Re: ALT/AST levels up, Prednisone increased

[Guest guest]

I don't think you need to be too worried. It's pretty common for ALT and AST

readings to fluctuate. You've recently lowered your Prednisone amount -- you

didn't give amounts. It sounds as if the decrease was too fast for your

particular situation.

How much Prednisone were you taking before, and how much are you taking now?

Dosage, by milligrams, is the important part, not the number of times a day

you take it. (However, most of us take Prednisone all at once, early in the

morning.)

This has happened to me many times over the past eight years. One simply

adjusts the Prednisone level. Later, you'll likely be able to lower the dosage

again.

Don't worry. This is simply a typical part of the process. One hopes for a

straightforward reduction of Prednisone leading to none at all very quickly.

Sometimes it works that way, and sometimes it doesn't.  You're okay; you'll have

another test in a couple of week and likely it will be much improved.

Harper

In a message dated 2/27/09 7:04:00 PM, SRC524@... writes:

> I'm sending this to  the 2 email addresses I have saved. I really got a

> terrible upset today.

> After I was diagnosed with autoimmune hepatitis I was put on prednisone and

> did so well . My numbers were in the normal range for three or four weeks. I

> was on the lowest dose of prednisone when my next blood test went to ALT 273

> and AST 252. I went into hysterics. I don't know what to do . They upped my

> prednisone to 3 a day and told me to go for another blood test in 2 weeks. I'm

> so depressed I cry all the time. I can't help it. What is happening?

> Sophia

>

>

>

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[Guest guest]

You started at a very low dose of Prednisone, and you're reduced at a fairly

fast pace. You speak of taking half pills and quarter pills. That can make for

some imprecision in dosage. I use 1 mg pills. I think you can get Prednisone

in even lower dosage pills. I know my doctor wouldn't approve of my dividing a

pill into four parts! Fortunately, Prednisone is quite inexpensive.

Are you taking Imuran with the Prednisone? Most of us take Imuran

(azathioprine) or similar. If you aren't, I think you should discuss this with

your

doctor.

You say your doctor doesn't have much time for you. Is it possible to change

doctors, preferably to a hepatologist? I can't remember if you told us where

you live.

It helps to write down all your questions before each appointment or phone

call, and to keep a record of those questions and answers.

You write, " You said the past eight years. I guess you never get better. Is

that right?

Will I have to take medication forever? I don't feel very good on the meds.

My stomach bothers me. Nothing tastes good. A bad taste in my throat. I hate it

but I guess I will have to try to live with it. "

Yes, of course you get better. AIH doesn't go away, but you can go into

remission (which is a rather imprecise term in my mind.). Even without

remission,

one is likely to feel much better with time. As for the stomach problem,

that's common; many ofus take something like Omeprazole, which basically is

prescription Prilosec.

I assume you're taking calcium (preferably calcium citrate, like Citracal)

with Vitamin D. This is important.

Incidentally, don't take anything by mouth without telling your doctor -- not

OTC drugs, not herbal teas, nothing. Some remedies that are harmless to

people with healthy livers can be quite bad for us.

It's probable that you'll feel much better soon.

Harper

AIH dx 2000

CD dx 2002

In a message dated 3/1/09 12:19:05 PM, SRC524 writes:

> Thank you for your response .

> I was started on Prednisolone in November . 20 Mgs every morning. The

> results were great. In two weeks the numbers came way down and was put on  16

mgs a

> day for two weeks. Things were going good. I was told to take12 mgs for two

> weeks. Numbers were normal now and was told to take 8 mgs for two weeks. Then

> 4 mgs a daya day. Each pill had 4 mgs. dr put me on 1/2 a pill for two weeks

> which was 2 mgs. I was told I will probably be reduced to 1/4 of a pill

> which would be 1 mg. I was so happy, I thought I was cured. Next blood test my

> numbers skyrocketed to 273 and 268. I can't remember the exact numbers 'cause

I

> was so upset. Now I'm back on 12 mgs (which is 3 pills) a day. Don't know

> what the next blood test will bring. I cry all the time. Very depressed.

> Can't seem to contact drs very easily. They don't have much time for us. My

> friends have the same problem.

> You said the past eight years. I guess you never get better. Is that right?

> Will I have to take medication forever? I don't feel very good on the meds.

> My stomach bothers me. Nothing tastes good. A bad taste in my throat. I hate

> it but I guess I will have to try to live with it.

> Thank you again for responding. It was good to hear from you and I hope you

> will write again.

> The computer will be down for the next 3 days, but I'll be back on by

> Thursday.

> Sincerely,

> Sophia

>

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