1 year, 3 months ago
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Will taking cholesterol drugs ruin my liver?
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Cholesterol lowering medicines known as "statins" can cause damage to the liver if used incorrectly or if their use is not monitored by your doctor on a regular basis.
The most important part of taking these medications is making sure your doctor orders baseline liver function blood work and then monitors those levels regularly while you are using the medication. These initial results should be reviewed before the medication is started to be sure there is no underlying problem with your liver function. If the levels are normal and the medication is started, you must insist that your doctor orders liver function blood work every three months to make sure your liver is tolerating the medication without problems. This is the most important part. If they do affect your liver, it’s important to catch this early, as the medication should be stopped and the liver function should return to normal.
Another important thing to consider when using statin medications to lower cholesterol is alcohol consumption. While an occasional cocktail should be just fine, overuse or abuse of alcohol will most certainly increase the risk of liver damage.
Remember….make sure your doctor orders your blood work on a regular basis. And then make sure that you go and have it drawn!
The most important part of taking these medications is making sure your doctor orders baseline liver function blood work and then monitors those levels regularly while you are using the medication. These initial results should be reviewed before the medication is started to be sure there is no underlying problem with your liver function. If the levels are normal and the medication is started, you must insist that your doctor orders liver function blood work every three months to make sure your liver is tolerating the medication without problems. This is the most important part. If they do affect your liver, it’s important to catch this early, as the medication should be stopped and the liver function should return to normal.
Another important thing to consider when using statin medications to lower cholesterol is alcohol consumption. While an occasional cocktail should be just fine, overuse or abuse of alcohol will most certainly increase the risk of liver damage.
Remember….make sure your doctor orders your blood work on a regular basis. And then make sure that you go and have it drawn!
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
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