alcohol

[pmrdays]

hi has anyone has a couple of alcoholic beverages while on Prednisolone. I am down to 3mg and have been off alcohol since I started my PMR journey. Just wondering if it’s best not to have any alcohol until down to zero, or if a couple of pints would do a lot of harm.

[Koalajane]

I drink a glass of wine twice a week

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

I abstained for about 6 months -but I did have GCA , had lost sight in one eye and on much higher doses.

I did imbibe occasionally as I reduced -didn’t have any adverse affect-but it does for some .

Try it and see -but gently -as in all things PMR! 😊

[PMRpro Ambassador]

I have a small glass of wine almost every night - as you do here in Italy,

Your biggest problem with a couple of pints is likely to be the long period of abstinence since you last had some! It'll go straight for your knees!!!!!

[Bcol]

I kept off for a couple of years whilst on the higher doses, but not noticed any problem now. s

[Kendrew]

Hi pmrdays,

I abstained from drinking alcohol whilst on higher doses of steroids, but from 5mgs down I've allowed myself to have a glass of wine for birthdays, Christmas and other celebrations. I also have an odd glass of wine when I'm away on holiday but it's never more than two glasses at any given time.

On the one occassion I did, it definitely had an adverse effect!

I felt nauseous, more fatigued than usual, my digestive system 'protested' and I felt very lethargic and 'sluggish'!

It's clearly not sensible to mix steroids with large or frequent quantities of alcohol, but as always...everything in moderation!

We will all have different tolerance levels where alcohol consumption and steroids are concerned and our individual medical 'history' will also influence this.

It's always about sensible, well thought out choices and knowing your own limits!

[SheffieldJane in reply to Kendrew]

I could have written this Kendrew. My body is not tolerating it at all currently. X

[Kendrew in reply to SheffieldJane]

I genuinely abstain for the majority of the time as I don't want to suffer any potential after effects. Its just not worth it...and it takes ages to fully recover.

[piglette]

I think I might have had a little bit more than a couple of alcoholic beveridges. The thing is if you have cheese I always feel wine is complimentary to it!

[Dochaz]

I have never stopped having a glass of red wine at mealtimes and have had no ill effects while on Pred, whatever the dose (started on 40 mg, now on 2.5 mg). If anything, I feel it might have helped!

[Gimme in reply to Dochaz]

I reckon we need something to cheer us up now and again.

[marionofnorwich]

It never really occurred to me to stop drinking alcohol though i do try not to drink too much generally. I guess i am mildly socially dependent as might drink several glasses of wine over dinner with friends or when out with hubby. For example last night three halves of beer and a gin and tonic (though three halves is rare). But not drinking every night. I don't know if it has had an adverse effect. If so, it has not been obvious.

[Thiago1396]

I enjoy a drink occasionally, red wine, beer, g&t, whisky. Since being on steroids I’ve moderated somewhat. I haven’t experienced any negative effects, i enjoy it. A couple of drinks 3 or 4 times a week adds to my life.

[Bridge31]

I’m with Marion 🥂

[Poshdog in reply to Bridge31]

Me too🍷🍷! I tell myself it's good for me! x

[Koalajane in reply to Poshdog]

I know it helps bring my sugars down so sometimes I must!

[2013mayo]

Well I drank wine probably most days even on high doses, it never occurred to me not to. Don’t think it makes any difference , there is no warning on pred to avoid alcohol . I’ve actually not had anything to drink now for some months and I can’t see it’s made any difference

[borednow]

Yes, I imbibed occasionally without any ill effect. However sometime ago I was feeling particularly happy and had a Malibu and coke, not a drink I normally have. It was lovely, so I had another. And another. Didn't have anymore as I nearly fell over when I stood up!! Taught me a lesson and I haven't had any alcohol since. You'd think I'd know better at my age but apparently not! If you decide to risk a couple of pints. I'd recommend you either have them at home or take plenty of friends with you if you go to the pub. Good Luck.

