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What Causes Elevated Liver Enzymes While On Azithromycin?
Question: am writing this for my 10 year old daughter. She has PANDAS Syndrome, but as been symptom free for 3 years. We have been giving her a low dose Azithromycin 3 times a week as a preventative. We just decided to do a routing Liver enzyme test and found out her AST (SGOT) is at 56, her ALT(SOPT) is 52. This is about the time most parents taper them down off antibiotics or altogether. Are these numbers a concern or should they lower when we stop.
Brief Answer:
Might or might not be related to Azithromycin
Detailed Answer:
Hi..Thanks for consulting on Health care magic.
I understand your concern about the regular usage of an antibiotic like Azithromycin and the associated side effects. But till now medical literature for the past 10 years has supported the usage of Azithromycin or Penicillin group of drugs for prevention of streptococcal infections and aggravation of neuropsychiatric manifestation in kids with PANDAS. Penicillin and azithromycin prophylaxis were found to be effective in decreasing streptococcal infections and neuropsychiatric symptom exacerbations among children in the PANDAS subgroup.
I medicine as it is well known - it is always a risk benefit ratio which see and compare and decide on continuing a medicine or discontinuing it.
Your queries -
1. Now coming to you query of high liver enzymes - an SGOT and SGPT values of what you have mentioned are not worrying values and as liver detoxifies anything which is ingested, it is expected when on some medications. So do not worry, it might nor might not be due to Azithromycin and even if it is - stopping Azithromycin due to this value on liver enzyme is not required.
2. These numbers might or might not lower after you stop as they could be because of many other reasons too - rather than only due to Azithromycin.
I have few questions for you -
1. Is she on any other medications apart Azithromycin or only this?
2. Is she on any anti seizure medications?
3.What about the other values in the liver function tests?
Suggestions -
1. You say she is symptom free for the past 3 years, I am happy for that. I suggest you consult the primary paediatrician or doctor who prescribed you this prophylactic Azithromycin, before deciding to stop it. Please do not act on your own.
2. I also suggest you can take a repeat liver function tests after a couple of months to check if there is a rise or fall in the values.
Hope my answer was helpful for you. I am happy to help any time. Further clarifications and consultations on Health care magic are welcome. Wish your kid good health.
Dr. Sumanth MBBS., DCH., DNB (Paed).,
Might or might not be related to Azithromycin
Detailed Answer:
Hi..Thanks for consulting on Health care magic.
I understand your concern about the regular usage of an antibiotic like Azithromycin and the associated side effects. But till now medical literature for the past 10 years has supported the usage of Azithromycin or Penicillin group of drugs for prevention of streptococcal infections and aggravation of neuropsychiatric manifestation in kids with PANDAS. Penicillin and azithromycin prophylaxis were found to be effective in decreasing streptococcal infections and neuropsychiatric symptom exacerbations among children in the PANDAS subgroup.
I medicine as it is well known - it is always a risk benefit ratio which see and compare and decide on continuing a medicine or discontinuing it.
Your queries -
1. Now coming to you query of high liver enzymes - an SGOT and SGPT values of what you have mentioned are not worrying values and as liver detoxifies anything which is ingested, it is expected when on some medications. So do not worry, it might nor might not be due to Azithromycin and even if it is - stopping Azithromycin due to this value on liver enzyme is not required.
2. These numbers might or might not lower after you stop as they could be because of many other reasons too - rather than only due to Azithromycin.
I have few questions for you -
1. Is she on any other medications apart Azithromycin or only this?
2. Is she on any anti seizure medications?
3.What about the other values in the liver function tests?
Suggestions -
1. You say she is symptom free for the past 3 years, I am happy for that. I suggest you consult the primary paediatrician or doctor who prescribed you this prophylactic Azithromycin, before deciding to stop it. Please do not act on your own.
2. I also suggest you can take a repeat liver function tests after a couple of months to check if there is a rise or fall in the values.
Hope my answer was helpful for you. I am happy to help any time. Further clarifications and consultations on Health care magic are welcome. Wish your kid good health.
Dr. Sumanth MBBS., DCH., DNB (Paed).,
Note: For further queries related to your child health, Talk to a Pediatrician. Click here to Book a Consultation.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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