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Is it possible to have long term liver disease from a single overdose?

Posted , 2 users are following.

peter46283
peter46283

Hello, I'm new to this site and would like to ask a question, as a lot of you guys on here seem really informed and helpful.

Two years ago I overdosed on concerta (methylphenidate). It was very stupid of me and I regret it very very much. Basically it was because I had a friend with ADHD, and being the debauchee I was, used to take his medicine (concerta) in a stupid pursuit to get, well, high. I began to buy it off him, and he made a mistake in how much he gave me, it was a lot. Didn't stop me though! God I hate myself. Well anyway, since it happened I have had a number of different unhealthy symptoms, but the most concerning one of all is the fact that I have a pain in my liver. Its not agonising or sharp, its just like a dull, aching kind of pain that comes and goes. It has been worse at times, and I notice that it gets worse when I smoke. Because of this I have quit smoking and have tried to live healthily. I've been to the doctors about it and have had a liver function test which has come back as fine. At first I was relieved, but after seeing some posts saying that a liver function test can be normal for a heavily damaged liver, and the fact that I do still have the pain in the area, makes me very concerned. Also, the doctors don't take me seriously because I'm only 18 years old, and according to their insight, concerta isn't toxic to the liver. However, after conducting some, lets say thorough, research of my own, it is listed on the LiverTox database as being a toxic substance to the liver that can cause injury. Its been over 2 years since the incident and I don't have any other symptoms, only the pain. Also, I have read that after a drug induced liver injury occurs, the liver can heal back to normal if the exposure to the drug stops. After that night of the overdose, I have never taken it again. So, will my liver heal? Or is it possible that I injured my liver so much from that one exposure that I caused permanent damage? 

The fact that I still get pain 2 years onward, to me, suggests that it is the latter, but some second opinions on the matter would be kindly appreciated

Thank you, Pete

0 likes, 3 replies

3 Replies

  • Sonmon
    Sonmon peter46283

    Posted

    The liver can heal itself, but you can do permanent damage from one time. Not the best answer but I would definitely talk more about it with your dr.

     Have you asked for a liver scan?

    • peter46283
      peter46283 Sonmon

      Posted

      Hi,

      I haven't asked for a liver scan no. To be honest since the liver function test I haven't really consulted a doctor, as for a while i just shrugged it off, but recently I have been finding myself thinking and worrying about it more. Would a liver scan actually be an effective way to show damage? 

       

    • Sonmon
      Sonmon peter46283

      Posted

      Yes it would show damages that the liver has 
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