Uniphyllin and Alcohol

[Karate109]

Good morning,

I hope you are all having a good day.

I started Uniphyllin 200 mg tablets 5 weeks ago and wondered if it would be safe to take a couple of small glasses of wine with my Christmas lunch?

Many thanks.

[EmmaF91 Community Ambassador]

Hi

Alcohol (and smoking) can increase clearance of theophylline. This means your levels may become untherapeutic if you drink regularly and that you may need higher doses long term. That being said, a one off glass of wine shouldn’t really have much in a way of negative impact. So you should be fine!

Enjoy 😉 and hope this helps

[Karate109 in reply to EmmaF91]

Thanks Emma. I don’t smoke and very rarely drink alcohol. Just thought it would be nice to have a small glass of wine with my turkey on Christmas Day. I was going to ask the Respiratory Nurse at the hospital but my appointment was cancelled.

Hope you are keeping well.

[EmmaF91 Community Ambassador in reply to Karate109]

I didn’t think you did smoke, but as they had the same affect I thought it might be of interest to anyone else reading 😉😂😅.

Enjoy it! And I don’t want to jinx myself but I good thanks 😉

[EmmaF91 Community Ambassador in reply to EmmaF91]

Meant to add you may want to give AUK a call to ask them about it (and anything else!) Their helpline is open M-F 9-5. The nurses are great and can be reached on 0300 2225800. Alternatively their WhatsApp service is 07378 606728.

[Some12U in reply to EmmaF91]

Hi Emma,I hope you’re well.

I’m also hoping to have a glass or two of champagne with my Xmas lunch! Do you know if the same liver clearance applies to Montelukast which I started recently? I don’t want to go mad, but prefer not to give up the occasional glass of wine with a meal. In the patient information leaflet it doesn't mention alcohol at all. Always good to advise caution, is this best with any tablets taken for asthma.? I’m a newbie at this. Thank you.

[EmmaF91 Community Ambassador in reply to Some12U]

Hi

Alcohol may worsen some side effects that some people get from taking montelukast (predominantly dizziness/headache etc), however I think the majority of people are fine. The NHS website says you can drink with them so I don’t think drug absorption is affected very much.

Like someone else suggested, try it out before Christmas and see how it affects you. If you’re fine then happy days, if you have issues then you haven’t ‘ruined’ Christmas.

Hope this helps

[Some12U in reply to EmmaF91]

Hi Emma, thank you. I feel encouraged that the NHS website says you can drink alcohol with them, so it’s not a worry. Luckily I had no side effects from Montelukast 🤞 (Early days). 😀

[EmmaF91 Community Ambassador in reply to Some12U]

Welcome. (And I’ll take the belated birthday wishes for Wednesday even if it is actually Twinklys birthday today 😉😂😂)

[Some12U in reply to EmmaF91]

I noticed afterwards that I got mixed up! Happy Birthday for Wednesday Sagittarius! 😀

[EmmaF91 Community Ambassador in reply to Some12U]

😂

Thank you 😊

[Bwv945]

Hi ive been on uniphyllin 400 for about 35 years. I don’t drink much or often but have never noticed a problem with it

[Karate109 in reply to Bwv945]

Thanks. That’s good to know. I see you are an early riser too😀 wishing you a healthy day.

[K8ty25]

I was on uniphylin for a while and was totally unable to tolerate caffeine or any amount of alcohol while on it. It made me really unwell. It might be worth checking how you react before Christmas so it doesn't ruin your day.

[Karate109 in reply to K8ty25]

Excellent idea. Will have a couple of small glasses of wine with a meal next weekend and keep my fingers crossed that there are no nasty side effects. Thanks for your response. Wishing you good health.

[physical256]

Occasional small amounts of alcohol are fine, if you have only just started on it it pays to be a bit more cafeful, I find caffeine is more critical personally

[physical256 in reply to physical256]

I mean I'm on 600mg a day so quite hefty dose now really