Alcohol (again) - "Just skip a week." | Arthritis Information

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So, like many, one of the hardest things for me to adjust to is the no alcohol policy with MTX.  When I asked my RD about special occasions, he said, "Just skip a week" of MTX.  Has anyone been directed to do this?  Are there opinions out there as to whether or not this could take me from a two drink night to a six drink night?  I mean, I get how the whole thing works with MTX, and it would seem that I would be in the clear to let loose a little, but I haven't seen this advice posted anywhere on here.  I've been on MTX for about 1.5 years, and my drinking has gone from frat boy levels to nada.  I actually don't mind not drinking every weekend, but the thought of going to a bachelor party, or camping, or a wedding, or a Super Bowl party, etc. and not being able to tip a few back gets frustrating (preaching to the choir, I know).

Just wondering if this "skip a week" method is common and if it provides a little more latitude in volumes.

Mahalo

My doctor has never suggested anything like that and in fact she really would prefer that I not have anything to drink.  She said that one probably would be fine...occasionally.  I remember I saw my doctor a few days after my daughters wedding.  I told her that I did drink that night.  She asked how many and I told her at least 5-6 drinks.  She told me I really shouldn't have had that much.  But I've never had a problem so far.  Now, I don't normally drink that much...in fact, I don't drink unless we are at a function of some sort or have friends or family over and the others are drinking.  Then I might have a drink or two.  But for the most part I'm just not a drinker.  So far, any drinking I've done, has not caused any isssues.

Hi JB, my GP says a one off won't hurt me, but I just mainly abstain as I just don't enjoy it anymore.  I sometimes have a cold beer if we have a BBQ and even then its a lite one and watered down with lemonade, hardly worth it!  I know though that even without alcohol my liver tests sometimes come back abnormal with just MTX so I don't think its worth the risk. 
 
If I was you and felt the way you do, in the past I have just had a night of having a few and then stopped dead again the next day, I guess if its rare, it probably won't do much harm?  Good luck, Janie and cheersJB- If it is a rare occurence I wouldn't do anything more than make sure it's not right on your MTX day or as far from it as you can do. I have adjusted my day based on holidays I know I'll indulge on.
I also try and drink lots and lots of water the next day to help flush things out.
If you ask me someone needs to come up with a drug for RA that doesn't have these restrictions. It's a real drag.
My rhuemy at first said no more than two per week.  I pretty much would "save" them for a couple of events where I knew where alcohol was a major part of it.  I grew tired of that and after a year of being kinda good about it, I asked if I could have more, meaning 6 or so on a weekend- I don't indulge during the work week.  He said that we could try it, being that my liver is checked every 8 weeks and he would be able to tell if I was over doing it.
So 6 months later after doing it my way - my liver test have come back elevated, slightly he says.  So I had a choice - cut back on beers or reduce MTX so I reduced it to 6 tablets from 8 and did cut back on drinking.  My liver was re-tested and stayed the same.  So I'm trying to be good only having a beer or a glass of wine once  a week or not at all.  Last week I had a beer thursday, glass of wine friday, 5 beers saturday.  This is not the norm for me...
any way going to have blood drawn next week to see if it liver has gone back down.  
It would really suck to have to stop the MTX because it works so well for me and two tablets haven't made that much of a difference.  I know how hard it is to abstain sometimes I just want to have an alcholic beverage, but you have to weigh the risk constantly.............
I don't know what to tell ya how are your labs coming back????
I enjoy a couple of pints on the weekend. My liver tests are fine. I now take 3 MTX weekly
I wonder if the MTX dose matters. I take 15mg/week -injection (to avoid my poor GI tract).
 
My RD said my usual drinking of 1/2 glass champagne at a wedding and maybe 3-5 Irish coffees spread throughout the year is ok as long as my every 8weeks liver lab results are fine.
 
Taking a week off MTX was recommended only for times when I'm really sick with a viral or bacterial infection ie bad headcold/fever or bronchitis.
 
My RD said RA, with TNF issues, already makes it rougher to recover and MTX can make illness hit even harder and last longer than for other people .... true for me. She told me this at my routine appt 2 months after my summer flu that advanced to near pneumonia. She said I should've gone to her instead of my Primary. Sometimes it's confusing who to go to.
 
But as far as alcohol goes, I guess I'm lucky that for me it's a rare event.  Even before RA, I'd have a glass of wine or whatever at a party, carry it around with me never finishing it and even forget where I set it down. It was just a "prop" to join in with the crowd.
 
If we were told that MTX prohibits the bread catagory, I'd be in such BIG trouble!
 
 
 

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