Liver pain - caused by opiates?

[DHCuser]

Ok, so when I used to CWE dihydrocodeine and got very close to being addicted (using 2-3 times a week) I knew the cause was the paracetamol. No matter how well you CWE, chances are when using 64 tablets of Paramol, you are ingesting about 4-5 grams of paracetamol.
So anyway after a while I started to develop liver pain. An hour or so after taking (before the opiate pain relief stopped it). The next day and every morning before breakfast (I'm guessing that since the Liver stores Glycogen and regulates blood sugar after a while without eating it was working hard hence I could feel it).
After a night out drinking it was especially bad and I noticed hangovers had gotten much worse during this period.
So I quit for about 12 weeks or so, and never really went back to tramadol. Eventually all of these side effects disappeared, I could even drink on a night out without feeling any pain the next day even when pressing hard on the liver.
But recently I've started using dihydrocodeine, probably a bit too regularly, and similar symptoms have started again (although much more mild). So do tramadol or opiates in themselves actually cause liver damage? Even without any paracetamol?
Thanks for any help and advice you can give.

P.S. I never take any "normal" pain killers now. -Like two paracetamol for a headache- because I swear I can feel them harming the liver. Paracetamol has such a ridiculously low therapeutic index it's stupid. I cringe when I see people take it.

 

[happygoluckygal]

EVERYONE is different. Where it may take someone YEAES of alcohol/Tylenol, etc abuse to develop liver problems, others aren't so lucky and end up in trouble quickly. NO lie, I've actually seen (in my work) people go into liver failure after minimal Tylenol usage (like a gram a day for months)...while that may not be the norm, it happens.

Your body is sending you signals for a reason, they shouldn't be ignored. Even if it ISN'T your liver, it could be a bunch of other things (you still have your gallbladder?)...and honestly, it would be a good idea to get checked out by your doc. They can easiy rule out (or in) a liver problem. Dont mess around though, b/c if it IS your liver, the quicker you find out, the better.

 

[ro4eva]

If you CWE properly, you should never be ingesting 4-5g of APAP from 64 tablets.

If you're looking for supplements to help your liver heal, definitely pick up Milk Thistle.

And yes APAP is nasty stuff.

Also, talk to your Doctor if you suspect something is wrong with your liver. He can order some blood tests which check for the amount of bilirubin, creatinine, hemoglobin and so forth in your blood.

 

[Violenza666]

I had weird pain in my right side a few years ago. Wound up in the ER they thought it was my gallbladder.. turns out I have a tumor in my liver and passed a gallstone. Liver tumors are actually common and can cause pain. I noticed when abusing opiates such as percocet or hydrocodone that my liver would hurt. I am not a fan of APAP the only time I even use it is when I take excedrine migraine. You might want to get a CT scan done to find out what's going on and if you do have a liver tumor make sure it's benign.

Liver cancer is rare, and usually has come from another location in the body. The liver is one of the last stops.. when it happens you're pretty much fucked... but benign tumors are very common. Good luck!

 

[lilfire]

how do you know it's your liver that's hurting? an abdominal pain? just curious. i know obviously your liver must be working overtime...

 

[DHCuser]

Upper abdominal pain, right side, just under the ribs. 95% sure it's the liver, especially as the area hurts more when I've been drinking. It seems OK atm though.

 

[ro4eva]

mixing alcohol with APAP is a very bad idea in general.

 

[happygoluckygal]

There's no way you can be "95%" sure it is your liver that hurts. Pain can be referred from other locations very easily, so what you THINK is actually the point of origin is actually a secondary location.

Best thing to do? Stop guessing and get checked!!!!