MTX and alcohol?

[Trina2503]

I have been on MTX for 7 months, currently on 15mg a week sub-cut. Can anyone tell me how drinking alcohol affects you whilst on MTX?

[CaroleHe]

Drinking alcohol while on MTX can adversely affect your liver function. My consultant told me that I could drink 12 - 14 units a week, but not all at once. Some people choose not to drink at all.

I hope this helps.

Carole

[Maisiemonster]

I don't drink often but if I have something on I plan around my MTX. I usually take it on a Monday so If I meet with friends at the weekend I can share some wine and relax. I enjoy a glass of wine with a meal sometimes (having one now actually )but I do find if I overdo it I feel very ill and it's not worth the risk due to the strength and mix of the meds. My Rheumy Sister recommends a blow out every now and then especially when things have been rough for a while. Its all rather subjective though so be very aware of your body and the risks associated with alcohol especially on MTX.

[126Jessie]

Hi, I was told not to drink at all whilst on methotrexate by my consultant, don't mind telling you I was horrified at the thought!!!! Many years later my rheumy nurse said you are ok to drink in moderation, which came as a bit of a surprise!

I reintroduced the odd wine at the weekend or with a meal but it appears my body now seems to have rejected alcohol and when I drink I awake with bee stings on my joints a couple of hours later so it has kinda put me off. When I stopped drinking I also lost some weight and felt better and now even although I no longer take methotrexate I have kept my drinking to small amounts. One glass of wine is all it takes now!

I think the advice is moderation and dependant on your consultant you will be told to quit or be careful. if your Liver enzymes go up you will be you need to stop your meds and any drinking to allow your liver to recover.

Good luck with the metho. I took it for 8 years with some really good results, hope you have some positive results with it too.

xx

[Trina2503]

thank you guys, very helpful. I know it says not to drink because of the liver risks but again my consultant also said that i can drink up to 10 units a week. i'm not drinking at all at the moment, and was never a big drinker before but being only 20 its not something that i want out of my life completely. I am nervous of what will happen, and wondered how it effected others. Thanks again! xx

[Hidden]

Moderation is the key.. methotrexate affects the liver and so does alcohol and put the two together the greater the risk of damage to the liver.

methotrexate is termed a hepatoxic drug( toxic to the liver) as is alcohol.

There are some great lower alcohol wines and ciders these days I can recommend the1% cider made for Morrison's supermarket by Weston's cider company I think it tastes great x

[Judi]

Hi, my rheummy consultant advised me that I could drink 2 glasses of wine on the same day. I did point out that at something like a wedding it doesn't give much room to manouevre (<spelling X ?)

ie.(1) when walking through the door (2) toasting the couple. He then said that on a rare occasion like that I could make it 3.

But also what he advised was that a glass of water (or soft drink) before and after the glasses of wine would be beneficial so I had a lemonade which I drank in between the wines.

I did have to come off one med once because of a high toxic liver reading but this was just after Christmas and New Year and I hadn't been terribly good, I didn't feel any different so it wasn't obvious that I had a problem with my liver. I resumed the meds after a few weeks.

Judi

[LavendarLady]

Hi, I was also advised not to drink alchohol whilst taking MTX as the liver has enough to cope with without adding alchohol to the mix. I do very occasionally, have half a glass of wine. I find now that anything more than that makes me feel nauseous and I just don't want it. Also very occasionally a glass of single malt whisky with water which I find relaxing.

The key is moderation in all things. If you find the alchohol is affecting you in any way, then the best advice is to stay off it. I used to drink Gin and tonics but now make do with a tonic water with ice and lemon so it looks good even if it has no alchohol in it! I usually have water or a soft drink available as well as the half glass of wine particularly at a formal dinner. The main thing is to dilute the alchohol so the liver doesn't have to work so hard.

LavendarLady x

[lynn-bel]

I was told no alcohol when I started MTX and was horrified. Told my cons. it was unrealistic for me never to drink again!!!!! so maybe I should be on something else? But she said to drink iin moderation which is what we should all be doing anyway. She wanted me to not drink until the MTX was settled and working for me. MTX can affect yoru liver so drinking may exacerbate things if there is a liver problem. But as long as you get your bloods done regularly to check all these things you should be okay to drink - again in moderation. I do drink pretty regularly but have a few days a week with none, sometimes a fair bit on the weekend!! So far, so good!

Enjoy!

Lynnx

[Victoria-NRAS Partner Moderator NRAS]

Hi Trina

The patient safety guidance for MTX suggests that you stay 'well within the maximum limits' which for women would be 2-3 units per day. It is also important, as others have said, not to have your weekly allowance all in one night, as this impacts even more on the liver.

Basically the problem is that MTX can effect the liver and so can alcohol, and you don't want too many things impacting on the lover all at once.

Hope that helps

Victoria

(NRAS helpline)