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Can Any Medication Bring Down GGT Levels Quickly?

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Posted on Sat, 21 Apr 2012
Question: hi i recently had a big alcohol binge lasting approx 5 weeks about 30 + units a day but don't normally drink it was due to a suicide but i have now stopped drinking previosly my ggt was35 but I am due a DVLA medical I am fit and slim woman who usually exercises regularly do you know how long it will take for my ALT AST and GGT to normalise I did binge last year and my GGT was 35 after 3 weeks abstinence but this was all day and night drinking I have now completely stopped and can anything help repair my body quickly thank you
doctor
Answered by Dr. Jasvinder Singh (48 minutes later)
Hello,

Thanks for posting your query.

GGT is a liver enzyme and in females the normal range is 0 - 45 U/L. GGT blood levels may be elevated due to liver disease, hepatitis, gallstones, diabetes, pancreatic disease, kidney failure, alcohol misuse, certain prescription drugs, certain herbs and supplements or taking very high amounts of supplements.

Since you were binge drinking for 5 weeks, so the GGT may have been raised due to alcohol overuse in your case. It will take some time for the GGT levels to come down. It can take a few days or a few weeks for GGT levels to drop depending on how long you have been drinking alcohol, the amount of alcohol you have been drinking (30+ units), the type of alcohol, the general health of your liver and body, other medicines or supplements you may be taking, your age and diet.

Given your age, diet, build etc; it may take upto 5-6 months for the GGT to come back to normal even after complete abstinence.

Hope this answers your query. If you have additional questions or follow up queries then please do not hesitate in writing to us. I will be happy to answer your queries.

Wishing you good health.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Ashwin Bhandari
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Jasvinder Singh (48 minutes later)
I am a healthy 45 year old i had the same kind of binge about 2 years ago and ggt came down to 35 within 3 weeks of abstinence 4-6 months sounds a long time also you didn't answer my question about normalisation of ALT or AST I play racket sports for quite a few hours weekly also you didn't say if there is anything i can do to help lower these perameters
doctor
Answered by Dr. Jasvinder Singh (3 hours later)
Hi and thanks again,

The rise in the liver enzymes is a marker of liver injury. It can happen both due to the alcoholic injury to the liver as well as due to other causes.

Fat deposition in the liver due to increased intake of the fatty foods and carbohydrates and decreased exercise can produce something known as hepatitis B & C can also produce an injury to the liver producing the rise in the liver enzymes. Hence, hepatitis B and C tests should also be done.

Only a biopsy of the liver is the definitive test to determine the degree of damage to the liver and thus help in predicting the recovery. However, the first step is stop alcohol completely.

Get Hepatitis B & C ruled out. Avoid excessive carbohydrates and fatty foods. Keep on doing some exercise for 30 - 45 min daily. Drugs like ursodeoxycholic acid and silymarin are thought to play a protective role for the liver.

You will start feeling better in a few weeks time but the normalization of the liver enzymes may take months which is quite variable but usually comes back to normal within 5-6 months, depending upon the degree of damage to the liver.

Please do consult a hepatologist.

Hope this answers your query. If you have additional questions or follow up queries then please do not hesitate in writing to us. I will be happy to answer your queries.

Wishing you good health.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Jasvinder Singh

Internal Medicine Specialist

Practicing since :1998

Answered : 1578 Questions

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Can Any Medication Bring Down GGT Levels Quickly?

Hello,

Thanks for posting your query.

GGT is a liver enzyme and in females the normal range is 0 - 45 U/L. GGT blood levels may be elevated due to liver disease, hepatitis, gallstones, diabetes, pancreatic disease, kidney failure, alcohol misuse, certain prescription drugs, certain herbs and supplements or taking very high amounts of supplements.

Since you were binge drinking for 5 weeks, so the GGT may have been raised due to alcohol overuse in your case. It will take some time for the GGT levels to come down. It can take a few days or a few weeks for GGT levels to drop depending on how long you have been drinking alcohol, the amount of alcohol you have been drinking (30+ units), the type of alcohol, the general health of your liver and body, other medicines or supplements you may be taking, your age and diet.

Given your age, diet, build etc; it may take upto 5-6 months for the GGT to come back to normal even after complete abstinence.

Hope this answers your query. If you have additional questions or follow up queries then please do not hesitate in writing to us. I will be happy to answer your queries.

Wishing you good health.