One cup of Green Tea a day whilst being on 15mg weely Methotrexate Tablets for RA

[MJSlide1958]

Dear All,

I am trying to find out whether it is safe to drink an ordinary cup of green tea a day whilst on Methotrexate tablets. Obviously not on day of MTX. Does anyone drink green tea regularly? Or can it interact with MTX?

Apparently it is ok to drink with Enbrel weekly injections. Grateful for replies when convenient please.

Thanks all

[Gilliancheche]

I mostly drink green tea, probably 4 or 5 mugs a day. I'm on MTX and have been for 4 years. Nobody has ever mentioned an issue to me.

[MJSlide1958 in reply to Gilliancheche]

Brilliant! Thank you very much! Are you on a biologic too with mtx? Please may I ask if you have Rheumatoid Arthritis? Thanks

[Gilliancheche in reply to MJSlide1958]

Am on secukinumab as well, my diagnosis varies between psoriatic and spindly arthritis.

[MJSlide1958 in reply to Gilliancheche]

Thank you, all the very best to you.

[BoneyC in reply to Gilliancheche]

Ditto, and taken MTX for about 45 years!

[ABwn in reply to BoneyC]

Hope you are keeping well and not in too much pain. x

[3LittleBirds2]

i too mainly drink Green Tea as well as Red Bush if I fancy something a bit stronger. No one has ever mentioned about any interactions.

[MJSlide1958 in reply to 3LittleBirds2]

Thank you. When I read the MTX leaflet, it did state no black tea, but most tea is black tea? It is really hard to make a decision when on MTX!

[3LittleBirds2 in reply to MJSlide1958]

Oh I didn’t realise that, I’m not on MTX so can’t really advise , but surely green tea will be ok? May be worth checking with your helpline if you have one? But can see you’ve had a reply from someone on MTX 😊 Enjoy your tea!

[helixhelix in reply to MJSlide1958]

Which MTX leaflet?

I’ve been on MTX and a biologic for years and was told not to drink more than a normal amount of caffeine (whatever that is), but didn’t mention source of caffeine.

[whitedog in reply to MJSlide1958]

Rheumy nurse today told me to avoid black tea. Stupidly, I didn't think to ask why - I just said I drank it with milk.

Also, when I said I was trying to drink more water she said best to have it with a slice of lemon or orange. Apparently that prevents it just draining straight through your system. I'd never thought of that.

[Nanainthegarden in reply to MJSlide1958]

‘Black tea’ is different to ‘tea without milk’. It’s a type of tea like green, red bush or whatever.

[pammi2]

i dont see why it would be a issue in the first place ?

[Runrig01]

I think the issue is with caffeinated drink, that you should limit the amount you drink. Some studies show it affects the mtx absorbed, but there are recent studies that show it doesn’t.

[LillyBeagle]

I drink green tea everyday along with a couple of coffees and I am on 15mg of MTX. And also trialling ABACEPT after 9 yrs on Tocilizamub which worked well, until it didn't. 🤪 I was diagnosed with RA 24yrs ago and have never heard at all that I can't drink anything even the odd glass of wine. Everything in moderation I think can't hurt 🤞

[A234]

I’m a regular green tea drinker and been on MTX for 15yrs

[Egpa]

Hi, I was told not to have any Caffeine on mtx at all, I have given up anything with Caffeine in including chocolate, it just makes we fill very unwell and sick. I'm on 20mg injections weekly. I have been drinking redbush and decaff tea now for years.

[Jfw24]

I’m on methotrexate (3 years) and adalimumab (3 months) and have drunk green tea for donkeys years, at least 5 cups a day. Rheumatology have never asked me about it.

[Sebastian247]

I was on MTX (20mg tablets) for about 18 months. Neither Rheumatology or my GP ever mentioned teas or caffeine being a problem whilst on MTX. I've had a look at the MTX leaflet on the versus arthritis and NRAS websites, no mention of tea or caffine. The only beverage mentioned is alcohol, unsurprisngly. I find it very strange that some people should be told (by health professionals?) that caffeine is a problem, and others aren't. These sorts of uncertainties and inconsistencies just shouldn't arise.

[Mall]

I wasn’t aware of any advice against tea or coffee drinking. I have been on the max dose, 25mg injections, of methotrexate for 25 years. I drink several cups of black (English breakfast type) tea with milk everyday and a cup of coffee every day with no ill effects.

I recently visited a tea plantation and processing works in Sri Lanka. Green and black Ceylon tea are from the same leaves just dried and left to mature for different lengths of time. All a matter of personal taste, they produced 7 varieties/ grades from the same bushes, going through the colours, green golden brown black. The tea companies in the Uk then mix the different grades to produce their own taste and brand. Breakfast tea probably has more of the blacker leaves. Green tea wouldn’t have any.

25 years ago you were told not to drink any alcohol whilst taking methotrexate. Today providing my blood tests are ok I am told it is ok the drink alcohol in moderation.

If concerned about tea speak to your Dr about it. I tend to follow advice where food and drink is concerned, by being moderate and aware of what my body is telling me.

[CinnamonRose]

I notice replies say about caffeine, green tea is caffeine free, hope that helps.

[Cat-E]

Nope, no one has ever mentioned not eating or drinking anything to me, I'm on 17.5mg MTX. Even alcohol was only mentioned when I asked and was just told to try to keep within recommended limits 😀