Zocor and Liver Problems: High Liver Enzymes
Liver enzymes are usually measured to see if a person has liver damage. They do not measure how well the liver is working. A number of things can increase liver enzymes, including certain medicines (such as antibiotics or some anti-inflammatory medicines), alcohol, infections (such as
mononucleosis or
viral hepatitis), obesity, and
diabetes.
Like other statins,
Zocor is known to increase liver enzyme levels. Except in very rare cases, this increase in liver enzymes does not cause any symptoms. But as a precaution, your doctor will measure your liver enzyme levels prior to treatment with Zocor and several months after you start. He or she will also measure your liver enzyme levels if your
Zocor dosage is increased.
If your liver enzymes are high, your doctor may continue to test them on a more frequent basis. If they remain high, your doctor may recommend lowering the dose of Zocor or switching to another
cholesterol medication. When Zocor is stopped, in most cases the liver enzymes return to their pre-Zocor levels.
Zocor and Liver Problems: Warnings and Precautions
Because Zocor can affect the liver, it is used with caution in people who drink more than a moderate amount of alcohol or have a history of liver disease.
Zocor is not recommended for people with liver disease or high liver enzymes before Zocor is started.
Possible Symptoms of Liver Problems
There are a number of symptoms that can occur in someone who develops liver problems while taking Zocor. You should contact your doctor if you have any of the following problems:
- Nausea or vomiting
- Stomach pain
- Passing brown or dark-colored urine
- Yellowing of the skin or the whites of the eyes
- Fatigue, or feeling more tired than usual.
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