A glass of wine??

[JAC1947]

Whilst all info PMR and steroids state avoid alcohol, I am no lush but do love my six o’clock tipple. Since being diagnosed I have completely gone off red wine 😳😳 however Rose seems fine and apparently has many anti- inflammatory benefits and more reservatol. So would a small glass or two harm?

[Koalajane]

red wine does not hurt me. Mind, I only have one glass with my Sunday evening meal. I believe it helps with my type 2 duabetes(in remission)

[Elispeth]

I enjoy a glass or two of red wine fairly regularly. I do believe that it lifts my mood and helps me to cope with having a chronic illness. I don't do it all of the time but having a glass or two of wine before dinner with my husband is an enjoyable experience for me. I've asked this question to the various doctors that I have seen over the years and they have said that I am allowed one glass of wine per week 😲! I think that life is hard enough at the moment living with PMR and it is my personal decision to continue to enjoy a glass or two of red wine when I feel like it before dinner.

[tempusfugi in reply to Elispeth]

Do you ever get concerned about drinking your red wine on an empty stomach, Elispeth (you say you do so before dinner). I only say this because a friend of mine told me I shouldn't do so - I like to have a glass when preparing my dinner. I've ignored her advice but I do sometimes wonder!

[Elispeth in reply to tempusfugi]

Hi tempusfugi. I don't really have any stomach problems if I have a glass of red wine about 6pm (when I am preparing the evening meal) but I think that this is probably because I don't have my 'lunch' until 3.30pm. I then eat again about 8pm. I eat a bigger meal at lunchtime than I do at 8pm so maybe that is the reason that I don't have any major problems having a glass around that time.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Whilst all info PMR and steroids state avoid alcohol

Not sure that’s strictly true, but I did stop alcohol for first 6 months or so of my GCA treatment - but mainly due to v.high doses of Pred and adjusting to sight loss. When I did restart -occasionally- I did find I couldn’t really tolerate red wine.

More than 6 years after finishing Pred, I still cannot, but I think it’s probably due to being older and different taste.

I’m a bit of a Rose fan now, preferably with bubbles…

[PMRpro Ambassador]

If it does - I've had it!!! I have a small (110ml) glass with dinner every night. I too prefer rose - get very good value Austrian rose here, the local stuff is a bit up itself - and can no longer drink heavier reds. The local red (Kalterersee) is OK, but a cousin described it as dark rose last week when here to ski ...

[herdysheep]

Pre pmr I went through a phase of not being able to take red wine or spirits. Despite long term pred, that is less of an issue but I rarely have spirits. I feel the 'quality of life' response coming on. We have to judge everything by how we feel. Is this any different?

[piglette]

I happily have the odd glass of wine or even cognac! My liver blood tests still look OK!

[JAC1947 in reply to piglette]

That is very reassuring 🥂

[winfong]

Pretty much gave it up as I've got just too many ailments and meds going on. It also seemed to just make me tired and foggy. That said, I do indulge on holidays / major social events. I typically enjoy that alright, but am more than happy to go back to teetotalling.

[Blearyeyed]

It's better to stay off the alcohol on the higher doses of GCA but on PMR doses after you begin tapering, and below 10 mg, it pretty much depends on the individual , as with many of the guidelines and side effects. Although , you can find it's better to stay off alcohol when you get below 5 mg and you're adrenal function is trying to wake up again as even a little alcohol can cause more Fatigue.Some people can happily enjoy a glass a night , but keeping to a small glass is better to maintain your sleep is good and reduce the risk of it effecting your sugar balance.

Others , may not realise it as the symptoms don't always occur when they are actually drinking , but it can cause insomnia , unsatisfying sleep , Fatigue , night time gastric reflux , increased restless leg syndrome and a greater risk of mental health side effects on various medications, not just steroids.

And some people get quite extreme side effects while drinking , even occasionally, especially if they suffer from things related to autonomic dysfunction, such as night time incontinence and bladder urgency , palpitations , peripheral neuropathy, water retention and temperature dysregulation.

So the answer is , if you feel you miss it and you are already tapering , it would not harm to try a small glass to see.

[Matma]

Oops I missed that warning on the packets and had been drinking many glasses of wine regularly since starting my PMR journey 6 years ago until 2 weeks ago when the next day effects were rather unpleasant! Definitely a wake up call which lead to the discovery of kombucha - which when taken in a wine glass with a slice can feel like an acceptable substitute. After a few days brain fog disappeared, joints were less painful and I had more energy! I’m not giving up alcohol but choosing to drink alternatives for most of the week .

[Rosina1871]

I read that you are ok to drink alcohol whilst on prednisolone . From what I recall it was on the NHS website. I have wine with my meal every evening . It doesn’t appear to have had an adverse effect

[Bridge31]

As soon as started taking Pred I too went off red wine. It just doesn’t taste right. However I drink quite a lot of Sauvignon Blanc or Prosecco now instead and it doesn’t have any adverse effects for me.

[montebello]

I drink 6 oz of red wine each night at dinner. I've been through 6 years of PMR, and now GCA since AUG 22. So far, no ill effects.

[Noosat]

Most evenings I have a small glass of Malbec wine with dinner. Does not seem harmful

[tempusfugi]

The Registrar in the Rheumatology Dept asked me if I took recreational drugs. Answer: no, or rather yes, I do drink alcohol. He seemed amused but didn't tell me I shouldn't partake, while on steroids🤪

[Maryis80]

My rheumy says up to 4,units per week confirmed by pharmacist, I am on leflumonide to"spare" the steroids according to rheumy! Have blood test every three months and all seems to be well with my liver. Am currently on alternate 2 and 1 pred. Hopefully the end is in sight for PMR