Which of These Drugs Could Cause Elevated Liver Enzymes?

Mine was rifabutin. After try and see it was stopped and replaced with iv amikacin for four months and clofazimine for. The rest of the treatment .

I've been on brinsupri for 11 months but not the other drugs. I have never been asked to have any labs due to being on Brinsupri.

@scoop Thanks you! I verified this with the drug provider pharmicist. She said the drug profile does not require labs.

@lilianna Yes, he mentioned I may have to change up. And He mentioned IV antibiotics. Are you finished with the treatment now? I presume a port is needed and hopefully the administration is at home? Thanks for your response...

@ursala7 All the of the "Big 3", azithromycin, ethambutol, and rifampin, can cause elevated liver enzymes in some people. And according to Insmed, during testing, Brinsupri was known to increase liver enzymes in people getting the drug when compared to those on the placebo.

Also important to note - Brinsupri was NOT tested on people already taking antibiotics for NTM, so whether there was a greater chance of increased liver enzymes when taking all of the medications together is unknown. Since you do not have access to your pulmonologist, I think this would be VERY important information to share with your ID doc.

Do you know when your pulmonologist will again be available? Did she not leave a doctor to cover for her?

I was on the big 3 and my AST/ALT moved up to the top/slightly above the normal range. After I stopped the Big 3, it went back to middle range. After finishing the Big 3 (same as you), I started Brinsupri, and I requested monitoring at 3 month and 6 months. My 3 month elevated again but the 6 month went back to normal. If this was me and my ID or pulmonologist doctors were not available, I would see my PCP and ask for his help.

@sueinmn Thx Sue for this info: I go in for repeat lab on the 8th of Sept. But tomorrow, I'm going to message the ID doc, mention the Insmed data from initial testing, and ask him to check on the combined effects. I'll ask him to check with pulmonology - he'll have better luck than I will talking to the stand-in. The pharmacist I spoke with from Allina Specialty Pharmacy (where I get my Brinsupri from) has infectious disease background and she looked over my chart and labs. She was very familiar with MAC and the combo I'm taking. Yes, she said Ethambutol could be the cause too. Hoping for a better test next week!

@sherrig Thx, that's encouraging. Well, maybe taking all this together is what is doing it. I'm hoping for an okay test next week. I hope I don't have to give any of it up, because my flare ups are being controlled and life is doable right now, compared with how it was in the spring of the year when I was so very sick!

Good Luck

I have been on Brinsupri for almost a year. My PCP orders labs often but not my pulmonologist (may be due to my PCP does). Also my rheumatologist does also. Liver function continues to be normal.