[Gimme]

I very much doubt that the occasional drink will do any harm. But if you are going to drink regularly, you have to remember that alcohol can raise blood sugar and so does prednisolone, and some alcoholic drinks also contain a lot of sugar, so if you are at risk of Type II diabetes you might want to moderate. I was on the wagon completely for the first few months and then I lapsed a bit lately. I definitely feel more sore the next day after I have had a few drinks. I've already decided that I need to climb back on the wagon.

[Flivoless]

I've enjoyed the odd glass of wine or pint of Guinness throughout my 2 1/2 year (so far) battle with PMR. Never noticed it doing me any harm

[PMRnewbie2017]

If you speak to a Dr they all demonise alcohol and try and tell you "it's because you drink ". Please understand I am not advocating alcoholism but really.... When I was working, every day, patients would say " the doctor said I can't drink with these tablets".

The number of times that was pharmacologically correct was very few!!

My rationale is everything in moderation and nothing in excess. As Gimme said , listen to your body and be sensible.🥂

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to PMRnewbie2017]

My otherwise lovely GP isn't keen on alcohol or meat!!!!! We agree to differ ...

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to PMRpro]

Thought they were Italian 😳

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to DorsetLady]

No, South Tirol but I know what you mean!!! Mind you, our friends in Apulia drink very little either.

[sidra1968]

I was on a very high dose and on a cruise and I had drinks, probably 5 per day - but they were mostly spaced out, and I didn't pound them down like when I was younger:), but I did have them...didn't have any bad effects.

[Mansplainer101]

When PMR hit, my doc started me on 13mg/daily. He never mentioned abstaining from alcohol. I generally have either a beer or a glass of wine with dinner and don't think this ever created a problem for me. YMMV.

[Polygolfer]

I am on 3mg and drink normally… (meaning a few pints sometimes, or a few glasses of wine). My GP and Rheumatologist have both said that it’s ok in moderation…

[Maryis80]

Must confess that I have kept on with small quantities of white wine, gin and tonic and occasional sherry. Rheumy said four units a week but sometimes it creeps over this especially when on holiday. Must have something to cheer me up through the past six years.

[Tiggy70]

I enjoy a glass of Merlot three evenings a week (Friday, Saturday and Sunday). Monday to Thursday I abstain unless on holiday. 🍷🍷

[winfong]

I used to be a good drinker, with no real side effects. After GCA/PMR/LVV and the various meds I take for it and other things, I just can't tolerate it. Makes me feel tired and stupid. I might drink something on holidays or big occasions, but that's about it. Don't miss it at all.

[herdysheep]

I still have a glass of wine, maybe up to 5 per week. Since being diagnosed with pmr more than 10 years ago I have never been advised not to. I don't drink anything like the amount when I was working and cut back as part of weight loss drive. That, and changing main meal to lunch time made a huge difference before pmr and pred. Now, although 2 1/2 stone lighter I am not slim and trim as anything remotely naughty goes round the waist!

On a slightly flippant note, weight loss leading to a change in clothes sizes is a nightmare. I hate shopping and there don't seem to be many (shops)left!

[CamGina]

One gin and tonic on a Sunday, is my practice. All alcohol seems to make my face red since I've been on prednisolone. Also steroids raise blood sugar levels, and alcoholic drinks are full of sugar!

[Thelmarina]

Cheers 🥂xx

[Heidiypi1]

ohh dear I feel like an alcoholic! Lol, the one thing I have left is to enjoy a nice white wine or a gin and tonic, none of which I am giving up, I’ve had this awful PMR for over a year now, I’m on 5mgs prednisone a day, I do have little flares like my left hand palm under my fingers is swollen and painful today and it swaps from knee to knee and shoulder to shoulder arm to arm, I just put up with it! So a little tiddle if it soothes my soul so be it, usually no more than two is the limit and not every single day, but I do enjoy a drink with my hubby and the chookies of an afternoon!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Heidiypi1]

If you are having joint pain that is moving around that could suggest it isn't PMR (which isn't joints) but something called palindromic rheumatism. It can be confused with PMR and we have a few people on the forum who were misdiagnosed initially.

arthritis.org/diseases/pali...