Alcohol and Parkinsons

[pdpatient]

I am curious whether Parkinsons has resulted in a change to your drinking habits.

healthline.com/health/parki...

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/264...

[mleec]

In the past two years I have reduced what I drink. Rarely drink when I am out unless someone else drives. I find I am too tired the next day if I have more than a 4oz glass. I also start eating snacks if I drink. So maybe once a week.

[PDTom]

In the meantime, I drink a little more alcohol again (about 250ml of wine in the evening). After my diagnosis in December 2020, I drank very little alcohol for a long time, but now I have the feeling that it does me good. I do not take any medication. parkinsonclub.de

[Esperanto]

I have never followed a recommendation so strictly. According to the MIND diet and Bas Bloem, it is wise to drink 1 glass of red wine a day. Cheers! 🍷

[WinnieThePoo]

Yes. My friends understand I will be slow getting my wallet out of my pocket due to an action tremor, and buy me a drink first 🙂

[pdpatient in reply to WinnieThePoo]

Lol

[Biensur in reply to WinnieThePoo]

So a tremor can be useful!

[pdpatient in reply to Biensur]

I think Winnie was joking.

[Biensur in reply to pdpatient]

Of course! I am aware.

[pdpatient in reply to Biensur]

I am glad that we can all have a good laugh despite our condition 😀😀

[redhawk1]

Sure has changed my consumption of alcohol! I used to love having 2 or 3 ice cold beers! Now, with PD if I even have 1 glass I am ready for bed within 15 to 20 minutes and night is over!! lol Will have a glass of wine from time to time. With such a reaction to alcohol I don’t drive after I drink! Now, I have a gummi from time to time which helps to compensate! lol

[dmzer]

In the past I Used to drink 2 or 3 beers almost everyday, but only once a month now. Guess its a habit of the past. Makes me tired the next day. Been exercising 4-5 times a week an hr + each time. Been taking low dose ambroxol for 6 months now, increasing the daily dose 30-90 mgs each month. Currently at 360 mg a day (120 mgs x 3 daily) .. Next month will be 450 mgs a day. Bought generic Ambroxol for 2-3 cents per 30 mg tablet while in the Philippines. I found a neurologist in Cebu who can be seen on very short notice/walk in and very affordable. He was western (canada) trained and specializes in PD . In person visits are ~ $20. In the USA it took me 6 months to see a neurologist in the VA system. Other doctors (outside VA system) wouldn't schedule an appt without MD referrals (Spokane WA). Again, 5-6 month wait.

Been prescribed C/L, but don't take very often. I spike my AM tea (1/2 teaspoon) with Maccuna but not everyday. Take 1000 mgs of B1 daily and quit drinking coffee (makes my right hand shake too much). I miss being able to sit down without my right hand shaking. Still waiting for that miracle silver bullet cure (LOL). JON

[Mischl]

Three years into my Parkinson journey I developed a zero tolerance for booze. It went really fast and now, even if I have just one beer or a glass of wine I am feeling that my symptoms are getting stronger and I get very tired, too. The evening is definitely over for me then. I wan never a big drinker but enjoyed the occasional cold beer or wine, which is something I miss.

[CuriousMe12]

Definitely led me to reducing intake. A glass of red advances my slowness 2-3 fold.If at the pub, I just have a soft drink and look enviously at those still able to caus themselves future liver damager 😄

[pdpatient in reply to CuriousMe12]

It's amazing how not being able to do things the old way keeps you in better shape.😂🤔

[PDGal4]

I drink 2 glasses of wine a day, generally one while cooking dinner, one with dinner. I've given up other things for Parkinson's, but am not willing to give up this. I enjoy wine, love the taste, alone and with food. Water with dinner just doesn't cut it for me. I am on Rytary (and a few more meds) and have found it works better to take my evening dose after dinner as opposed to before because Rytary and wine kicking in at the same time can be a bit much. We eat late and I work around it. The 2 glasses is my limit these days and when I am out at a restaurant or someone else's house, I sip on maybe one glass. The medications I take all say to use caution with alcohol; there was one my neurologist proposed, but drinking was contraindicated. After discussion my neurologist and I decided it wasn't necessary anyway.

[hmm777]

Yes, definitely. I used to enjoy beer, wine, and the occasional scotch. Even made my own beer. I do still enjoy it (or did, last time I had any), but I had to completely discontinue alcohol consumption because it significantly increases the likelihood of a bad RBD episode. I'm lucky I noticed the connection because some of my RBD episodes were quite dangerous (falls with head injury while acting out dreams). I read up on it and sure enough alcohol is a known RBD trigger.

I still have RBD and occasional episodes, but no severe episodes since quitting alcohol cold turkey.

[pdpatient in reply to hmm777]

Did not know about this interaction. I guess one never knows what the future holds for us as a result of trying to maintain the standard of our previous lives. Thanks for the insight.

For the community and the forum : RBD refers to Rapid Eye Movement Behavioral Disorder. RBD for short ( I had to look it up 😂). Here's more information therecoveryvillage.com/ment...

[MarionP]

Cannot drink at all anymore, it does something with the medications I'm on to mess with my sleep, exacerbates my active dreams and turns some into seriously nasty nightmares.

[pearlette]

Previous modest alcohol - mainly wine 3-4 glasses a week or occassional beer. Very rare scotch whiskey.

Around time of diagnosis noticed I was complaining about any red wine being "off". Then realised it was all to d with losing sense of smell.

Coffee tastes muddy, red wine tastes like paint stripper and white wine like vinegar !

No fun so barely drink; occasional cold beer in summer and English cider.

[BS-ZIG]

It seems to myself, I totally lost any desire to drink alcohol. I used to enjoy getting tipsy!

[huntingdogbella]

One of my prominent PD symptoms is poor balance, so I have become very careful about drinking. I drink very little when out socially, but feel a bit more freedom at home. Alcohol definitely exacerbates my difficulty walking.