Effects of high ammonia levels on the brain

Common Questions and Answers about Effects of high ammonia levels on the brain

ammonia

Avatar n tn He has been in the hospital 3 times in the last month with high ammonia levels. He was just told he needed to be on a no protein diet and is taking the lactulose. The last time he was in the hospital his ammonia level was 250. He was not responding to anyone and it mimicked a stroke. He received IV therapy and a blood transfusion at this time also. Would increasing his lactulose on the onset of increased confusion (he is always slightly confused now) help clear some more of the ammonia out?
Avatar f tn Are the effects of elevated amonia levels reversible? After the the levels have been brought back down and other complications due to the levels will a person not be confused and unresponsive? Someone I love dearly had ulcers the were bleeding in the lower part of her esophagus. That and the history of a liver disease caused the amonia levels to get high enough that she was comatose. They got the levels down and removed her ventillator but she still has a blank stare and is not responsive.
Avatar n tn I just want straight answers on his chance of waking up again, and the likelihood of brain damage (and severity) if he does? As of now he's still resting, occasionally opening his eyes by reflex. At some point tonight the doctor is going to try to wake him from the coma in order to speak with a couple family members (also, what is the realistic hope of this wake-up attempt being successful?).
1184842 tn?1264265187 I had a seizure with high levels of ammonia. They didn't say that was the real trigger but they wouldn't rule it out either. My next stop was to a neurologist that put me on anti seizure med's that I will be taking forever.
Avatar f tn Hello Dragon~ I've never heard of the flavor taste etc. when your ammonia levels are high, you'll get headaches, confusion, anger from chem. imbalance and insomoa etc. as the side-effects of toxic overloads, I guess it might stand to reason that since other senses are effected, even eye-sight, that "taste" could be also...
Avatar m tn Other people can smell when a person has high ammonia levels on their breath. I have never heard of a patient who could. As with other body smells, the patient is accustomed to their own smell and can not smell it. The smell from ammonia buildup due to advanced liver disease is called "foetor hepaticus". It is the odor of the breath in patients with severe liver disease caused by volatile aromatic substances that accumulate in the blood and urine.
Avatar f tn They finally diagnosed him yesterday with high ammonia levels. All other tests are clear liver etc are fine. He had been suffering with urine problems and constipation for a few months before this started. My question is how long before he comes back to normal as he still is hallucinating, has no memory, acts very childlike and generally disturbed ( hes usually perfectly healthy other than epilepsy which is controlled with medication.
Avatar m tn Although removal of ammonia appears to be important in the treatment of hepatic encephalopathy, the relationship between ammonia levels and the pathogenesis of the disease has yet to be confirmed. On the other hand, an elevated ammonia level above 250 μmol/L in an individual with fulminant hepatic failure is a key issue and bodes for an extremely poor prognosis.
190885 tn?1333025891 I have never heard of a drug that raises ammonia levels. The healthy liver processes the ammonia that is created in the gut so anything that would create ammonia normally would be eliminated by the liver. Good luck at the doc's.
Avatar f tn While elevated ammonia levels are seen in cirrhotic patients there can be encephalopathy with normal ammonia levels and there can also be no mental impairment in some patients with elevated ammonia levels. Basically, ammonia levels are of limited use for diagnosing cirrhosis or hepatic impairment. I would also think some other results of your blood work would have been out of range if you are cirrhotic or are suffering significant liver impairment.
Avatar f tn My uncle has been hospitalized in the Univ. of Utah hospital for around 4 1/2 weeks now. He was admitted with a possible MI and a Hx of Hep C. They discovered he was septic with MRSA not a MI. He has been on a vent for 4 weeks, several I&D's at his sources of the MRSA, he is now on dialysis, and fighting to live. They chemically sedated him and are unable to wake him up. His condition has been unchanged for 3 weeks. I called and asked what his ammonia levels were last week.
Avatar m tn Well, I think this was an accute case. I am doing some research and the px was tested on Friday and told that he had high levels of ammonia in his liver. On Saturday afternoon, the px died.
Avatar n tn Yes it does. High levels of ammonia cause hepatic encephalopathy which in turn can cause confusion, sleepiness and forgetfulness. There are medications to help lower those levels. Speak to your hep doc.
Avatar f tn I am also wondering in advanced cirrohsis will the lactolose eventually be uneffective in bringing down the ammonia levels? My final question is what kind of life expectancy is there when the cirrohsis reaches the level that she is at?
Avatar f tn An untreated urea cycle disorder results in elevations of ammonia, which in turn causes changes in the brain, causing brain swelling, seizures, coma, and death. For someone who has recovered from the hyperammonemia, residua of damage affects cognitive function. Untreated, elevations of certain chemicals in the brain cause headaches, speech problems, and other problems with executive function.
Avatar f tn I’ve read other posts where people talk about ammonia levels in the hundreds and I’m really confused. How high can they get? How high before you go into a coma? He is only 65.
Avatar n tn He went back in the hospital yesterday for the 10th time this year, because his ammonia levels got so high that he couldn't talk, walk, swallow. We don't know what else to do to manage his condition. Any advice or similar experience would be appreciated.
Avatar n tn Patients with liver disease are unable to process or detoxify ammonia so that ammonia levels can reach dangerously high levels. This is coupled by increased ammonia production of colonic bacteria, especially if one is constipated or has an irregular bowel movement. High protein intake can also lead to an incresed ammonia production. I suggest you talk about these possibilities with your doctors.
1391441 tn?1333847961 I understand well your fear of the future, because I live with the same feelings, but there is also hope on the horizon with all of the research going on in the field of HCV and liver disease. Good luck to you.
Avatar m tn Also, when she has her labs drawn be sure the lab tech always puts the green topped tube (the one used to test ammonia level) on ice immediately or the results could be falsely elevated. It happened to me once and my dr almost had a heart attack. Good Luck to your mom.
Avatar n tn I am sorry to hear that your wife is having such problems. Has she been diagnosed with Hep C? This is the Hep C Forum. While we talk about high ammonia levels, it is in conjunction with Hep C and the liver problems from there. yOu might want to make sure the Dr did a Hep C Antibody these to make sure she doesn't have it then go to the list of Communities ( touch Communities at the top of the thread) and find the health and wellness site for more assistance.
Avatar m tn Blood levels can be normal in the early stage of cirrhosis but as the disease advances blood levels will become abnormal. Of course it depends on which blood levels are tested. Indicators of cirrhosis are: • "thin" blood (an increased or prolonged prothrombin time--also called a P.T.--this test is now also defined as an "INR." The INR number increases as the liver fails) • high bilirubin - greater than 2.0 mg/dL is a concern • low albumin - less than 3.
Avatar m tn The Rifaximin works by cleaning any gut bacteria which decreases the amount of ammonia in the body which limits the amount that can cross the blood brain barrier thereby reducing the risk of encephalopathy and the neuro related symptoms.