Hi everyone! With summer just around the corner we spend our weekends at the cottage and just started with my meds last December, my rheumatologist advised me not to drink ANY alcohol, I usually don’t drink a lot of alcohol but I do enjoy a couple of drinks relaxing at the lake!
I feel like these meds have already taken so much away from me, would it really do me any harm just to have a couple on weekends?
Thanks in advance!
If your rheumy said don’t drink any alcohol then I wouldn’t. Once you’ve been on it a while and you know how mtx is going to affect your liver they might tell you different but until then it’s best to do as you’re told. There are some nice non alcoholic drinks out there nowadays, stock up on those 🥂
No it shouldn't. I have the odd glass of wine on LEF then AZA no problem, Worse is don't forget the suncream. My consultants both RA and Nephrology said it was ok,
This is very individual, in that different consultants say completely different things, and it can depend on your history etc. too. I was told not to drink at all just on mtx, whereas others here have been told they can drink as long as they keep it under a certain number of units each week. Adding in a second med, I was told they wouldn’t give me either of them if I was going to drink, that’s just blanket policy with the team I’m under 🤷♂️ I haven’t drunk since prior to my diagnosis anyway (not much of a drinker these days, although I did like the odd cold pint), but still now find myself in a position where I unexpectedly have a slightly dodgy liver that may or may not be caused by my arthritis meds. I’ve had to stop everything, can’t even have NSAID painkillers, whilst they work out what’s going on. My disease wasn’t under control when on the medication, so being off everything is increasingly proving not fun.
Personally, I would always advise to abide by the consultant’s instructions as given for you as an individual, particularly in the early days. Once you’ve been on meds for a bit longer you could always revisit the conversation, but in my case, even if it turns out the meds weren’t the cause, I’m glad I did follow the advice I was given.
Totally agree. MTX and alcohol can cause stress on the liver together. If you have PsA it has a worse effect than if u have RA I read and was advised also.Guidance about MTX and alcohol can also vary between countries health guidance.
For me I avoid alcohol, but being realistic there are the odd occasions. So I will only have a max of two cans of low alcohol beer in a week and only on the day furthest from taking MTX as it’s in the lowest concentration in my blood.
I've discovered that zero alcohol lager is quite refreshing and tasty and some alcohol free 'spirits' make for a zingy fake gin and tonic. My rheumy has said the keeping to the national limits would be ok but I'd rather be more cautious
Hi. I was told never drink on the day taking MTX , other days I was told I can have the odd drink but never go over the units. Also not to do so regularly. But we all react differently to our meds and Alcohol,
Your Consultant and RA nurse are the best to give you advice.
I used to love a drink (and still do!) - I was told I could drink 6 units per week when I started MTX but some weeks I have more than that - but I have to be careful and only have one of anything (my home pouring is generous!!). I've also found (to my horror!!) I just can't drink wine any more as it just gives me sweats and headaches . We are all very individual and react differently so if you do decide to indulge I'd be very careful and take it very slowly!
I was asked to do the same by my first (lovely) Rheumy Wolfegang. I did as he asked, it wasn’t difficult because at the time I didn’t drink alcohol at all, only because it doesn't like me not that I’m teetotal by choice. I was still kindly reminded to not drink whenever my liver values rose. It was after the first elevated result he specified to not drink spirits, wine & lager were ok (this was in Spain where they are both considered accompaniments to food so considered a part of their culture).
I think this is a measured view on the subject creakyjoints.org/living-wit... It is from an American website, being in Canada it may apply to you more than us here in the UK. Still, before challenging your Rheumy I’d see if you can take to any of the alcohol free or low alcohol drinks there are nowadays, they are really improving over here compared to only a few years ago so maybe they are there too? My h needed to avoid all alcohol after acute pancreatitis & he found as long as they were cold the lagers were really were palatable. He found one he really liked & continued drinking it long after he'd fully recovered. It could well be that your Rheumy only wishes you to avoid alcohol until you're properly settled on your treatments, he may well say you can drink within recommended parameters once he sees how you tolerate your meds over a period of time. I would imagine just by escaping to the lake for the weekend will be relaxing in itself & alcohol may not even be a biggie once you go. 😊
When I was put on methotrexate in November last year the consultant said to stick to the government guidelines of no more than 14 units a week, I used to enjoy 1 or 3 😂 glasses of wine with my meal every night, I found some alcohol free / low alcohol 0.5% which I tend to drink most nights, I even found some alcohol free bubbly for New Year’s Eve 😁 there’s also an alcohol free Prosecco called nonsecco which is lovely for special occasions, in B & M it’s £2.75 up tescos it’s £3.50, I usually drink red wine & occasionally white, in the summertime rose & found of the alcohol free wines rose is the nicest, it’s called garnacha, my alias 🤣 since starting leflunomide the guidance is to drink no more than 4 to 8 units a week, half of what the normal guidelines are for adults to drink not on medication, I’ve got myself a wine glass that’s equivalent to a small glass of wine so very occasionally I have a glass or 2 but definitely not on the day I take mtx x
I didn’t drink at all when I started on MTX, and then with the consultant’s agreement and months of good blood tests I was able to have a drink once a week. Continuing good blood tests mean I now have a glass of wine with my evening meal several times a week. But rarely anything else.
That's good, how often do they require the blood checks, if you drink alcohol and on MTX?
I have blood tests every three months now. But I have been stable for a long time.
Really pleased for you, good luck! Thanks
Methotrexate & Sulfasalazine
Sulfasalazine or methotrexate 
Methotrexate and alcohol.
Alcohol and methotrexate
