Blood Drug Testing

Liver function blood test is it worth the bother?

My GP has sent a liver blood function test in the post. No explain what for. I have a lot of blood tests and hate them and going to Dr's can be really distressing for me. I have overdosed twice in the last 6 months one on lithium only which is more kidney damage and one lithium, serqoul XR and lorazepam. And have had kidney function tested for, thyriod and lithium levels recent enough. I am on a lot of medication - Lithium Carbonate, Serqoul XR, Venalfaxine, Clonazepam, Levothyoxrine, Codiene, Omeprazole PRN Clorpromazine I have no known physical symptoms so it's not failing and was checked about a year ago- found fatty tissue but nothing else. I really don't feel up having this blood test and wanted to hear if people thought it would really be a problem not having it as it seems very routine. Have been taking the lithium for 4+ years with no problems. And most of the others over ab year with no problems either

Public Comments

1. wow, just wow
2. The drugs you are on and your overdosing can cause serious problems for your kidney's and liver. These problems may not show in the first few years. If caught early these problems can be treated. That is why testing is so important. You do not want to end up like me and have to use a Dialysis machine for several hours twice a week.
3. The drugs you are on have a narrow therapeutic window. This means that their action is very sensitive on how much you are taking, and it is REALLY easy to have an OVERdose or UNDERdose. Your doctor probably wants to check if your liver metabolises the drug properly, so the drug levels in your blood are normal as they should be. I know that people hate medical tests but you know the saying, 'better safe than sorry'.