Ok so first of all I am not a heavy or even a moderate drinker. However, I do enjoy a glass of wine and an occasional gin and tonic.
Can anyone advise me if I must abstain completely whilst taking Acalabrutinib. Really it matters not, my health is more important than any amount of alcohol. I shall ask my health care team once my tablets arrive.
I am on Ibrutinib and my specialist doesn’t have any issue with me having the occasional glass of wine (or two). I would ask your team but think that it’s fine in moderation 🥂
I have been on ibrutinib/acalabrutinib for three years now and have a couple of glasses of wine on average each night. It’s my treat. I asked my doctor at md anderson if I could drink wine on ibrutinib when I started and he said it was mandatory I do so, true story. My doctor, since retired, is an Aussie, so you have to factor that in. 😎
I befriended an Aussie on a riverboat cruise in Europe and gave him a hard time when I would see him knocking down bloody Mary’s at the bar each morning. He explained to me you can’t drink all day if you don’t start in the morning. The guy could have been Neil for all I know. Lol. His logic was sound so I bellied up to the bar and accepted his offer to buy me a drink.
I do think everyone with Cll is different so the question of drinking adult beverages is a good one for our doctors. That said I think most Cll doctors are okay with drinking in moderation while on ibrutinib.
My only other thought is that since we have Cll and since that sucks, if we are going to drink wine, we should spoil ourselves and drink good wine.
🍷
My wife has concluded the same about chocolate as your opinion on wine. Not sure she eats it in moderation, but than neither do I.
Oh I love this reply cajunjeff. I agree with much you say and after asking my team will see. I always think I sound like a budding alcoholic when I say I enjoy a gin and tonic or a glass of wine but with all we gone through, certainly this last 18 months, it does keep me sane. We walk miles, garden for hours and eat very healthily. Incidentally I keep seeing MD Anderson mentioned, can I ask is this a particular consultant or a hospital? I am as you know in the UK.
MD Anderson Cancer Center is in Texas, USA. They have some of the top US CLL specialists and many cutting edge clinical trials.
Was that Aussie doctor by any chance the legendary Dr Keating - gave patients hugs also I understand? I had an Aussie doctor in England - Dr Tricky by name, wore shorts under his white coat and was very relaxed compared with his English team mates . 😊
Priceless!!! 😄
I have been on Ibrutinib for 5 years and usually have 1 (not more) glass of red wine each night. It keeps me sane and I notice no difference when abstinent. Enjoy life!
I’m on zanubrutinib. Anytime I can make a glass of wine now the effect is like I drank three glasses of wine.
Oh that's an interesting point. Never have been able to drink much (not like the kids today). So maybe it will be wine and water like the Italians allow their children!!
Great idea. Thanks kitchen gardener.
My doctor doesn’t have a problem with it. I drink moderately at the weekends and generally before I take my evening tablet and nothing after. From a medical point of view I don’t believe alcohol interferes with the effectiveness of Acalabrutinib though, of course, there is more for our liver to do.
I started acalabrutnib 3 months ago. I’m not a heavy drinker, a bottle of wine last me 3 days. My doctor told me to stop drink for 2/3 weeks, so I decided to make it 4 weeks to be on the safe side. After that I resumed drinking at the rate of a bottle lasting 4 days and then back to my old level after a couple of more weeks. I haven’t suffered any ill effects, but I do agree - make it good wine!
Thanks, hubby is a wine master so generally we do have good wine.
My favourite tipple is Martini Asti Spumante (or a Bombay & tonic). Don’t tell your hubby about the wine; he’ll have a heart attack! 😱
I am catching up with about ten days of daily digests, so expect I’ll come across an update on how you’re getting on with your new regime. I’m looking forward to seeing it. x
I have found that wine (white) makes me feel bad and red wine is okay by the half glass. Cocktails with vodka or gin, however, fine! This is new for me since taking Acala.
I am also not a big drinker and when I started acalabrutinib in January 2018, I asked my CLL specialist if I could have an occasional glass of wine. He gave me a thumbs up and said I didn't have to stop at one glass...LOL. However, I am a lightweight when it comes to drinking so one glass is fine with me. My husband loves gin and tonic and I will have one of those as well with no issues.
Cheers!!
Nan
I’m on my 4th month of acalabrutinib and did abstain for the first couple of months while I was taking Allopurinol as well, but now have the odd glass of wine and gin and tonic - my Consultant said it wasn’t a problem. In fact drinking slightly less makes me enjoy it more!
Alcohol and SLL
Acalabrutinib headaches
Acalabrutinib side effects 
Acalabrutinib and water
