My lab shows normal ranges of:
AST: 3-50
ALT: 3-60.

So your AST is normal and ALT is just slightly elevated. They usually talk about an aberrant ALT as something like 3 TIMES the upper normal or 180.

Sure a couple weeks of heavy drinking could get your ALT a bit over the top.

Do you have any old blood tests BEFORE the lipitor to see what your baseline ALT and AST were?

I'm surprised your doctor stopped your Lipitor? That retest may tell you nothing because you've got two variables working. A retest WITH the Lipitor, however, might rule out the effect of the booze.

NICE NUMBERS!

Mikenk · 09-01-2006, 07:55 AM

lenin,

Thanks for the reply.

My Doctor started me on it for a month and then tested. She liked the results then; I assume she baselined the ALT/ASP at that time and it was OK. She then prescribed 3 months which was this test.

chj · 09-01-2006, 07:58 AM

Hi Mike, I think it more likely to be the cause of a lot of alcohol. You are not really supposed to drink a lot when you are taking statins. When I was on statins, Zocor, I kept myself to a couple of glasse of wine each day, ok well maybe three sometimes, and my ast and alt was kept around 15-18 which I think is o.k. Also a friend of mine who indulges a great deal more, when cutting down on alcohol ,his enzymes went back to normal. So take it easy on the alcohol, and have another blood test. Good Luck.

Mikenk · 09-01-2006, 09:29 AM

I normally have 2 (more on weekends) glasses of wine per day. I found out in New Zealand, that not only is it a beautiful country, but they like to drink. Even in the manufacturing plant I visited, they would often open the bar in the plant at the end of the workday - and then take me out with unlimited bottles of good wine.

Is there a rule as to how long the effects of short term heavy alcohol intake will affect the ALT/AST numbers? Not sure whether to stay off totally until my next test.

Thanks again,
Mike