I was very bothered by the question, as my rheumatologist said nothing to me about foods to avoid. Since our immune system is compromised we need to make sure our foods are cooked well done, wash fruits and vegetables very well. We are more likely to get food poisoning then someone not taking the medication. So soft cheese and Pate is a definite NO especially the pate! We can also get stomach infections. I'm would imagine it is a high possibility of getting sick from the pate, soft cheese, and foods not cooked fully. However, not a guarantee that we would get sick. You can Google foods to avoid while taking Enbril and or methotrexate and you'll find all the information you need.
I do hope this information gets to the all the people taking Enbril/methotrexate I am taking both now I know now to be extra careful, as I don't want to get food poisoning or any other stomach issues.
Ok, thanks Abby. I'd rather be safe than sorry and don't want my stomach any worse than it is so guess I will avoid pate. The cheese is no problem as I don't like it! Clemmie
Life is hard enough without stopping foods like this without good evidence. Hand washing and cooking things thoroughly are probably the best things you can do
There is a huge difference between biologics and methotrexate, especially at the low doses we take. With biologics there is a real risk of infections becoming serious, especially if you are also in general poor health. With methotrexate the authoritative sources I've read mention things like avoiding people with chicken pox, and being sensible about food hygiene but I have never read any absolute warning against unpasteurised foods. Of course we are all different, and if you are elderly and have other health problems then it may be appropriate.
As far as I'm concerned I have RA, but I don't want to turn myself into a paranoid victim that loves in a sterilised bubble so want to live as normal a life as possible. I am in good health, take proper exercise and don't eat junk food or, for example, cheap rubbish stuff that's been lying around uncovered on supermarket delicatessen counters. However I probably eat unpasteurised food several times a week (I live close to great unpasteurised cheese producers) and in the years I have been taking MTX I have never had a problem at all.
However, if you have something that does advise food avoidance on MTX then do please share it as I can't find any evidence.
I had heard something's but was not convinced enough to say anything. So I googled it. You can do the same there's plenty of information you can read up on it. I don't want to be paranoid about the food I eat, or if you feel like I'm living in a bubble. Helixhelix, I have always been careful about what I eat, washing my fruits and vegetables and cooking my food thoroughly. So it's really not much of a change for me. But the knowledge is good to know. Most days I don't feel so good, and the last thing I want is to get sick from any food. I think you're right about being in good health and sensible about food hygiene. Sometimes we don't get all the information we need from our doctor. So it's good to have other resources for more information to help keep us healthy.
Yes there's authoritative stuff about biologics, but nothing I could find about methotrexate from a source I would consider reputable. Did you find anything specific?
Yes. This is one of several I have found. Wrightington,Wigan and Leigh NRS Foundation. PDF UHL methotrexate patient leaflet-Leicestershire Medicines. While taking methotrexate our blood count goes down leaving us open to infection. Unpasteurized milk,soft cheese, undercooked meat, and raw eggs are just some of what may cause us to get sick due to bacteria. Please check with your doctor. It's not a guarantee that we will get sick if we eat these foods. However, we are at high risk of getting sick if we choose to eat unpasteurized products as well as some raw or undercooked foods.
These are all local NHS trusts that have just cut and pasted straight copies of the previous patient information leaflet about MTX that was changed a few years back. If you look at the detaiLs you'll see some of them are dated 2007 or earlier. If you look up the current patient information leaflets from the manufacturers, or advice from sources such as arthritis research uk there is no mention of it. The Internet is a great resource, but it's also very easy to believe everything you read on it without questioning. And that worries me as we really mustn't let ourselves become victims or be scared of every shadow. Obviously everyone is different and some people do need to be more careful than others so always best to ask your own doctors. And it is a personal choice as to how you want to run your own life so if you're concerned then that's right for you. I'm just trying to give a more balanced approach.
It's like I said in other posts talk to your doctor. However, there were many different places that said the same thing. It doesn't mean you will get sick it just means you are at a higher risk. Due to lower blood count. Best thing ask your doc. My rheumatologist didn't say anything to me about food to avoid. If my blood count is low it only makes sense to be careful what you eat, and how it's prepared.
