Methamphetamine, Hyperglycemia, and liver function tests

[3DayRun]

Hey guys, I've got a little scenario that I'd like someone knowledgeable to take a look at and give an opinion.

I've read that hyperglycemia is caused by methamphetamine use due to your body going into a "fight or flight" type of mode. Now, assuming this is correct here is my situation:

I am a weekend user of methamphetamine. I used methamphetamine the weekend before a physical (ended early Sunday) and had the physical on Wednesday. I check out fine, except when I had blood work done in the lab my liver tests came back "high", which prompted to ask the doctor whether I drink or snack on APAP. None of these are the case and he was a bit confused, but ordered another round of blood tests to rule out a false positive and an ultrasound of my liver. He also ruled out any type of Hep or other inflamation.

Now, this time, I do not use methamphetamine within a week of my blood work and it comes back fine. I'm scheduled for the ultrasound next weekend, which I'm expecting to be normal, but the question nags at me.

Does anyone know how long my blood sugar would be elevated after methamphetamine use? Am I on the right track as to believe this is the culprit?

I am an otherwise healthy male. No weight problems, average diet, ect. No alcohol as I hate drinking. Just methamphetamine use on weekends and a daily prescription of 40mg Adderall XR and 10mg Dexedrine IR (though, I rarely take the Dexedrine, as I find I don't need it)

Thanks!

 

[pofacedhoe]

maybe there is damage to your liver. high blood sugar levels do upset the body if its for an extended period of time but if the doctor thinks you have been taking acetaminophen which is what i'm assuming the APAP. if not what is APAP

 

[3DayRun]

It is acetaminophen. Now, that's what I initially thought. Fuck, liver damage, I need to cut this shit out. What confuses me is that when I had blood drawn again everything was normal and I had only about a week peroid of no methamphetamine usage. I know the liver has amazing healing properties, but that fast?

So, the second test is telling me normal liver functions. I'll obviously get a better idea after the ultrasound, but it's just weird. I haven't managed to find any other ways methamphetamine can affect the liver, aside from it processing it, so this seems to me to be the best guess. Now, would 2 days of a hypergylcemic state be enough to cause liver damage? Especially in a fairly healthy 25 year old male?

 

[MurphyClox]

Glucose levels would be increased only for a short period, no way that it lasts full 3 days after single meth use.

Its still too early to assume "liver damage". What exactly was tested as liver function, i.e. which value was "too high"?

Now, would 2 days of a hypergylcemic state be enough to cause liver damage? Especially in a fairly healthy 25 year old male?

Answer: Nope.

- Murphy

 

[3DayRun]

See, that is causing the confusion. I neglected to specifically ask for what. If it helps at all they checked for hepatitis, which would indicate whichever test checks for that / non-alcoholic fatty liver, perhaps?

Thanks a bunch, though, Murphy! Still haven't gotten to the bottom of it, but it's good to know I can safely cross that off.

If it also helps, both my cholesterol levels were a bit off. Too much HDL and too little LDL, but nothing major. I can contact my doctor's office and ask exactly what results were high if that's needed, as I'm really curious and for some reason, don't "accept" a false positive, despite it being possible.

 

[MurphyClox]

Hepatitis is normally checked for with an ELISA.

Usually tested parameters for liver function include:
- ASAT (Aspartate- Aminotransferase)
- ALAT (Alanine-Aminotransferase)
- GGT (Gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase)
- concentrations of Fe(III)-, Cu(II)- and Zn(II)-ions
- Alkaline phosphatase
- Bilirubin
- GLDH (glutamate dehydrogenase)
- Cholesterol
- Ammonia
- total albumin concentration
- Choline esterase
- prothrombin time

The list is probably not complete.

Peace! Murphy