Sounds a daft question but can you have a drink when on treatment?

[marynotley]

[PMRpro Ambassador]

If you mean drink alcohol when taking pred - there are no known reasons why not. And lots of us do! Whether it's good for you is another question!

[polkadotcom]

A little of what you fancy.............I do, too.

[Annodomini]

No-one ever told me not to have a drink - so I do, but never to excess.

[Bev-o]

I sometimes have a wee drop of brandy - purely for medicinal purposes only!!!

It's good for the morale to have a little of what you fancy; everything in moderation.

[Polywotsit PMRGCAuk team member]

Anything that can help you relax and improve your quality of life is good! The only thing with booze is to remember the calories in it and be careful that you don't have too much, because the steroids are pushing your blood sugar up already.

[Whittlesey in reply to Polywotsit]

Thank you, Kate. best, Whittlesey

[Celtic PMRGCAuk volunteer]

I know this is going to sound most unpopular but please do be aware that alcohol can place stress on the adrenal glands. Those glands are already being suppressed by the steroids, and when you reach the lower doses (around 7.5mg) they will be trying to 'wake up' again so not helpful if they have any unnecessary extra stress placed on them. I'm going to hide in a corner now!!

[Whittlesey in reply to Celtic]

laughing. All alcohol ? probably. Thanks Celtic. yes, I am trying to wake the adrenals up. I didn't know this, thanks for posting. There may be one semi alcoholic drink, Kombucha, the well made Kombucha (from ginger -- Chinese, Japanese) can contain 5% alcohol. Hopefully that is low enough and the anti oxidant aspects of the ginger, may be ok ? once a week, without getting addicted ? thanks for posting on this. all my best, Whittlesey, NYC

[Celtic PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Whittlesey]

Hello Whittlesey

Your post together with its smiley faces made me chuckle. It's a personal decision whether to have alcohol or not and I decided to give up my drop of wine and just stick with my anti inflammatory and organic food as much as possible to give my adrenals the best chance. As the others have said "a little of what you fancy......." and my fancy was a few squares of my favourite dark chocolate each day!

Now at the risk of being a bore yet again - whilst liquorice root and gingseng might well be good for "waking up the adrenals", liquorice can interact with Prednisolone, so always a good idea to check any herbal supplements for drug interactions.

As for Kombucha, well the ginger is fine!! It's good for inflammation, along with garlic and turmeric, among a few others.

Here's to your adrenals waking up soon - all good wishes.

[Whittlesey in reply to Celtic]

Hi Celtic, one more thing on the adrenals, licorice root and gingseng are two herbs which can help to "wake the adrenals" after the 7.5 mg level of prednisone has been reached. Not a lot, but when you are feeling fatigue, these are good. And much better, I and many believe, than the advice to take some prednisone, when you feel fatigue. The prednisone is external and are responsible for adrenals low functioning level.

[Hidden]

Hi Mary,

Many months ago I was told by an experienced GP that there was no reason why I could not have a couple of glasses of red wine as a 'pick me up'. For me it's a mood enhancer and also helps me sleep. Of course, the trick is not to let it become an addiction, so 2 or 3 times a week, treat yourself to your favourite tipple. Red wine contains surprisingly few calories - about 130 for a normal pub glass full. It also has at least one powerful anti-oxident, resveritrol.

Cheers! Pats.

[Bethy]

Hi Celtic I am with you on the alcohol question. I gave it up completely when on steroids, and am now off steroids but still do not drink - maybe one drink every now and again. I also believe th

at as you get older it takes longer for the body to recover from alcohol even if you are well.