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How Long Does Liver Enzymes Take To Be Normal After Taking Alcohol?
Question: How long does it take for liver enzymes to return to normal after drinking occasional for a couple of months. This is not drinking daily but during the holiday season.
Brief Answer:
May take a month or so
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
the time needed for the enzymes to return to normal depends on the cause. Alcohol related causes include:
- direct toxic effect on the liver (gamma glutamyl transferase - gGT mainly, perhaps also SGOT and SGPT)
- fatty liver by excessive alcohol use (and perhaps obesity that may accompany it - alcohol has almost as many calories as fat does)
- alcoholic liver disease (which may include hepatitis)
- cirrhosis
If it is alcoholic hepatitis the time cannot be accurately estimated. Things may get better (they usually do) or not.
If it is cirrhosis then only worsening can be expected. Of course quitting drinking helps a lot.
If it is fatty liver then loosing body weight helps. Unless the patient achieves a substantial weight loss, no improvement is expected.
And finally (the most common cause) when direct toxicity is the cause, gGT and the rest of the enzymes should be back to normal within the next month or so.
I hope you find my answer helpful!
If you'd like me to clarify anything, please let me know.
Kind Regards!
May take a month or so
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
the time needed for the enzymes to return to normal depends on the cause. Alcohol related causes include:
- direct toxic effect on the liver (gamma glutamyl transferase - gGT mainly, perhaps also SGOT and SGPT)
- fatty liver by excessive alcohol use (and perhaps obesity that may accompany it - alcohol has almost as many calories as fat does)
- alcoholic liver disease (which may include hepatitis)
- cirrhosis
If it is alcoholic hepatitis the time cannot be accurately estimated. Things may get better (they usually do) or not.
If it is cirrhosis then only worsening can be expected. Of course quitting drinking helps a lot.
If it is fatty liver then loosing body weight helps. Unless the patient achieves a substantial weight loss, no improvement is expected.
And finally (the most common cause) when direct toxicity is the cause, gGT and the rest of the enzymes should be back to normal within the next month or so.
I hope you find my answer helpful!
If you'd like me to clarify anything, please let me know.
Kind Regards!
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you. The cause would be from drinking. Not every day but when I did I had 6 to 8 drinks at one time but often with 2 or 3 days between sessions. My levels were normal in late October and I have been drinking during November, December and part of January. I have not had anything to drink now since January 24th. Would it be possible to have blood tests without a Doctor's requisition? My Doctor is very judgemental.
Brief Answer:
In a private lab that would be feasible
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
first of all, you shouldn't worry about your doctor's judgemental nature. You can listen to what he/she says and only keep the facts, not the judgement.
The rule is that a private lab would have no problem to do tests to anybody. I do not practice in Canada but I'm sure that your country is no exception to the rule. The main tests for the liver include SGOT (AST), SGPT (ALT), gGT and ALP. INR may also prove helpful along with bilirubin levels. Other tests might be needed for further investigation. An ultrasound scan would be helpful also if the blood tests are not normal. If you have an insurance contract then doing tests without your doctor's consent would probably be excluded from compensation.
If you've never had increased liver enzymes then it is very likely that your enzymes would be normal. Many holiday drinkers do not exhibit increased liver enzymes.
Contact me again, should you need further information.
Kind Regards!
In a private lab that would be feasible
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
first of all, you shouldn't worry about your doctor's judgemental nature. You can listen to what he/she says and only keep the facts, not the judgement.
The rule is that a private lab would have no problem to do tests to anybody. I do not practice in Canada but I'm sure that your country is no exception to the rule. The main tests for the liver include SGOT (AST), SGPT (ALT), gGT and ALP. INR may also prove helpful along with bilirubin levels. Other tests might be needed for further investigation. An ultrasound scan would be helpful also if the blood tests are not normal. If you have an insurance contract then doing tests without your doctor's consent would probably be excluded from compensation.
If you've never had increased liver enzymes then it is very likely that your enzymes would be normal. Many holiday drinkers do not exhibit increased liver enzymes.
Contact me again, should you need further information.
Kind Regards!
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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