Many different places, or many different sources? Everything I've looked at is the same repetition of out of date information not new evidence.
But if that's what you want to believe then it's your choice. I'm not arguing against good food hygiene, or basic common sense behaviours, which is a completely different subject. And certainly not suggesting that people with other health problems should take unnecessary risks. Just seems a shame to focus on one thing that really isn't much of an issue, when far more serious risks for us to think about and make lifestyle changes to tackle.
I'd also remember that being exposed to bacteria etc is actually normal. If people are scrupulously sanitised they may also risk not having any immunity to infection.
very good points made here, there seems to be a theme of needing to research the drugs well before going on anything new.i only trust sources such as Arthritis Care/Research and NRAS. my Rhuemmy said he didnt have info about anti TNF drugs and pointed me towards online info. i seem to remember that anything with raw eggs is also a bad idea, i got the impression that anything that could give you any Food Poisoning such as Shell Fish need to be avoided. this is a really important point for people on Anti TNF drugs of any sort and should check with Rhuemmy if in doubt, if not Arthritis Care are very happy to discuss anything relating to RA.
I am really shocked as I was not aware of this, it was never mentioned when I was diagnosed and given MTX. I shall most certainly be giving google a visit, and questioning my rheumy nurse tomorrow
in between my suffering of a flare and side effects of my new anti-depressant venlafaxine. Thank you Abby for sharing this news.
My rheumatologist didn't say anything to me about the foods to avoid. So when this topic came up a few days ago I was a bit concerned. That's when I ran across all that information. Go home specific things, for example cant I drink Unpasteurized milk while on methotrexate, the more specific you are the more information you will get.
I am sure it is on leaflets that I picked up at the hospital. I was definately told when I started mtx to avoid soft cheese and pate but nothing said when I was on Enbrel. Just found out yesterday that I should have been allowing 48 hours between taking mtx and enbrel and I was taking enbrel the next day after mtx. I do eat soft cheese.
Just to add to this, in my mtx booklet it says that risks associated with unpasteurised milk have not been associated with low dose mtx (as taken in ra) and it just recommends being sensible over hygiene etc and cautious over unpasteurised milk and its products.
It goes on to say this is even more important if on anti tnf.
Many (maybe all?) of the tubs of soft cheese in our supermarkets are made with pasteurised milk anyway. X
when i was on methatraxate i was told not to eat soft cheese or pate. i was also told to stay out of strong sunshine. i have been on bio's now for nearly two years and have never been to to avoid anything.
If I am un sure of something I will read up on whatever the issue is. I don't just google. Anything written on the topic books leaflets anything I can find. Till I feel comfortable with the information I find and hear. That goes for anything, not just this topic. You can learn a lot that way.
Helixhelix, This was a topic that came up, not by me. However, it does concern me because some of that food I do like eat.
The Arthritis Research UK says the exact same things about all the foods mentioned, especially all types of pate. I still say talk to your doctor. I could have not said anything. We are all compromise with an illness some worse than others. I think it's the right thing to share what information I have found. What is done with the info is up to each individual. I think enough has been said. Again it was a topic of concern. Maybe now we can let this go and move on to another issue.
There is always something said about foods and RA. Someone a while back said bananas made your RA worse! I eat them all time. I've been taking mtx for 13yrs plus Humira past 5yrs. I love cheese and pate. Never had a problem with them. Also eat my steaks rare (on the few occasions I can afford it), and eat mayonnaise which contains raw eggs. Everyone is different. As far as RA is concerned If you are fine eating something then go on eating it.
I am so impressed with your calm reasoned replies. It is so easy, especially on the Internet, to feel attacked and respond defensively. This has been a good discussion. For myself, I've gone off of my biologic and just take the methotrexate, but I usually don't eat any of those foods anyway. BTW, I'm not accusing anyone of being too aggressive, I just know how easy it is to overreact. I think it's partly because we can't hear tone of voice or see body language.
Thank you pdp1134,
That wasn't very nice compliment I do appreciate that!
We are all suffering in one way or another. I would never intentionally want to put any undue stress on anyone. I wanted to know for myself foods that could potentially harm me. The only food on that list that I eat on occasion is the feta cheese.
