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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Does Simvastatin Causes Elevated Liver Enzymes?

I was started on simvastatin 5mg and after 3 months my liver enzymes were slightly elevated and my dosage was increased to 10 mg now 3 months later my enzymes have significantly elevated. My doctor told me to stop the statins and have the enzymes repeated. I had a sonogram which showed a fatty liver. Do you think the cause of the increase is due to the statins? bilirubin levels are normal.
Fri, 23 Feb 2018
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General & Family Physician,  's  Response
Hi & Welcome.
Incomplete data like age, gender, any history of alcohol intake, liver disease or other medical illness??

Yes, Simvastatin may cause elevated liver enzymes.

Statins like Simvastatin are effective in reducing the high blood cholesterol levels. Its most common side effects include; myopathy (muscle pain, tenderness, fatigue or weakness), stomach upset and liver dysfunction which is reflected in the form of raised enzymes.

You need to stop taking Simvastatin as advised by your doctor and an alternate effective but a safer medication would be prescribed to reduce your high cholesterol levels.

You also need to undergo an abdominal ultrasound to rule out other possible causes of fatty liver.

Hope this answers your query.
Best regards.
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Does Simvastatin Causes Elevated Liver Enzymes?

Hi & Welcome. Incomplete data like age, gender, any history of alcohol intake, liver disease or other medical illness?? Yes, Simvastatin may cause elevated liver enzymes. Statins like Simvastatin are effective in reducing the high blood cholesterol levels. Its most common side effects include; myopathy (muscle pain, tenderness, fatigue or weakness), stomach upset and liver dysfunction which is reflected in the form of raised enzymes. You need to stop taking Simvastatin as advised by your doctor and an alternate effective but a safer medication would be prescribed to reduce your high cholesterol levels. You also need to undergo an abdominal ultrasound to rule out other possible causes of fatty liver. Hope this answers your query. Best regards.