MTX Warning labels | Arthritis Information
Sno and I were comparing notes and neither of our MTX bottles have a warning label about no alcohol. I find this to be odd since I recently got reamed out from my doctor when I told him I had been having drinks on the weekends- much more than the 1 a month he cautiously allowed me. I have scoured the internet to find just one tidbit saying it's OK to drink while taking MTX and all I come up with is NO NO and NO!
My bottle says it may make me dizzy, so don't use machinery or drive until I see how it affects me, Do not use if pregnant, be sure I know how to take it because incorrect usage can cause serious side effects, drink plenty of fluids & that it may lower my ability to fight infections so avoid contagious disease.
Does your bottle warn no alcohol? If not why do you think this is?
The reason you should never drink when you take MTX is because MTX over time does a number on your liver. If you add alcohol to the mix then you're committing your liver to an earlier demise.
Many drugs are metabolized in the liver and yet don't carry a warning label about drinking. [So why should MTX?]
I thought all RD's asked about your drinking habits before they put you on MTX. I guess not. They certainly should. [My guess is that they might feel that as long as they're doing liver function tests, that if you want to blow out your liver........it will show up on the tests.]
For what it's worth, I've been on MTX for 16 years. My liver function tests are still normal. But then I've never been one to drink.
I guess for me, it depends on who's filling my prescription. Most times the warning is on my bottle.
I do have the occasional drink. Just had a glass of wine last Saturday. Sometimes I have two. But I probably won't have another drink for a few weeks or maybe a few months. I'm not a big drinker, but if something comes up and we're with some friends or family and they're drinking, then I'll have a couple as well.A drink now and then isn't going to be a problem. I've heard that a glass of wine a day isn't a problem. It's when you start taking more than that regularly that you're cutting your nose to spite your face.My real wonder is if it is sooooo dangerous (and I believe it is) how could the pharmacies neglect to put the warning label on the bottle? I've had them on antibiotic bottles for heavens sake.
It makes me wonder if MTX at the dosages we take for RA (me 20 mgs. per week) are really NOT contradicted by alcohol. Maybe it is only dangerous for people taking high doses like for cancer.
Ha! I am just grasping at straws because I like having cocktails on the weekend.
Interesting - I've been curious about this too. My Rx doesn't have a warning. I recently started mtx and figured drinking was forbidden. However, my doctor never said a thing about it and she made me sign a standard contract for her patients before writing the script that made me agree not to get pregnant, to come in for regular blood tests, and warned me about the dangers. I've taken this as permission to have a drink every now and then, altho I do believe it's probably not the best for my liver.
You gotta relax every now and then, WTB!
Copyright ArthritisInsight.com