The chance of food poisoning is not appealing to me as I don't feel well as it is.
I do hope you are feeling good! Thank you again for your kind words.
I'm certainly not trying to attack you Abbey - there has been quite enough of that on this site in the past. But I do like knowing where information has come from as it's so easy for casual statements to become hard facts, or old ideas to stick for ever, and I do think it's easy to lump all these drugs together when there is a big difference between biologics and the traditional DMARDS.
I'm also sorry that you don't feel well a lot of the time, and if you have a low blood count as well, for you it is probably right to be extra cautious about everything. But as we all know this is a very individual disease, and I'm only on 3 DMARDS not biologics, and am generally healthy so am more concerned about the other risks of having RA which I find more scary. So the possible link between cheese and cholesterol is more important to me than a very small risk of listeria.
So happy to agree to disagree as the phrase goes, although it is important that we can debate things on here as that's the best way to be informed so we should challenge each other - politely of course. So apologies if you thought I wasn't being respectful.
Hi everyone,
Thank you for all your contributions to this interesting discussion and also to the issues there are relating to accessing information from the internet.
We are not medically trained on helpline and would always suggest that if you need any clarification as to what is considered safe or unsafe to eat, especially with relation to medications you are taking, it is always best to consult your rheumatology consultant, nurse or GP.
Hi, if you are a Methotrexate user you should have a pink Methotrexate user book where your blood results are recorded, there is a small section in there about foods that you should be cautious with.
I am on mxt and abatacept. My mxt book is grey and does not mention food. No one has mentioned anything about food. I have eaten pate, and soft cheese, and have had mayo... perhaps I have a cast iron gut, who knows, but, in my opinion, there are so many ' this is bad for you, this is good for you' if we actually took notice of them all, we would never eat nor drink
I have been taking Enbrel since January 2008. I eat my steak rare, I eat soft cheese, my eggs runny and loads of pate. I have never had any stomach infections. I think you can become too wrapped up in the biological drugs aspect and over worry. I get chest infections and have COPD but I have never stopped doing or eating what I want.
The phrase I live by is 'I manage my disease my disease does NOT manage me. I have had RA for 27 years.
That question was brought up by someone else and wanted to know more information. There was never mentioned in my post that you would definitely get sick. However there is a possibility. I'm happy to hear no one has been sick from the foods that were mentioned. This topic has been taken out of context. There is no reason to be defensive. I have said in previous post asked your doctor. I shared information that I found. I eat some of that food too, and plan on asking my doctor about it. I heard the question and was curious about it so I checked around. There's no reason to beat up the question or the information I found. It's not a matter of agreeing or disagreeing. I am truly sorry for any one that got upset over my post. Now that so much has been said by so many, I think it's time to let the topic go. Like the saying goes " don't beat the dead dog" Again I'm sorry for those I have upset, never would it be my intention!
I was told to watch what I eat - soft cheese, pate and wash veg etc.....I do not eat pate anyhow but I still eat Brie - because I keep forgetting that I should not eat it. I am also NIL alcohol as I was recommended not to drink with methotrexate and I get pains in my jaw if I have alcohol - goodness only know that that is!
Lol! Maybe it's your subconscious saying to you please don't drink alcohol, because I will have to hurt your jaw! That's to bad about once a month I will have a drink. I also am on methotrexate. With all the other medications I'm on I'm a bit scared to drink to much alcohol. I don't want to kill my liver.
Gosh what a minefield and a ton of great contributions! I really felt the need to jump in here as I am confused as to what I can eat an why too. I got some introduciton leaflets when starting Humira and I thought I could not eat viened cheeses - my fav is Blue Stilton but this is out of bounds as the 'Blue' is a bacteria base, and I believed this could affect my meds. It also stated Feta cheese - is this unpasturised? I still don't know why pate is off the menu as I thought this was cooked.
I also take MTX, but the only thing I have come off is alcohol - serious warning from my referral consultant - "Do not drink"
Very interesting reading all replies and will have to go off and do my homework now and sort out what is what in my own mind - any revelation - will post.
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