Is there a test to test your liver function?

Question

I think something is wrong with my liver and I think it is because of the medecations. I am on several medecine for ADHD, Bipolar, depression, anxiety, OCD, and Migraines.

My medecines that I have been on in the past include Pazil, Prozac, Adderall, Buspar, The medecines I am on now are I am on Topamax, Lamictal, Macrobid, Focalin, Aterex,( I cant remember), Presidone, Vicodin7.5. I know this is a lot of medecines. Some of them that I am on are for a UTI. The reason I think I have a liver problem is because of family history, medecines, I am 21 with these probs, and when I drink even a wine cooler my chest hurts, It hurts all the way up to my arm. I feel like I am having a heart attack. I dont drink that much.

Can anyone relate? I know I have been on more meds in my life for several reason but I am very concerned.

The reason I am on so many is because of the Bipolar. I had a breakdown this week and went off the "deep-end" and they put me on some meds to try to help me.

Answer 1

There is pacific blood test to check the liver function, which your doctor should be doing when you have your check ups, especially with some of the medications your on.

Does your doctor know there is a family history of liver problems? You may need to remind him/her about this.

Be guided by your doctor, but always ask questions, when a new drug is introduced, or being stopped. And you are allowed to seek another opinion, if you feel your not being listened too, or your needs etc are not being met.

A friend has Bipolar and she had to try quite a few different medications be for she became stable, with a few lengthily stays is hospital, and she has to have regular liver function blood tests due to some of the medications she is taking.

Wishing you luck and hopefully doctors can stabilise your Bipolar very soon.

Answer 2

I am scheduled to have a regular liver test in a few days. This isn't just a check but I do have end stage liver disease. Medications and booze can cause liver problems and a doctor will usually pick this up early from a physical. My problem was caused by a hereditary condition of iron overload. I do not drink period! Now, I am paying for my reluctance to go to a doctor for many years. I have been on a transplant list for a year and trying to stay as healthy as I can. You really need to tell your doctor about your concerns. You may be fine. Bipolar is enough of a problem on it's on. Talk to the doc and good luck.

Answer 3

The last thing i want to write here is something that will make you worry some more. So the answer is yes, yes there are several test that can be done to check your liver status and function, mostly you can check your liver status and function by means of a simple blood chemistry test ( SGOT, SGPT, Prothrombin time, Total Protein Albumin Globulin, etc. ) and sometimes an Ultrasound of the Liver may be requested. I'm sure if you are really concern, you should take up this matter with your physician, and he /she will be gladly addressing your concerns.

Answer 4

With all the meds you are oine you should not drink any alcohol at all. They can test your liver function with blood tests. With all of the meds you are on your doc needs to check your blood levels at least every 3-6 months and if he isn't then check into getting this done.

Answer 5

i would of suggested a liver panel test regardless of the medications you'v been on/tried ect.....

your symptoms with or without medications indicate something might be causing your issue. sometimes the causative factor hasn't been found yet. something physical causes the chemicals in the brain to react in the wrong way. depression does NOT happen on it's own! there are many diseases out there (viral, bacterial, environmental ect) that have a lot to do with why some are having the issues your having. hcv can cause all of what your experiencing and i can be certain that you didn't list half of what you experience on a daily basis. panic attacks are the WORST!

i was misdiagnosed year after year after year after decades....my symptoms started at age 8, by 13 my bones/joints hurt, depression set it ect ect...they only got worse. medications didnt ever really help, unless for false hope as they soon would not be effective.

come to find out, i had undiagnosed HCV infection (liver disease). i did antiviral chemotherapy and now the only issue i have is brain fog/short term memory issues. (some things after a chronic illness for so long are not reversable. some think it's a combination of the virus passing the blood brain barrier and all the different kinds of meds i took off and on for over a decade).

i can certainly relate and i can honestly tell you that you sound exactly like many others with liver disease out there....

my doctor tried to tell me it was all in my head...year after year....well, it was in my head, but not all of it! hcv does pass the blood brain barrier (as well as other viral infections/agents). it can cause a whopper on the whole body as a whole.

do not rely on alt and ast levels alone when you ask the doctor for a liver panel test....alt and ast levels are with many not elevated, leaving the doc to think there isn't anything wrong. have them run an hcv antibody test.

if the doctor asks if you have a risk factor for hcv, tell him everyone has one risk factor for hcv...everyone. you dont have to touch drugs, you dont have to have a blood transfusion to become infected with hcv.....dental proceedures, peircings ect....there are many ways for infectious blood to enter the bloodstream of another.

last but not least, make the doctor do his job or find someone else until someone wants to do their job!

good luck!

Answer 6

yes . doctors can do a blood profile which can tell you your liver enzyme function.

Please Please Please Get off your medicines. You are KILLING your liver. Sometimes these crazy doctors will push a million medicines on you. If you can somehow manage your bipolar naturally (excercise/diet etc) then do so.

Human body was not designed to take and process all these medicines. If your liver fails, you may need a transplant to save yourself.........somehow conquer your bipolar and move on man.

Answer 7

Discuss this with your doctor, there are some tests that can be done, but unless you express concern about it, it won't be done.

Answer 8

Try DrugDigest.com, you list all the drugs you are taking and it will tell you if there's a bad interaction with any and side effects

Answer 9

Wine cooler are bad for ppl with acid reflux,,bet you have heartburn really bad also,,would get some heartburn pills from doctor,,,your chest pains could be this,,stay away from coolers,,try something else instead

Answer 10

Check out this web site, the licensed Doctors will answer all of your medical questions for free
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