Can Concerta affect the liver?

[marta]

My son who is 10 years old has been taking concerta for a year and a half and the doctor says that his ( transaminasas)= liver could be affected because he has beentaken these pills for a very long period. Has this happened to any of you ? I'm so worried . He is going to take a blood exam this week to check.

[Mayleng]

The only mention I find about anything effecting the liver in the Concerta prescribing info is:
abnormal liver function (eg. transaminase elevation). But that is not a common side effect.

Are you saying that your son's liver is showing abnormal function or the doctor is just being careful and checking to make sure?

Here's what I managed to find out about transaminase elevation. Do not just think it is the concerta. Make sure you rule out other causes as well:

Quote:
Mild elevations in liver chemistry tests such as alanine transaminase and aspartate transaminase can reveal serious underlying conditions or have transient and benign etiologies. Potential causes of liver transaminase elevations include viral hepatitis, alcohol use, medication use, steatosis or steatohepatitis, and cirrhosis. The history should be thorough, with special attention given to the use of medications, vitamins, herbs, drugs, and alcohol; family history; and any history of blood-product transfusions. Other common health conditions, such as diabetes, heart disease, and thyroid disease, can cause or augment liver transaminase elevations. Unquote

For more info here's the link: www.aafp.org/afp/20050315/1105.html

[marta]

The doctor wants to check because he thinks he has had too much time under concerta and the medication coul cause transaminase elevation. Can this happen with a year and a half of Concerta ?

[Mayleng]

It doesn't say only what is written in their prescribing info as a possible rare side effect and concerta should not be used for kids with existing liver problems. That being said, I have not heard of any one who has been on Concerta with this problem.
1 1/2 yr on concerta is not long. We have members here with kids who have been on meds for more than that. My son has been on methyphenidate (same family as concerta) for at least 3 years.

What makes your doctor suspect that this is the case? Is he just checking to make sure, or does he really suspect that this is happening? Were there any symptoms for him to be concerned? It could be he is just making sure because he read about it, like my son's peds keeps an eye on my son's heart because of a family history of heart problems - not that my son has it but we just monitor to be sure. There are more chances of cardiovascular problems with stimulant meds.

[marta]

Maybe the doctor told me that just for caution, eventhough my son is having side effects like tics and looks very thin and unmotivated to do anything. My son feels always tired.

[Mayleng]

Has he had appetite problems, and did he have tics prior to meds. Maybe because he is always tired, the doctor is just ruling things out, which is what he should do. Has he checked his tyroids?

[marta]

I'm going to check everything this week , he hasn't had tics before and he eats well. His attention is not as good as the first year that we started with concerta. The doctor told me that the effect of concerta on him has decreased. But he can not increase the dose, even more he thinks I should stop the med during weekends and vacations in order to lower the tics. he says that if in the exams the trasaminase is high He would to stop the med.

[Mayleng]

He should definitely check the thyroids then if he is eating but not putting on weight and is tired.

If concerta is causing the tics and if it is not as effective then it might be better to try something else anyway.

Let us know how it goes. I am very interested to find out what is happening.