effect of alcohol

[keen_walker]

I'm new here so apologies if this has been asked many times before. Does RA affect the liver ? I know methotrexate and alcohol don't go but I am on sulfasalazine

[allanah]

Hello and welcome.

My rheumy told me it was ok in moderation as " you have to learn to live with the illness."

My liver results have always been ok with this advice. They check your bloods do if anything changed you would know x

[helixhelix]

People with RA are slightly more susceptible to liver damage, but it’s not that common:

”Among patients with arthritis, hepatic involvement has been reported only in cases of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and its variants. Nevertheless, liver injury is not generally recognized as a significant extra-articular feature of RA.”

However MTX and all the NSAIDs are hepatoxic, so can cause drug induced liver injury. But sulphasalazine is not.

(arthritis-research.biomedce... )

[keen_walker in reply to helixhelix]

Thanks helixhelix, hopefully I will be able to stay on sulfasalazine

[TheBoys]

My results are always good.. I don't drink alcohol normally--- for a couple of days after MTX ..Maybe one beer..Lately though, i ve been drinking a lot more and need to speak to the GP as its depression driving that.

[keen_walker in reply to TheBoys]

Good luck TheBoys. I have no right to preach on drink but feel a couple of drinks as a treat at the end of the day is better than trying to drown stuff out. But I would miss it if I could not even do that.

[allanah in reply to keen_walker]

Yes all in moderation as too much can cause damage, good luck with your treatments xx

[allanah in reply to TheBoys]

Good luck with your gp, hope they can help , depression is horrid

[BigJazza in reply to TheBoys]

Hi TheBoys, i have been on MTX for a year now and have found a good range of low and non-alcohol beers to replace my moderate to occasionally heavy drinking. Wine is a liver problem as is my malt whisky so one glass of either a day is my limit supplemented by non-alcohol beers. There should be a good range at your local supermarket so try them out to find ones that suit you. When your pub reopens, they should have some too. Good luck and look forward to enjoying a drink with mates again. Cheers!

[Dobcross1]

I've recently had to stop drinking altogether - much to my regret! I'm on 25mg MTX and though my liver results have been OK, the longer I'm on MTX the worse my experiences of even one drink have been. For example last time I tried a glass of wine I had a flare in my eye which lasted over a week - then I tried one rum and coke and my jaw flared leaving me in agony - luckily only for 24 hours.... so its just not worth it any more for me. Do I miss it - yes!

[keen_walker in reply to Dobcross1]

My sympathies. I was offered MTX and held out for sulfasalazine. Now I am waiting to see if it works.

[CagneysMum]

Consultants advice has always been to use common sense and to follow government guidance on drinking. A glass of wine (or 2) at the end of the working day was always my treat pre RA but now I just limit myself to this on a Friday and Saturday night, although since starting Amgevita 5-6 months ago my ALT liver readings have risen and are hovering at 53... prior to Amgevita they were no higher that 29. Hospital don’t seem to be too concerned at the moment but I’d like to see this reading come down.

[keen_walker in reply to CagneysMum]

I'm due blood test on Friday and will keep an eye on the readings

[EmmaSpicer-NRAS]

Welcome to HealthUnlocked keen_walker and thank you for your question. If you would like any more guidance, the NRAS helpline is open daily between 9.30am - 4.30pm nras.org.uk/helpline/