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Statins and liver ALT
I am one of the folks with very high CAC score and have been on statins for 5 or 6 years. The doc wanted my target LDL below 70 and the only way to get there was 40mg rosuvastatin along with Zetia, but then my liver ALT climbed up to 62. We adjusted the meds down to 20 mg rosuvastatin and liver ALT is back down to ~50, still slightly above normal. All other liver enzymes are normal. So, we are considering switching me to Repatha, depending on insurance coverage, but not sure my situation is qualifying.
My question is have any of you here had similar liver response to a statin? And is a stable ALT of ~60 really a problem or a no nevermind?
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My cardiologist told me he would be concerned if it reached 3X the upper limit of the normal range.
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2 ReactionsI have been on Simvastatin 20 mg per day for 20 years and I have my liver checked
every year. My ALT is always good.
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1 ReactionThat is what my cardiologist told me as well so there is no need to worry.
The other thing that is interesting is that if you google normal ALT it says that the max is 25 but also mentions that some labs use different scales. For instance, Labcorp, where I typically go, reports the top of the normal range as 44. So by the 3x rule I suppose mine would need to get to ~132 to start to worry, not 75. More discussions with doc to come...
I look forward to hearing about your conversation.
Per the post from raylo32 I am dealing with these issues now. Traveling out of town while driving had sudden and extreme cramps in one foot . The next day in my wrist to the point of paralysis; the day following again with the wrist. Some minor episodes of cramping before this over time here and there -- understood that statins could cause this cramping. Went to a local ER immediately. They ran several tests that could cause the cramping and some basic other tests. Gave me a written report (in words I could understand) with the most detailed results. The results were that the cramps were likely from the statins. I'd been taking (high dose). The report did raise the issues of the potential impact on what was now slightly elevated liver enzymes. Advice was to see my MD as soon as possible and to lower the Rx dose. Hope this helps per the potential relationship between statins and liver impact.
Good plan... as for the muscle cramps and such get some CoQ10. That took care of similar issues I was having with my hamstrings and biceps muscles. I am taking 200mg of the "Ultra" formulation.