I have been on Budesonide 9 mg for 3 months and just got my liver panel tested. It has gone up pretty significantly since then:
ALT - 20 to 50 (normal range 12-78)
AST - 16 to 33 (normal range 0-37)
Alkaline Phosphate - 68 to 92 (normal range 26-137)
These numbers are still within the normal range but I am supposed to remain on the Budesonide 9 mg for another 2 months (total of 5 months). I'm concerned about the numbers going up so high in only 3 months and am worried that they will go up even higher into the "danger zone" if I continue for another two months.
Is this "damage" that the Budesonide is doing to my liver reversible? Will it likely go down as soon as I am off the Budesonide?
Budesonide - Liver Damage?
Moderators: Rosie, Jean, CAMary, moremuscle, JFR, Dee, xet, Peggy, Matthew, Gabes-Apg, grannyh, Gloria, Mars, starfire, Polly, Joefnh, mbeezie
Budesonide - Liver Damage?
Sarah
Lymphocytic colitis since Feb 2019
Lymphocytic colitis since Feb 2019
Hi Sarah,
My understanding is that budesonide shouldn't significantly affect liver enzymes unless you had preexisting liver disease. Many of the immune system suppressants often raise liver enzymes, but corticosteroids shouldn't pose a liver problem. That said, budesonide is metabolized in the liver, so it's not impossible that you might be sensitive to it. You might ask your doctor's office for an opinion.
Tex
My understanding is that budesonide shouldn't significantly affect liver enzymes unless you had preexisting liver disease. Many of the immune system suppressants often raise liver enzymes, but corticosteroids shouldn't pose a liver problem. That said, budesonide is metabolized in the liver, so it's not impossible that you might be sensitive to it. You might ask your doctor's office for an opinion.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Thank you, Tex! I will check in with my doctor and see what he says about that.
I just thought of one other possibility it could be, if not the Budesonide. This may be a total long shot, but I have been eating a lot of white rice. I've had multiple servings, nearly every day.
Is it somehow possible that I am being exposed to arsenic from the rice? Would that raise my liver enzymes? I do try to rinse it before cooking but perhaps I am not doing a very good job. Other than that, I'm not sure what else could have caused the elevation in the past 3-4 months.
I just thought of one other possibility it could be, if not the Budesonide. This may be a total long shot, but I have been eating a lot of white rice. I've had multiple servings, nearly every day.
Is it somehow possible that I am being exposed to arsenic from the rice? Would that raise my liver enzymes? I do try to rinse it before cooking but perhaps I am not doing a very good job. Other than that, I'm not sure what else could have caused the elevation in the past 3-4 months.
Sarah
Lymphocytic colitis since Feb 2019
Lymphocytic colitis since Feb 2019
Yes it certainly could be due to the rice. Arsenic can cause liver enzyme increases, and where the rice is grown determines the arsenic content. For example, rice grown on land where cotton was grown for many years before arsenic acid-based herbicides were taken off the market will show elevated arsenic levels. That mostly applies to rice grown in Southeast Texas, parts of Alabama, and other areas across the southern United States where cotton was traditionally grown but rice is planted there now. Arsenic can be found in all rice (and many other foods), but brown basmati rice from California, India, or Pakistan has been shown to contain the lowest amounts of arsenic.
Tex
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.