Alcohol and drug use can take a quiet toll on the liver, kidneys and blood. Routine lab work early in treatment shows where you stand, and repeating it shows your body healing.
Liver tests
- AST and ALT: enzymes that rise when liver cells are irritated. In alcohol-related liver injury, AST is often about twice ALT.
- GGT: often raised with heavy drinking, and falls within weeks of stopping
- Bilirubin, albumin and clotting tests: show how well the liver is working
Blood counts
Heavy drinking can enlarge red blood cells (a high MCV) and lower platelets. These often improve over a few months of sobriety.
Kidney function
Creatinine and eGFR show how well the kidneys filter. They also guide the dose of some treatment medicines.
Infection screening
Hepatitis B and C and HIV screening are recommended. Hepatitis C is now curable with a short course of treatment, and hepatitis B is preventable with a vaccine.
The good news
Fatty liver from alcohol can reverse within weeks to months of stopping, and enzyme levels often return toward normal. Scarring that has advanced to cirrhosis does not reverse, but stopping still slows damage and improves survival. Labs can be drawn at a lab of your choice.
Help at Hope Addiction Medicine
Our team combines medication with counseling and behavioral therapies, in person at our West Ashley office in Charleston and by telehealth when appropriate. New patients are often able to be scheduled within a week of requesting an appointment. Request an appointment or call our office.
This article is general health information and does not replace advice from your own provider. Never start, stop or change a medication without talking with your prescriber. If someone may be overdosing, call 911 and give naloxone if you have it.
Frequently Asked Questions
GGT often falls within weeks of stopping, and AST and ALT frequently return toward normal within weeks to a few months, unless there is advanced scarring.
An AST level about twice the ALT level is a common pattern in alcohol-related liver injury, though your provider interprets it with your other results.
Fatty liver can reverse within weeks to months of stopping. Cirrhosis does not reverse, but stopping slows further damage and improves survival.