MTX and alcohol | Arthritis Information

 

I'm considering going on MTX but I hear you can't have alcohol at all??  I'm in the wine business and I have to taste wines all the time.  Has anyone ever had a drink while on MTX?  What happened?You are quite alright to have a glass now and then.  You won't keel over from a few tastings.  The MTX and alcohol will overload your liver if you over do it. Many of the folks here have a glass or two once in a while.  Ask your rheumy about it.   Also the Milk Thistle and Dandelion supplement is a liver purifier that I take with great liver enzyme results.  Though I don't drink at all we still take many meds that our liver must process.  Might be something to ask your Dr about taking.

Taste and spit.

Your liver will thank you.  I had to make   a choice between MTX and  HDL meds since both are metabolized by the liver.. I NEED my MTX.

lynn ann,
when people are first diagnosed, i think one of the first questions a rheumy will ask is do you drink?   people who drink tend to get put on sulfasalazine to start with, people who don't drink tend to get put on the mtx.     the mtx is a better drug - i think - so you are better staying with it if you can.
i think an occasional glass of wine is a treat on mtx, i dont think you can drink regularly and all the time.
also the side effects from mtx may not be so nice until your body settles down and gets used to it, so drink 6-8 glasses water a day and take the folic acid every day except the day you take the mtx.

anna_uk
anna_uk39179.4683101852Here's an old thread where this topic is discussed

http://www.arthritisinsight.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID= 4801&KW

I was taken off of Methotrexate because I like to have a drink now and then.  It's hard on your liver and drinking only compounds it even is small amounts.

I'm not a heavy drinker by no means; but I have several glasses of wine a week and my doctors ok with it. He told me as long as my liver test ok he doesn't have a problem with it. Some say; Absolutely none at all.....some say in moderation.

I've been on MTX over 4 years. I take 25mg a week and have never had my lever test elevated. I know lots of folks who don't drink a drop but are taken off MTX for elevated liver results; so who knows?

I think to say that you couldn't do tastings nessesary for your business would be a little over the top; but then again I certainly wouldn't want to tell you that and then you be one of the ones who ends up having a problem with it.

In the end I suppose it's another risk. Some may think I'm stupid to take that risk.....but considering my doctor didn't freak out on me; I'm taking the risk for now. I think if I did have to make a choice; I'd choose MTX....it's made that much of a difference in my life.

 

I take 25mgs of mtx and have been taking mtx for 15 years and have never had a problem with my liver.  I don't drink regularly, but if I'm at a get together I'll have a glass or two of wine.That's good for me to hear. I don't mean I'll "Drink Up", but I won't feel quite as worried. We all know we're all different and process things differently. What might not ever be a problem for some....might be a problem for another. I kind of feel like the same can be true for almost everything in life. Exactly Lovie....and it's always best to talk with your doctor about itMy dr. says one drink once in a while is ok. When I was in college I was
taken off mtx mainly because my dr. didn't want me to have a drink/mtx
issue. I have been back on it now for years.   The times that I have
completely stayed away from any alcohol my liver enzymes have been
raised. When I have had the occasional drink they have dropped...go
figure.

Talk to your dr. and mention the concerns over your job. It's not like you
are out living it up at the night clubs...it's part of your work. They do
liver tests on a regular basis. My dr. said even when the tests have been
elevated they haven't been to the point where there is an issue. That's
why they do them so often. You can have over double the normal levels
and still catch a problem before it comes serious.
Becky

 There are so many differences of opinions about this.  I have had to doctors of different professions with two entirerly different opinions about it. I have several toddies a month - no problems yet. One Study done ( I believe Britian) said 5 - 7 units a week is okay. IN the US they say none. Who knows? 

Some say their docs say stay away from alcohol the day before, of, and day after doseage of MTX, but then I have read that that doesn't make a difference and that it is the cummulative effect of how MTX builds up in the cells of the liver and that is why alcohol can be harmful.

I, like the others who posted, know people that have not had a drop of alcohol with MTX and the enzymes go up. I know someone who drank ALOT on MTX and never had a problem and even has had a biopsy that showed no damage.

 

Too bad theri is no definitive answer _ I would love to know myself.

  

Less13139179.782025463Yeah, it's funny. In Europe they're a lot more relaxed about drinking on MTX. I just tell my liver it's in France! Gimpy - Good one! My rd said I can safely have 1-2 drinks a week.  That is still going to require some lifestyle changes, but it beats no alcohol at all!
Copyright ArthritisInsight.com