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Over time, can anti seizure medications cause cirrhosis of the liver?
Question : Over time, can anti seizure medications cause cirrhosis of the liver?
I have epilepsy and have been on anti seizure medications, such as Tegretol, Dilantin, Depakote, Keppra, etc, since I was 9 years old (I’m 25 now… and female). I’ve been noticing some strange symptoms lately, like bruising, upper right abdominal discomfort, and loss of appetite. Am I jumping the gun on this and being overly dramatic or should I see a doctor?
seizure medications
Best answer:
Answer by zerocool
I think you should definitely see your doctor. Liver problems can be a side effect of most anti seizure medications (and most other medications too). I’m currently on Dilantin and Depakote and it’s been affecting my liver too. Your doctor will often check your liver functions when he/she checks your blood levels. But if you are having symptoms, I would definitely go see your doc.
It sounds like you’ve been googling and come up with the worst case scenario. Sure, it’s possible the drugs have impacted your enzyme levels, but it’s a big jump from elevated enzymes to cirrhosis! And the symptoms of cirrhosis are very noticeable – jaundice, confusion, water retention, ascites (very bloated abdomen), etc.
I do think you should check with your doc because you might need to switch drugs for awhile. Some have different side effects.