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Can Hydrocodone And Tylenol Cause Liver Damage?
Question: Hi, my wife broke her wrist and scheduled an operation. It turned out her sodium level was too low (126) and the operation was postponed for one week. Everything was ok since she cut down on her water consumption.
On a follow--up by her oncologist her blood work showed showed big increases in her AST (68), her ALT (76) and her BUN (30). The AST and ALT levels almost doubled from her normal blood work results. XXXXXXX took Hydrocodone and tylenol for a few days after the operation for pain.
MY question: Can her drastic reduction of drinking water affect her liver functions as she was always used in drinking lots of water? Was it too much of a shock(?) for her liver?
Thank you for your consideration.
On a follow--up by her oncologist her blood work showed showed big increases in her AST (68), her ALT (76) and her BUN (30). The AST and ALT levels almost doubled from her normal blood work results. XXXXXXX took Hydrocodone and tylenol for a few days after the operation for pain.
MY question: Can her drastic reduction of drinking water affect her liver functions as she was always used in drinking lots of water? Was it too much of a shock(?) for her liver?
Thank you for your consideration.
Brief Answer:
Likely to be due to acetaminophen
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Welcome and thanks for your query.
Appreciate your concern for your wife.
Your wife had dilutional hyponatremia and that is the reason why her doctor advised to cut down on water. If she is not have any cardiac decompensation or hypertension, she can also increase her salt intake.
Her mild elevation of AST and ALT is probably due to Hydrocodone and Tylenol both of which contain Acetaminophen which is toxic to the liver.
Avoid taking these and alcohol. Her liver will recover very fast and the enzymes would return to the usual level.
Best wishes to both of you.
Likely to be due to acetaminophen
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Welcome and thanks for your query.
Appreciate your concern for your wife.
Your wife had dilutional hyponatremia and that is the reason why her doctor advised to cut down on water. If she is not have any cardiac decompensation or hypertension, she can also increase her salt intake.
Her mild elevation of AST and ALT is probably due to Hydrocodone and Tylenol both of which contain Acetaminophen which is toxic to the liver.
Avoid taking these and alcohol. Her liver will recover very fast and the enzymes would return to the usual level.
Best wishes to both of you.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Sorry we are late.... You put our mind at ease with your answer. To fill you in more, her oncologist requested a liver scan (scheduled next month) because of her blood test results. He wants to make sure that everything is OK. One more question: How much water is too much? I know that she drank too much (my opinion) and I insist that she drinks more skim milk now. We both feel that her skin looks more "youthful" with less water - just the opposite of what is usually said. Again, thank you, and we are sorry to be late getting back to you.....XXXX and XXXXXXX
Brief Answer:
Glad that she is fine
Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXXXXX and XXXXXXX
Thank you for the feed back.
I appreciate the foresight of her oncologist and it would be good to exclude any other liver issue.
Total fluids per day is better to be about 6 glasses.
Was her blood sodium checked recently?
Wish you both good health.
Glad that she is fine
Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXXXXX and XXXXXXX
Thank you for the feed back.
I appreciate the foresight of her oncologist and it would be good to exclude any other liver issue.
Total fluids per day is better to be about 6 glasses.
Was her blood sodium checked recently?
Wish you both good health.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Her blood sodium is fine now and a liver ultra sound is scheduled for next month.
The only questions we still have now: In your opinion, what would be the best OTC pain pill to take w/o harming the liver too much.
I am more liberal to take a pain pill, but XXXXXXX is very reluctant to take any, especially after her last scare!
Again, thank you so much for your care and your answers.
Sincerely, XXXXXXX and XXXX
The only questions we still have now: In your opinion, what would be the best OTC pain pill to take w/o harming the liver too much.
I am more liberal to take a pain pill, but XXXXXXX is very reluctant to take any, especially after her last scare!
Again, thank you so much for your care and your answers.
Sincerely, XXXXXXX and XXXX
Brief Answer:
Use the lowest dose possible
Detailed Answer:
The usual OTC painkillers are either acetaminophen containing or ibuprofen containing. Both and also other nonsteroidal antiinflammatory medicines are metabolised in the liver. They all have the potential to harm the liver. This harm is mostly dose dependent. Therefore if measure like balms and other locally acting medicines are not effective ,then use the lowest dose of ibuprofen or acetaminophen alone that gives pain relief.
Use the lowest dose possible
Detailed Answer:
The usual OTC painkillers are either acetaminophen containing or ibuprofen containing. Both and also other nonsteroidal antiinflammatory medicines are metabolised in the liver. They all have the potential to harm the liver. This harm is mostly dose dependent. Therefore if measure like balms and other locally acting medicines are not effective ,then use the lowest dose of ibuprofen or acetaminophen alone that gives pain relief.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Dear Doctor,
we are doing fine and want to thank you again for your help.
One more question my wife has: She has arthritis mostly in her finger and wrists. She takes Glucosamine Chondroitin daily per the recommendations of her primary physician. Now we are reading that Boswellia with Tumeric is supposed to be very good for your joints. What is your opinion?
Again, our sincerest thanks for all that you have done for us
XXXX and XXXXXXX
we are doing fine and want to thank you again for your help.
One more question my wife has: She has arthritis mostly in her finger and wrists. She takes Glucosamine Chondroitin daily per the recommendations of her primary physician. Now we are reading that Boswellia with Tumeric is supposed to be very good for your joints. What is your opinion?
Again, our sincerest thanks for all that you have done for us
XXXX and XXXXXXX
Brief Answer:
Can be tried
Detailed Answer:
Dear XXXXXXX and XXXXXXX
I am so glad that you found my answers helpful and thanks for the feed back.
From the little experience I have with and from what I have observed in my patients, Boswellia and Turmeric are better tolerated than NSAIDs from the liver point of view.
However do check her ALT and AST 2 weeks after starting them if she decides to take them.
Wish you both a good day and good health
Dr Noble
Can be tried
Detailed Answer:
Dear XXXXXXX and XXXXXXX
I am so glad that you found my answers helpful and thanks for the feed back.
From the little experience I have with and from what I have observed in my patients, Boswellia and Turmeric are better tolerated than NSAIDs from the liver point of view.
However do check her ALT and AST 2 weeks after starting them if she decides to take them.
Wish you both a good day and good health
Dr Noble
Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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