Hi everyone,
I was just diagnosed yesterday and started methotrexate. I am so sad
about having this disease, but I am also disappointed that I cannot drink
alcohol for the rest of my life. I really enjoy an evening out with my
friends and husband sharing a bottle of red wine or a margarita on my
deck with my neighbors. Do you know of any other meds similar to
metho that you can drink alcohol while taking? Do any of your drs. "let"
you drink occasionally for special occasions, like a brother's wedding? I
am just sad to give up another thing.
Thanks!
Susan
First off I want to say welcome to AI, glad you are here, but also sorry that you have to be here. But you have come to the right place. From what I have heard and read from others on here each doctor has a different outlook regarding Methotrexate (Mtx). Personally, my doctor is alright w/ me having the occasional drink and my liver tests have always come back normal. You may want to talk to your dr and see what they say about it. They may be alright as long as your blood work comes back normal, but maybe not. Good luck w/ the Mtx.
~Shannon~
Sushu,
I am on 20mg mtx weekly. My RD has said that as long as I am not bingeing, my liver tests come back normal, and I limit it to the occasional drink, he is okay with it. Check with your doc. Maybe you can get a pass too! Good luck.
Andrea
When I was on MTX my doctor recommended that I stay away from alcohol because the MTX, alcohol, and Ibuprofen combined could damage the liver. Having a drink now and then should be ok on your liver, but not recommened. My doc says that an occasional drink would be ok. We have maybe a couple of glasses of wine on the weekends and so far, my liver tests have all come back normal or within the acceptable #s. I have been on 20 mgs. MTX weekly for 4 yrs. nowHi Sushu. Sorry you had to go and get RA. I'm new to it all too. I'm glad you found us here
I'm not a big drinker anyway, so giving up alcohol isn't a big thing for me. However, this past month I did have a few so we'll see what my blood has to say about it. I had it drawn yesterday and my RD appointment is Monday. Oh, and I take 20 mg of methotrexate. I've read that 2 drinks a month is acceptable, but then I've also read that zero is acceptable. See what your doc says about it.
Hi Susan,,,welcome!
I've been taking mtx for 15 years now (25mgs) and have the occasional drink of wine. I've never had a problem with my liver tests in all these years. That doesn't mean that the next person will though...just depends. The next person may only take 10mgs of mtx and not even have a drink and have problems with their liver.
Hi and welcome...so sorry to hear you have RA. When I was on MTX I drank wine on occassion, as far as other stronger beverages, I was just not that interested. There are some day though that a margarita or a Pina colada sound ohhh so nice, but I typically now just stick with a red or white wine or a diet coke.
You might ask your Dr. if it would be ok to have an adult beverage just once in awhile.
jode
My RD says I can have 1 to 2 drinks a day. I have about 5 a week. She says a little alcohol is better for your overall health than no alcohol, and that you shouldn't drink a lot on MTX because both alcohol and MTX are hard on your liver. She also recognises that other RDs have different opinions on this.Sushu
Talk with your doctor. He?she is in the best position to know your health and how the possibility of drinking can affect you. As you can see most doctors are generally OK with an occassional drink as long as your liver funtion tests stay clear.
I would suggest giving it a few months at whatever your final therapuetic dose ends up being. You need to have a clear understanding of how the meds affect you before adding something else to the mix
Thanks so much for all of your posts, I really appreciate the warmBENGALS GAMES!!!! are you from Cincinnati???
wasn't that an awesome game last night!!
oops forgot to answer the MTX question
MTX is the gold standard 1st line medication and so yes virtually everyone with RA is on it at one time or another.
Plaquenil and sulfasalazine are both 1st line meds that are a bit easier on the liver but they also are not as effective or work as quickly. Minocycline (the antibiotic) is also used as a first line drug. Like Plaquenil and Sulfasalazine it can be very slow acting
The next level drugs are generally given in addition to MTX or its cousin Arava not instead of so you still have the liver option
Hi Susan. I'm 37 and a wine lover myself--I usually have a glass of red once every night or every other night, but I'm still awaiting diagnosis and am not on any DMARDs yet. Like you, I'm not thrilled with the alternative of not being able to enjoy this small pleasure.
From what I've read here, not every RA person takes mtx, but it does seem to be the starting point due to low cost and the fact that it's been around for so long (the "tried and true" adage).
Enbrel, a "biologic" that is given as an injection, does not seem to carry the same possible liver issues, and I've read it's fine to drink while on it. I'm not sure about the other biologics.
For those of you on injectable MTX, does that make any difference with possible liver scarring from drinking alcohol?
Oh, I'm sorry, I was posting at the same time as buckeye who knows much, much more than I do!
buckeye, do you know if injectable MTX is any easier on the liver than the tablet form?
Injectable while easier on the stomach is not easier on the liver. It metabolizes in the liver irregardlesss of the manner of ingestion Thanks for the quick reply, buckeye; that's what I suspected. My RD said I can have an occasional drink but I abstain anyway. I can forgo the alcohol as long as I can still have my sticky desserts! Talk to your RD. thanks everyone for your responses. everyone here is is so nice.I get buzzed on feeling good. When I dont hurt I swear I'm high. I dont drink alcohol at all. I go out with friends have a few drinks laugh a lot and enjoy.. I just dont include alcohol in the equation.
Now I Looooovee frozen strawberry daquiris. and just about any kind of rum drinks, but ya know I found I'd rather take the MTX at a dose that helps my RA than not. I had to go off it for about 2 months and I hated it.
Sooooooooo I have myself a virgin strawberry daq whenever I want. or a virgin tom collins or a virgin singapore sling..
Its really hard to feel you have to do anything for the rest of your life... how bout you just say "...Oh well this evening I really dont feel like drinking...maybe next time."