Q: My son has schizophrenia and is under treatment. He is taking Olanex, Serenace, Prodep and Pacitane. He developed hepatitis so Olanex and Prodep were discontinuedm. His latest LFT is: S. Bilirubin - 1.63, Conjugated bilirubin - 0.75, Unconjugated - 0.88, SGOT - 100, SGPT - 226, Alkaline phosphatase - 204, Total proteins - 7.2, Albumin - 4.2, Globulin - 3 and albumin/globulin -1.4. When can he resume Olanex and Prodep? He has been prescribed Ursodiol (Udiliv) tablets. What is the function of this?

A:The Liver Function Tests (LFTs) of the patient are still not normal; one should wait till they are within normal range since all the anti-depressant medicines need to be avoided when the liver is impaired. Udiliv is the brand name of a medicine called ursodesoxycholic acid that is approved for use in certain specific gall bladder stones and chronic cholestatic (due to gall bladder) liver disease. Due to commercial reasons and interests, it is being mispromoted and misused for all sorts of liver disorders but has no role to play.