Has anyone else ever had this problem?
I was on accutane 5 years ago and it did the same thing, but my old derm this was a known side effect and it wasn't too bad so he kept me on it. Well 5 years and a new derm later, I was taken off accutane after a month of being on it because they're were raised. I don't know how high. She wants me to continue taking the 4 I have left for this month and to get another blood test later this week to see if they're still raised. Well if I continue taking accutane and have to get a blood test, it's obviously still going to be elevated, but she's the doctor.
What can I do to reduce my triglycerides quickly. I've read Omega 3's (from fish or flax seed oil), niacin, and vitamin C help. Do they work quickly or is it a slow process before they start helping. I eat pretty healthy and try to avoid too many carbs. How about Rx medication like lipitor?
One final question, I just got over the horrible initial breakout and the accutanes finally starting to work. Do you think being off of it for 2 weeks or so will cause by acne to come back? Or does accutane remain in the system long after you stop taking it?
Carbs aren't the only thing that will make excess triglycerides. Your liver makes any extra calories, whether it's carbs, fat, or protein.
Maybe you already read this, I just copied it from a website:
* keep an active lifestyle
* eat a healthy diet low in saturated fats and trans fats
o use lower fat dairy or cheese instead of regular version
o trim visible fats from meats
o cook with canola, olive or peanut oils (read The Best Cooking Oils?)
* include high-fiber foods such as whole grains, oatmeal and fruits
* limit sugar intake such as pop, Kool-aid, and other sweetened beverages
* limit alcohol to maximum 1 drink a day
* include Omega 3 -rich foods such as Salmon, Fish Oils and Flax seed
* do not over-eat; watch portion size when eating out
Those things should help, but if the accutane is raising your triglycerides then I don't know if it will bring it down to an acceptable level while still taking it. Good luck!
well, i just found out I was taken off of it due to a level of 199 mg/dl. Last time I was on accutane 5 years ago, my level was 315 and I smoked and ate unhealthy and still my doctor only told me to change my diet. But 199??!! I wish a could sue this bitch for malpractice or something. My primary care physician even said she was an idiot.
TiburonGrease said:well, i just found out I was taken off of it due to a level of 199 mg/dl. Last time I was on accutane 5 years ago, my level was 315 and I smoked and ate unhealthy and still my doctor only told me to change my diet. But 199??!! I wish a could sue this bitch for malpractice or something. My primary care physician even said she was an idiot.
Your derm's just being super careful. It's attitudes like "sure wish I could sue this bitch" that make them super careful.
Information on caring for your liver:
QuoteBasic Liver CareYour liver depends on you to take care of it . . . so it can take care of you. It serves as your body's engine, pantry, refinery, food processor, garbage disposal, and "guardian angel." The trouble is, your liver is a silent partner; when something's wrong it does not complain until the damage is far advanced. So it needs your help every day to keep it healthy and hepatitis-free. To do that, you need to eat a healthy diet, exercise, get lots of fresh air, and avoid things that can cause liver damage.
What does my liver do?
Sadly, people generally have little knowledge of the complexities and importance of the thousands of vital functions their livers perform nonstop.
The liver is about the size of a football a the largest organ in your body. It plays a vital role in regulating life processes. Before you were born, it served as the main organ of blood formation. Now, its primary functions are to refine and detoxify everything you eat, breathe, and absorb through your skin. It is your body's internal chemical power plant, converting nutrients in the food you eat into muscles, energy, hormones, clotting factors and immune factors.
It stores certain vitamins, minerals (including iron) and sugars, regulates fat stores, and controls the production and excretion of cholesterol. The bile, produced by liver cells, helps you to digest your food and absorb important nutrients. It neutralizes and destroys poisonous substances and metabolizes alcohol. It helps you resist infection and removes bacteria from the blood stream, helping you to stay healthy. Arguably, your liver isn't just your silent partner a it's your best friend.
Three things to avoid for liver health:
1 Avoid excessive alcohol.
Most people know that the liver acts as a filter and can be badly damaged by drinking too much alcohol. Liver specialists suggest that more than two drinks a day for men a and more than one drink a day for women a may even be too much for some people.
One of the most remarkable accomplishments of this miraculous organ is its ability to regenerate. (Three quarters of the liver can be removed and it will grow back in the same shape and form within a few weeks!) However, overworking your liver by heavy alcohol consumption can cause liver cells (the "employees" in the power plant) to become permanently damaged or scarred. This is called cirrhosis.
