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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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What Causes Diarrhea And Liver Problems After Taking Lovastatin?

I was on lovastatin for for 60 days to lower cholesterol. I can not take it due to side effects, muscle aches really bad. I had my blood test redone after the 60 days and my ALT/AST levels were off the chart at 47 and 82. Normal is for me 20 and 27. DR wants to put me on Vascepa. I also came down with diahrea 4 nigthts ago and still have it. I am wondering if my liver isnt functioning and is very sick if that would be the reason for my diahrea.. I have been perfectly healthy until taking the lovastatin. I thinkk the lovastatin is what screwed up my lliver.
Wed, 30 Dec 2015
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General & Family Physician 's  Response
Hello,
Welcome to HCM.

I have read your query and can understand your concern about ALT/AST.

Here your ALT (47) and AST (82) will be considered as a clinically normal despite they are marginally elevated (depending upon the lab variations) here and it would have no clinical significance in an otherwise healthy individual.

Also,these liver functions tests have nothing to do with lovastatin and lovastatin never causes even slight elevation of liver enzymes.

I would not be personally worried about it, since ALT and AST are highly sensitive liver function tests and might get easily elevated even with fatty meal or even mild alcohol intake.

The other causes of SGPT rise could be use of pain killers (NSAIDs),use of various types of non herbal health supplements,obesity and heavy exercises or some autoimmune disease or liver disorders like hepatitis B or C but they are very unlikely in your case.

So,there is no need to bother about your liver sickness.so there is no question of it the reason behind diarrhea.

Diarrhea could be due to hyper motility of intestine for which you may take probiotics (lactic acid bacillus) and plenty of water with fruit juices and it will help to control diarrhea quickly.

So, do not worry about it and possibly avoid fatty/junk/oily foods further.

However,you can repeat the test for SGPT after 3 to 4 weeks on fasting blood sample and most probably it will come within normal limits.

Meanwhile,you may take tab.Udilive 300 mg twice daily which is a bile acid, a substance naturally produced by the body and does not have any side effects.

Consult your treating physician for further advise.

Hope this helps.

Regards,

Dr.Sandip kabra
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What Causes Diarrhea And Liver Problems After Taking Lovastatin?

Hello, Welcome to HCM. I have read your query and can understand your concern about ALT/AST. Here your ALT (47) and AST (82) will be considered as a clinically normal despite they are marginally elevated (depending upon the lab variations) here and it would have no clinical significance in an otherwise healthy individual. Also,these liver functions tests have nothing to do with lovastatin and lovastatin never causes even slight elevation of liver enzymes. I would not be personally worried about it, since ALT and AST are highly sensitive liver function tests and might get easily elevated even with fatty meal or even mild alcohol intake. The other causes of SGPT rise could be use of pain killers (NSAIDs),use of various types of non herbal health supplements,obesity and heavy exercises or some autoimmune disease or liver disorders like hepatitis B or C but they are very unlikely in your case. So,there is no need to bother about your liver sickness.so there is no question of it the reason behind diarrhea. Diarrhea could be due to hyper motility of intestine for which you may take probiotics (lactic acid bacillus) and plenty of water with fruit juices and it will help to control diarrhea quickly. So, do not worry about it and possibly avoid fatty/junk/oily foods further. However,you can repeat the test for SGPT after 3 to 4 weeks on fasting blood sample and most probably it will come within normal limits. Meanwhile,you may take tab.Udilive 300 mg twice daily which is a bile acid, a substance naturally produced by the body and does not have any side effects. Consult your treating physician for further advise. Hope this helps. Regards, Dr.Sandip kabra