Well, although I'm very familiar with PMR (had it for 6 years, ending 2 years ago), I have just been diagnosed with GCA. I'm on 60 MG PRED right now. I have not yet seen a rheumatologist, or even spoken to my GP yet (will do so next week), but I'm already reading about alternative treatments instead of high doses of PRED.
My only "known" vice is my daily glass of wine with dinner, and I'm wondering if I'll have to stop that -- either because of the high dosage of PRED or any of the alternative treatments.
Are any of you fellow "sufferers" wine drinkers? Have you had to stop?
Thanks
Written by
montebello
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
I did stop for first 6months or so -starting dose 80mg for a couple of weeks then 60mg for another 8 weeks and coping with sight loss in one eye.
Thought it was probably sensible -but once all that lot was over, did go back to occasional drink, not every day, and can’t say I noticed any particular difference in symptoms or me whether I had a drink or not…
There’s nothing in the Pred info leaflet about not drinking alcohol, not sure on other treatments, never had anything else.
"Alternative treatments"? There is only one: tocilizumab/Actemra and since you are in the USA you may get offered it if your insurance plays ball. Wouldn't be first line in the UK, probably would in the rest of Europe.
I'm on tocilizumab - I still have my small glass of wine every night, 110ml max, 200ml if I have prosecco as that is the size of the mini-bottle. No problems noted so far.
Hi montebello. Well I drink wine, maybe not every day. I don’t think it affects GCA , I did stop for a while when I was on high dose pred as I found it made me hold a lot of fluid, but that may have been the high dose pred.
I wouldn't touch alcohol while l have such an unpleasant illness as GCA and the corresponding drug regime. I felt that it is was just not worth giving my body anything else to cope with that wasn't essential.
I am not a regular drinker but am partial to the odd glass of wine or prosecco. I did not drink at all at high doses of Pred as I was so wired and all over the place. When I did it was only one glass, on one occasion when I had two glasses of prosecco I did wake up with a swollen face and so decided that was not to be repeated.I think when you start to lower you deserve your glass of wine and sit there and enjoy it.
Sorry to hear you are back on pred though, but good that your opthalmologist sorted you out as the result could have been nasty.
Hi,montebello ,I have to admit to having some wine at weekends and have never had a problem except I want to open another bottle but I do share with other my other half and never had a problem, and when on holiday have half a bottle most nights,so enjoy ,take care x
I've always found that I feel more energetic the next day after drinking wine. I carried on while on 40mg and tapering. It also was the only thing that helped with the PMR and GCA pain before diagnosis.
I have had GCA for 18 months never stopped drinking red wine made no difference to symptoms even on mtx can still have up. to 14 units a week.But what works for me may not be the same for you.
I used to be a good drinker (wine, whisky/gin) before GCA. I felt so ill at the time, though, that I totally gave it up. After getting stabilized somewhat, I tried going back to an abbreviated version of my old routine, but it simply didn't work out - just made me tired, woozy-headed. Have since pretty much totally given it up (I might indulge at Christmas, say) and, honestly, don't miss it at all.
Love my wine and have continued to enjoy it through PMR journey (started 15mgs pred 5 years ago, now down to 4mgs). Have changed from white to red as taste now prefers red. A small(ish) glass in the evening seems to help any residual pains from the day.
Red, red wine... living in France (and probably most of the Mediterranean parts of Europe, maybe not the beer-drinking bits further north and east) it's just part of everyday life having a glass of wine with a meal. I have felt no ill effects and haven't changed anything since I started on Prednisone 5 months ago. My OH was advised to stick to red as opposed to white or rosé by the urologist (prostate issues) and a friend who suffers from type 2 diabetes finds that red wine actually lowers her blood sugar levels.
There is a small village near Lake Garda where someone took over the village bar to turn it into an up-market wine shop (enoteca). But he kept the bar on. Some international wine buff was amazed at seeing little elderly men in there at 9am with their glass of plonk and asked why - "Because it is part of the tradition here. Just like wine ..."
I think if it were me on a very high dose of pred my main concern would be additional strain on the liver. There are supposed to be some very excellent non-alcoholic wines and beers now, ones which actually taste like and have the mouth feel of the real thing, but haven't had a chance to try any yet.
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
GCA Scare, Pred induced insomnia and ducks!
Stress and GCA
Carrot Cake and Wine