2 Avoid drugs and medicines taken with alcohol.
Medicines a especially the seemingly harmless acetaminophen (the active ingredient in Tylenol and other over-the-counter medications) a should never be taken with alcoholic beverages. Many prescribed and over-the-counter drugs and medicines (including herbal medications) are made up of chemicals that could be potentially hazardous to your precious liver cells, especially taken with alcohol.
If you are ill with a virus or metabolic disorder, liver damage may result from the medications you take. In such cases, you should ask your physician about possible liver cell damage.
3 Avoid environmental pollutants.
Fumes from paint thinners bug sprays, and other aerosol sprays are picked up by the tiny blood vessels in your lungs and carried to your liver where they are detoxified and discharged in your bile. The amount and concentration of those chemicals should be controlled to prevent liver damage. Make certain you have good ventilation, use a mask, cover your skin, and wash off any chemicals you get on your skin with soap and water as soon as possible.
Diet and Your Liver
Overview
Poor nutrition is rarely a cause of liver disease, but good nutrition in the form of a balanced diet, may help liver cells damaged by hepatitis viruses to regenerate, forming new liver cells. Nutrition can be an essential part of treatment. Many chronic liver diseases are associated with malnutrition.
Watch the Protein
To quickly determine your daily protein in grams, divide your weight in pounds by 2. Too much daily protein may cause hepatic encephalopathy (mental confusion). This occurs when the amount of dietary protein is greater than the liver's ability to use the protein. This causes a build up of toxins that can interfere with brain function. Protein is restricted in patients with clinical evidence of encephalopathy. However, controversy exists regarding the type of protein a diet should contain. Vegetable and dairy protein may be tolerated better than meat protein. Medications, such as lactulose and neomycin, may be used to help control hepatitis-related encephalopathy. Due to the body's need for proteins, protein restriction should only be undertaken with a doctor's advice.
Watch the Calories.
Excess calories in the form of carbohydrates can add to liver dysfunction and can cause fat deposits in the liver. No more than 30% of a person's total calories should come from fat because of the danger to the cardiovascular system. To figure out your daily calorie needs, you'll need a minimum of 15 calories a day for each pound you weight. Watch the Salt Good nutrition also helps to maintain the normal fluid and electrolyte balances in the body. Patients with fluid retention and swelling of the abdomen (ascites), or the legs (peripheral edema), may need diets low in salt to avoid sodium retention that contributes to fluid retention. Avoiding foods such as canned soups and vegetables, cold cuts, dairy products, and condiments such as mayonnaise and ketchup can reduce sodium intake. Read food labels carefully as many prepared foods contain large amounts of salt. The best-tasting salt substitute is lemon juice.
Watch Vitamins A and D
Excessive amounts of some vitamins may be an additional source of stress to the liver that must act as a filter for the body. Mega-vitamin supplements, particularly if they contain vitamins A and D, may be harmful. Excess vitamin A is very toxic to the liver.
Beware of Alcohol
You'll need to stop drinking completely to give your liver a break - a chance to heal, a chance to rebuild, a chance for new liver cells to grow. This means avoiding beer, wine, cocktails, champagne, and liquor in any other form. If you continue to drink, your liver will pay the price, and if your doctor is checking your liver function tests, it may be hard to determine if a change in a test means there has been damage to your liver due to the disease itself or because of the alcohol.
Beware of Alcohol and Acetaminophen
Acetominophen is an ingredient in some over-the-counter pain relievers, and is contained in many over-the-counter drugs used for colds or coughs. Taken with alcohol, these products can cause a condition called sudden and severe hepatitis which could cause fatal liver failure. Clearly, you should never combine these two substances. If you have any doubt about what medicines to take simultaneously, ask your doctor.
Beware of "Nutritional Therapies"
Herbal treatments and alternative liver medicines need to undergo rigorous scientific study before they can be recommended. "Natural" or diet treatments and herbal remedies can be quite dangerous. Plants of the Senecio, Crotalaria and Heliotopium families, plus chaparral, germander, comfrey, mistletoe, skullcap, margosa oil, mate tea, Gordolobo yerba tea, pennyroyal, and Jin Blu Huan are all toxic to the liver.
From: [Edited link out]
yeah bud, my liver enzymes are fine. It's the amount of lipids in my blood that's the issue.Your liver is what controls the levels of triglycerides in your blood, bud, which is why liver health is important. A damaged liver would result in wonky triglycerides
Yes. So bud, try to get your liver healthy.
